Glyfáda today is built where, in ancient times, the municipality of Aixoní was, with the coast being its SW border (where the 4 marinas are situated today) and the foot of mount Ymittós being its NE limit.
The area is inhabited continuously since 6000 BC., according to findings from Poúnta peninsula (Poúnta peninsula lies close to Voúla city and its tip is cape Aixoní – it separates the bay of Voúla from the bay of Glyfáda). A Mycenean settlement was discovered in Alykí position, but also on a hill above the today’s church of Ágios Nikólaos, at the foot of Ymittós.
In the classical times, the centre of the municipality was situated in the suburb of Pyrnári. It was from there, next to the Ágios Nikólaos church, that the ancient road towards Soúnio crossed, right on the centre of the ancient city. On the beach of the bay N of Poúnta Peninsula, remains of an ancient harbour were found.
During the Byzantine Era, the settlement of Glyfáda expanded towards SE and probably included a part of today’s Voúla. Mainly, it was used by shepherds and farmers.
In the beginning of the 20th century, the city was renamed to “Glyfáda”, due to the brackish water (glyfó = brackish, somewhat salty) existing underground.