Athens to Glyfada: How to Get There + What to Do
Wondering how to get from Athens to the beautiful seaside suburb of Glyfada?
Located just a short distance south of the city center of Athens, Glyfada offers a quick getaway for city dwellers looking to escape the summer tourist horde and soak up some sun.
In this post, we’ll cover all the transportation options available to get you from Athens to Glyfada and some of the best things to see and do once you arrive.
Public Transportation in Athens
Athens has an extensive public transportation network consisting of buses, trams, and metro lines. They are all connected, so combine any of these services from any one point of the city to another on the same ticket within the allotted time frame.
Public Transportation Costs
Greece uses the euro, and tickets start at just €1.20 for a 90-minute single-use.
For those planning multiple rides, there are various options available to choose from. These include round-trip tickets, 5-ride packs, 10-ride packs, 24-hour validation, and more, all at a reduced price per ride.
For instance, round trip = €2.30 and 24 hours = €4.10.
Tickets can be purchased at any metro station ticket booth or online in advance via the OASA website.
Getting from Athens to Glyfada
These are the main transportation available for getting from Athens to Glyfada. You may need to combine transportation methods to get to your final destination.
- Metro
- Bus
- Tram
- Taxi
Metro from Athens to Glyfada
If you’re looking for the fastest route, hop on the Metro! It’s a quicker option since you’ll avoid all that city traffic, but you’ll need to use a combination of Metro and bus.
The entire route will still take about 35 minutes, depending on when the bus comes and where is your final destination in Glyfada. The route runs from 5:30 am to 12:00 am daily.
Step 1
Take or transfer to the Red Metro Line and ride it to the end of the line to Elliniko station. The Metro comes approximately every 5 – 8 minutes.
Step 2
Unfortunately, you will still be too far from Glyfada. So you can take a taxi or bus right outside Eiliniko Station.
Almost all the bus routes go there, so you can take 122, 171, or A3. There is a digital sign that tells you when the buses are going to arrive.
Bus from Athens to Glyfada
The easiest way to get between the two cities with the least amount of transfers is by taking the bus. Athens runs several routes that go straight from the city center to Glyfada.
Take either the A2 or A3 buses from Syntagma Square in central Athens near all the historical ruins. The A2 runs along the oceanside while the A3 runs more inland to the center of Glyfada before cutting to the beachside.
The ride duration is about 45 – 50 minutes, and buses leave every 15 to 20 minutes, although the journey duration may vary based on traffic. The route runs from 5:30 am to 12:00 am daily.
Tram from Athens to Glyfada
The tram system (the above-ground train) in Athens is the slowest way to get around the city. With only two lines available, no direct route operates between Glyfada and the city center.
But, if you are coming from Piraeus Port, the T7 is an amazing option that directly connects the two places.
For transportation from the city center, it is recommended to take the Metro or the bus because it is way faster. However, you can opt for the tram to the seaside and switch to the T7.
The tram runs approximately every 5 minutes and operates until 1am.
Taxi from Athens to Glyfada
Taking a taxi is an easy and comfortable way to reach your destination quickly but by far the most expensive.
A journey from Athens to Glyfada usually ranges from €12-20 and takes approximately 30 minutes from the city center. Traffic congestion may occur during peak hours. Also, be aware that night-time rates might be much higher than daytime rates.
Taxis use meters and can be flagged down from the street or booked in advance via an app called FreeNow or Uber. However, due to the taxi union, ride-hailing services can only call official taxicabs.
Things to Do in Glyfada
Once you arrive at Glyfada, here are some of the top activities and attractions worth exploring:
Glyfada Beach
Relax on one of the most accessible beaches near Athens and enjoy views of Vouliagmeni Bay. Renting a boat for a day trip to nearby islands is also possible. There are also plenty of restaurants and coffee shops around.
Glyfada Shopping District
Glyfada has some awesome shopping streets with a variety of designer stores, luxury brands, boutiques, and more.
Upscale Restaurants & Nightlife
Glyfada is known for its upscale nightlife scene. There are a few bar clubs to spend your evenings in style.
Glyfada Golf Club
For golfers looking for high-quality greens in Athens, the Glyfada Golf Club has 18 challenging holes in a picturesque setting. They also provide lessons and competitions.
Final Thoughts: Athens to Glyfada
So there you have it – all the info you need to get from Athens to Glyfada, along with some things to do once you’re there! Whether you’re going for a quick day trip or thinking of staying a bit longer, we hope this guide has been helpful in getting you to this seaside town.
Where Next in Greece?
I spent almost two months going around all of Greece. Check out these other posts to see if any of these destinations pique your interest.
- 16 Must-Visit Athens Historical Sites
- 8 Delicious Food Tours in Athens
- 11 Best Athens Private Tours
- Koufonisia Island Travel Guide
- Amorgos Island Travel Guide
- 7 Best Mykonos Private Tours
Have Travel Questions About Greece? Maybe I’ve Answered Them
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Catherine Xu is the founder and author of Nomadicated, an adventure travel blog that helps travelers cross off their bucket list. Since discovering traveling in 2015, she has lived and journeyed to 65 countries across 5 continents and vanlifed the west coast USA for 2+ years. These days, she splits her time in Southeast Asia and California while sharing her travel stories and resources based on first-hand experiences. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.