The one-hour drive from Glyfada to Sounio is an attraction all on it’s own.  

Sounio (or more properly Sounion) is home to the very popular ancient archaeological site of the  Temple of Poseidon.

Because it is located 60km from the center of Athens, many people will take a tour bus to visit the site.  Sunset tours are especially popular as the sunset here is amazing!

If you have a car rented, go for it, you will love the drive!  Once you are on the Athens Coast, you just head south and stay on the same road the entire time (Poseidonos Ave).

Don’t want to rent a car in Athens (I don’t blame you!)… hire a taxi.  Our favorite taxi driver George took a group of friends out to Sounio a few years back and they just loved it.  No need to worry about the hair-pin turns along the coastal road or the possibility of getting lost once you are back in Athens.  Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

You will go through many little seaside communities and past dozens of beaches, both organised and not.  On this route you will come across 7 Blue Flag Beaches.

On the drive to Sounio, there are many roadside ‘view point’ areas where you can pull over and take a look around and even climb down to the sea if you are feeling adventurous.  It’s Greece, anything goes!  Find a secluded cove and spend the day.

Once you pass Anavysos and the famous row of fish tavernas, you’ll notice the buildings getting more scarce and the landscape more rugged.  Just keep going and enjoying the ‘big blue’ to your right. After awhile, you’ll suddenly see Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon resting atop.

On this particular trip, we spent the day at the beach at the Aegeon Hotel and dined at one of two seaside tavernas located right next door to the beach.

The post Drive to Sounio appeared first on Athens Coast.

Poseidonos Ave is the lifeline of the Athens Coast.

Poseidonos Avenue /Λεωφόρος Ποσειδώνος runs all the way from P. Faliro down the coast past all of the seaside communities and all of the Athens beaches.

If you continue on the same road, you will eventually reach Cape Sounion.  A drive from SEF / ΣΕΦ  to Sounion will take approximately one hour (perhaps in the middle of the night when there is no traffic).  Poseidonos can get very congested, especially during the summer.  Locals may try to steer clear of this this road, but as it is a major connector it is hard to avoid.  

If starting from the northern point of Poseidonos in Faliro and heading south toward Sounion, the beach will be on your right the entire time, with the city to the left.  It’s pretty dense and urban through Faliro and Alimos and then you’ll see some of the Olympic complexes from 2004 as well as the old airport in Elliniko.  Next comes Glyfada and Voula where you will notice more green space and natural seascapes.  Between Vouliagmeni and Varkiza you will get your first glimpse of country side and encounter some crazy turns in the road.  Between Varkiza and Sounion there are a few communities scattered along the way, Anavysos being the largest.  It’s a beautiful drive with many great spots to stop and take a picture or even venture down to the sea for a quick dip.    

The official name of the street changes around Voula to Konstantinou Karamanli Ave. / Λεωφ. Κωνσταντίνου Καραμανλή and in that area it may also be referred to as  Alkyonidon Ave. /Λεωφ. Αλκυονίδων.  If you say Poseidonos, even if the official name is something different, everyone will know what you are talking about.  Paraliaki / Παραλιακή  (meaning Coastal) is also a very popular name of this stretch of road.

Greek Vocabulary

Avenue = Λεωφόρος | Leoforos

Coastal = παραλιακή | paraliaki

Beach = παραλία | paralia

The post Poseidonos Avenue appeared first on Athens Coast.

The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to more than 4000 beaches and marinas in 49 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean.

This year Greece has 360 Blue Flag beaches and the region of Attiki  is home to 12 Blue Flag beaches and 2 Blue Flag marinas.  Seven of those beaches are along the Athens Coast.

Athens Coast Blue Flag Beaches

• Voula A
• Astir Beach
• Varkiza Beach
• Lagonisi 1/Grand Beach
• Lagonisi 2/Mediterraneo-Anatoliki Akti
• Lagonisi 3/Kochylia-Dytiki Akti
• Mavro Lithari/Eden Beach

Beaches are awarded the Blue Flag based on compliance with 33 criteria covering the following:

1) Environmental Education and Information

2) Water Quality

3) Environmental Management

4) Safety and Services

All Blue Flags are awarded for one season at a time. If the criteria are not fulfilled during the season or the conditions change, the Blue Flag may be withdrawn.  Full FEE Blue Flag Beaches Criteria 

The post Athens Coast Blue Flag Beaches 2014 appeared first on Athens Coast.