Are you looking for an unforgettable trip to Greece? You don’t have to search any further for your destination. The Greek capital is a place that everyone has to admire at least once in their lives. A historic journey back in time and a breathtaking sea adventure await!
Location of Athens
Athens is the capital of Greece, located southwest of the Attic Peninsula near the Sarona Gulf. Athens was a significant place throughout history as it was amongst the first poleis. The powerful city-state was an important center of science. The city that has a territory of the app. 38.964 km2 has a population of 3.5 million people, which accounts for about 35% of the whole Greek population. In 1985, Athens became the first cultural capital of Europe. The Acropolis and the Palace of Daphne were accredited as a UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1987.
History of Athens
The city got its name after the mythological protecting goddess of the city, Athena. Athens is the oldest town in Greece and one of the oldest ones in the whole world – its history is about 3400 years old. The ancient Athens’ last king was Codrus who sacrificed himself to save his home before noblemen took control of the land. Then the people of Athens took over and established democracy. Cleisthenes was the first politician to establish democracy; he amended the constitution radically and reformed the government that had previously been formed by Solon so that every citizen has the rights and obligations to be involved in politics. The establishment of democracy was one of the most significant achievements of ancient Greece.
The dominion of Pericles, which provided the foundation for western civilization, is regarded as a glorious era in the history of the country. The Golden Age was put to an end by the Peloponnesian War that raged between Athens and Sparta. Philip II’s army ultimately eradicated the independence of Athens. The conquests of Alexander the Great resulted in the Roman Republic seizing the power over Greece in the 2nd century.
History from the middle ages
In 1204, the Fourth Crusade conquered Athens, and the Latins were ruling until 1458 when the city fell under the domination of the Ottoman Empire. Following the revolution in 1821, Greece was reformed as a modern and independent state as stated in the London Protocol in 1830; Athens became the capital. In 1921, Athens was flourishing, with more than a million Greek refugees relocated to Greece. The city suffered terrible blows during World War II. Greece joined the European Union in 1981, which resulted in several new investments in Athens, but in the meantime, social and environmental issues arose. During the last 50 years, the country had several difficulties, and they have suffered damage to its reputation as well.
Beaches in Athens
There are many beaches on the Attic coast where you can find everything that is necessary for swimming and sunbathing. From exclusive opportunities to fine and clear sand, there is a wide variety of beaches in the area. We recommend you to visit the western shores of Athens if you would like a quick swim in the afternoon or if you arrive by car and want to find a parking spot without struggling. If you have spent your day cruising the waters, beaches on the western shores are perfect for a swim after a long day.
Astir Vouliagmeni:
If you are looking for an exclusive experience, Astir Vouliagmeni is your spot! This is a paid beach that may be one of the best spots you can visit during your vacation in Athens. Vouliagmeni can be found in the southern suburbs and offers a wide range of the best services from free WiFi to large and comfortable sunbeds. There are of course several cafes and places with ice cream, food and drinks at your service here.
Kavouri beach:
Kavouri, located in the suburbs of Vouliagmeni, is actually a peninsula covered with pines, surrounded by expensive mansions. A large number of sandy beaches can be found on the shores that are ideal for swimming, even though the most popular spot is near the peak of Megalo Kavouri. It has a sandy beach and fairly shallow waters. Refreshing drinks are served at a lot of places.
Yabanaki–Varkiza:
This is not only a beach but also a waterpark with dozens of services and entertainment opportunities, located in the southern suburbs of Varkiza. A wide range of watersports such as waterskiing, banana boats and windsurf courses are available. In the afternoons, a playground with full supervision operates to the kids’ joy.
Main sights of Athens
Ancient Athens was referred to as the cradle of western civilization. The Greek capital is a spectacular place to visit. The Acropolis that towers above the city is the symbol of the city’s rich heritage. The Olympian Zeus is a high and breathtaking temple located in the city center. Once in Athens, you should definitely visit the iconic Parthenon of the goddess Athena Parthenos. Athens, a city rich in history, has several museums as well. The world-famous Benaki Museum is home to dozens of Greek artifacts from the Bronze Age to World War II. The most beautiful selection of antique treasures is exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum. Although Athens is not necessarily characterized by green areas, there are indeed a few such spots that are worth visiting. Two of those are the Stavros National Park and the once royal National Gardens.
Weather in Athens
The coastline of Greece has a Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild and humid, summers are hot and dry.
Luxury yacht charter Athens
The marina of Athens is the Athens Alimos Marina. It is one of the largest marinas with its 1000 moorings. The Alimos Marina can be found 15 kilometers to the southwest of the city center. A further 1080 moorings are of service, while 600 boats are accepted in the docking area. Yachts with a maximum length of 40 meters can be docked here; the allowed draft of the docking vessels is 6.5 meters. The marina is well-equipped and provides mariners with great services.
It might be an ideal starting point for those who would like to explore the sea onboard a yacht. Whether you are young and are looking for some lively places or you are an adventurer passionate about history, you will definitely have an unforgettable holiday in the city of Athens. Enjoy the sun with a cocktail on the beach, or explore the historic treasures exhibited in the museums. Find yacht routes in Greece or choose another luxury yacht hire in Greece.
More information about Athens
The climate diagrams are based on 30 years of hourly weather model simulations. They give good indications of typical climate patterns and expected conditions (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and wind). The “mean daily maximum” (solid red line) shows the maximum temperature of an average day for every month for Athens. Likewise, the “mean daily minimum” (solid blue line) shows the average minimum temperature.
The wind rose for Athens shows how many hours per year the wind blows from the indicated direction. The diagram for Athens shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed.
Rent a luxury yacht in Athens and cruise around Athens
Day 1. Athens – Selinia Salamis (Salamina island) 9.42 km (5.85 mi), Day 2. Salamina – Aegina 26.25 km (16.31 mi) Day 3. Aegina – Poros (Poros Island) 35.54 km (22.08 mi), Day 4. Poros – Ermioni 40.00 km (24.85 mi), Day 5. Ermioni – Idra (Idra Island) 19.58 km (12.16 mi), Day 6. Idra – Coressia (Kea island) 83.19 km (51.69 mi), Day 7. Kea – Sounion – Athens77.30 km (48.03 mi)
Yachting itinerary from Athens to Santorini
Day 1. Athens – Selinia Salamis (Salamina island) 9.42 km (5.85 mi), Day 2. Salamina – Aegina 26.25 km (16.31 mi), Day 3. Aegina Lavrion ( Olympic Marine) 68, 02 km (42, 26 mi), Day 4. Lavrion – Merihas (Kythnos Island) 45, 95 km (28, 55 mi), Day 5. Merihas – Livadi (Serifos Island) 47, 76 km (29, 68 mi), Day 6. Livadi – Milos island (Adamantas) 51, 33 km (31, 90 mi), Day 7. Milos – Folgerandos (Karavostasis) 67, 01 km (41, 64 mi), Day 8. Folgerandos – Santorini (Thira) 50, 25 km (31, 22 mi), Day 9. Thira – Vlychada (Santorini) 15, 83 km (9, 83 mi), Day 10. Vlychada – Ios 52, 81 km (32, 81 mi), Day 11. Ios – Sifnos island (Kamares) 67, 61 km (42, 01 mi), Day 12.Kamares – Siros 88, 45 km (54, 96 mi), Day 13. Siros – Kea 69, 63 km (43, 27 mi), Day 14. Kea – Glifada – Athens75, 68 km (47, 02 mi).
More about yachting from Athens to Santorini.
Yachting itinerary from Athens to Mykonos
Day 1. Athens (Olympic Marina of Lavrion) – Kea 27, 68 km (17, 20 mi), Day 2. Kea – Kithnos 37, 99 km (23, 60 mi), Day 3. Kithnos – Sifnos 61, 77 km (38, 38 mi), Day 4. Sifnos – Paros 55, 59 km (34, 54 mi), Day 5. Paros – Naxos 31, 22 km (19, 40 mi), Day 6. Paros – Siros 54, 28 km (33, 72 mi), Day 7. Siros – Tinos – Mykonos 41, 77 km (25, 95 mi).
Day 1. Athens (Kalamaki-Alimos Marina) – Egina 24, 37 km (15, 15 mi), Day 2. Egina – Kea 70, 85 km (44, 02 mi), Day 3. Kea – Tinos 80, 13 km (49, 79 mi), Day 4. Tinos – Mykonos 18, 57 km (11, 54 mi), Day 5. Mykonos – Siros 34, 52 km (21, 45 mi), Day 6. Siros – Kithnos 76, 09 km (47, 28 mi), Day 7. Kithnos – Sounion – Athens(Kalamaki-Alimos Marina) 86, 06 km (53, 47 mi).
Read more about yachting from Athens to Mykonos, Athens yacht itinerary or choose from another Saronic gulf yachting routes
