The port of Piraeus, Athens is the largest passenger port in Greece, with a passenger traffic of almost 18 million people per year. Ferries from the port of Piraeus offer connections to all the Aegean islands, including Cyclades, Dodecanese, Saronic Islands, North Aegean Islands and Crete.
The port of Piraeus, Athens is located 12 km from the center Athens and has great importance as a commercial and political center. In fact, the port of Piraeus dates back to antiquity and was created around the 5th century BC, although it was destroyed, abandoned and rebuilt several times due to various wars.
It now serves as a modern port, with various renovated facilities and plenty of things to do in the area before your departure. Congestion in the port of Piraeus increases every summer during the tourist season.
How to get to the port of Piraeus?
Piraeus is the largest port in Greece, with daily sailings to all groups of islands in the Aegean Sea - complex Cyclades i Dodecanese, Saronic Islands, North Aegean Islands and Crete. The port is a hub for the leading ferry companies operating in the Aegean Sea, including Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seavais, Seajets, Minoan Lines and many more.
Several options are available to pass the time while you wait for your connection, including the Archaeological Museum and the Bay of Zea, which features waterfront tavernas and an attractive marina that exudes a relaxed aura.
Port of Piraeus, Athens – From the center of Athens
By taxi: A taxi ride to the port of Piraeus from the center of Athens takes 25 minutes and costs around 25 euros. You can also make a reservation online taxi.
Subway: two metro lines connect to the port of Piraeus: the green line from Omonoia and Monastiraki and the blue line from Syntagma and Monastiraki. In Piraeus, the metro station is right in front of the port. It is the only port in Athens that can be reached by metro. The metro operates from 5:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.; however, on Fridays and Saturdays, it is open until 1:30 am. A typical metro route starting from Syntagma takes approximately 25 minutes. Every 10 minutes (maximum time), the metro to Piraeus departs from all metro stations. The ticket costs 1.20 euros. .
By bus: Several bus lines can take you to the port of Piraeus or to a nearby location. They are only available during the day.
- 040 from Syntagma to Korai Square (the port can be reached on foot in 10 minutes). You must get off at Filellinon station.
- 049 from Omonoia to Korai Square. You must stop at Terpsiteas.
Both bus stops are approximately 10 minutes' walk from the nearest gate (E9). Buses leave from Omonoia/Syntagma every 15 or 20 minutes. - X80 Express (seasonal availability) from Syntagma, Acropolis Museum or Museum of Modern Art to OLP station or terminal.
- 826, 832, 833, 875 from commuter and electric railways to gate E9.
- 218 from Karaiskaki Square near Omonoia to Piraeus
In Greece, buses usually run from 5 am to 11:30 pm, but the 040 bus from Syntagma to Piraeus runs non-stop (24 hours). Tickets cost 1.20 euros. and can be used multiple times on all public transport, as long as you don't exceed the 90′ time limit. Children under the age of 6 travel for free on all public transport. Be aware of the gate your ferry departs from because the port of Piraeus is large and has numerous gates.
Port of Piraeus, Athens – From Athens Airport
- By taxi: There are taxi queues outside all airport gates. The taxi ride from the airport to the port of Piraeus will take approximately 40-60 minutes, depending on traffic. The price of taxi transportation (indicative) from Athens airport to the port of Piraeus is 45 euros during the day and 64 euros at night (24:00-05:00). You can book your airport transfer in Athens online.
- Subway: The metro connects the airport with the port with a direct line. The metro station is located right in front of the airport. You board the blue line, the terminal of which is located right next to the port of Piraeus. The first metro train leaves the airport at 6:10 a.m., and the last one at 11:34 p.m. Itineraries depart from the airport every 36 minutes. The whole trip takes about an hour. . The ticket costs 9 euros. (in one direction). When you arrive in Piraeus, Be sure to locate the gate. from which your ferry departs, as the port area is quite wide.
- Subway: The metro connects the airport with the port with a direct line. The metro station is located right in front of the airport. You board the blue line, the terminal of which is located right next to the port of Piraeus. The first metro train leaves the airport at 6:10 a.m., and the last one at 11:34 p.m. Itineraries depart from the airport every 36 minutes. The whole trip takes about an hour. . The ticket costs 9 euros. (in one direction). When you arrive in Piraeus, Be sure to locate the gate. from which your ferry departs, as the port area is quite wide.
- By train: From the Athens Airport station (next to the airport terminal) the Athens Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) has a direct line between Athens International Airport and the Port of Piraeus. The trip lasts 60 minutes, and the ticket costs 9 euros (in one direction).
- By bus: The bus is the most convenient option. Bus X96 covers the route from Athens airport to Piraeus port directly. Buses operate 24 hours a day, and the journey takes about 90 minutes. .
Ticket price: 5 euros. . (can only be used once).
Port gates - Port of Piraeus, Athens
Piraeus is a large port and the distance between the gates is great; it can take 1 hour to cross from one side of the harbor to the other! For this reason, there is a shuttle bus inside the harbor that will allow you to reach some remote places and is free for ferry passengers.
Its route: railway terminal - Ag. Dionysius 1: Greek Railways - Ag. Dionysios 2 – Ietion 1 – Ietion 2 – Decamenes – Ministry of Merchant Marine – Vassiliadis 1: Customs – Vassiliadis 2 – Terminal.
Port gates are listed below, although the gate your ferry departs from will also be indicated on your ticket.
E1: Dodecanese
Ε2: Crete, Chios, Lesbos, Ikaria, Samos
Ε3: Crete, Kythira (cars - entrance)
Ε4: Kitira (cars - exit only)
Ε5: shuttle bus station - entrance for passengers
Ε6: Cyclades, Rethymnon B - pedestrians Entrance for passengers
E7: Cyclades, Rethymno
Ε8: islands of the Argo-Saronic Gulf
E9: Cyclades, Samos, Ikaria
Ε10: Cyclades, Samos, Ikaria (cars - exit only) E11
: Cruise terminal A "Miaoulis" " Krustokl" terminal B 12 " Cruise ships : Terminal C "Alkimos"„
Don't wander randomly! Read my article „Ferry ports of Greece“ and find out which ports are best connected, what they offer and how to choose the one that best suits your plans.
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Port of Piraeus, Athens - Facilities in the port of Piraeus
- Passenger terminals: There are 3 passenger terminals with air-conditioned waiting rooms, refreshment rooms and toilets.
- Shuttle bus: Free shuttle bus connecting different areas of the port.
- Parking: 130 parking spaces near Terminal 4 and Terminal B.
- Toilets: All terminals have toilets with additional toilets at terminals 3,4 and 5.
- ATM: ATM near Terminal 4 and Terminal 9.
- Exchange: Foreign Exchange Exchanges are available near Terminal 4.
- Luggage lockers: Luggage lockers are located in Terminal 2.
- Tourist information: The tourist information desk is located in Terminal 4.
- Taxi stands: Taxi stands are located at each passenger terminal.
Routes from the port of Piraeus
The following destinations are sailed from the port of Piraeus:
- Crete: Heraklion, Chania, Rethymnon, Sitia, Kissamos.
- Peloponnese: Kichtira, Antikythira, Porto Heli.
- North Aegean: Chios, Lesbos (Mytilene), Psara, Ikaria (Evdilos, Agios Kirikos) Furnoi, Samos (Karlovasi, Vati).
- Saronic: Aegina (city of Aegina, Souvala, Agia Marina), Agistri (Skala, Mili), Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Ermioni, Metana.
- Dodecanese: Astypalea, Halki, Karpathos (Karpathos town, Diafani), Kalymnos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Leros, Lipsi, Nisyros, Patmos, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos.
- Cyclades: Amorgos (Aigiali, Katapola), Anafi, Donousa, Folegandros, Ios, Iraklia, Kimolos, Koufonisi, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Shinousa, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Santorini (Tira), , Tinos.
You can check all schedules on the ferry booking engine. .
Ferries to the Cyclades: E6, E7, E9 and E10
Ferries to Crete: Heraklion: E2, E3, Chania and Retimo: E6, E7
Ferries to the Dodecanese Islands: E1
Ferries to the islands of the Argo-Saronic Gulf: E8
ferries to North Aegean islands: E2, E9, E10
Depending on your destination, conventional and/or fast ferries may be available, provided by the following companies: Blue Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, Anek Lines, Saronic Ferries, Zante Ferries, ANES Ferries, Superfast Ferries, Seaspeed Ferries, Alfaline and Aegean Flying Dolphins.
What to do in the area?
If you have free time to spend in the area near the port of Piraeus, restaurants, bars and cafes are in the immediate vicinity.
Piraeus also offers several landmarks, places of interest and monuments worth visiting, including the Municipal Theatre, the churches of Agia Triada, Agios Vasilios and Agios Nikolaos, the Archaeological and Maritime Museum, the Municipal Gallery, the historical settlement of Kastela, the Ancient Walls, the yacht port of Zea (Pasalimani), the picturesque port of Mikrolimano or the shopping street of Sotiros.
There are also two beaches in this area, Votsalakia and Freatida Beach. Swimming is not really recommended because of the pollution, but you can spend some time sunbathing and enjoying the view.
If you have to spend the night there, there are several hotels.
Hotels
Some of the best hotels are Piraeus Premium Suites i Theokenia.
