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Right here’s tips on 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 town centre – so that you’ll have to make your method into the centre to discover.
Once I arrived into Piraeus port on my latest Aegean cruise, I took the metro into Athens metropolis centre to spend the day exploring alone. That is the most cost effective possibility and it’s very straightforward – should you don’t thoughts a little bit of a stroll to the station. However it’s also possible to take a bus tour or taxi should you desire a better possibility.
Beneath, I’ve rounded up all of the methods to get from the port to the centre (and the enduring Acropolis) – together with step-by-step directions for utilizing the metro. If you happen to’ve bought any questions be at liberty to go away a remark on the finish of the web page. Take pleasure in!
Easy methods to Get from Piraeus Port to Athens Metropolis Centre
To get to Athens metropolis centre from the cruise terminal you’ve got three principal choices:
- Taxi or Uber: 20-25 minutes, €20-€25 every method.
- Bus Tour: an all-day, hop-on, hop-off bus tour connecting all the primary vacationer points of interest, €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 possibility under, together with a step-by-step information to taking the metro from Piraeus Port. You would additionally stroll into town centre should you actually needed, however that is inadvisable because it takes about 2 hours.
1. Taxi: €20-€25 every method
A taxi into 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 best possibility, however it’s additionally the most costly.
Additionally – visitors may be dangerous within the metropolis centre, so a taxi can take as much as 40 minutes on busy days. In that case, it may be faster to take a taxi to the closest metro station and experience that to town centre (see under for more information).
Taxis are metered so that you shouldn’t need to haggle. Nonetheless, unscrupulous drivers have been recognized to show the meter off and cost no matter they like – so be sure you test it earlier than setting off. You too can use Uber to hail a cab and pay by way of the app, it will eradicate any likelihood of being overcharged (see under).
Is there Uber in Athens?
Sure, there’s Uber in Athens. It really works just about the identical because it does wherever else, besides that solely licensed taxi drivers may be Uber drivers. So once you order an Uber you’ll be getting a neighborhood taxi, and might anticipate to pay the same worth as you do in a metered taxi.
I discovered Uber a a lot simpler technique to summon a taxi in Athens fairly than attempting to flag one down on the street.
2. Bus Tour: €25-€28pp
If you happen to solely have a day and need to see numerous Athens, the hop-on hop-off bus excursions generally is a good possibility (however once more, dearer).
These bus excursions will take you to a lot of the common vacationer sights in Athens, and you will get on and off as usually as you want. They make a wonderful sightseeing tour and often embody an audio information to be taught a bit of about what you’re .
Just remember to guide 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 corporations 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’ll be able to 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 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 best way to the Acropolis, the place you’ll be able to decide up the crimson Athens Path to discover the remainder of town. CLICK HERE FOR LATEST PRICES.
3. Metro: €4.10 day ticket
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 feature under so that you’ll know precisely what you’re doing.
The Metro in Athens could be very straightforward to make use of and the M3 prepare 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 technique to attain 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?
Monastiraki Sq. is an efficient central spot, proper subsequent to Hadrian’s Library. It’s surrounded by a flea market and is a good spot for memento purchasing. Close by Psirri Sq. and the encompassing streets are nice for avenue artwork searching.
Syntagma Sq. is one other good possibility. It’s town’s principal sq., house to the palace – that is the place you’ll be able to watch the enduring altering of the guard each hour.
To get to the Acropolis, you’ll be able to change at Syntagma Sq. station and experience the crimson M2 line one cease to the Acropolis entrance.
Easy methods to Take the Metro into Athens from Piraeus Port
You should purchase 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).
From Piraeus Ferry Port to the Metro Station
Piraeus Metro Station is sort of straight reverse the primary ferry port. It’s a giant yellow constructing, so it’s straightforward 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 a bit of faster to stroll to the metro station at Dimotiko Theatro Sq. (ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ) fairly than Piraeus Metro Station.
In case your cruise arrives at Terminal B, first take the free shuttle to Terminal A. This may prevent an additional 20-Half-hour of strolling.
From Terminal A, it’s a couple of 20-minute stroll to the closest metro station. Nonetheless, 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 the direction of the metro so observe these and keep on with the primary street.
Flip unnoticed of the cruise terminal, stroll previous the tour buses and be part of onto the primary street: Akti (Avenue) Miaoili. Comply with this principal street (see the picture under), with the water in your left, all the best way to the top. I like to recommend crossing to stroll within the shade once you attain the primary pedestrian crossing.
Simply earlier than you attain the top of the street, you’ll see a giant yellow church in your proper with a park subsequent to it: Themistokleous Sq.. Stroll throughout the park in the direction of the gorgeous Holy Trinity church (nicely price a photograph cease).
Dealing with the church with the park behind you, flip proper to observe 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 under).
Metro from Piraeus to Athens Metropolis Centre
Don’t miss: Inside Dimotiko Theatro metro station, look out for a big piece of historical structure on show – a part of an previous water provide system found once they constructed the station. See picture under.
As soon as by the ticket limitations, observe indicators for “airport” to get right down to the platform. Hop aboard the M3 (blue line) prepare in the 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 prematurely of the prepare stopping, so it’s best to have the ability to discover your method simply. If you wish to head straight to the Acropolis, change for the M2 (crimson line) at Syntagma and experience it one cease to the Acropolis.
Closing Ideas & Learn Extra
So, that’s my information on tips on how to get from Piraeus Port and the cruise terminals to Athens metropolis centre!
If you happen to solely have a day to discover 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 accomplished numerous excursions with Metropolis Sightseeing all over the world and all the time discovered them good. Click on right here to see routes and costs.
Take a look at my different posts about Athens and Greece under:
Cool & Uncommon Issues to do in Athens
Enjoyable Issues to do in Lesvos
Off the Overwhelmed Path in Paros
You probably have any questions (or suggestions) about tips on how to get from Piraeus port to Athens metropolis centre, scroll down to go away a remark!
