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![Large Ottoman mosque in Monastiraki square with yellow walls and a red tirled dowed roof, there are collonaded arches around the front section on the ground floor. Behind the church is a small rocky hill with the ancient ruins of the acropolis on top. unusual things to do in athens.](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Monastiraki-Square-Athens-AdobeStock_342541690-800x485.jpeg)
Right here’s the way 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 approach into the centre to discover.
Once I arrived into Piraeus port on my current Aegean cruise, I took the metro into Athens metropolis centre to spend the day exploring by myself. That is the most cost effective possibility and it’s very simple – in case you don’t thoughts a little bit of a stroll to the station. However you may as well take a bus tour or taxi in case you want a neater possibility.
Beneath, I’ve rounded up all of the methods to get from the port to the centre (and the long-lasting Acropolis) – together with step-by-step directions for utilizing the metro. Should you’ve obtained any questions be happy to go away a remark on the finish of the web page. Get pleasure from!
Find out how to Get from Piraeus Port to Athens Metropolis Centre
To get to Athens metropolis centre from the cruise terminal you could have three important choices:
- Taxi or Uber: 20-25 minutes, €20-€25 every approach.
- Bus Tour: an all-day, hop-on, hop-off bus tour connecting all the principle 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 might additionally stroll into town centre in case you actually needed, however that is inadvisable because it takes about 2 hours.
1. Taxi: €20-€25 every approach
![two yellow taxis in a narrow road between tall buildings in Athens city centre with a view of the ancient Acropolis on a hilltop behind and clear blue sky overhead](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Taxi-Acropolis-Athens-Greece-400x600.jpg)
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 simplest possibility, nevertheless it’s additionally the costliest.
Additionally – visitors could be unhealthy within the metropolis centre, so a taxi can take as much as 40 minutes on busy days. In that case, it is likely to be faster to take a taxi to the closest metro station and trip that to town centre (see under for more information).
Taxis are metered so that you shouldn’t should haggle. Nonetheless, unscrupulous drivers have been identified to show the meter off and cost no matter they like – so you’ll want to test it earlier than setting off. You too can use Uber to hail a cab and pay by way of the app, this can get rid of 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 anyplace else, besides that solely licensed taxi drivers could be Uber drivers. So whenever you order an Uber you’ll be getting an area taxi, and might count on to pay the same worth as you do in a metered taxi.
I discovered Uber a a lot simpler method to summon a taxi in Athens relatively than attempting to flag one down on the street.
![screenshot showing the Uber app in Athens](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-Uber-Athens-e1722079081521-287x600.jpg)
2. Bus Tour: €25-€28pp
Should you solely have a day and need to see lots of Athens, the hop-on hop-off bus excursions is usually a good possibility (however once more, costlier).
These bus excursions will take you to a lot of the standard vacationer sights in Athens, and you may get on and off as usually as you want. They make a superb sightseeing tour and often embody an audio information to be taught a bit about what you’re taking a look at.
![three double decked buses in a car park with tower blocks behind, from left to right they are red, yellow and blue. Hop on hop off bus tour from Piraeus Port in Athens.](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Bus-Tour-800x450.jpg)
Just be sure you ebook 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 firms to select from, however the two I personally suggest are:
1. Large Bus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour – 48 hours €25pp (all routes). You may trip 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 possibly can decide up the purple Athens Path to discover the remainder of town. CLICK HERE FOR LATEST PRICES.
3. Metro: €4.10 day ticket
![grey metal train at an underground station with marble floors in Athens](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-3-800x450.jpg)
Stroll to the Metro Station at Dimotiko Theatro (20 minutes from Cruise Terminal A) then trip the M3 to Syntagma or Monastiraki Sq.. The trip takes round 20-25 minutes. I’ve put detailed directions for this selection under so that you’ll know precisely what you’re doing.
The Metro in Athens may be very simple to make use of and the M3 practice 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 use it to trip the metro all day. That is the most cost effective method 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 greatest for visiting Athens Metropolis Centre?
![old stone church on the edge of a large square with pink stone tiles, there is an ottoman church in the background with white walls and an orange tiled domed roof, and a grassy hill behind that with clear blue sky overhead.](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Monastiraki-Square-Athens-400x600.jpg)
Monastiraki Sq. is an effective central spot, proper subsequent to Hadrian’s Library. It’s surrounded by a flea market and is a superb spot for memento procuring. Close by Psirri Sq. and the encircling streets are nice for road artwork searching.
Syntagma Sq. is one other good possibility. It’s town’s important sq., dwelling to the palace – that is the place you possibly can watch the long-lasting altering of the guard each hour.
To get to the Acropolis, you possibly can change at Syntagma Sq. station and trip the purple M2 line one cease to the Acropolis entrance.
Find out how to Take the Metro into Athens from Piraeus Port
![close up of a white recangular sign with a map of Athens metro made up of three coloured lines](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-2-800x533.jpg)
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). Should you 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).
![blue and white ticket machine in athens metro station](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-5-400x600.jpg)
![close up of a screen of an Athens metro station ticket machine](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-4-800x450.jpg)
From Piraeus Ferry Port to the Metro Station
Piraeus Metro Station is nearly immediately reverse the principle ferry port. It’s an enormous yellow constructing, so it’s simple to identify. Merely cross the pedestrian bridge over Avenue Posidonos to succeed in it.
Skip the following 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 faster to stroll to the metro station at Dimotiko Theatro Sq. (ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ) relatively than Piraeus Metro Station.
In case your cruise arrives at Terminal B, first take the free shuttle to Terminal A. It will prevent an additional 20-Half-hour of strolling.
From Terminal A, it’s a few 20-minute stroll to the closest metro station. Nonetheless, Google Maps instructions aren’t fully correct and will attempt to ship you down alongside the docks. Fortunately, there are many indicators pointing you in direction of the metro so comply with these and keep on with the principle street.
![pavement next to a road with a large recangular sign reading Piraeus City Centre, Athens, Metro and an arrow pointing forward](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-8-800x450.jpg)
Flip not noted of the cruise terminal, stroll previous the tour buses and be a part of onto the principle street: Akti (Avenue) Miaoili. Comply with this important street (see the photograph under), with the water in your left, all the best way to the top. I like to recommend crossing to stroll within the shade whenever you attain the primary pedestrian crossing.
![wide grey pavement or sidewalk with a row of green leafy trees planted between it and the road and a row of tower blocks on the other side of the road](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-7-800x450.jpg)
Simply earlier than you attain the top of the street, you’ll see an enormous yellow church in your proper with a park subsequent to it: Themistokleous Sq.. Stroll throughout the park in direction of the gorgeous Holy Trinity church (properly value a photograph cease).
![statue of a man on a grey stone plinth at the centre of a large square with pink stone tiles in a park surrounded by green leafy trees, with a large church in the background with a red tiled domed roof](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-6-800x450.jpg)
Dealing with the church with the park behind you, flip proper to comply with 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 photograph under).
![sign for Dimotiko Theatro metro station. At the top of the sign there is a white circle containing the blue metro logo, and behind are steps descending into the station. In a square with a large tower block in the background and clear blue sky overhead.](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Dimotiko-Theatro-metro-station-Athens-800x450.jpg)
Metro from Piraeus to Athens Metropolis Centre
Don’t miss: Inside Dimotiko Theatro metro station, look out for a big piece of historic structure on show – a part of an outdated water provide system found once they constructed the station. See photograph under.
![Ancient stone wall with holes lit up by orange lights behind glass inside Dimotiko Theatro metro station in Athens, with an arched ceiling overhead and white marble tiles on the floor.](https://www.emilyluxton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Piraeus-Port-Athens-Metro-1-800x450.jpg)
As soon as by means of the ticket limitations, comply with indicators for “airport” to get right down to the platform. Hop aboard the M3 (blue line) practice in direction of the airport. Merely trip 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 properly prematurely of the practice stopping, so you need to be capable to discover your approach simply. If you wish to head straight to the Acropolis, change for the M2 (purple line) at Syntagma and trip it one cease to the Acropolis.
Closing Ideas & Learn Extra
So, that’s my information on the way to get from Piraeus Port and the cruise terminals to Athens metropolis centre!
Should you solely have a day to discover town centre and need to keep away from an excessive amount of strolling, I extremely suggest a hop-on hop-off bus tour. I’ve accomplished plenty of excursions with Metropolis Sightseeing around the globe and all the time discovered them sensible. 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 the way to get from Piraeus port to Athens metropolis centre, scroll down to go away a remark!