The list of European capitals where windsurfing and kitesurfing beaches are just a short drive away is not a long one. And if you’re looking for a place where wetsuits are merely optional for nearly half the year, it gets shorter still.
Step forward Athens. Whether you’re an expert looking to sneak in some time on the water between sightseeing, or a novice interested in enlivening your exploration of the Athens Riviera, there are many clubs offering windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons and equipment.
Why not add windsurfing to your Athenian adventures?
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
Athens’ Best Spots to Windsurf and Kitesurf
The peninsula of Attica can be divided into two basic coastlines, both of which have several surfing locations: the southwestern coast extending from Piraeus to Sounion at the tip of the peninsula, and the northeastern coast extending from Marathon (Schinias) in the north to Sounion in the south.
The Southwestern Coast
Along this stretch, the northerly winds blow out to sea—usually at an angle to the coastline. This means that the conditions are flat and, if the wind is not too strong, good for windsurfing beginners and intermediates. However, it also means that the wind tends to be quite gusty, making it unsuitable for kitesurfing (though one can kitesurf at Anavyssos, when the winds blow from the south).
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
Varkiza Bay
Best for: Beginners, intermediates & families
Athens’ closest windsurfing hub. The beach is divided into two sections. Half is taken up by Yabanaki beach resort, home to the water-sports club Yasurfaki. They offer windsurfing rental, as well as lessons with experienced instructors, together with a full range of watersports (wakeboarding, banana boats, SUPs).
The beach resort has a full range of amenities including cafes and restaurants, showers and children’s play areas, making it a good option for those with non-windsurfing family/friends. (You’ll need to pay an entrance fee of about €5-7 to the beach resort itself). Yasurfaki opens only from May to late September/early October.
For a more back-to-basics experience, at the other end of the beach you’ll find the Nautical Sports Club of Varkiza. They offer lessons for beginners and intermediates, and very limited rental for the more advanced. Lessons are usually arranged in hour-long blocks in the morning and afternoon. Weekends spaces fill up fast, so book ahead. Open all year round, but do confirm before making the trip.
"Weekends spaces fill up fast, so book ahead."
The Northeastern Coast
Schinias
Best for: All levels & families
On the beach of Schinias, you will find one of the oldest windsurfing clubs anywhere: Moraitis, established in 1979 when the sport was still in its infancy. What began as a shack and a few boards is today an attractive complex, complete with grassy areas and all the amenities surfers and their families could want. Windsurfing rentals and lessons are available daily in summer and on weekends and windy days throughout the year. Further down the bay, you’ll find several other clubs.
While Schinias is somewhat sheltered from the northerly winds, there is a local thermal effect in the summer. So even when there’s no wind elsewhere, particularly on hot days, there is likely to be a decent breeze in the bay. The reliable, relatively mild winds and sheltered sandy bay are great for beginners and intermediates gaining confidence, or for experts on large formula/slalom boards. Schinias beach is also ideal for non-windsurfing families. The site of the ancient battle of Marathon and Schinias national park are nearby.
Sandy Schinias is a great all-round pleaser.
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
Follow the winds to Loutsa.
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
Artemida - Loutsa
Best for: All levels
Further down this coast lies Artemida (AKA Loutsa). This stretch receives the steadiest (and strongest) winds when they come from the north, making it suitable for kitesurfing as well as windsurfing. All of the clubs here are open year round.
Among the most famous is Nissakia, situated on a point of land opposite a small islet and offering a full suite of kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons and equipment. It is very exposed to the northerly winds, which are stronger here than anywhere else on the Attica peninsula. On windy days, the sky fills with colourful kites and sails, and the water gets crowded. Upwind of the point and beyond the islet, largish waves make for bump-and-jump conditions for experts, whereas downwind the water is flat and more suitable for intermediates. Nissakia has a good cafe-restaurant-bar, which attracts non-sailing types.
Looking to avoid the crowds? Just down the beach, several clubs operate on a long, sandy stretch. One of the largest, Athens Watersports Club, offers a full range of windsurf and kitesurf rentals and lessons for all levels. Near the beach the water is flat (with a sandy seabed) making it good for beginners and intermediates, while the more experienced can head further out and upwind to play in the waves. SUP and kayak (surfski) lessons and rentals are also available.
Front row to the action at Nissakia.
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
Dance on water at Artemida.
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
A little further down, you’ll find former pro windsurfer Tony Frey’s Windsurfing Club, offering windsurfing equipment rental. Tony has an infectious enthusiasm for the sport and the club exudes positive energy. Frey’s guidance, together with the steady conditions and lack of rocks or other hazards make it a great place for intermediates to hone their skills and build confidence. Frey also offers classic surfing lessons for kids in the small waves that arrive on the beach, giving them their first experience of standing up on a board, so the spot is great for a fun family surfing experience. She also runs week-long surf camps for kids.
Expect to Pay:
About €20-30 per hour to rent equipment during summer, and €30-40 for an hour-long lesson. Many clubs also offer packages with significantly cheaper hourly rates. Do check that insurance is included in the price to avoid being on the hook for any damage to equipment.
When to worship the winds in Athens.
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
A word on Athenian winds
Spring and summer: The wind pretty much only ever blows strongly from a northerly/northeasterly direction (this is known as the meltemi or etesian wind). This wind creates the best (mainly flat-water) conditions and is therefore the one to watch. Typically it picks up in the morning, reaching peak strength in the early afternoon.
Autumn and winter: The wind generally either comes from the north (dry and cold) or from the south (warm, damp and usually cloudy/rainy). With the latter, Athens’ south-facing beaches also get decent sized waves for some onshore wave-sailing. However, these winds are notoriously fickle, so take the forecasts with a pinch of salt. Check out wind forecasts at windguru.cz.