Athens Riviera Hotels: Where to Stay in Vouliagmeni

By DiChatz

The best place to stay on the Athens Riviera is Vouliagmeni, a quiet seaside suburb about 25km south of central Athens with the clearest water, a swimmable thermal lake and the strongest run of beach hotels on the coast. For most people that means the Four Seasons Astir Palace if money is no object, The Margi for boutique luxury, or the Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites for a walk-everywhere base at a mid-range price. Choose Glyfada instead if you want shops, bars and the tram, or Lagonissi and Sounion if you want a self-contained resort.

This guide is for travellers who want Athens with a beach attached: a few days by the sea before or after the islands, a stopover with the airport under half an hour away, or a city break where the sightseeing happens in the morning and the evenings happen by the water.

What is the Athens Riviera, and why base yourself in Vouliagmeni?

The Athens Riviera is the coastline that runs south from Piraeus and Faliro, through Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, then on past Lagonissi to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. The closer suburbs feel like part of the city. By Vouliagmeni, the road is lined with pine-covered headlands, small coves and marinas full of yachts.

Vouliagmeni wins for three reasons. The water is sheltered and clean, with sandy bays on both sides of the Kavouri peninsula. Lake Vouliagmeni, a brackish thermal lake under a limestone cliff, gives you somewhere to swim even in winter. And the hotel choice is the widest on the coast, from the Four Seasons down to small suites a few minutes from the sand.

The downside is distance. Central Athens is around 25km away, the tram stops short at Voula, and public transport means a tram plus a bus. If your trip is mostly museums and the Acropolis, treat the Riviera as two or three nights added to a city stay, not a replacement for one.

Where should you stay on the Athens Riviera?

Each stretch of coast suits a different traveller. Here is how Vouliagmeni compares with Glyfada, Voula, Varkiza and the resort coast before you look at individual hotels.

Area	Feel	Beaches	Getting into Athens	Best for
Glyfada	Busy, upmarket suburb with shopping streets, bars and restaurants	Organised beaches along the main avenue	Tram straight into the centre	Nightlife and car-free stays
Voula	Residential and relaxed	Long organised and free beaches	End of the tram line	Value and public transport
Vouliagmeni and Kavouri	Quiet, green, expensive	Sheltered sandy bays, Astir Beach, the lake	Bus 122 to the tram at Voula, or a taxi	Beaches, couples, luxury
Varkiza	Small resort town with a long bay	Wide sandy beach and beach bars	Bus to Voula, then tram	Families and lazy beach days
Lagonissi and Sounion	Resort coast, far from the city	Private resort beaches	Car or transfer only, realistically	Resort holidays and sunsets

The simple split: if you will go into Athens most days and do not want to rely on taxis, Glyfada is the practical choice because the tram runs right through it. If you came for the sea, sleep in Vouliagmeni or Kavouri and treat the city as a day out. That is what Athenians do on summer weekends: they skip Glyfada and head for the bays around Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, where the water is clearer and the evenings quieter.

Which luxury hotels in Vouliagmeni are worth the money?

Vouliagmeni has the highest concentration of five-star hotels around Athens. Three stand out, and they suit very different trips. Prices below are rough guides for a standard double; they swing hard between August and the off-season.

Four Seasons Astir Palace: best for a no-compromise stay

The Astir Palace occupies its own pine-covered peninsula, which is why it feels more like an island resort than a suburban hotel. There are three private sandy beaches, two outdoor pools, water sports, a kids’ club and Pelagos, the seafood restaurant that draws Athenians out from the city for dinner. Standard rooms start at roughly €650 in quiet months and climb past €2,000 a night in peak summer, with sea-view categories higher still. Getting around: taxis wait at the entrance; the 122 bus stops on the main road outside. Best for: families with money to spend, honeymoons, anyone who never wants to leave the hotel.

The Margi: best boutique alternative

The Margi is a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member a short walk from the Vouliagmeni seafront, set back around a garden pool. Much of the produce in its restaurant comes from the hotel’s own farm outside Athens. It feels personal in a way the big resorts cannot, at a fraction of Four Seasons prices. The trade-off is that the beach is a walk away rather than at the door. Getting around: walkable to Vouliagmeni Beach, the lake and the bus. Best for: couples who want five-star service in a smaller, calmer setting.

Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso: best for spa and pools

On the Kavouri side of the peninsula, the Divani Apollon faces the sea across a quiet road and has a large thalassotherapy spa with seawater pools, which makes it a strong choice in spring and autumn when outdoor swimming is borderline. Rooms are larger than most at this level, and Kavouri’s free beach is a short stroll away. Expect from around €400 a night in season. Getting around: a short walk to the 122 bus; taxis to the airport take around 25 minutes. Best for: spa breaks and shoulder-season stays.

What are the best mid-range hotels in Vouliagmeni?

You do not need a five-star budget to wake up by the water here. These three keep you walkable to the beach or the lake at a much friendlier price.

Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites: best location for the money

This is the most practical mid-range base in Vouliagmeni: a two-minute walk to Vouliagmeni Beach and around ten minutes on foot to the lake. Rooms are bright and modern, several suites have kitchenettes, and the 122 bus stop for the tram connection is close by. Best for: couples and small families without a car.

Amarilia Hotel: best value

Amarilia is one of the cheapest established hotels in Vouliagmeni, with a pool, sea views from the upper floors and the Kavouri beaches within walking distance. It is not glamorous, but rates from around €160 often sit at a third of what the five-star hotels nearby charge. Best for: travellers who want the Vouliagmeni address on a sensible budget.

Somewhere Boutique Hotel Vouliagmeni: best small hotel

A compact, design-led hotel with a calm atmosphere and an easy walk to the lake and the seafront. It suits two or three nights between the city and the islands. Best for: short stays and couples who prefer small hotels.

If these are full, Azur, Armonia and Cama Luxury Suites in Kavouri are worth a look in the same price range.

Beyond Vouliagmeni: Glyfada, Lagonissi and Sounion

If you want bars and the tram, or a full resort with a sunset over the Temple of Poseidon, look either side of Vouliagmeni.

Emmantina Hotel, Glyfada: best for car-free travellers

On the main coastal avenue in Glyfada, Emmantina has a rooftop pool, the beach across the road and the tram close by, so central Athens and Glyfada’s shops and bars are easy without a car. Best for: mixing city sightseeing with beach time on a mid-range budget.

At the top end in Glyfada, Dusit Suites Athens is the alternative to the Vouliagmeni five-stars.

Grand Resort Lagonissi: best full resort

Further south, this large resort spreads across its own peninsula with several private beaches, many restaurants and villas with private pools. It is a holiday in itself; going into Athens means a long drive. Best for: families and groups who want everything on site.

Cape Sounio, Grecotel: best for sunsets

Bungalows and villas step down a hillside facing the sea, with the Temple of Poseidon on the headland opposite. It is the most remote option here and the most dramatic at dusk. Best for: romantic stays at the end of a trip.

Athens Riviera hotels compared

Price bands are for a standard double in high season: €€€€ is top luxury (€600+), €€€ upper range (€300 to €600), €€ mid-range (under €300).

Hotel	Area	Price	Beach access	Best for
Four Seasons Astir Palace	Vouliagmeni	€€€€	Three private beaches	Splurges and families
The Margi	Vouliagmeni	€€€	Short walk	Boutique luxury
Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso	Kavouri	€€€	Across the road	Spa and shoulder season
Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites	Vouliagmeni	€€	Two-minute walk	Location for the price
Amarilia Hotel	Vouliagmeni	€€	Walk to Kavouri	Value
Somewhere Boutique Hotel	Vouliagmeni	€€	Short walk	Short stays
Emmantina Hotel	Glyfada	€€	Across the road	No car, city plus beach
Grand Resort Lagonissi	Lagonissi	€€€€	Private beaches	Full resort holiday
Cape Sounio	Sounion	€€€€	Private beach	Sunsets and seclusion

Verdict: best overall is the Four Seasons if the budget allows; best value in Vouliagmeni is the Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites for its walk-everywhere location; best for travellers without a car is Emmantina in Glyfada.

How do you get to Vouliagmeni from the airport and central Athens?

Athens airport is about 20km from Vouliagmeni, roughly 25 minutes by car in light traffic, which makes the Riviera an easy first or last night of a Greek trip. There is no metro or tram link, so the real choices are a taxi, a pre-booked transfer or buses.

After a long flight, the simplest option is a driver waiting in arrivals with a fixed price agreed in advance. Book a Welcome Pickups transfer from Athens airport to Vouliagmeni and you go straight from baggage claim to the hotel door, which matters if you land late or travel with children and luggage.

From central Athens, take tram T6 from Syntagma to Pikrodafni, then change to T7 (Piraeus–Asklipieio Voulas) to reach Voula. A standard ticket is valid for 90 minutes with unlimited transfers, so one ticket covers tram plus bus. Current fares are on the OASA website. Allow well over an hour door to door, longer in summer traffic.

Google Maps and a ride-hailing app make buses and taxis far easier, so sort your data before you land. An Airalo eSIM for Greece installs on your phone at home and works as soon as you switch it on in arrivals.

What can you do around Vouliagmeni?

Most of what makes Vouliagmeni special is a short walk or bus ride from the hotels above, so two or three days here work fine without a car.

Lake Vouliagmeni

The lake sits in a collapsed cave under a sheer limestone wall, fed by warm springs that keep the water mild all year. Small fish nibble at your feet, there are loungers and a café, and the water is deep and very clear. Adult entry is around €16 to €17 on weekdays and €19 at weekends and holidays, with reduced tickets (around €8) for children aged 5 to 12 and free entry under 5. It opens every day of the year, with hours that change by season:

Period	Opening hours
6 April – 5 October	08:00 – 19:00
6 October – 26 October	08:30 – 18:00
27 October – 9 November	08:30 – 17:00
10 November – 1 March	08:30 – 16:30
2 March – 5 April	08:30 – 18:00

Go early on summer weekends, when locals fill the best loungers by mid-morning. In late autumn and winter, the early closing means a morning or lunchtime visit is the only way to get a full session.

Beaches: Astir, Kavouri and Limanakia

Astir Beach is the polished, organised option, with sun loungers, a restaurant and calm water, open daily from 9am to 7pm between May and October. Entry is charged and the fee rises at weekends and in high summer. For a free swim, Megalo Kavouri beach on the far side of the peninsula is sandy and shallow, popular with local families. Vouliagmeni Beach, by the main bay, is the closest organised beach to the town centre.

For something wilder, the Limanakia coves lie along the coast road towards Varkiza: flat rocks, deep blue water and ladders into the sea, with no sunbeds and no fees. Bring water and shoes you can walk on rock in; the 122 and coastal buses stop on the road above. Varkiza’s long sandy bay, a few minutes further on, is the easy family option with beach bars and shallow water.

Sunset at Cape Sounion

The drive from Vouliagmeni to the Temple of Poseidon follows the coast the whole way and is the best evening trip from the Riviera. Without a car, an organised trip is the easy answer, and most pick up along the coast road. See Cape Sounion sunset tours on Viator. For longer outings, our guide to the best day trips from Athens covers Sounion alongside Delphi, Hydra and the rest.

Is the Athens Riviera worth visiting in autumn and winter?

Yes, with adjusted expectations. Sea swimming is comfortable into October, and on calm days well beyond that, but Astir Beach and most beach bars close at the end of October. The lake stays open year-round: from 27 October it closes at 17:00, and from 10 November until the start of March at 16:30. Its warm water makes it the best winter swim near Athens.

The upside of the off-season is price. Rates at the five-star hotels fall sharply between November and March, so this is the time to stay somewhere you could not justify in August. A spa hotel like the Divani Apollon makes particular sense now. Walks along the Kavouri peninsula and long seafood lunches by the marina fill the days, and the city is less crowded when you head in for the sights. Some smaller hotels and beach restaurants close for part of winter, so check before booking.

Should you stay on the Riviera or in central Athens?

For a first trip of three nights or fewer, stay in the centre. The Acropolis, Plaka and the museums are all walkable from there, and you skip the daily journey from the coast. Our guide to the best neighbourhoods to stay in Athens covers Plaka, Koukaki and the rest.

With four nights or more, split the stay: two nights in the city, then two or three by the sea on the way to the airport or the islands. If you only go into Athens once from the Riviera, make it an early start at the Acropolis before the heat and the cruise crowds arrive. Book the Acropolis and Ancient Agora skip-the-line walking tour and you will be back on the beach by mid-afternoon.

On the day you move between the two, you may have a gap between check-out and check-in. Radical Storage has drop-off points in central Athens, so you can sightsee without dragging a suitcase. For the city half of the trip, our top hotels in Athens guide lists picks at every budget.

The real question is not which Riviera hotel, it is how many of your nights belong by the sea. My rule is simple. On a trip of four nights or fewer, sleep in the centre and take the tram to the beach for an afternoon, or for a faster ride, take the metro to Elliniko and a bus from there. On five nights or more, spend the first three or four in the centre and move to Vouliagmeni for the last two, because the airport is close and you fly home rested instead of sweaty. By then you have done the Acropolis and the city, so the last nights are all clear water, the lake and quiet evenings that the centre cannot offer in August.

The short version

Vouliagmeni is the best place to stay on the Athens Riviera if you want the sea first and the city second. Go five-star at the Four Seasons or The Margi, stay walkable and sensible at the Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites or Amarilia, or pick Glyfada if you want the tram at your door. Book an airport transfer, give the lake a morning and Sounion an evening, and you will see why Athenians spend their summers here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hotel on the Athens Riviera?

The Four Seasons Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni is the best hotel on the Athens Riviera for an all-round luxury stay, with three private sandy beaches, two pools, a kids’ club and the Pelagos restaurant on its own peninsula. The Margi is the best smaller boutique alternative, and the Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites is the best mid-range pick for location.

Where is the best place to stay on the Athenian Riviera?

Vouliagmeni is the best base on the Athenian Riviera for beaches, calm water and hotel choice. Glyfada suits travellers without a car because the tram runs through it, Voula is good value at the end of the tram line, Varkiza works for families, and Lagonissi or Sounion suit a resort holiday away from the city.

Where should you stay in Vouliagmeni, Greece?

Stay near the main bay or on the Kavouri side of the peninsula so you can walk to the beaches, Lake Vouliagmeni and the 122 bus. The Four Seasons Astir Palace and The Margi lead at the top end, the Divani Apollon is best for a spa stay, and Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites, Amarilia and Somewhere Boutique Hotel are good mid-range choices.

Where does Rick Steves recommend staying in Athens, and does the Riviera fit?

Rick Steves’ guidance for Athens focuses on the historic centre, around Plaka and the streets below the Acropolis, and for a short first visit that is the right call. If you have four nights or more, add two or three nights on the Athens Riviera in Vouliagmeni or Glyfada for beach time before flying home or heading to the islands.