The Attica region is a gem. Perhaps an unexpected gem for some, and sometimes a surprise in its own effect. However the rich diversity of available breathtaking natural landscapes, fantastic beaches and summer vibes alongside the wide gamut of exciting activities, fascinating experiences, archaeological and historical sites of vast worldwide importance, and the proximity to the always vibrant and very colourful capital, Athens makes holidaying in Attica an experience to discover and cherish.

In fact, many visitors have discovered that Attica can often so fully satisfy one’s needs in every sense when it comes to enjoying a remarkable holiday in Greece, that they often choose to spend their whole time in the region.

The Attica peninsula is in fact the wider geographical region around the capital Athens, and its suburbs. A rare and interesting combination of a busy modern metropolis offering a wide range of top tier quality services and options to visitors, and a surrounding region rich in charming coastal and mountain traditional villages, remarkable beaches both secluded and ‘organised’ to cover all tastes, large vineyards and farming regions, wonderful mountains boasting breath-taking natural scenery and views across the peninsula, the Saronic Gulf and the Aegean Sea beyond, and densely forested regions reaching all the way to the crystal clear azure blue waters on its shores.

The region is divided by its eastern, western, south and north sides, each with its own idiosyncratic features, and charms. On its western side, and to the west of Eleusis, where the internationally renowned rites of the Eleusinian Mysteries once took place for centuries, the Greek mainland narrows into Megaris, connecting to the Peloponnese peninsula at the Isthmus of Corinth. Although parts of this area still include some fairly preserved and still very charming parts, mainly on the mountains and on the coastline towards Corinth, a large part is now characterised as an industrial area, much to the detriment of the local natural landscape and the flora and fauna that once thrived here.

The southern coast of Attica, also known as the internationally adored Athens Riviera, forms the eastern coastline of the Saronic Gulf. This part of the Riviera starts at the Phaleron Gulf and extends all the way to Cape Sounion. A truly upmarket part of the region, this coastal stretch is home to a more affluent crowd with a taste for premium quality and finesse, hence the large number of top tier villas, services and amenities available in the area.

Specifically past the suburb of Glyfada, all the way to Vouliagmeni with its fantastic Lemos peninsula and the superb five star hotels available in the area, the famous Vouliagmeni Lake and all the way towards the imposing Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, you will certainly be spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying the region in style.

The Athens plain includes a plethora of semi-continuous hills, the most notable ones being the Tourkovounia, Lykavittos, the Acropolis of Athens itself and Philopappou Hill. They all offer lovely panoramic 360-degree views over the Athens plain, the surrounding mountain ranges, the Athenian Riviera, the Saronic Gulf, and the Aegean Sea beyond. East of Mount Hymettus lies the region of Mesogia, bound to the north by the foothills of Mount Penteli, to the east by the Evian or Euboean Gulf and Mount Myrrhinous, and to the south by the mountains of the ancient city and Port of Lavrion, aka Lavreotiki, Mt Paneio, and the Laureotic Mt Olympus. The Lavrion region terminates in Cape Sounion, forming the southeastern tip of the Attica peninsula.

Please remember that we are always available to provide you with tips, to offer guidance, or to assist you in perfecting the ideal Travel Design fully tailored to your own tastes and likes, prior to, or during your trip. For a peak of what is on offer, check out our Path Travel Designs website, or simply tell us what you are after by contacting us here.

The mountains of Attica are the wonderful and very easily approachable Mt. Hymettus with its many footpaths and hiking trails, the eastern portion of the charming and impressive Geraneia Mt. range, Mt. Parnitha which is in fact the highest mountain in the Attica region and an area of extreme natural beauty, barren Mt Aigaleo and the wonderful Mt Penteli.

Mt. Penteli is historically considered as Athens’ ‘Holy Mountain’, the source of a myriad of myths and legends and home to a famous ancient cave and ancient worshipping site right on the ancient quarry from which all the marble utilised to build the Parthenon and various other ancient and modern architectural gems in the city of Athens was extracted from. This remarkable quality marble, was once extracted from here and exported to all corners of the ancient world, gracing the main buildings in the cities of ancient empires with its presence and energy.

Attica’s eastern regions tell a different, yet equally attractive and charming tale. Less busy, more down to earth and in places still fairly untouched, they offer a wide range of secluded or more visited spots, cultural and historical gems, and landscapes of extreme natural beauty to lucky connoisseurs who prefer them over the more frequented and famous parts of Attica.

Athens’ main water reservoir, Lake Marathon, is an artificial reservoir created by damming in 1920. Certainly worth a visit, the impressive stone-built dam and the wider, at parts densely forested region offers several footpaths and hiking trails leading all the way up the surrounding mountains or down to the coast. Following some of these hiking trails will lead you to several wonderful beaches and other swimming spots of the region as well as the town of Marathon. The original site where the famous battle of Marathon took place millennia ago, this where the vast Persian army was defeated and stopped from conquering this early central bastion of western civilisation, thus sealing the fate of the western world in the battle’s glory.

Pine and fir forests cover the area around Mt. Parnitha and the northern parts of Attica are mainly covered by thickly forested mountains which form the start of a continuous range of high mountains spanning the centre of the Greek mainland, all the way up to the north of the country. Some parts of the sprawling forests of Mt. Penteli and Mt. Parnitha have unfortunately been lost to forest fires, though there is still a lot of natural sightseeing to charm and impress you in these wonderful parts of Attica.

Making sure you enjoy the fantastic Attica region in full comfort & style is exactly what we do.

Check out the different prime quality accommodation options we offer on the island below, let us know about what you are seeking so we can give you tips and arrange it all for you here, and treat yourself with a trip that will certainly relax and rejuvenate you this summer!