Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
That accessibility is the whole argument for it. The tram runs from the city down the coast, and Glyfada is where it puts you within walking distance of both a beach and a dinner.
What it is
A prosperous suburb rather than a resort. The centre is a grid of shopping streets several blocks deep, busiest in the evening, with the sort of shops and cafes that serve people who live there rather than people passing through. There is a marina, and a golf course inland, which is unusual enough in Greece to be worth noting.
The beaches are mostly organised: sunbed rows, beach bars, showers, and an entry fee at the managed sections. There is public shore as well, but the coast here is developed and shared with the city, not a strip of empty sand.
How it compares with the rest of the coast
- Vouliagmeni is further south, greener, more expensive, and the better swim. If the water is the point, keep going.
- Glyfada is the better evening and the easier journey, and the only one of the two most people can reach without planning.
- Further out again the coast gets quieter and the transport gets harder.
Our Athens beaches page runs the whole coast in order.
Practical notes
- The tram is the reason to choose it. It runs from the centre to the coast and along it, and it is slow but simple. See getting around Greece.
- The beaches face west, so the sunset happens over the water, which is why the beach bars fill in the evening rather than emptying.
- Organised sections charge; the free shore is less comfortable and less shaded.
- It is a city coast. There is an airport flight path nearby and a road behind the sand. People who want an island beach will not find one here.
Last checked August 2026. Beach management and transport arrangements change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
How do you get to Glyfada from Athens?
By tram from the city centre, which runs down to the coast and along it. It is the most straightforward beach trip from Athens without a car.
Is Glyfada a good beach?
It is a convenient one rather than a beautiful one. The sand is developed and shared with a city suburb; Vouliagmeni further south is the better swim.
What is there to do in Glyfada besides the beach?
A large shopping and eating grid several blocks deep, a marina, and a golf course inland. It is busiest in the evening.
Is Glyfada expensive?
It is one of the more prosperous parts of Athens and the prices in the centre reflect that, though the coast has cheaper and dearer sections.
Can you swim in Glyfada?
Yes. There are both organised beaches with facilities and an entry charge, and stretches of public shore.
Next
Read Athens beaches, Vouliagmeni, or where to stay in Athens.