Monday, April 1, 2024

11 Best Things To Do In Athens Cruise Port Piraeus + Port Guide

cruise port athens

Cruise travelers will be happy to know that there are 3 different sightseeing hop-on-hop-off buses starting by the port and touring the Greek capital. Obviously, all cruise lines offer many and diverse shore excursions in Piraeus (Athens). Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer as many 19 shore excursions.

Multiple Port Changes on Cruises for Norwegian Ship - Cruise Hive

Multiple Port Changes on Cruises for Norwegian Ship.

Posted: Fri, 20 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Pre-Voyage: Ancient Corinth— Tour & Canal Crossing

Instead of staying in an overpriced hotel in downtown Athens, you might want to consider booking a room in Piraeus. Both in the port of Piraeus and in the immediate vicinity are numerous car rental providers available, including Sixt, Budget, Alma and Avis to name a few. The vehicle will then be at your disposal immediately upon arrival. Greece has about 200 inhabited islands and there are ferry connections to many of them.

cruise port athens

Lavrio Cruise Port

However, there are many parking options at private lots nearby. There are several lots on Akti Miaouli Street, including one operated by PolisPark that's opposite Agios Nikolaos Church. If you prefer, you can book independently for specific tours that take into account cruise ship itineraries.

Getting To Athens Cruise Port From Athens City Centre

Nestled in the Saronic Gulf in the southeast of Greece, the port of Piraeus is the gateway to the ancient city of Athens, the capital of Greece and the birthplace of democracy. Piraeus and specially Athens are such tourist magnets that the English speaking cruise passenger will easily communicate with locals pretty much everywhere. Athens has so many highlights that it is impossible to visit all top attractions in one day. In one word, the cruise traveler will need to select what to see and do. The cruise port of Piraeus is on the Saronic Gulf on the Southeast coast of Greece, in the Attic peninsula, a historical region where Athens is also located. The new COSCO management plans to make Piraeus a major Mediterranean cruise port serving the booming Chinese market.

Welcome To Piraeus, Athens Cruise Port: What You Need To Know

After your stop at the Stadium, take a long walk through the National Garden for a glimpse of Greece’s natural environment and plant life both native and exotic. The Garden is home to 7,000 trees, a getaway from the city even in the middle of Athens. Exploring beyond the main streets of popular zones like the Plaka can reveal more authentic and less costly dining options. The metro is well-connected to major landmarks, including Syntagma Square. For direct transit from Piraeus Port, cruisers can take the metro with both ease and speed. However, it requires knowledge most tourists don't have and the lack of local expertise can affect the experience.

There is a parking area and a taxi rank available next to the terminal. There are Tourist Information kiosks outside all cruise terminals in Piraeus port. Unless your ship docks at the Terminal A, most attractions in the port city of Piraeus are not within walking distance. The new cruise terminal project is related to Pier 3 (port's southern zone). The works must be completed in 34 months (scheduled inauguration in December 2022).

Athens Bike Tour

And also a straightforward way of getting to Athens riviera if you want to visit that or have a hotel stay located there. The Piraeus – Athens line 1 is the oldest but you can now use the blue line 3 from a brand new station. Luckily there is a free shuttle service to move you between the ship and the terminal building. If you’re at the train station for a visit, you might want to consider adding on a stop at the Electric Railways Museum of Piraeus.. For a glimpse into Piraeus’ yesteryear head to the remains of the stone gates and walls that were used to guard the city in ancient times.. Because Piraeus is on the waterfront, the cafes and restaurants in the city offer some of the freshest and tastiest seafood in the world..

cruise port athens

After you have walked and savoured the long coast that surrounds the city, head inland to the commercial and social heart of Piraeus. Piraeus is the largest Mediterranean port in terms of passenger traffic and commercial activity, and most of Athens' visitors simply consider it a transit point to the Aegean islands. However, this city's versatile coastline and numerous cultural stops make it a destination in its own right. Porto Leone, as it was known for centuries, is well worth at least a day during your stay in Athens. Lavrio Cruise Port provides a serene and unique departure point for your cruise from Athens.

Public Holidays

Named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world -- built around its namesake deity's temple, the Parthenon, which still stands today. Again, a private transfer is an option or just ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you. On top of that, you’re right by the sea and in a great place for traditional Greek food, particularly seafood. There’s an entrance to the railway museum at the Metro platform before you go through the barriers. This museum has lots of sculptures and will give you an in-depth look at the Pireaus area which was a busy place during antiquity.

Cruise Ship Towed to Port After Mechanical Issue - Cruise Hive

Cruise Ship Towed to Port After Mechanical Issue.

Posted: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The streets here are lined with shops where tourists can browse through a selection of souvenirs, including Greek olives, capers, and more. Athens offers visitors a unique shopping experience, with a range of places near the port to shop and find authentic Greek souvenirs, from hand-painted ceramics to leather sandals. This section provides travelers with essential information on disembarking, navigating customs, and the transportation options available to journey into the heart of Athens. Corinth Canal is 76 feet wide and 26 feet deep, which makes it difficult to navigate for large ships. Carved into a massive rock, the canal is today mainly used for recreational activities and as a tourist attraction.

Athens is also among the destinations included in Holy Land Cruises (to Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey), mainly with departures from Civitavecchia-Rome. We will be happy to help you rent buses for all occasions, be it for group trips, company outings, class trips, events or otherwise. There are numerous parking facilities in the immediate vicinity of the port. It is allowed to enter and drive around the port by car, even short stops are allowed. There is a 130-space parking lot in the harbor area between gates E7 and E8.

I hope this info helps you know more about what to expect when you arrive at the port of Piraeus, Athens’ cruise port. Whether it’s one of your ports of call or where you’re embarking on or disembarking your cruise, I wish you a wonderful trip. This ancient Athenian port is worth exploring if you’ve already been to Athens and/or just want to stay closer to your ship. But as an ancient city with strong ties to maritime history, there’s plenty to see and do within walking distance. From there, walk up Ermou, the main street for high-street shopping, until you get to Syntagma. There you can jump on one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours or stay a while and watch the changing of the guard.

There are a total of 12 departure and arrival gates in the Port of Piraeus; ferries to the Greek islands depart from gates E1 to E10, and cruise terminals are located at E11 and E12. The Port of Piraeus has a refreshment area and duty-free shops in Terminal A. The port is also within walking distance to eating and shopping streets frequented by the local working crowd. Small restaurants and cafes can be found on Akti Miaouli Street, and more shopping and restaurant options can be found in the district's main pedestrian way called Sotiros Dios. It’s normal for a cruise line to arrange a one-day stop at Piraeus although some ships dock overnight. Most cruise ships tend to arrive in the early hours of the morning and then leave late in the evening. Embrace the spirit of adventure, soak up the Mediterranean sun, and create lifelong memories as you set sail from the captivating city of Athens.

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