The Athenian Riviera: the best tips for Vouliagmeni, beaches, restaurants and beach clubs

After two weeks of island-hopping in the Cyclades, we rounded off our trip on the Athenian Riviera, from where it’s also easy to fly back to a wide range of destinations. We spent two days in the stylish neighbourhood of Vouliagmeni, a leafy and luxurious seaside resort just half an hour from the bustling centre of Athens. Here, we alternated between the beach and a number of lovely restaurants. In this blog, we’ll share our favourite spots.

Magical Lake Vouliagmeni

We spent our first evening on the Athenian Riviera at the remarkable Lake Vouliagmeni. This natural lake is connected to underground hot springs and maintains a pleasant water temperature of around 22 to 29 degrees all year round. Thanks to its healing minerals and stunning setting amongst the rocks, it is one of the most special places in the Athens area. On the lakeside, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Abraovata Restaurant, where you can look out over the fairytale-like lake whilst you eat – a lake that is also beautifully lit up in the evening. A relaxed and atmospheric place to start your stay on the Athenian Riviera. And if you’re not keen on the beach, it’s worth knowing that you can also spend the day here soaking up the sun and swimming in the lake.

Beachclubs in Vouliagmeni

If, like us, you love beaches, then you’ll be in your element on the Athenian Riviera, as there’s a huge choice of stylish beach clubs. Along the coast, you’ll find one beautiful spot after another, with comfortable sun loungers and delicious food. We visited The Royal Beach Vouliagmeni and Krabo Beach, two beach clubs with a relaxed, luxurious atmosphere and a lovely beach. Do make sure you bring a well-stocked wallet, though, as the beach clubs are incredibly expensive (read: overpriced). At The Royal Beach Vouliagmeni, we paid 80 euros for a set of sun loungers and a parasol (and that’s on top of food and drink, plus you also have to pay for access to the beach). At Krabo Beach, we even paid 105 euros for a set of sun loungers and a parasol.

Along the Athenian coast, you’ll find plenty more great beach clubs, for example at Voula Beach and Glyfada. And if you’re coming from the quiet, laid-back islands, it does take a bit of getting used to here – it’s very busy compared to the islands.

Sofi's Eatery in Vouliagmeni: the perfect spot for breakfast, cofee and lunch

For a tasty breakfast, lunch or simply a coffee break, Sofi’s Eatery comes highly recommended. This cosy café was right next to our hotel and quickly became one of our favourite spots. You can pop in for freshly made sandwiches, good coffee, yoghurts, fruit salads and delicious sweet treats. You can eat there or take your food to the beach. There’s also a charming little shop selling Greek delicacies, such as high-quality olive oil, local wines and other treats to take home.

Ithaki Restaurant in Vouliagmeni: stylish dining with a sea view

For a special night out, Ithaki Restaurant comes highly recommended. This stylish restaurant is situated right by the sea and offers breathtaking views across Vouliagmeni Bay. The atmosphere here is particularly magical at sunset. We had a delicious meal here on our last evening and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful setting and excellent service. Bear in mind, however, that Ithaki is one of the most luxurious (and most expensive) restaurants on the Athenian Riviera, but for a special occasion and the unique ambience, we certainly found it a memorable experience.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, you’ll find a number of little restaurants along the road leading to Lake Vouliagmeni that also looked quite nice. We didn’t eat there, so I can’t comment on the food, but they certainly looked inviting. And among them you’ll also find the Waffle House, where you can get the most delicious ice creams. ;-)