SurfinGR, Attica, Artemida, Agios Nikolaos

Activities: Windsurf, Kitesurf, SUP
Popularity: Much
Style: Freeride, Slalom, Race/Formula
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Good, Specialist

Artemida (best known as Loutsa) is one of the best surfing spots near Athens. It is located at the easternmost part of the wider Athens area. It is a quick bus ride away.

Agios Nikolaos beach has very good facilities at the spot and close nearby. Agios Nikolaos (and Loutsa in general) is very popular because the weather conditions allow surfers of any level (from beginner to expert) to enjoy their favorite sport.

The spot remains a popular draw, even during periods when northerly or southerly winds blow in the winter.

Best Months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Medium Months:
Wind Type: Thermal Winds, Frontal Winds
Best Direction: N, NNE, NE, SE, SSE, S
Main Direction: N, NNE, NE, SE, SSE, S
Worst Direction: W
Wind Factor: 11-16 knots (4 bft), 17-21 knots (5 bft), 22-27 knots (6 bft), 28-33 knots (7 bft)
Main Wind Direction: Offshore, Side Offshore, Onshore
Blowing at: Morning, Midday, Afternoon
Wave Tack: Port (from the left)

The best wind direction blows from the N, NNE, and NE direction, with average force 13-25 knots depends of the forecast.

Flat water and gusty wind close to the beach, chop conditions and stable wind close to the islet and deeper. Offshore with N, Side Offshore with NE wind.

Nice conditions for wave-windsurfing with S winds.

Not ideal spot for beginner kitesurfers.

Type: Flat, Chop, Small Wave (< 1m)
Quality: Clean
Depth: Shallow (walking several steps not to step on)
Seabed: Sand, Stones
Attention: Reefs, Stones

Flat water close to the beach, nice speed-windsurfing sessions with NE winds. Deeper always choppy. Waves when southern wind blows, especially with S/SE.

Be careful of the reefs at the east side of the area, from the islet till shore. Some stones close to the small pier and in front of Agios Spyridonas Church.

Type: Sand, Stones, Seaweed
Size: Medium
Bathers Period: July, August
Bathers: Sparse
Shade: No
Kid Friendly: Yes
Attention:

The beach is sandy with some stones locally and much seaweed.

The beach is not as crowded as Heliotrope beach is, however pay attention; there are some bathers especially in summer time.

GPS Google Maps: 37.99072, 24.02656

Artemida (or Loutsa) is situated in east Attica and is a suburban town about 35 km east of Athens center, 14 km northeast of the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and south of Rafina Port.

Arrival by Airplane: The new airport of Athens “Eleftherios Venizelos”, one of the best airports in Europe, (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV) is located in Spata Town and serves flights to Greece daily from several international airlines from all over the world. You can take a charter flight, so you can carry your windsurf equipment with you as well.

The metro and the Proastiakos-Suburban railway, as well as taxis and buses to and from Athens are to be found opposite the main exit of the airport. The distance is 44 km. The bus journey takes between 35 and 45 minutes to the city centre at Syntagma (Parliament) Square (of course depending on the time and traffic), therefore the best way is to take the “Athens metro” that connects the airport with Athens and Piraeus. There are car hire agencies at the airport, in case you want to rent a vehicle.

If you want to go directly to Agios Nikolaos spot by car or taxi, the airport is 13 km away, with quick and easy access. The metro and the Proastiakos-Suburban railway do not serve this area!

Arrival by Ferry/Boat: If you are coming from the European continent and you prefer to take the ferry from an Italian Port, you need to head towards Italy and the Italian ports of Ancona, Venice Bari or Brindisi. Those ports have daily connections to Corfu, Igoumenitsa and Patras. If you are coming from Aegean Sea (from a Greek Island, Turkey or Cyprus) you will reach one of the Attica’s Ports in Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio Town.

Arrival by Car, Moto, Camper Van: If you’re coming by Ferry from an Italian port, Patra is about 211 km away from the center of Athens and Igoumenitsa is about 445 km. There are some good highways a like the Corinth-Athens and the Athens-Larissa, Corinth-Tripoli and the Egnatia highway. Artemida is about 35 km away from Athens and 49 km away from Piraeus, 5 km from Rafina and 50 km from Lavrio. If you come from Thessaloniki -Greece's second largest city- the distance is about 521 km till Athens center. To reach the spot drive 25is Martiou Street (the main street of Artemida’s Agios Nikolaos area) and turn right just before Agios Nikolaos Church.

Arrival by Bus: There is bus route available to Artemida - Agios Nikolaos area from Athens centre and from the airport, all year long. You can reach Agios Nikolaos spot by 4 minutes’ walking route.

Arrival by Train: Train travel is not so much in fashion anymore due to the complexity of the journey through the Balkans. Rail services link Thessaloniki with, Athens, Thrace and Patra. The line through what was once Yugoslavia provides connections with Central and Western Europe. The line through Bulgaria connects to Eastern Europe and the line through Istanbul, Turkey with the countries of the Near East.

If you to come to Attica by train, you can get the metro Line 2 from “Stathmos Larissis” station.