Athens has a rare advantage among European capitals: in summer the sea can effortlessly become a daily part of the city’s geography. From the center, the road drops quickly toward the southern suburbs, then follows the Saronic Gulf past the townships of Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Saronida and Sounio, where the coastline changes from easy urban beach to small coves, sandy bays and rockier edges with open water ahead.

See, most visitors to Athens know two options: the organized Riviera beaches with steep entrance fees, or the ferry to an island. These are the swims in between – the ones Athenians actually drive to on a Saturday morning before the heat sets in. A few are organized and easy, with sunbeds, showers and food. Others are best reached by car, reward an early start, and feel more like the coast you came to Greece to find. All of them allow the same small luxury: leaving the city behind for a few hours or the day and returning with deeper color and salt on your skin.

Read more at Travel.gr/en