10 Fantastic Day Trips from Athens that You Can Do Without a Car

I know it sounds contradictory but one of the reasons I love living in Athens is how easy it is to escape the city. Amazing natural spots and historic sites are just a step away from the bustling cosmopolitan capital of Greece.

Athens is on the coast and kind of in the middle of the country. Besides, Greece’s biggest port Piraeus is next door. Thus, it’s easy to hop on a ferry and travel back in time.

But Greece if far more than stunning islands. Train tracks and roads connect the capital with gorgeous sites on the continent in no time. The following are my favorite day trips from Athens that you can do without a car. You will love them!

Vouliagmeni

25 min by bus

Bus 122 connects Elleniko metro station to Vouliagmeni. To get to Elleniko take the red metro line from Athens center in Syntagma square or from Akropoli station, which is pretty close to the Acropolis.

The bus journey is an attraction in itself, so grab a window seat. You get to see Athens Riviera! Vouliagmeni is on the coast and boasts splendid beaches and a lake with thermal waters.

The town is full of pine trees. You’ve got two peninsulas to explore. The ultra-luxurious Four Seasons Hotel is here. However, I like the lake better. A limestone cave surrounds it. You can have drinks, lounge, swim, and mingle with the locals.

Aegina

40 min by boat

Whenever I crave an island I go to Aegina. Depending on the boat, the journey from Piraeus to Aegina takes 40 to 84 minutes. Metro lines 1 and 3 connect Monastiraki square in the heart of Athens to Piraeus.

Aegina has it all, including the remarkable 5^th Century BC Aphaia Temple, the imposing orthodox Holy Church of Saint Nectarios, millenary olive fields, and lots of lovely beaches.

I always recommend Aegina to my friends that come to Athens and are short of time. Everybody wants to experience a less crowded Greek island and Aegina delivers.

Poros

60 min by boat or 2 hours 30 min by bus

Poros caters mostly to Athenians and that’s why I like it. Depending on the boat you take, from Piraeus to Poros takes 60 to 75 minutes. A KTEL bus from Kifissos in Athens gets you there in 2.5 hours.

Poros is next to the Peloponnese peninsula. It’s hilly and covered in trees. I love trekking about the island smelling pines and enjoying sea views.

Poros town is on the slope of mount Sferia. There are historical monuments, tones of colored traditional houses, churches, and old windmills. Evidently, there are beaches all around the island.

Hydra

80 min by boat

I adore Hydra because there are no cars! Granted, the place is beautiful, but it’s the vibe that sets it apart. Boats from Piraeus Port take between 80 to 120 minutes to get there.

Hydra was a small fishing town. Now it’s a fancy island full of mansions, yachts, trees, beaches, and donkeys. Whenever I’m there, I can’t stop walking!

You can also visit historic churches and several fascinating museums. Since lots of artists live in Hydra, it’s full of galleries. Hydra is famous for its restaurants and bars. My favorite is Windmill Bar. Set around an authentic windmill it has epic views and fantastic cocktails.

Chalkida

80 min by train

Chalkida is the main city in Evia, the country’s second largest island after Crete. Part of it is in the continent and part on the island. A regional train from Athens Larrisa Station gets you there in an hour or so.

You will hardly see foreigners here. Chalkida has been important since ancient Greece. Ottomans, Arabs, French, Italians and Jews lived there at one point or the other.

In fact, some know it as Negroponte. Chalkida is the best place to enjoy beaches and experience Greek culture. All you have to do is walk about, pick your favorite taverna, and relax.

Mycenae

100 min by bus + 15 min bike (50 min walk)

I’m really into archaeological remains, and the ones in Mycenae are amongst my favorites in the world. A bus from KTEL Kifissos gets you there in 1.5 hours. Then you bike 15 minutes, walk for an hour, or take a taxi.

On your way there, you will cross the Corinth Canal. Mycenae is so incredible, that UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site. Mycenae controlled southern Greece, Crete and Anatolia some 1600 years BC.

The place is big and fascinating. Take your time and look for the Lion Gate and the slabs with the earliest Greek language symbols. The views from up the hill are awesome too.

Sounion

2 hours by bus

I go to Sounion all the time, especially in low season. I take the bus from the entrance to Pedion Areos Park, in central Athens (Attica KTEL Sounio Intercity Bus Terminal) and get there in 1.5 hours.

The journey there takes you across the city and then along the Athenian Riviera so the views are cool.  Two temples crown the Sounion peninsula. The best one is the Temple of Poseidon.

The 5^th Century BC pillars can be seen from the beach beneath. I’m telling you, to swim in crystal blue waters while looking at this beauty is magical!

Epidaurus

2 hours by bus

Every summer I go to the Epidaurus Festival. It’s the country’s most incredible music, theatre, and art festival. Check for info here. Part of it takes place in the one and only theatre of Epidaurus.

Buses leave from KTEL Kifissos and get to Epidaurus in the Peloponnese in two hours. There are special buses during the festival that take you there for the performance and back.

You’ve got a massive theatre, a stadium, a museum, and the UNESCO listed Sanctuary of Asclepius to explore. Since pine forest surround the site, the whole place is beautiful.

Nafplio

2 hours 10 min by bus

Nafplio has a special place in my heart because it was the first town we visited when we moved to Greece. To get there, take a bus from KTEL Kifissos.

The city is on the coast, in the Peloponnese. Venetians, Franks, Ottomans and Brits fought for it over the centuries. It was the first Greek capital in 1829. That’s why it’s got such an incredible and varied architecture.

There are castles, fortresses, grand mansions, churches, art galleries, cute squares, and tones of trees. Urban beaches complete the feast. To top it all, not many foreign tourists visit! Spend a night in Nafplio and you won’t regret it.

Delphi

3 hours by bus

Who hasn’t heard of Delphi and its incredible oracle? Ancient Greeks considered it the center of the world. To get there, take the bus from KTEL Liosion in northern Athens.

The archaeological site is huge. Since it’s in the middle of two massive rocks in Mount Parnassus, it offers unforgettable views that go all the way to the sea.

Don’t forget to check both the museum and the remains of the Athena Pronaia Temple, to the east. Delphi Town is pretty small. I always stop for a bite with views at the Elia Restaurant. It’s got jaw dropping views and delish food. Delphi is also a great place to spend a night or two.