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How one can get from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens


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Large Ottoman mosque in Monastiraki square with yellow walls and a red tirled dowed roof, there are collonaded arches around the front section on the ground floor. Behind the church is a small rocky hill with the ancient ruins of the acropolis on top. unusual things to do in athens.

Right here’s learn how to get from Piraeus Port to Athens metropolis centre (and again) by metro, bus or taxi…

Arriving into Athens by ferry or on a cruise? The port is definitely in Piraeus, about 10km southwest of the town centre – so that you’ll have to make your approach into the centre to discover.

Once I arrived into Piraeus port on my current Aegean cruise, I took the metro into Athens metropolis centre to spend the day exploring alone. That is the most cost effective choice and it’s very simple – in case you don’t thoughts a little bit of a stroll to the station. However you can even take a bus tour or taxi in case you choose a neater choice.

Beneath, I’ve rounded up all of the methods to get from the port to the centre (and the long-lasting Acropolis) – together with step-by-step directions for utilizing the metro. If you happen to’ve received any questions be happy to go away a remark on the finish of the web page. Get pleasure from!

How one can Get from Piraeus Port to Athens Metropolis Centre

To get to Athens metropolis centre from the cruise terminal you’ve three essential choices:

  • Taxi or Uber: 20-25 minutes, €20-€25 every approach.
  • Bus Tour: an all-day, hop-on, hop-off bus tour connecting all the primary vacationer sights, €25-€28pp. Click on right here for extra particulars.
  • Metro: 20-25 minutes (plus a 20-minute stroll if coming from the cruise terminal), €4.10 return.

I’ll go into extra particulars on every choice beneath, together with a step-by-step information to taking the metro from Piraeus Port. You may additionally stroll into the town centre in case you actually wished, however that is inadvisable because it takes about 2 hours.

1. Taxi: €20-€25 every approach

two yellow taxis in a narrow road between tall buildings in Athens city centre with a view of the ancient Acropolis on a hilltop behind and clear blue sky overhead

A taxi into the town centre from Piraeus Port takes 20-25 minutes and prices round €20 to €25 (as of July 2024).

There are often loads of taxis ready proper exterior the cruise terminal, so that is most likely the simplest choice, however it’s additionally the costliest.

Additionally – visitors could be dangerous within the metropolis centre, so a taxi can take as much as 40 minutes on busy days. In that case, it could be faster to take a taxi to the closest metro station and experience that to the town centre (see beneath for more information).

Taxis are metered so that you shouldn’t should haggle. Nevertheless, unscrupulous drivers have been identified to show the meter off and cost no matter they like – so be sure you test it earlier than setting off. You can too use Uber to hail a cab and pay by way of the app, it will remove any likelihood of being overcharged (see beneath).

Is there Uber in Athens?

Sure, there’s Uber in Athens. It really works just about the identical because it does anyplace else, besides that solely licensed taxi drivers could be Uber drivers. So if you order an Uber you’ll be getting a neighborhood taxi, and might anticipate to pay an identical value as you do in a metered taxi.

I discovered Uber a a lot simpler method to summon a taxi in Athens moderately than attempting to flag one down on the street.

screenshot showing the Uber app in Athens

2. Bus Tour: €25-€28pp

If you happen to solely have a day and need to see a whole lot of Athens, the hop-on hop-off bus excursions is usually a good choice (however once more, costlier). 

These bus excursions will take you to many of the standard vacationer sights in Athens, and you may get on and off as usually as you want. They make a wonderful sightseeing tour and often embody an audio information to study somewhat about what you’re . 

three double decked buses in a car park with tower blocks behind, from left to right they are red, yellow and blue. Hop on hop off bus tour from Piraeus Port in Athens.
Buses exterior Cruise Terminal A in Piraeus Athens.

Just remember to ebook the route that features Piraeus, because the cheaper routes cowl Athens metropolis centre solely. There are often buses lined up exterior Piraeus cruise terminals. You’ll discover a number of firms to select from, however the two I personally advocate are:

1. Large Bus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour – 48 hours €25pp (all routes). You may experience the purple Pireaus Path to the Acropolis from exterior Cruise Terminal A or B. On the Acropolis, change for the gray Athens Path to discover the town centre. CLICK HERE FOR LATEST PRICES.

2. Metropolis Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour – 48 hours €28pp (Athens + Piraeus). The inexperienced Piraeus Route has stops at Terminals A and B and goes all the way in which to the Acropolis, the place you may choose up the purple Athens Path to discover the remainder of the town. CLICK HERE FOR LATEST PRICES.

3. Metro: €4.10 day ticket

grey metal train at an underground station with marble floors in Athens
The metro is the most cost effective approach into the town centre.

Stroll to the Metro Station at Dimotiko Theatro (20 minutes from Cruise Terminal A) then experience the M3 to Syntagma or Monastiraki Sq.. The experience takes round 20-25 minutes. I’ve put detailed directions for this selection beneath so that you’ll know precisely what you’re doing.

The Metro in Athens could be very simple to make use of and the M3 practice has bulletins and indicators in English after the Greek, so it’s excellent for vacationers. 

The ticket prices €4.10 for twenty-four hours and you should utilize it to experience the metro all day. That is the most cost effective method to attain the town centre from the cruise port – and it permits you most freedom.

From Cruise Terminal B: There’s a free shuttle bus (each 10 to fifteen minutes) from Terminal B to Terminal A.

Which Metro Station is finest for visiting Athens Metropolis Centre?

old stone church on the edge of a large square with pink stone tiles, there is an ottoman church in the background with white walls and an orange tiled domed roof, and a grassy hill behind that with clear blue sky overhead.
Monastiraki Sq.

Monastiraki Sq. is an effective central spot, proper subsequent to Hadrian’s Library. It’s surrounded by a flea market and is a superb spot for memento buying. Close by Psirri Sq. and the encompassing streets are nice for avenue artwork searching.

Syntagma Sq. is one other good choice. It’s the town’s essential sq., house to the palace – that is the place you may watch the long-lasting altering of the guard each hour.

To get to the Acropolis, you may change at Syntagma Sq. station and experience the purple M2 line one cease to the Acropolis entrance. 

How one can Take the Metro into Athens from Piraeus Port

You should buy an all-day metro ticket for €4.10. There are ticket machines contained in the metro stations (out there in a number of languages). If you happen to get caught, there’s additionally a ticket workplace within the Piraeus metro station.

The ticket you want is the 24-hour ticket for Athens solely (you don’t want those that embody the airport).

blue and white ticket machine in athens metro station
close up of a screen of an Athens metro station ticket machine
A 24-hour Athens metro ticket prices €4.10 – you may pay on card or in money.

From Piraeus Ferry Port to the Metro Station

Piraeus Metro Station is nearly instantly reverse the primary ferry port. It’s an enormous yellow constructing, so it’s simple to identify. Merely cross the pedestrian bridge over Avenue Posidonos to achieve it.

Skip the subsequent part to select up extra detailed directions for taking the metro.

From the Cruise Terminals to the Metro Station

From the cruise terminals, it’s somewhat faster to stroll to the metro station at Dimotiko Theatro Sq. (ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ) moderately than Piraeus Metro Station.

In case your cruise arrives at Terminal B, first take the free shuttle to Terminal A. It will prevent an additional 20-Half-hour of strolling.

From Terminal A, it’s a couple of 20-minute stroll to the closest metro station. Nevertheless, Google Maps instructions aren’t completely correct and will attempt to ship you down alongside the docks. Fortunately, there are many indicators pointing you in direction of the metro so comply with these and stick with the primary street.

pavement next to a road with a large recangular sign reading Piraeus City Centre, Athens, Metro and an arrow pointing forward
Observe indicators for “Metro” out of the cruise terminal

Flip overlooked of the cruise terminal, stroll previous the tour buses and be part of onto the primary street: Akti (Avenue) Miaoili. Observe this essential street (see the picture beneath), with the water in your left, all the way in which to the top. I like to recommend crossing to stroll within the shade if you attain the primary pedestrian crossing. 

wide grey pavement or sidewalk with a row of green leafy trees planted between it and the road and a row of tower blocks on the other side of the road
Akti (Avenue) Miaoili

Simply earlier than you attain the top of the street, you’ll see an enormous yellow church in your proper with a park subsequent to it: Themistokleous Sq.. Stroll throughout the park in direction of the beautiful Holy Trinity church (nicely price a photograph cease).

statue of a man on a grey stone plinth at the centre of a large square with pink stone tiles in a park surrounded by green leafy trees, with a large church in the background with a red tiled domed roof
Themistokleous Sq. with the Holy Trinity Church behind

Dealing with the church with the park behind you, flip proper to comply with Leof. Vasileos Georgiou A two blocks till you attain the sq. in entrance of the Municipal Theater. Right here, you’ll discover the doorway to Dimotiko Theatro metro station (see picture beneath).

sign for Dimotiko Theatro metro station. At the top of the sign there is a white circle containing the blue metro logo, and behind are steps descending into the station. In a square with a large tower block in the background and clear blue sky overhead.
Dimotiko Theatro metro station

Metro from Piraeus to Athens Metropolis Centre

Don’t miss: Inside Dimotiko Theatro metro station, look out for a big piece of historic structure on show – a part of an outdated water provide system found after they constructed the station. See picture beneath.

Ancient stone wall with holes lit up by orange lights behind glass inside Dimotiko Theatro metro station in Athens, with an arched ceiling overhead and white marble tiles on the floor.
Historic structure inside Dimotiko Theatro metro station

As soon as by the ticket obstacles, comply with indicators for “airport” to get all the way down to the platform. Hop aboard the M3 (blue line) practice in direction of the airport. Merely experience it 10 stops and get off at Monastiraki Sq., or 11 stops to Syntagma Sq., relying in your chosen vacation spot.

The stops are introduced in each Greek and English nicely upfront of the practice stopping, so it is best to have the ability to discover your approach simply. If you wish to head straight to the Acropolis, change for the M2 (purple line) at Syntagma and experience it one cease to the Acropolis.

Last Ideas & Learn Extra

So, that’s my information on learn how to get from Piraeus Port and the cruise terminals to Athens metropolis centre!

If you happen to solely have a day to discover the town centre and need to keep away from an excessive amount of strolling, I extremely advocate a hop-on hop-off bus tour. I’ve carried out plenty of excursions with Metropolis Sightseeing all over the world and at all times discovered them sensible. Click on right here to see routes and costs.

Take a look at my different posts about Athens and Greece beneath:

Cool & Uncommon Issues to do in Athens

Enjoyable Issues to do in Lesvos

Off the Overwhelmed Path in Paros

When you have any questions (or ideas) about learn how to get from Piraeus port to Athens metropolis centre, scroll down to go away a remark!