Schinias National Park

Schinias protects one of the last large coastal wetlands in Attica: a marsh fed by springs, a rare stand of umbrella pine growing directly on the sand, and a long shallow bay whose water stays warm and calm. The pine forest is the unusual part, a coastal pinewood of Pinus pinea that shades the back of the beach and is home to a distinct population of birds and insects; the marsh behind it draws herons, egrets and migrants moving along the Aegean flyway. The beach itself runs about four kilometres, with fine sand and gentle depth that suits families, and the northern end holds the rowing centre built for the 2004 Olympic Games, still used for training and regattas. The whole plain lies under Mount Agriliki, and the light in the late afternoon is famous among Athenian painters.

What you actually see

• The pine-backed beach - four kilometres of sand shaded by umbrella pines.
• The wetland - reedbeds and channels with wading and migrant birds.
• The rowing centre - the 2004 Olympic course still in use.
• The dune woodland - trails through pines growing on sand.

When to go

Spring and autumn for birds, comfortable temperatures and empty sand. Summer weekends bring heavy crowds from Athens; midweek is calmer. Winter is windswept and good for walking.

Honest expectations

Facilities are limited and parts of the shore have organised beach bars while others have nothing at all. Access needs a car for practical purposes. Wetland viewing is informal; there are no hides or visitor centre to speak of.

Nearby

The Marathon plain and lake lie inland; Rafina and its ferries are south along the coast.