Rafina-Pikermi
Rafina-Pikermi is a municipality in eastern Attica, on the coast of the Euboean Gulf, a short distance from Athens and its interna...
Updated 17 July 2026
The story
The story of Rafina-Pikermi
The eastern coast and the Euboean Gulf
The municipality of Rafina-Pikermi looks out onto the southern Euboean Gulf, the stretch of sea separating Attica from the island of Euboea. It is a different coast from the Saronic shore south of Athens: more open towards the Aegean Sea, at times swept by the summer meltemi wind, with a shoreline alternating rocky coves, small sandy bays and low headlands. This geographical position has, since antiquity, made it natural for a landing place to develop along this part of the coast: Rafina lies at the closest point between mainland Attica and the routes to the northern Aegean islands, an advantage that still makes it a leading maritime hub today. The coastal landscape, less built-up than other parts of the Attic riviera, still retains a simple, genuine character, made of small fishing harbours, family-run beach establishments and a pace of life set by the ferry timetables.
Rafina, the ferry port for the Cyclades
The port of Rafina is the second busiest passenger port in Attica after Piraeus and one of the busiest in Greece: from here, numerous daily fast and conventional ferry departures head to the northern Cyclades, with direct connections to Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, as well as routes to the island of Euboea. Its proximity to Athens International Airport makes Rafina a popular embarkation point for travellers arriving by air who want to reach the islands without going through Piraeus, avoiding the traffic and longer transfer times of the capital's main port. The pier is a constant flow of ships, cars waiting to board and passengers with backpacks and suitcases, in the lively atmosphere typical of Greek transit ports. Despite the traffic, Rafina has kept the feel of a human-scale seaside town, with the old fishing harbour sitting right beside the modern ferry berths.
Fish taverns and life on the harbour
Around Rafina's pier stretches a row of fish taverns that have become an attraction in their own right, beyond simply passing through on the way to the islands: many visitors come specifically to have lunch or dinner here, looking out over the water with the ferries coming and going in the background. The catch of the day, brought ashore directly from the fishing boats moored nearby, is displayed and chosen at the counter before being cooked: grilled fish, seafood, sun-dried octopus, accompanied by the classic starters of Greek seaside cuisine. It is an experience that captures Rafina's identity well, a town that lives by its port in every respect: commercial, touristic and culinary all at once. In the evening hours, as ferry traffic slows down, the seafront comes alive with outdoor tables and becomes one of the most genuine places to observe the everyday life of an Attic port town.
Beaches and the sea
Beyond the port, Rafina offers a coastline inviting swimming, with sandy beaches and small coves easily reachable from the town centre and along the surrounding coast. The waters of the Euboean Gulf, generally more sheltered than the open Aegean Sea, are appreciated by families and swimmers looking for a quieter alternative to the more crowded coasts south of Athens. Its proximity to the capital makes these beaches a popular destination on summer weekends for residents of the greater metropolitan area, while on weekdays the atmosphere remains more relaxed. Some stretches of coast retain a still lightly developed character, with Mediterranean vegetation reaching almost to the water's edge, offering views quite different from the more urban front of the main port.
Pikermi and the paleontological site
A few kilometres inland from the coast lies Pikermi, a village that holds a notable place in the history of world paleontology. During the nineteenth century, fossil-bearing deposits dating to the Miocene were discovered in this area, containing the remains of an extraordinary variety of land mammals that lived millions of years ago in the Mediterranean basin. These finds gave rise to the term "Pikermian fauna", a designation still used by specialists to describe a set of Upper Miocene animal species documented starting precisely from the finds of this locality. The Pikermi site remains a reference cited in international scientific literature on vertebrate paleontology, evidence of how a small Attic village made a significant contribution to the understanding of prehistoric animal life in the Mediterranean.
How to experience it and getting around
Rafina-Pikermi works well as a short but effective stop: its proximity to Athens International Airport, just a few kilometres away, makes it convenient for those arriving by air who need to continue straight on to the islands, or for those who want to spend a night on the coast before a morning departure. The port is served by direct road connections to the airport and to Athens, allowing an itinerary to be organised without necessarily passing through the centre of the capital. Those with more time can combine a visit to the port and its taverns with a stop in Pikermi, for an experience that pairs the open sea route to the Cyclades with the discovery of an important chapter in the planet's natural history. It is a combination that makes the municipality a practical gateway, and at the same time surprisingly rich in content, for eastern Attica.
Experiences not to miss
- Dine at a fish tavern on Rafina's pier overlooking the port
- Watch the boarding of ferries bound for Andros, Tinos and Mykonos
- Swim at one of the sandy beaches on the Euboean Gulf
- Learn about the Pikermian fauna linked to the Pikermi fossil site
- Take advantage of the proximity to Athens Airport for a convenient coastal stop
To see
What to see in Rafina-Pikermi
Routes · Trovido Route
