Sports in Athens

Greece, the country where the Olympic Games were born, is ideal for the development of sports activities as well as holding sports events (sports tourism). During the past few decades, more and more big athletic events in many sports (world championships, European competitions, important international tournaments etc) have been organized in the country, culminating of course in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

These sports events have considerably contributed to the construction of many modern bigger or smaller sports facilities, stadiums and training centers for a wide range of sports all over Greece, where both the local people and visitors to the area have the opportunity to practice their favorite sports: from athletics, soccer, volleyball and basketball to tennis, golf, sailing or windsurfing. Moreover, many hotels provide special sports facilities for their customers (basketball, volleyball, tennis, golf, water sports etc).

The General Secretariat of Sports, Panepistimiou 25 (210 3294 227), provides information on sport in Athens.

Athletics in Athens

Millon Athletic Club** A. Korai & Vassiliou Megalou Streets Nea Smirni, Athens Tel, 210 9330 342 Open from 09:00-22:30	Glyfada Athletic Club*** Fivis & Metaxa Streets Tel, 210 8943 807 Open from 16:00-20:00 Closed from July to September
Kifissia Athletic Club** 49, Tatoiou Street, Strofili, Kifissia Tel. 210 6204 715 Open from 08:00-22:00	** non-members admitted *** members only

Athens Marathon

137, Syngrou Avenue, 171 21 Athens - 210 935 1888.
Most of the world's major cities have an annual marathon. Athens has the original. Commemorating the famous run of the soldier Pheidippides in 490 BC, the 42-kilometre (26.2-mile) race begins at the town of Marathon itself and ends up in the beautiful Panathinaic (Kalimarmero) Stadium in Athens.

The tradition of the marathon began with Pheidippides' running from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news that the Greeks had defeated the Persians. Upon arrival, he was only able to pronounce the word “nenikikamen” (we have won) before dying of exhaustion. The modern tradition began in Athens in 1896 with the revival of the Olympic Games.

Nowadays, the marathon is run every first Sunday of November. It begins at 08:30 at the ancient battlefield of Marathon and winds past Mati, Rafina, Pikermi, Pallini, Stavros and Halandri before arriving at the Athens Panathinaic Stadium. The middle of the route is mildly hilly while the rest is either flat or downhill and the running surface is asphalt all the way. Participants must be 18 or older.

If you think of running the Athens marathon, make sure you book your hotel in Athens well in advance. You can search and book your hotel safely online through our Hotel and accommodation pages. Details on the Athens marathon can be obtained from Seggas, Syngrou 137 (210 935 9346) or on www.athensclassicmarathon.gr.

Athens Spartathlon

The Spartathlon is a historic ultra-distance foot race (246 km – 153 miles) that takes place on the last Friday of September of every year in Greece. It is one of the most difficult and satisfying ultra distance races in the world because of its unique history and background.

It started from Herodotus’ account of the Battle of Marathon. The historian described the details of the battle many years later and mentioned the deeds of Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger, sent by his generals to Sparta in order to secure help for the reinforcement of the Athenian forces against the Asiatic incursion. According to Herodotus, Pheidippides arrived in Sparta “on the next day of his departure” from Athens.

The Spartathlon runners follow in the footsteps of the ancient messenger Pheidippides, with some small deviations, starting from the Propylae of the Acropolis at 07:00 on the last Friday of September. Chronologically, according to Herodotus, this was the time that Pheidippides departed from Athens. For more info, see http://spartathlon.webvista.net/index.html.

Acropolis Rally of Greece

On October 1924, Vladimiros Bensis, a professor of medicine, established the Hellenic Car Club together with Antonis Stathatos, Demetres Aravantinos, the publisher of the newspaper "Vradini" and other socially prominent persons. The professor took over the presidency of the club and maintained the position until 1926 when Antonis Stathatos succeeded him. The club was named ELPA and became a member of the Federation Internationale Automobile (FIA) in 1928.

The first Greek car race was held in 1926 sponsored by the newspaper "Vradini". The racing cars were clocked driving a one-kilometer distance along Syngrou Avenue. Today, top rally drivers from all over the world come to Athens every year in June to take part in famous Acropolis Rally, a week of top cars and top times.

Football in Athens

As in most European countries football is a national sport. Athens has a lot of football teams with two major clubs: Panathinaikos (Olympic Stadium - Marousi – 65.000 seats) and Olympiakos (Georgios Karaiskaki Stadium – Piraeus – 33.000 seats). The football season runs from September to May and matches are played on Saturday and Sunday. Often you will see Greeks flocking together in cafes and smaller restaurants to watch international and national football matches. If you join them, get ready for a loud evening with a lot of atmosphere and heated discussions.

Individual venue ticket offices sell tickets for national sporting events, while Segas, Syngrou 137 (210 9359 346, www.segas.gr), sells tickets to international events.

Golf in Athens

Chrysostomou Smyrnis Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens - 210 894 6820
The Glyfada international par 72, 18-hole golf course, designed by D. Harradine in 1962 and remodeled in 1979 by the American golf architect Robert Trent Jones, not only is the pride of the Attica region, it also is the only golf course in Athens. It is situated next to the site of the former Athens airport in Glyfada and is open throughout the year except on Christmas day and Easter Sunday.

The golf complex also features a pro-shop, a practice range, dressing rooms, a golf academy, restaurants, a clubhouse, the Spike Bar, a convention room and two tennis courts. Its reception area can cater for 4.000 people. The Glyfada Golf Course is open Tuesday to Sunday from 07:30 until sunset and Monday from 13:00 to sunset. Membership is not required but a handicap card is requested.

Cycling in Athens

If you think Athens is the last city in the world to go cycling, you couldn’t be more wrong. More and more center areas are banned from traffic (cars and motorcycles but not bicycles), most of the small streets in the center are avoided by cars, cars stand still in traffic jams while cyclists keep going… in short, in Athens you often get somewhere quicker on a bicycle than in a car.

If you are visiting Athens with children, a bicycle is the perfect way to go sightseeing as your (little) children won’t complain they are tired from walking. On top, you can see more in less time and it is the most environment friendly way to see the city.

Pame Volta (23, Agathonos Street, 15343 Ag. Paraskevi, Athens - 210 6752 886 - www.pamevolta.gr/) is specialized in renting out city, trekking and mountain bikes. You can go on an organized bike tour or bike trip with them (in and outside Athens) or, if you prefer, you can discover the beauty of Athens and surrounding area on your own. They will deliver the perfect bicycle to your hotel if you want to.

Fitness in Athens

Anima Soma	7, Aiolou Street, Agia Paraskevi	210 6015 688	Alternative gym, shiatsu, calanetics, aromatheraphy, yoga, massage etc.
Anne Semonin	36, Anagnostopoulou Street, Kolonaki	210 3634 014	Spa center
Athens Gym***	Vas. Kostandinou Street,	-	The most gay gym in Athens One day or one month membership
Be Fit	62, Vosporou Street, Kalogreza	210 2758 196	For women and childeren
Biotherik	8, Ach. Paraschou Street, Halandri	210 6834 974	CO2 baths
Bodycentric	23, Ilidos Steet, Ambelokipi	210 7473 754	Pilates studio
Caroli Health Club	65, Kyprou Street, Glyfada	210 8980 746	Spa center
Cocoon Urban Spa	9, Souliou & Erifylis Street, Halandri	210 6561 975	Spa center
Corupus Ray	100, Kifisias Avenue, Athens	210 6926 209	Pilates studio
Flamingo Fitness Club	31, Caravel Hotel Square, 116 34 Athens 09:00-10:30, Saturday 10:00-16:00	210 8290 548	Fitness, bodybuilding, sauna, steam baths
Flex Baths***	6 Poliklitou Street, Monastiraki	-	Luxurious showers, rest rooms, full gym, video & tv room, 3 relax areas. Thu-Sat: 16:00-02:00
Grand Bretagne Spa	Syntagma Square	210 3330 000	Spa center
Hercules Fitness Club	35, Ethnikis Antistaseos Street, Nea Erythraia	210 8073 834	3 gyms, pool, sauna, hydro(massage), solarium.
Hilmes Place	40, Agiou Konstantinou Street, Marousi	210 6179 316	Squach, aaerobics, pool etc.
Ira Baths***	4 Zinonos Street, Omonia	-	Simple rooms and rooms with bathroom, 09:30-18:00, closed on Sunday
Kenko Atletic Center	222, Eleftheriou Venizelou, Paleo Faliro	210 9832 753	finess, shotokan-karate, bodybuilding, gymnastiek, aerobics.
La Prairie Dayily Spa	24, Kanari Street, Kolonaki 238-240, Kifisias Avenue, Kifisia	210 3601 350 210 6230 101	Massage, shiatsu, aromatherapy, lymphatic
Palestra**	2-4, Mesogeion Avenue, Athens	210 7770 606	Gym, sauna, steam baths
Sauna Hera***	4 Zionon Street, Omonia	-	Older men. Basement sauna, private cabins.
Sauna Athens Relax***	8 Xouthou Street; Omonia	-	Young and mature men, rent boys. Dark rooms, Turkisch sauna, joint showers. Joint changing rooms and private cabins. 12:00-19:00, not open on Sunday
Sauna Hotel Intercontinental***	89-93 Syngrou Avenue, Athens	-	All ages. Sauna, steam bath, gym, bar. 11:00-21:00
Status**	128, Dekeleias, Nea Filadelfeia	210 2523 237	Aqua fitness pool, basketball, mini soccer etc.
Universal	376, Patission Street, Patisia 226, Thivon Street, Agios Ioannis Rentis	210 2110 147	Gym, hydromassage, step, aerobics, Swedish etc.
** members only *** gays sauna's and baths.

Horse races in Athens

The Markopoulo racetrack is located near the airport in Spata . There is racing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 17:00 in summer and from 15:00 in winter.

Horseback riding in Athens

The Hellenic Equestrian Federation 55 Messinias Steet. - 115 27 Athens 210 7786 297

Attikos Riding Club 5a Alopekis Street - 106 75 Athens 210 6626 429

Panellinios Riding Club 15 Profiti Ilia Street - 171 10 Nea Smirni, Athens 210 6625 690

Hellenic Riding Club 18 Paradissou Street, Paradissos - 151 25 Marousi, Athens 210 6812 506

Mountaineering and hiking in Athens

This is becoming increasingly popular and there is scope for hill walking and climbing. There are well-maintained trails in the most popular areas, supplemented by donkey and goat tracks connecting villages and leading over mountains.

Acharnes Alpine Club	126, Filadelfias Street, 136 71 Acharnes 210 2461528
Alpine Club of "Pr. Daniel"	5, Thimvriou Street, 111 42 Athens 210 2181263
Athens Climbers Association	41, Kallidromiou Street, 106 81 Athens 210 3834817
Athens Hiking Club	45, Zaimi Street, 106 82 Athens 210 8218401
Athens Alpine Club	64, Ermou Street, P.O. Box 30022 Athens 210 3212355
Athenian Alpine Club	3, Plateia Ag. Theodoron, 105 61 Athens 210 3238775
Egaleo Alpine Club	28, Taigetou Street, 122 44 Egaleo 210 5909459
Elefsina Alpine Club	27, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, 192 00 Elefsina 210 5545430
Piraeus Nature Lover Society	14-16, Messinias Street, 251 00 Piraeus 210 4170814
Krystallis Piraeus Climbers Association	30-32, Karaiskou & Pylis Streets, 185 32 Piraeus 210 4174094
Piraeus Climbers & Skiers Association	1, Pl. Loudovikou, 185 31 Piraeus 210 4118400
Club of Mountain & Sea Friends	18, Posseidonos Street, 166 73 Voula 210 9657879
Ipethrios Zoi	9, Vass. Sophias Avenue, Athens 210 3615779

Water sports in Athens

There are excellent facilities along all coastlines of the mainland. Most major hotels can help with arrangements. Water-skiing is especially popular and there are over 30 water-ski schools in Greece with restaurants and child-care facilities. Speed boats are also available for hire. For further information, contact the Hellenic Federation of Underwater Activities, West Terminal Post Office, Agios Kosmas, 166 04 Hellenikon, Athens - 210 9819 961.

Fishing in Athens

Greek waters offer good fishing, particularly during the summer and autumn. Boats and equipment can be found in most villages.

Sailing in Athens

Information on races is available from the Hellenic Sailing Federation (210 323 5560).

Club	Address - Location	Postal code	Location
S.C. of Pireas	Mikrolimano	185 33	Pireas
S.C. of Thessaloniki	Istioploikos Bay	546 43	Thessaloniki
S.C. of Thessaloniki	Mikron Emvolon	551 31	Thessaloniki
S. Club	Mikrolimano	185 33	Pireas
Sailing Club of Paleo Faliro	Marina of Flisvos	175 10	Paleo Faliro
Sailing Club of Kalamaria	Mikron Emvolon	551 10	Thessaloniki
Sailing Club of Kerkyra	P.O. Box 95	491 00	Kerkyra island
Sailing Club of Kalamaki	-	174 56	Kalamaki
Sailing Club of Kallithea	Kallithea - Tzitzifies	176 02	Kallithea
P.O.I.A.Th.	3, Akti Dilaveri	185 33	Pireas
Sailing Club of Glyfada	P.O. Box 70002	166 01	Glyfada
Sailing Club of Andros island	-	845 00	Andros island
Sailing Club "Poseidon" of Kalamata	-	241 00	Kalamata
Sailing Club of Syros	9, Akti Katadromikou Elli	841 00	Syros island
Sailing Club of Kavala	-	650 01	Kavala
Sailing Club of Voula	Kokinos Vrachos	166 73	Voula
Sailing Club of Zakynthos	-	291 00	Zakynthos
Sailing Club of Patra	Akti Iroon Polytechneiou Terpsithea	262 42	Patra
Sailing Club of Creta	Akti Kanari - Nea Chora - Hania	731 00	Hania, Crete
Sailing Club of Hellinikon	Post Office of West (old) Airport	166 04	Helliniko
Sailing Club of Mati, Attica	Mati, Attica	190 09	Mati, Attica
Sailing Club of Sea Athletes	46, Poseidonos Avenue	175 61	Paleo Faliro
Sailing Club of "DEI" personnel	Poseidonos Avenue Delta of Faliro	176 02	Faliro Delta
Sailing Club of Kiato	2, Sot. Poulou Street	202 00	Kiato
Sailing Club of Agii Apostoli	Agii Apostoli - Kalamos	190 17	Kalamos
Sailing Club of Athens	Mikrolimano	185 33	Pireas
Sailing Club "Aeolos"	P.O. Box 8 - Kalamata Bay	241 01	Kalamata
S.E.A.N.A.T. of Kallithea	P.O. Box 6 - Kallithea, Tzitzifies	176 02	Kallithea
Sailing Club of Lamia	-	351 00	Lamia
Sailing Club "Alcyone" of Rafina	-	190 09	Rafina
I.O.B.A. of the sea	98, Iasonos Street	382 21	Volos
Sailing Club of Lavreotiki	-	195 00	Lavrio
Sailing Club of Porto Lago	-	670 63	Porto Lago
Sailing Club of Artemis	-	190 16	Little Port of Artemis
Sailing Club "Delfinario"	2, Akti Dilaveri	185 33	Pireas
Sailing Club of Raches	Raches, Fthiotida	353 00	Raches, Fthiotida
Sailing Club "I proodos" of Ithaki	-	283 00	Ithaki island
Sailing Club of Iraklion	P.O. Box. 1188 - Heraklion Port Crete	712 02	Heraklion, Crete
Sailing Club "Poseidon" of Aigio	Myrtia Beach	251 00	Aigio
Sailing Club of Rodos island	45, Ethnarchou Makariou Street	851 00	Rodos
Sailing Club of Peace and Friendship	2, Akti Dilaveri	185 33	Neo Faliro
Sailing Club of Nafpaktos	Kathodos Dorieon - Gribovo	303 00	Nafpaktos
Sailing Club of the Greek police officers	1, Taxiarchon Street, Kalamaria	551 32	Thessaloniki
Sailing Club of OTE	1A, Myronos Street & Epidavrou Street	185 33	Pireas
Sailing corporation of Peace and Friendship	P.O. Box. 87541	185 07	Pireas
Sailing Club of Galaxidi	-	330 52	Galaxidi
Sailing Corporation of Aigio	1, Poseidonos Street	251 00	Aigio
Sailing Club of Argostoli	16, Ilia Zervou Street	281 00	Argostoli
Sailing Club of Aegean	4, Agiou Nikolaou Street		Porto Rafti
Sailing Club of Hania	1, Tsouderon Street, Hania	731 00	Hania, Crete
Sailing Club of Nafplio	9, Profiti Ilia Street	221 00	Nafplio
Sailing Club "Aiolos" of Agios Nikolaos	GNTO Marina, Agios Nikolaos	721 00	Agios Nikolaos Crete
Sailing Club of Corfu (Kerkyra)	P.O. Box 75	491 00	Kerkyra island
L.O.I.A.Th.	47 Kountourioti Street (Georgateli stoa)	811 00	Mytilini island
Sailing Club of Amfithea	Akti Poseidonos	175 10	Paleo Faliro
Sailing Club "Niiris" of Methana	-	180 30	Methana
Sailing Club of Samos	3, Th.Sofouli Street	831 00	Samos island
Sailing Club of Kavala	Coastal Avenue of Kavala	655 00	Kavala
Sailing Club of Halkida	Thrasyvoulou Papastrati Avenue Vourkos Bay	341 00	Halkida
Corporation of open sea sailing of Attica	14, Themidos Street	175 63	Paleo Faliro
Sailing Club of Macedonia-Thrace	3B, Kydonion Street	546 45	Thessaloniki

Scuba diving in Athens

The Aegean Dive Center in Glyfada (210 894 5409) organizes scuba diving tuition with English-speaking instructors and one-day diving trips along the coast between Glyfada and Cape Sounio. Independent scuba-diving is strictly forbidden in order to guard against the pilfering of underwater antiquities. Divers may only venture out under the auspices of a recognized diving school. Snorkeling is permitted and is possible practically anywhere

Skiing in Greece

Prefecture	Mountain	Location
Eastern Makedonia & Thraki
Drama	Falakro	Agio Pneuma
Kavala	Pangeo	Kilada Orfea
Serres	Vrondous	Lailias
Western & Central Makedonia
Florina	Verno (Vitsi)	Vigla
Grevena	Vassilitsa	Diaselo Vassilitsas
Imathia	Vermio	Tria Pente Pigadia
Imathia	Vermio	Seli
Kastoria	Verno (Vitsi)	Oxya
Pella	Voras (Kaimaktsalan)	Voras (Kaimaktsalan)
Epirus
Ioannina	Pindos	Profitis Ilias
Ioannina	Pindos	Karakoli
Thessalia
Larissa	Olympos	Vrissopoules
Magnesia	Pilion	Agriolefkes
Trikala	Koziakas	Pertouliotika Livadia
Sterea Ellada
Evritania	Timfristos (Velouhi)	Diavolotopos
Fthiotida	Parnassos	Kellaria - Fterolaka
Viotia	Parnassos	Gerondovrachos
Peloponnese
Achaia	Helmos (Aroania)	Vathia Lakka
Arkadia	Menalon	Oropedio Ostrakinas

Swimming in Athens

The best beaches are located at Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. See our Athens beaches pages for detailed information.

Yachting in Athens

Naam	Address	Telephone
Abgo Yachting	16 Premetis Street, Athens	-
Aegean Yachts	10 B.Georgiou 166 10, Elliniko	210 8947 244
Aegeus Yachts	66 Poseidonos 17455, Alimos	210 9812 825
Alpha Yachting	67 Possidonos Ave 166 75, Glyfada	210 9680 486
Anemos Yachting	39 Thoukididou Street 17455, Alimos	210 9850 052
Aris Drivas Yachting	147 Neoreion, Piraeus	-
Athens Yachts	2 Makariou Street, Alimos	-
Baby Blue Yachting	2 Ioannou Fix Street 175 61, P. Faliro	210 9850 300
Big Bave Yachting	2 I.Fix, P.Faliro	-
Cross Eagle Charters	44 Korai, Helioupolis	-
Elite Yachting	24 Foivis str. 16675, Glyfada	210 8982 520
Hellas Yachting	43 Akadimias Street 106 72, Athens	210 3625 698
Hellas Yachts	10 Poseidonos Avenue, Alimos	-
Jason Charter	10 Korytsas Street 17455, Alimos	210 9050 168
Kabbas Yachting	20-22 Korytsas Street 17455, Alimos	210 9849 961
Kontogiannis Yachts	A5 Marina Zeas, Freatida-Pasalimani	-
Kyriacoylis Mediterranean	7 Alimou Ave 17455, Alimos	210 9886 187
Marine Marketing	16 Grigoriou Lampraki & Metaxa 16675, Glyfada	210 8949 174
Mythos Yachts Charters	14 Taksiarxon 17455, Alimos	210 9858 901
Natika Yachting	108 Solonos 17673, Kallithea	-
Nava Services	6 Loudovikou Street, Piraeus	-
Nomikos Yachts	7 Eleftherias Avenue, Alimos	-
Ocean Charter Club	5 Afxentiou 17455, Alimos	210 9882 386
Padomar Yachting	21 Poseidonos Avenue, Alimos	-
Pazaropoulos Marine Charters	17 Poseidonos Avenue 17455, Alimos	210 9932 068
Sailing In Blue	19 Gramvousis 16561, Glyfada	210 9617 834
Seascope Sailing	27 Ìoutsopoulou, Piraeus	210 4539 306
Sete Yachts	59-61 Agiou Konstantinou 15124, Maroussi	210 8129 013
Status Yachting	3 Afxentiou 17455, Alimos	-
The Moorings	Marina Alimos 17455 Kalamaki	210 9838 411
Thomas Yachts	1 Metamorfoseos, Alimos	-
Triton Yachting	5A Eleftherias Avenue 174 55, Alimos	210 9811 044
Tzenet Yachting	8 Themidos Street 175 63, P. Faliro	210 9825 810
Vernicos Yachts	11 Poseidonos Avenue, Alimos	-

Tennis in Athens