Homeport Guide: Athens
Welcome to Athens! This beautiful city is highlighted by its rich history, beautiful vistas, and a fantastic location near the western coastline of Greece.
The Port of Piraeus, just a short distance from the city center of Athens, is a frequent homeport for a variety of Mediterranean, Greek Isles, and European cruises. Numerous mainstream, premium, and luxury cruise lines homeport from Piraeus, as well as include it as a highlighted port stop on many itineraries.
Adding an extra day (or more) pre- or post-cruise in Athens is a must for your next cruise from Piraeus. No matter if you are traveling as a family, with friends, or on a couple’s vacation, there’s plenty to do in Athens. It’s home to some of the world’s most celebrated historical sites, such as the Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Ancient Agora of Athens, Theater of Dionysus, and so much more. On top of exploring historical sites, you can also enjoy a great food scene, visit a number of museums, and check out the nearby coastal areas.
Here’s what you need to know for planning your next cruise homeporting from Athens, Greece.
3. Area Hotels
Fast Facts for Athens
Port of Piraeus
10 Akti Miaouli
Piraeus 185 38
Greece
Athens International Airport Address
Attiki Odos
Spata Artemida 190 04
Greece
Climate: Athens has a Mediterranean climate, with mild and moderately rainy winters, and hot sunny summers.
Fun Facts: Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world! The origins go back over 3,000 years. The word ‘Athens’ comes from the name Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war. Athens is among the sunniest cities in all of Europe! The city has more days of sunshine than any other in the region, with an average of only 5 days of rain in December!
How to Get Around
Travel in the Area
- Taxis and Rideshares - Taxis are a major source of private transport in Athens. They are easily found and can be flagged down across the city. Taxis are traditionally yellow with signage on top of the car. Fares for taxis start at 3.44 as an initial fee, then increase by .74 per km (fees double between midnight and 5 am). Uber does not operate a dedicated car service in Athens. The company does operate a service called ‘UberTaxi’ which can hail cars via the mobile app.
- Ath.ena Ticket - Ath.ena tickets are valid for public transportation in Athens, which includes the bus, metro, tram, and rail systems. Tickets cost 1.20 Euros for one ride, 4.10 Euros for 24 hours, or 9.60 for 5 days.
- Metro - The underground metro train system runs in the city center of Athens from 5:30 am to midnight daily. The system consists of three lines with stops at major city points. Learn more here.
- Athens Bus - An extensive system of buses and trolleys which run throughout the region. Runs from 5 am to midnight each day. Learn more here.
- Tram - Connects central Athens with the coastal suburbs of Faliro, Voula and Piraeus. Learn more here.
- Suburban Railways - This is the above-ground rail system in the Athens area. Runs from Piraeus port and Athens International Airport, connects Athens to Halkida, and Kaito and Corinth in the Peloponnese. Operates from 4:30 am to 11 pm daily. Learn more here.
Travel Between the Airports, City Center, and Cruise Terminal
The distance between Athens International Airport and the Piraeus Cruise Port is around 50 km/~45 minutes). There are numerous public and private methods of travel options between the two destinations:
- Cruise line transfer - Most cruise lines operate a transfer service between the airport and the cruise terminal. Consult your travel agent or the cruise line for pricing and booking.
- Private car transfer - Several companies operate a private transfer for a flat fee which will take you directly between the cruise port and airport or local hotel and should be arranged before arrival.
- X96 Bus - Runs directly from the airport to the cruise port. The bus departs every 30-40 minutes and the journey takes about an hour. Costs around 6 Euros. Learn more about this option here.
- Suburban Railway - Runs from the airport to the cruise port. Learn more about timetables and fares here.
Travel between Athens City Center and Cruise Port:
- Piraeus Cruise Port is approximately 30 minutes from the Athens city center.
- Athens Bus - The 40 bus will take you to the city center of Athens in 50 minutes, and costs 1.40 Euros. The express buses X80 or X96 will take you to the city center in 30 minutes, and the tickets cost 4€.
- Metro - The metro is one of the most efficient ways to travel in Athens. To go from the cruise port to the city center, take the green or blue lines. You will stop at the Syntagma station. The trip will take 20-30 minutes, and costs 4 Euros.
Area Hotels
Near the Port
Near the Airport
Athens City Center
Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Things to Do: Excursions
You can easily fill several days pre- or post-cruise with all the exciting sites and cultural attractions which Athens is home to. Here are some of our top picks of excursions to check out when getting ready for your trip:
See All Excursions from Shore Excursions Group
Guided City Walking Expedition
See All Excursions from Get Your Guide
Member Reviews
Here’s what our community members have said about their visit to Athens:
Catch the X-80 bus outside the cruise terminal--4 euros for a 24-hour ticket--for an express ride to the Acropolis. The same ticket takes you back to the cruise terminal; buses run every 30 minutes. - RSFinNC
Took an excursion to the Acropolis. It was breathtaking. Great guide, cool shopping in Athens. - haroldlindo
So much fun...the history...the arts...the people, just amazing!!! The restaurants and the cuisine are incredible. Can't wait to experience more in the near future. - bkav85
The view from the cruise ship is something else - all those white shimmering buildings baking in the sun....We were there in September and it was still incredibly hot! 38 degrees Celsius. We opted for a walking tour in Athens and I'm so glad we did. Our guide was an archeology student and we saw some great places, too many to mention - we also had free time to walk around the Plaka and do some shopping. A very enjoyable day all around! - rockaway
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