Schinias is a long sandy beach northeast of Marathon town, sheltered from the open Aegean and backed by a national park of Aleppo pine forest. The combination of a good sandy beach, shallow water that is safe for swimming, and the pine shade behind makes it one of the most pleasant beaches within reach of Athens — and considerably less crowded than beaches closer to the city.
The Schinias National Park and Wetland behind the beach is a significant bird habitat, particularly during spring and autumn migration, with herons, egrets, and waders in the reed beds and pine forest. The beach was used as the venue for the rowing and canoe-kayak events at the 2004 Athens Olympics; the regatta centre is still visible. Combining a morning at the battlefield sites with an afternoon at Schinias beach makes for a well-rounded day trip from Athens.