The Palio Faliro coast that runs from the Trocadero Tram Stop to Edem has retained some of its former glamor as a cosmopolitan resort; hidden among the tall apartment buildings, you can still spot a few surviving architectural gems such as the neo-gothic Kouloura Mansion, on the corner of Tritonos and Poseidonos Ave.

This is one of the few stretches along the Athens Riviera that you can comfortably explore on foot or by bicycle, thanks to the pedestrianized strips by the sea. Start your day with a visit to the Battleship Georgios Averoff, which has been turned into a museum. Have a coffee, a nice lunch or maybe just an ice cream to go at the Flisvos Marina as you check out the luxury yachts.

If you’re with the kids, take them to the huge playground in Flisvos Park, which comes equipped with picnic kiosks, a petanque court and a place where you can rent pedal go-karts (€5 for 30 minutes). The scent of oregano and pennyroyal wafts in from the educational herb garden, stocked with native Greek flora; it’s certainly worth exploring. Or, if all this sounds like hard work, just spread out a towel under the shade of a palm tree and relax between dips in the sea.