Cruise ships dock at the New Passenger Terminal, one mile from the center of Piraeus and eight miles from Athens.

Free shuttles will drop you off at the main cruise terminal building.

Metered taxis are generally available just outside the terminal building. Taxi rates are posted and are per taxi, not per person as some cabbies make you believe! Keep your cell phone in your hand and call the number posted in the taxi, or the tourist police at 171, or just fake it, if you feel you are cheated and normally things will work out.

A 20 - 30 minute walk will take you to the Metro, from where Line 1 will whisk you to the center of Athens. It is often faster than taking a taxi. buses to Athens are also available at the Port. A day-pass for public transportation is about 4 euros. A 90 minute ticket is 1.40 Euro.

The Port of Piraeus is an important destination for cruise ships in the Mediterranean Sea. It has 12 places for the simultaneous berthing of vessels and can accommodate even the largest cruise ships.

The airport is connected to and from the city and Piraeus (change at Monastiraki station to Metro Line 1) by Metro Line 3.

If your cruise starts at the port of Piraeus, be sure to fly in a couple of days early. Instead of staying in an overpriced hotel in downtown Athens, you might want to consider booking a room in Piraeus.

Hotels in Athens and Piraeus.

Map of where you will be docked. Location of the cruise port (7) relative to the metro station (blue & green M).

Printable map to take along.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Check here for festivals and events in Athens when you are in port.

Watch a destination video.

Archaeological Museum
The museum is known to have the finest collection of Greek art in the world. Exhibits include the sensational finds from the excavations at Mycenae and the remarkably well preserved frescoes from a 3,000-year-old civilization discovered at Akrotiri on the island of Santorini. There are also classical statuary, pottery, stone carvings and jewelry from excavations throughout Greece.

Acropolis Museum
Just footsteps away from the Parthenon, this museum contains a superb collection of sculptures. 12 Euro p.p. 6 Euro for students and 65+. Take identification with you.

Benaki Museum
This museum has recently undergone thorough modernization. Its three floors house more than 30,000 items, all illustrating the character of the Greek world.

Goulandris Museum
Located near Kolonaki, the museum features a fantastic collection of Cycladic and ancient art spanning 5,000 years. The exhibits were assembled by ship owner Nikolaos P. Goulandris. Its treasures include many of the slim marble figurines that fascinated artists like Picasso and Modigliani.

Mount Lycabettus
Athens' highest hill is only a 10-minute walk from Syntagma Square. It borders the fashionable Kolonaki residential area. A steeply inclined funicular climbs to the summit, which is crowned by a small, white chapel. Pollution permitting, the view from Mount Lycabettus is the finest in Athens.

Plaka
Stretching east from the Agora, this lovely quarter, with winding alleys, neo-classical buildings, whitewashed, bougainvillea-framed houses and tiny churches, is worth your exploration.

Agios Eleftherios
The 12th-century Byzantine church and Athens' former cathedral is known for the fanciful figures and zodiac signs that adorn its walls.

Athens Hop-on Hop-off Tour starts at about 300 meters from the cruise terminal. Turn left from the cruise terminal building (lower level) and walk over the parking lot.

It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.

For about 3 euros you can buy an all-day pass for the metro in Athens.

There are well priced tax-free shops in the Terminal behind customs. As you will be x-rayed on entering this building this is a good time to stock up on alcoholic beverages, as you will not be checked again when boarding your ship.

There isn't much to buy in Piraeus. Wait until you get to your destination to begin purchasing souvenirs. However, there are many shops and cafes along the harbor front, especially toward the cruise terminal from and near the Metro station.

Upscale shopping is found in the Kolonaki and Monastiraki districts of Athens. Woven bags and worry beads in amber or silver make nice souvenirs. LaLaounis and Zolotas are well known for exquisitely designed gold jewelry. In Piraeus, near the port, you can find a variety of souvenir items. Many shops close for the customary long lunchtime and in the afternoon on certain days of the week.

Euro

Greek spoken

At the cruise terminal building itself there is free WiFi. There are also a few internet terminals al the cafe inside the cruise terminal.

Public Services: open Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 2.00pm.
Retail Stores & Specialty Shops: Monday to Friday, 9am – 1.30pm and then again from 5pm – 9pm. Saturdays, 9am – 2pm.    
Supermarkets: Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and Saturdays, 9am – 6pm.
Tourist Shops and Convenience Stores: most of these do not have official opening hours and are usually open from dawn to well after midnight during the summer months.

For public holidays click here

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