If you haven’t seen the Temple of Poseidon, on Cape Sounion, have you even been to Greece?

Classic Greece

How to spend summer there like a local? Start with a coastal drive along the Athenian Riviera

By Alexander Lobrano

The Athenian Riviera, the 40-mile stretch of coastline that runs south from Athens to Cape Sounion along the Saronic Gulf, has long been a sotto voce favorite of the Greek beau monde.

They especially love spending time there in June and July before decamping to the islands for the rest of the summer. It’s also a perfect base for visiting Athens from March to October, combining a cultural experience with a proper let-the-screen-go-blank Aegean vacation of swimming, reading, eating, and boating.