Getaways on Athens' Doorstep

By IsaBelle Clayton

Marathonas

The ideal destination for a seaside trip, just a 45 minute drive from Athens, with beautiful forests and endless beaches, it is the perfect place to be. There’s a beach for everyone’s taste, from organized beaches, full of sun beds, umbrellas and beach bars, to natural beaches, where all you need is your beach towel. Especially well-known is Schinia beach, with its golden sand and bright blue waters, surrounded by a forest. For sports lovers, Moraitis beach is perfect for water sports, like water-ski and wake board. After a visit to the beach, countless taverns and restaurants are scattered across the coastline, offering fresh dishes.

Delphi

Below towering Mount Parnassus lies the remains of ancient Delphi. This location is rich with history and one of the most important archeological sites in Greece. As a visitor, you are transported back to a time where fact and fiction are intertwined and sometimes indistinguishable. Less than a three hour drive from Athens, you can experience the tangible past of Delphi in a single day.

Aegina

In the warmer months of July and August, the hour-long ferry ride to Aegina attracts both Athenians and tourists to the island’s crystalline shores. Small villages line the coasts of Aegina, their quaint beach clubs and tavernas accentuating the more traditional, intimate mood of the island. Those interested in sightseeing will enjoy Aegina’s incredible trove of ancient temples, monasteries, and museums; those sweating beneath the Mediterranean sun will find cool respite swimming in Aegina’s turquoise waters, or sipping on cocktails in umbrellacovered daybeds, as they look out over the motionless sea. Whether you’re here for a day, or two, or three, make sure to try a pistachio during your stay. Soft and sweet, Aeginian pistachios are like none other.

Agkistri

If you’re looking for a quieter, more peaceful destination, look no further than Agkistri. With its stunning beaches and rich natural environment, Aegina’s neighbor island is the perfect place for you. Just an hour and a half ferry ride from Piraeus port and with relatively low-ticket prices, it is one of the best vacation spots. If you are an avid fan of hiking, camping and generally the outdoors, you’ll be delighted to know that there are multiple hiking trails riddled across the island, as well as a multitude of camping sites. If you’re more of a beach person, most of the islands’ beaches are easily accessible on foot located next to the port.

Póros

Póros, with its cobblestone streets, terracotta roofs, and yacht-laden ports, looks fit for a postcard. From the island’s central port, take a water taxi to Askéli Beach for a day full of swimming and water sports, or, plan a romantic getaway to Love Beach’s serenely pebbled shores. If you can’t decide whether to go swimming or sightseeing, visit Russian Bay Beach, where ruins of a Russian naval base during the Greek Revolution backdrop the beach’s white sand and verdant trees. In the evenings, silverware clatters as couples indulge in fresh seafood, and music pulses from neon-lit clubs into the early hours of the morning. Climb up to the Póros clocktower at sunset to watch as hues of pink and orange disappear behind Peloponnesian windmills and the still blue waters of the Saronic Gulf.

Ydra

The crescent-shaped port of Ydra offers a beckoning image of the stoned buildings dot the island’s slopes, and at night, the island’s pier glows warmly under the lights of numerous restaurants and bars. With no cars or motorcycles, donkeys are tasked to transport luggage, produce, and sometimes even people, to different destinations, their clacking hooves setting the island’s rhythm. Explore Ydra Town by strolling through its web of narrow pedestrian streets, and meander up hiking trails to visit hilltop

Monasteries. Watch the sunset over drinks and a swim at Spilia Beach, or spend the day soaking up the sun at one of the island’s more remote beaches, like Bisti, accessible by water taxi. Only a two hour ferry ride from Piraeus, Ydra is a perfect destination for those interested in a day trip, weekend getaway, or more budget-friendly island hopping experience.

Porto Heli

A 3 hours drive from Athens and you’ll find yourself immersed in a tranquil setting of nature with postcard blue waters and Mediterranean flora. This small seaside village, arranged over the eastern side of Peloponnese, is a frequent family destination and a summer haven for fishing boats and yachts. There are a few organized beaches in Porto Heli, but the majority is small secluded coves off the beaten path. From here you can easily access other, equally spectacular, day-trip destinations, among which Ancient Epidaurus, Poros, Ermioni, Mycenae and Nafplion, while from the small seaport of Costa, close to Porto Heli, there is frequent ferry connection to Spetses.

Spetses

Like in Ydra, you would be hard-pressed to find many cars on this island, instead finding horse-drawn carriages operating from just by the port. Known by many as one of the most stylish islands near Athens, Spetses is a fashion-lover’s paradise, full of sophisticated stores and quirkier shops. Walk around Old Harbour to get a sense of its luxurious atmosphere, replete with chic bars and restaurants. Spetses also has secluded beaches, most of which require reserved transportation to get to but are wellworth the visit!

Tzia

Thought of as one of the best day-trip locations, the closest Cycladic island to the capital, just one hour away from Lavrio port, Tzia is one of the most popular destinations for Greeks and tourists alike. Its small alleyways leading to beautiful beaches and its vibrant natural landscapes make it stand out from other islands. Downtown Tzia is full of traditional houses and is perfect for walk and even hiking, offering a total of 81km of hiking trails.

Hospitals

ACCIDENT HOSPITALS

Asklipieio Voulas 1 Vassileos Pavlou Str., Voula, +302132163000

KAT 2 Nikis Str., Kifissia, ΚΑΤ, +302106280000

PUBLIC GENERAL HOSPITALS

Evangelismos 45-47 Ipsilantou Str., Evangelismos, +302132041000

EmbassiEs

Albania 7 Vekiareli Str., Filothei, +302106876200

Australia 1-3 Kifissias Str., +302108704000

Austria 4 Vas. Sofias Str., +302107257270

Belgium 3 Sekeri Str., Kolonaki, +302103617886

Geniko Kratiko-Gennimatas 154 Mesogion Str., Ethniki Amyna, +302132032000

Ippokratio 114 Vas. Sofias Str., Ambelokipi, +302132088000

Laiko 17 Agiou Thoma Str., Ambelokipi, +302132060800

Tzanio Afentouli & 1 Tzani Str., Piraeus, +302132081000

Bulgaria 33A Stratigou Kallari Str., Psyhiko, +302106748106

Canada Ioannou 4 Gennadiou Str., +302107273400

Cyprus Xenofontos 2A,+302103734800

Czech Republic 6 Seferi Str., Psyhiko, +302106719701

Denmark 10 Mourouzi Str., +302107256440

France 7 Vas.Sofias Str., +302103391000

Germany Karaoli & Dimitriou 3 Str., Kolonaki, +302107285111

PUBLIC CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

Agia Sofia Thivon & Papadiamandopoulou Str., Goudi, +302132013000

Aglaia Kyriakou Thivon & Levadias Str., Goudi, +302132009000

MATERNITy HOSPITALS

Alexandra 80 Vas. Sofias Str., Megaro Moussikis, +302132162000

Hungary 25 Karneadou Str., Kolonaki, +302107256800

China 2A Krinon Str., Psyhiko, +302106723282

Ireland 5-7 Vas. Konstantinou Str., +302107232771

Israel 1 Marathonodromon Str., Psyhiko, +302106705500

Italy 2 Sekeri Str., Kolonaki, +302103617260

Japan Ethnikis Antistaseos Str., +302106709900

Netherlands 5-7 Vas. Konstantinou Str., +302107254900

Norway 23 Vas. Sofias Str., +302107246173

Poland 22 Chrysanthemon Str., Psyhiko, +302106797700

Emergency Numbers

Aiport Police

+302103536919

Coast Guard 108

ELPA (roadside assistance) 10400

Fire Service 199

Hospitals, Doctors, Pharmacies Info 14944 Police 100

SOS Doctors 1016

Tourist Police 171

Traffic Police

+302105230111

Ambulance service 166

Emergency Police 100

Fire Service 199

Greek Railways OSE 14944

Piraeus Port Authority

+302104593000

Rafina Port Authority

+302294023605

Lavrio Port Authority

+302292025249

Eleftherios Venizelos 14944

International Airport +302103530000

Elena Venizelou Elena Venizelou sq. 2, Ambelokipi, +302106432220

Iaso 37-39 Kifisias Str., +302106184000

Leto 7-13, Mouson Str. , +302106902000

Mitera Kifissias & 6 Erithrou Stavrou Str., +302106869000

Romania 7 Em. Benaki Str., Psyhiko, +302106728875

Russia 28 Nikiforou Lytra Str., Psyhiko, +302106725235

Serbia 106 Vas. Sofias Str., +302107774344

Slovakia 4 Georgiou Seferi Str., Psyhiko, +302106771980

South Africa 60 Kifissias Str., Marousi, +302106106645

Spain 21 Dionysiou Areopagitou Str., +302109213123

Sweden 7 Vas. Konstantinou Str., +302107266100

Switzerland 2 Iasiou Str., +302107230364

Turkey 8 Vas.Georgiou Str., +302107263000

UK 1 Ploutarhou Str., +302107272600

USA 91 Vas. Sofias Str., +302107212951