The easiest way to get to the Athens beaches, without dealing with traffic, is the tram. After 30 minutes of weaving through the concrete jungle of Athens, you will pop out onto Poseidonos Ave. You’ve arrived on the coast!
Tram Tickets
You can purchase your ticket from a little booth (if open) or coin operated machines (found at every stop).
You need to purchase a ticket and punch it in a validation machine BEFORE getting on the tram. You may be asked to show your ticket during your ride or you may not, keep it handy just in case.
Advice: buy a few tickets if you have a spare moment and hang on to them for future use. You could be on your return trip and walk up just as the tram is about to leave. Erase the hassle of messing with a machine that in all honesty may not be working.
From Syntagma
Starting off in Syntagma square you will find the tram stop on the upper-right hand corner of the square. It is to the right of the parliament building- when facing it. (pictured below)
There are 2 lines that leave from Syntagma, one goes south to Asklipio Voulas/Ασκληπιειο Βουλας T5 and the other towards the port, SEF/ΣΕΦ (which is an acronym for Peace and Friendship Stadium) T4 . There is an additional line that runs strictly along the coast (T3) and doesn’t go to Syntagma/Σύνταγμα, so if you are returning to the center, make sure you board the correct one.
If coming from Syntagma, you want to take the Voula line to hit up the majority of beaches. Voula is the terminal station (pictured below), so if you want to go further down the coast you can catch a bus or hail a taxi.
General Tram Info
Trams are not the quickest way to get from the center of Athens to the coast, but it is steady, inexpensive and you don’t have to worry about transferring. It’s also very scenic (the first time you take it, ok maybe it’s even fun two times if you sit looking out on opposite sides).
Athens Trams do have screens which show the route and next stops, but unfortunately not all of them work. It is best to rely on the printed maps and the audio announcements.
The trams do have a ‘stop’ bell you can ring, but most of the time they stop at each station regardless. The stops are close enough together that even if you see something and THEN ring the bell, you can easily walk back from the next stop.
Exploration Suggestion
During ‘beach season’ traffic congestion occurs on (Leoforos) Poseidonos, the main beach road. If you are in the center and want to get the sea as quickly as possible, hop in a taxi and as soon as you see the water with a busy street running along it, Poseidonos, ask the driver to stop and then take the tram down the coast.
The tram tracks run parallel to the coast along side of the busy beach road. Edem is the first stop after the tram pops out from the city and starts heading south along the coast.
You can get on the tram heading toward Voula and if you see a beach that looks good to you, ring the bell and get out at the next stop.
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