
Navigating the Piraeus Ferry Port can be overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors. The port is massive, covering an area of approximately 600,000 square meters.
To make the most of your trip, it's essential to have a clear understanding of the port's layout. The port is divided into several terminals, with Terminal A being the main terminal for ferry arrivals and departures.
Getting around the port is relatively easy, with plenty of signs in both Greek and English to guide you. However, it's still a good idea to have a map with you to avoid getting lost in the crowds.
Where Is?
Piraeus Port is located in the port city of Piraeus, Greece.
It's situated about 12 kilometers southwest of Athens.
The port is connected to Athens by a suburban railway.
You can also reach Piraeus Port by bus or taxi.
Piraeus Port is the largest port in Greece and one of the busiest in the Mediterranean.
It's a major hub for passenger and cargo ships.
The port serves the nearby city of Athens and the rest of Greece.
It's also a popular stop for cruise ships.
Airport Transfer Options

If you're arriving at Athens Airport, you have a few options to get to Piraeus Port. The most convenient and affordable way is to take the metro, specifically Line 3, which runs directly from the airport to Piraeus ferry port.
The metro is frequent, reliable, and cheap, with trains leaving the airport every 36 minutes. Just follow the English signs from airport arrivals to get to Athens Airport station, and then take the M3 line all the way to Piraeus, which is the second-to-last stop.
You can also take a taxi or private car service, but be aware that traffic in Athens can be unpredictable, and this option is significantly more expensive. Additionally, during public transportation strikes, which can occur throughout the year and are most common on May 1, taxis tend to be the least affected mode of transport.
If you're planning to use public transport, consider getting a contactless card, known as Tap2Ride, which can be used on all Athens metro rides, buses, trams, and trolley buses, including the express buses to the cruise terminals.
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Here are the bus options to get to the cruise terminals from Piraeus metro station:
- Bus #826, #843, or #859 heading towards the Piraeus cruise terminals
- Hang on to your metro ticket as your transfer ticket, or tap with the same contactless card you used to pay for your airport metro ride
- Get off at either the “TELONEIO” stop (5 stops) or the “PEIRAIAS” stop (6 stops, also the last stop)
Alternatively, you can get off at the last stop of the M3 line called Dimotiko Theatro, and then change to Bus 40 or Bus 49 for Cruise Terminals B or C.
Metro Travel
To get to Piraeus port from central Athens, you can take the metro from Monastiraki or Omonia station, both on Line 1, or from Syntagma Station on Line 3.
Buying a metro ticket is a straightforward process, with a single fare of 1.40€ for the journey from Athens to Piraeus.
The metro trains from these stations will take you directly to Piraeus, where you'll need to exit the train and walk to the end of the train station.
From there, turn left and you'll see the ferries to the Cyclades, located at gates E6 and E7, just across the street.
Just follow the crowds and you can't miss it!
By Metro: Athens Airport

Taking the Metro from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port is a convenient and affordable option. The metro station is a 10-15 minute walk from the arrival gate, outside of the airport itself. Follow the signs up one level to the main station area to buy your tickets, then go down the escalators to track level to board the train.
The metro train is air-conditioned, but the stations are not. You'll want to stay cool while you ride, but be prepared for a warm station. The metro train has luggage racks, so you can bring your bags along with you.
To get to Piraeus port from the Athens airport on metro, take the blue line/#3 toward “Dimotiko Teatro,” and get off at Piraeus, which is the second to last stop on the route. Make sure the digital sign on the train says “Airport”, not all line/#3 trains go all the way to the airport and the airport is the route’s final destination.
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Metro trains depart every 5-10 minutes throughout the day, but a little less frequently after midnight on weekends. A metro ticket between the airport and Port cost 9€. Children under 6 are free.
Here's a quick summary of the metro journey:
- Line: Blue Line/#3
- Direction: Toward “Dimotiko Teatro”
- Stop: Piraeus (second to last stop)
- Frequency: Every 5-10 minutes
- Cost: 9€ (children under 6 are free)
Suburban Train and Bus Travel
If you're planning to take a suburban train or bus to Piraeus Port, the X96 bus is a good option. It's a frequent and reliable service that can take you to the cruise terminals.
You'll want to get off at the "Pl. KARAISKAKH" stop, also known as Piraeus Gate E7/8/9/10 stop. From there, you can hop onto bus 826, 843 or 859 towards Piraeus cruise terminals and alight at either the "TELONEIO" stop (4 stops away) or the "PEIRAIAS" stop (5 stops away) for Terminal A.
Alternatively, if your cruise is departing from Terminal B or C, you can take the X96 bus to the same "Pl. KARAISKAKH" stop and then hop onto bus 826, 843 or 859 towards Piraeus cruise terminals and alight at the "PEIRAIAS" stop (5 stops away).
If you prefer not to change buses, a taxi to the cruise terminals from the X96 stop is available for €7-€10 depending on traffic.
Taking the Suburban Train Between Airport

Taking the Suburban Train Between Airport and Piraeus Port is a convenient option, but you need to know the details. The train journey takes 65 minutes.
You can catch the train from the airport once an hour from 5:52am to 10:50pm. The train station at the airport is a 10-15 minute walk from the arrival gate, and it's located on the other side of the platform from the metro train.
The suburban train station at Piraeus is in the same place as the metro station, directly across from the port entrance on Platform 3 near Gate E5. This makes it easy to get to the port.
Train tickets cost €10, which is a reasonable price considering the convenience. You can buy tickets at the station or online in advance.
Here's a summary of the train schedule:
Please note that the train schedule may be subject to change, so it's always a good idea to check the latest information before your trip.
Bus Stops B&C

If your cruise is departing from Terminal B or C, you'll want to know how to get there from the X96 bus stop. Alight at Stop “Pl. KARAISKAKH”, aka Piraeus Gate E7/8/9/10 stop.
To get to the cruise terminals, hop onto Bus 826, 843, or 859 from the same stop towards Piraeus cruise terminals and alight at “PEIRAIAS” (Piraeus) (5 stops away).
You'll need to hold onto your ticket for this part of the journey. Once you arrive at “PEIRAIAS” stop, the Lions Gate (E12) is less than 100m (~300 feet) away.
The Lions Gate is the main set of port gates for Terminal B & C. Terminal B is less than 5 minutes walk on flat ground away and Terminal C is right behind the Lions Gate.
If you'd rather not change buses, a taxi to the cruise terminals from the X96 stop is €7-€10 depending on traffic.
Athens Bus from Syntagma Square

If you're planning to visit Athens Piraeus Cruise Port, you can take the X80 bus from Syntagma Square. The X80 bus is a summer-only route, usually operating from May to October.
The X80 bus stop is located on the western side of Syntagma Square, right outside McDonald's. This makes it easy to find and get to the cruise terminals.
Tickets for the X80 bus cover all terminals, including Terminals A, B, and C. This is convenient if you're visiting multiple terminals.
However, if you're traveling during the afternoon rush, be prepared for crowded buses. Many cruise ships visit Athens Piraeus as a port of call, and passengers returning to the port can make the X80 bus quite busy.
If you'd rather avoid the rush or want a better chance at snagging a seat, consider taking buses 40 or 49 instead.
C "Alkimos
Piraeus Cruise Terminal C, also known as "Alkimos", is a convenient option for passengers. It's located next to Terminal A and is a roughly 35-40 minute walk from Piraeus metro station.

To get to Terminal C from Athens Airport, both the metro and the bus are available options. The bus might be a better choice if you're coming from Athens city centre.
The terminal can accommodate 11 ships, with up to 10 ships docked at a time during the peak season. So, don't rely on taxi drivers to tell you where your ship is!
Here's a rough guide to help you plan ahead:
- Small ships, like Azamara Cruises and Viking, typically dock in Terminal A.
- Large ships, such as Virgin Voyages and Celebrity Infinity, usually dock in Terminal C.
- "Mega" ships, which have over 3,000 passengers, typically dock in Terminal B.
Terminal Information
Piraeus-Athens cruise terminal is a major hub for cruise ships in the Eastern Mediterranean. The terminal is located on the Saronic Gulf and has two main terminals: Terminal A and Terminal B.
Terminal A, also known as Miaoulis, is located between Xaveris and Mioulis docks. It can be reached by gate E11. Terminal B, also known as Themistocles, is situated into the Termistokleous breakwater but is not open as often.
To get to the cruise terminal, you can use the Metro station, which is within walking distance. The terminal is a key Eastern Mediterranean cruise port and has undergone an expansion project to accommodate larger-sized vessels.
Here are the key details about the cruise terminal:
The port authority has also introduced a 30% discount for cruise ships docking during winter months, making it an attractive option for cruise lines.
Live Information and Maps

Piraeus Port Map is a great resource to have when planning your cruise. The port is home to both homeport and call port operations, serving the country's capital, Athens City.
You can find the live cruise ship schedule for Piraeus-Athens cruise port, which lists all ships with their arrival and departure dates by month. The schedule is available for viewing on the port's website.
To get to the cruise terminal from the bus stop, you can take bus 826, 843, or 859 from the "Pl. KARAISKAKH" stop and alight at either "TELONEIO" or "PEIRAIAS" stop.
Map
The Piraeus Port Map is a crucial tool for navigating the bustling port.
Ships serving the Cyclades islands use ferry gates E6, E7, E8, E9, and E10.
Cruise ships use the two gates at the far south end of the port – E11 and E12.
Always check your ticket for gate information as ships sometimes get shuffled around, especially during the high season.
Live Map, News, Terminals

Piraeus-Athens cruise port is a key Eastern Mediterranean cruise port, serving as both a homeport and call port for various itineraries.
The port's cruise ship terminals, Terminal A and Terminal B, have a total of 11 berths on the southern quays.
If Terminal B is closed, passengers are transferred to Terminal A by a shuttle bus.
The cruise port is located on the Saronic Gulf, part of the Aegean Sea, and was initially used as a terminus for passenger ferries connecting to the largest Greek islands.
You can reach Terminal A by gate E11 and Terminal B by gate E12.
In December 2015, an EUR 156 million expansion project was started to allow docking of larger-sized vessels, with 2 new berths scheduled for completion in 2022-Q2.
The cruise ship terminals are a walking distance from a Metro station.
Port Piraeus also offers a 30% discount for cruise ships docking here during winter months, in addition to other price cuts for winter ship calls.
The weather conditions in Piraeus in the winter are very good.
Here are the main terminals for cruise ships at Port Piraeus:
- Terminal A (Miaoulis)
- Terminal B (Themistocles)
Traveling to City Centre

You can get from Piraeus Port to Athens City Centre using the Χ80 Piraeus-Akropolis-Syntagma Express bus, which takes 30 minutes and costs €4.50 with a 24-hour transit ticket.
The bus runs every 35 minutes from 7am to 9:30pm during cruise season and stops at the Piraeus Archaeological Museum, the Acropolis, and Syntagma Square.
You can also take the metro, but you'll need to change lines at either Syntagma or Omonia stations, which have step-free options if you have luggage.
To take the metro, find your nearest station and hop on the M3 (blue line) heading all the way to Piraeus, then follow the same directions as above to catch a local bus to your cruise terminal.
Tickets for the metro are €1.20 for adults and €0.50 for kids 7-18 or seniors 65+ for a single 90-minute ticket.
Getting to Central Area
The X80 Piraeus-Akropolis-Syntagma Express bus is a convenient option, taking 30 minutes to get from the cruise terminals to central Athens.

You'll need a €4.50 24-hour transit ticket to ride this bus.
Buses run every 35 minutes from 7am to 9:30pm during cruise season.
You can purchase tickets on board the bus (exact fare only) or at any public transport ticket kiosk.
If you'd rather take the metro, the M3 Blue Line is a good option, taking you all the way to Piraeus.
Tickets for a single 90-minute ticket cost €1.20 for adults and €0.50 for kids 7-18 or seniors 65+.
Keep in mind that you'll need to follow the same directions as above to catch a local bus to your cruise terminal once you arrive at Piraeus.
Here are your options to get to central Athens:
Getting to City Centre
If you're planning to visit Athens' city centre from the cruise port, you have a few options. The X80 Piraeus-Akropolis-Syntagma Express bus is a convenient choice, taking 30 minutes to get from the cruise terminals to central Athens.

You'll need to purchase a €4.50 24-hour transit ticket to ride this bus. You can buy tickets on board the bus or at any public transport ticket kiosk.
Buses run every 35 minutes from 7am to 9:30pm during cruise season. If you're short on time, a taxi or pre-booked car service might be a better option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the transfer from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port?
The transfer from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port takes about 1 hour, with trains running every 30 minutes.
What port do cruise ships use in Athens, Greece?
Cruise ships use Piraeus, the port city located near Athens, as their gateway to the city. Located in Greece, Piraeus offers access to the cradle of Western Civilization, Athens.
Is there a free shuttle to Piraeus Port?
Yes, a free shuttle bus is available within Piraeus Port, operated by the Piraeus Port Authority. Learn more about the shuttle service and its routes.
Where is Piraeus Harbour?
Piraeus Harbour is located on the Saronic Gulf, on the western coast of the Aegean Sea. It serves as the chief sea port of Athens, Greece.
Is there anything to do in Piraeus Port?
Visit Piraeus Port to explore its rich history and stunning harbour, featuring ancient exhibits and a picturesque waterfront with luxury yachts and ships
Sources
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