Limni Vouliagmenis

Swimming in November feels like a forbidden thrill. I’m not sure who exactly was forbidding me from doing it (probably the person who first explained the symptoms of hypothermia to me), but we had an unusually hot and sunny day last week and swimming sounded perfect.

My friends Marina and Katherine, two Americans getting their Masters’ in Athens, drove a fellow teacher and I down to the seaside suburbs. First we went down to this little cove with gorgeous blue water. The water was clean and clear but definitely a little bit chilly at this time of year. I still loved it.

But we’d heard about a nearby lake, Limni Vouliagmenis, that was heated by mineral springs. What could be better than a dip in some refreshing ocean and then a soak in hot mineral water?

This is Limni Vouliagmenis. A beautiful cliffside lake complete with beach chairs, café, changing rooms and bathrooms. It’s as much a resort as a lake. There’s only one problem. Once we got in the water, we discovered that, while certainly not cold, it wasn’t exactly hot either. Apparently the water stays the same temperature year round, a temperature I would describe as “swimmable.”

You can see though, that hot spring or not, Limni Vouliagmenis is incredible. Definitely a must visit for anyone who loves to swim and visits in the colder months, just make sure you bring a warm towel for when you get out!

How to get there: The simplest way is to catch the E22 bus towards Saronida which leaves from Syntagma square. It's a fairly long ride, but if you ask the driver he should be able to tell you where to get off. I think the bus stop is called "Parallia Vouliagmeni"