SurfinGR, Attica, Lavrio

Activities: Windsurf, Kitesurf, SUP
Popularity: Much
Style: Freeride, Freestyle, Wave
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Good, Specialist

If you are a windsurfer in Attica (and especially a wave-seeker) then you're gonna love Lavrio beach. The spot is located only 2 km from Lavrio Port (with connection to several Greek islands) so you can plan your journey accordingly.

The beach is 63 km away from the center of Athens, but the true northerly justifies the extra 25-minute drive for some big jumping waves. This spot meets the most of prerequisites for superb wave windsurf sessions in Attica. The absence of bathers makes also Lavrio one of the best surfing spots near Athens.

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
Main Direction:
Worst Direction:
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: Onshore
Blowing at: Morning, Midday, Afternoon
Wave Tack: Port (from the left)

Lavrio is a good alternative to Nissakia (also with fewer kiters). All northerly wind directions are rideable here, come straight into the bay. As more E as better (less gusts).

With southern wind there are much better (and cleaner) spots.

Type: Flat, Chop, Small Wave (< 1m), Medium Wave (1-3m)
Quality: Polluted
Depth: Shallow (walking several steps not to step on)
Seabed: Sand
Attention:

With strong NNE wind excellent waves and relatively safe spot. Really shallow waters.

Useful info for kitesurfers: Not suitable for beginners because it is completely onshore. Take off and land your kite into the water at least 20 meters away from the shore, keep a safe distance from the other riders, and do not jump away from the bay.

Lavrio is the port from which the daily ferry services run to nearby islands, which doesn't much help the water quality. Also, it is not recommended since it is very close to the old DuPont chemical plant. However, there are many windsurfers & kitesurfers who cannot resist in the good conditions of northern winds and the spacious beach with the sandy bottom.

Type: Sand, Rocks
Size: Medium
Bathers Period: Never
Bathers: No
Shade: No
Kid Friendly:
Attention:

The sandy beach has a lot of space. It is situated on a bay overlooking Makronisos Island (ancient times: Helena) in the east.

GPS Google Maps: 37.72269, 24.05689

Nearly at the southeast part of Attica, shortly after Sounio, lies Lavrio. It is the seat of the municipality of Lavreotiki.

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 are to be found opposite the main exit of the airport. There are car hire agencies at the airport, in case you want to rent a vehicle. The transfer is about 35 min (42 km).

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.

Lavrio is about 63 km away from Athens and 67 km away from Piraeus, 54 km from Rafina and only 2 km from Lavrio (this port has several itineraries to Kea, Lesvos, Limnos, Chios and some other islands of the Aegean Sea). If you come from Thessaloniki -Greece's second largest city- the distance is about 549 km.

Private access to the harbor of Lavrio it is feasible through Lavriou Avenue (then Attica road in the direction towards Markopoulo). From the southern suburbs access is possible via Varis - koropiou Avenue and Avenue Markopoulou. The spot is right on Lavriou Avenue, 2 km before the port.

Arrival by Bus: Buses of KTEL from Attica to Lavrio leave daily from the street at Pedion Areos Mavromateon. The starting point is within a 10-minute walk from Victoria station of the line 1 subway station, across the road Cheyden. The services are performed every 30-60 minutes depending on the hour, from 5: 45 in the morning until 9: 30 at night. The journey takes about 2 hours.

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 choose to come to Attica by train, when you’ll arrive to “Stathmos Larissis” station, you’ll get the metro Line 2 with direction to “Agios Dimitrios” and after two stops you’ll arrive to Omonia. Then you’ll get on the "Electric" Line 1st having direction towards "Kifissia" and you get off at "Viktoria". Coming out of the station you go to Pedion tou Areos from where you can take the intercity bus (KTEL) that goes to Lavrio. Then a taxi will take you to the spot.

Also, when you’ll arrive to “Stathmos Larissis” station, you’ll get the metro Line 2 with direction to “Agios Dimitrios” and after four stops you’ll arrive to Syntagma. You can take the tram from Syntagma to Voula and then take a taxi. A taxi ride from Voula takes about 30 minutes and cost less than half of the taxi ride from Athens.