Athens, Greece, the Athenian Riviera and the former Hellinikon airport site are entering a new chapter as The Ellinikon redevelopment turns a vast former aviation complex into a mixed-use destination built around a major coastal park. Covering 2 million square metres, The Ellinikon Park is being developed with walking and cycling routes, sports facilities, cultural spaces and waterfront connections, while the newly opened Ellinikon Sports Park is adding another major attraction to the Athens tourism landscape.
The Former Airport Has a Very Different Future
Remember Athens’ old airport? The site that once handled international travellers is now becoming one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects in Europe.
The wider Ellinikon development covers 6.2 million square metres and combines residential districts, hotels, retail, entertainment, healthcare, sports and public green space along the coast. The project is being developed as a new destination on the Athenian Riviera rather than simply another residential extension of the capital.
And tourism is firmly part of the plan.
Two Million Square Metres of Green Space
The headline figure is impossible to ignore.
The Ellinikon Park covers 2 million square metres, creating one of the largest new coastal park developments in the region. The project includes a network of 50 kilometres of walking and cycling routes, connecting green areas, historic structures, recreational facilities and the waterfront.
That changes the traditional Athens sightseeing formula.
Instead of visitors spending their entire trip moving between archaeological landmarks and city-centre attractions, the new park creates space for walking, cycling, outdoor recreation and relaxation alongside the Athenian Riviera.
The Sports Park Is Now a Tourism Attraction
The latest chapter arrived in July 2026 with the opening of the first phase of The Ellinikon Sports Park.
The facility opened to the public on 20 July 2026, introducing sports and wellness facilities designed for professional athletes, amateur users and visitors. The first phase includes an athletics track, football pitches, basketball and tennis courts, open green spaces and accommodation for athletes.
The Sports Park occupies approximately 287,000 square metres, including 115,000 square metres of open green areas.
And yes, tourists can actually use it.
Access to the Sports Park is free, although certain organised activities, programmes and special events may require registration or payment.
Sports Tourism Gets a Serious New Address
The timing could hardly be more interesting.
The Sports Park is not simply a collection of facilities for residents. It has already entered the calendar for major sporting events.
In July 2026, it hosted public screenings of the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final, creating a new sports-focused visitor experience within the Ellinikon development.
The site was also selected for the super special stage of the 2026 EKO Acropolis Rally, adding motorsport to its growing event programme. The rally was scheduled from 25 to 28 June 2026.
For Athens tourism, that means another event venue capable of bringing visitors into the southern suburbs.
The Experience Park Is Already Welcoming Visitors
The wider Ellinikon story is not waiting for some distant grand opening.
The Ellinikon Experience Park is already open and covers approximately 75,000 square metres.
It includes walking paths, outdoor fitness facilities, a playground, a Zen Garden and other public spaces. The project developer reports that the Experience Park has already welcomed more than 1.8 million visitors.
That provides a functioning tourism attraction while the wider redevelopment continues.
The Coastal Front Adds Another Layer
The project also includes a major coastal transformation.
Plans for the wider Ellinikon development include a revitalised 3.5-kilometre coastline, a new public beach and extensive waterfront routes. A marina with 306 berths is also part of the development.
The combination of parkland and coastline creates a distinctly Mediterranean visitor proposition.
Visitors can move from green spaces to the sea, from sports facilities to restaurants and eventually towards hotels and other leisure developments planned across the site.
Nature Is Being Built Into the Tourism Experience
Sustainability is another major component of the redevelopment.
The wider project includes plans for more than 62,000 new trees and approximately 500 plant species, while the Experience Park already contains more than 900 new trees and 80,000 low-growing plants.
The Experience Park received SITES Gold certification in 2024, recognising its sustainable site development approach.
The former airport site is therefore being transformed from a largely built environment into a destination where green space is central to the visitor experience.
Athens Riviera Tourism Gets a New Anchor
The Ellinikon sits along the southern edge of Athens, connecting the capital’s urban core with the Athenian Riviera.
Visitors can combine the development with established coastal destinations such as Glyfada, Alimos and Palaio Faliro, while central Athens remains accessible by public transport.
The result is a broader tourism corridor that links city sightseeing, shopping, sport, parks, beaches and waterfront experiences.
More Attractions Are Still Coming
The park is only one component of the wider Ellinikon project.
Future and ongoing developments include hotels, the Riviera Galleria, the Ellinikon Mall, residential neighbourhoods, a health and wellness district, an integrated resort complex and additional coastal facilities.
For tourism, that means the destination is continuing to expand rather than arriving as a single completed attraction.
Key Stats
- 2 million sq m: Size of The Ellinikon Park.
- 6.2 million sq m: Total area of the wider Ellinikon redevelopment.
- 50 km: Walking and cycling network planned across the park.
- 287,000 sq m: Area of the Ellinikon Sports Park.
- 1.8 million+: Visitors recorded at the Experience Park.
- 306: Marina berths planned within the wider development.
Travel Details
Greece uses the euro (EUR). Athens International Airport is the principal international gateway.
The Ellinikon Sports Park is accessible by Metro Line 2, with Argyroupoli Station serving the area, alongside bus connections. The Sports Park currently operates daily from 18:00 to 23:00 during its summer opening phase.
Nearby attractions include Glyfada, Alimos, Palaio Faliro, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, Acropolis of Athens and the historic centre of Athens.
FAQ
1. What is The Ellinikon Park?
It is a 2-million-square-metre metropolitan coastal park forming the green centrepiece of the wider Ellinikon redevelopment.
2. Is the Ellinikon Sports Park open to tourists?
Yes. The Sports Park is open to visitors, and general access is free, although some organised activities and special events may require registration or payment.
3. How can visitors reach The Ellinikon?
The development is accessible by metro, bus and car. The Sports Park is served by Argyroupoli Metro Station and nearby bus routes.
Dates and Events
2024: The Ellinikon Experience Park received SITES Gold sustainability certification.
25–28 June 2026: The EKO Acropolis Rally took place, with its super special stage at The Ellinikon Sports Park.
14–19 July 2026: FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final were screened at The Ellinikon Sports Park.
20 July 2026: The first phase of The Ellinikon Sports Park opened to the public.
2026 onwards: The wider Ellinikon development continues with coastal, hospitality, retail, residential, sports and leisure projects.
Conclusion
Athens tourism is gaining a major new destination as The Ellinikon transforms the former airport site into a vast coastal landscape combining nature, sport, culture and leisure. With 2 million square metres of parkland, 50 kilometres of walking and cycling routes, a new Sports Park and an evolving waterfront, the project is creating a new tourism corridor along the Athenian Riviera. As hotels, retail, marina and additional leisure developments continue to arrive, The Ellinikon is reshaping how visitors can experience Athens beyond its ancient landmarks and historic centre.
