The west coast of the Attica Peninsula between Athens and Cape Sounion is one of the classic motorcycle getaways for those living on two wheels in the capital.
About 70km long, the road hugs the coastline all the way down to the Temple of Poseidon offering endless views of the Aegean along the way.
I went on this ride twice. Once, mid-week with our dear friend Miguel and a second time over the weekend of the Greek Orthodox Easter with Min.
Both outings were fantastic, but couldn’t have been more different in terms of traffic and atmosphere. Mid-week, the roads and cafes were empty. More of a solitary or romantic ride. On Easter Monday both were packed. Think an American Memorial Day excursion with family and friends.
Miguel borrowed Min’s MT450 for our 5hr trip and rode it for the very first time that day. It was fun to watch him go from asking about the controls to splitting lanes in a city of 3+ million in a single day. He rides a T7 in Santa Fe, the same bike I ride both in New Mexico and in the EU so I knew exactly where he was coming from. The MT really does share a lot with the T7. It’s a bit less powerful and a bit wider around the belly, but a T7 rider feels right at home.
The ride itself was pretty much as I’ve described above, endless and beautiful. If I were to compare it to the rides I’m familiar with in the US, I’d say it’s the closest in spirit to Highway 1 between Newport and Dana Point in Southern California.
It’s a lot more low key and less developed, perhaps the way California might have been in the 60’s, but the general vibe and landscape are somewhat similar. Just as Angelinos ride down to Laguna Beach to get away from LA, Athenians make their escape to the Athens Riviera.
Here’s a quick riding clip, close to Cape Sounion.