Athens, Greece
Piraeus Cruise Port
There are 3 cruise terminals at the port of Piraeus which is located about 7.5 miles (12km) southwest from the centre of Athens. Travel time by car is around 20 minutes depending on traffic and 50 minutes to 1 hour by public transport.
The airport is 25 to 30 miles (40 to 50km) away by car depending on the route taken. Travel time is around 45 minutes depending on traffic. There is also public transport linking the port to the airport and will typically take around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Piraeus metro station is around 1.5 miles (2.5km) from the cruise terminal with the bus stop for the airport bus less than 1 mile away (1.5km)
How to get there
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is located around 30km to the east of central Athens and has two terminals.
Flights from non-Schengen countries fly in and out of terminal A, while countries in the Schengen zone fly in and out of terminal B.
The two terminals are connected by an underground passage with moving walkways.
The flag carrying airline for Greece "Aegean Airlines" flies from destinations all over Europe and the Middle East including Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester in the UK.
Other airlines to fly direct to Athens from the UK are:
- British Airways from Heathrow
- Easy Jet from London Gatwick, Manchester and seasonal from Bristol and Edinburgh
- Jet 2 from Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester
- Ryanair from London Stanstead and seasonal from London Luton
- Wizz Air from London Gatwick and London Luton
See airline alliances that fly to Athens from all over the world
Transport into Athens
Athens airport is around 20km from the centre of Athens to the east of the city. The cruise port of Piraeus is a further 9km to the south west of Athens and can easily be reached either direct from the airport or from Athens through the public transport system or by taxi.
If you have booked a package from the cruise line or travel agent, then this should be included although it is best to check before travelling. There are also hotels in Athens that provide a shuttle bus, although these may come with an additional fee.
Train or metro
Athens international airport is connected to the city of Athens and the cruise port at Piraeus by both suburban rail and metro.
Trains run from 6:07 in the morning and take around 35 to 45 minutes to Athens and a little over one hour to the cruise port. The last train to Athens is at 23:08, while the last train to Piraeus is at 22:07.
Metro Line 3 (Blue line) connects the airport to Athens and Piraeus. It passes through the main stations of Syntagma (connects to line 2, red) and Monistiraki (connects to line 1, green). The line then travels on to Piraeus.
The tickets are €9 for adults (€16 return) with a reduced rate of €4.5 for children, students and seniors over 65. Children under 6 are free.
There is also the option to purchase a 3 day travel card for €20 which allows travel on the buses, metro and tram and includes the airport
Bus
Bus x95 (Athens)
Bus x96 Piraeus Port
Airport bus is X95 and will take you direct to Syntagma Square in Athens, which takes around 40 minutes.
This bus departs Athens airport every 15 to 20 minutes and runs 24 hours a day.
The X96 bus to Piraeus leaves the airport every 30 to 40 minutes. This service runs 24 hours a day, but departures before 4am and after 6:35pm stops at Karaiskaki sqaure in Athens, which is around 11km from the Piraeus cruise port.
The cost of a one way ticket is €6 and a reduced fare of €3 for students, ages of 6 to 18 and over 65's. Children under 6 are free.
There is also a tourist ticket available at a cost of €22. This ticket is valid for 3 days and allows travel on all public transport in Athens (buses, metro, tram) and also includes the return trip from Athens airport.
Taxi's
Located at exit 3 of arrivals level
The cost of taxi's from the airport to Athens cost a flat rate of €38 - €40 in the day and €54 - €55 in the night.
The cost of the taxi to the port of Piraeus is €54 in the day and €70 at night.
Be sure to only take licenced cabs and a good tip is to book before travelling.
Greek Legislation also states that taxi drivers should provide a receipt for the amount paid for transportation services
Uber is also available in Athens. You are able to book this on your phone and given the price of the journey.
Private Transfer
Located between exits 3 and 4 of arrivals level
Private transfers are available from Athens airport and there are a number of companies who offer a chauffeur driven limousine service.
Prices can range from around €60 euros for 1 to 3 passengers.
If travelling in a large group, there are also companies who can provide a group bus service.
Getting around Athens
Public transport and city pass
Athens public transport
There are various options for travelling on the public transport in Athens on the metro, buses or trams.
- Single trip - this ticket is valid for 90 minutes and allows you to change the method of transport and interrupt your journey within the timeframe. The cost is €1.40 per trip.
- Day ticket - this ticket is valid for 24 hours and you are able to use all the public transport in Athens during the timeframe apart from journeys to and from the airport. The cost is €4.50
- 3 day tourist ticket - this ticket is valid for 72 hours and you are able to use all the public transport in Athens during the timeframe. This ticket also includes the travel to and from the airport. The cost is €22
- 5 day ticket - this ticket is valid for 120 hours but excludes the trip to and from the airport. All the public transport in Athens can be used with this ticket. The cost is €9
- There are also reduced rates for children, students under 25 and seniors over 65. Children 6 and under can travel on the public transport for free. Proof of age will be required as well as student ID if applicable.
Athens city pass
There are various city passes available. Although these do not allow travel on the public transport, these tickets do include a discounted or complimentary hop on, hop off bus tour which is great way to see the sights of Athens with a guided tour in various languages.
The city pass options are:
- Athens pass - includes skip the line tickets for the Acropolis & Archaeological Sites (ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympieon, Kerameikos and Lyceum). The pass also includes skip the line tickets for the Acropolis Museum, along with a city audio guide app for smartphones with guides on over 100 places of interest in Athens. The pass is valid for 5 days and also allows a 10% discount on other attractions in Athens including the hop on, hop off bus.
- Athens Museum Pass - includes skip the line entry to 18 historical sites within Athens including the Acropolis and Acropolis museum, Temple of Zeus, Roman and Ancient Agora, Athens War Museum, Panathenaic Stadium and hop on hop off bus. It also comes with the city audio guide app for smartphones with guides on over 100 places of interest in Athens. The ticket is valid from 2 days from day of activation.
- Athens Unlimited Attraction Pass - this ticket allows admission to over 30 tours and experiences in Athens as well as the hop on hop off bus for up to 2 days. The ticket includes skip the line tickets for Acropolis & Parthenon, Acropolis museum, Athens Olympic museum as well as a full one day tour to a location out of Athens from
- Delphi tour,
- Argolis region including Epidaurus & Mycanae Tour or
- Hydra-Aegina Cruise
Where to stay
The best locations to stay in Athens are the areas of Syntagma, Monisteraki, Koukaki, Plaka, Psiri and Thisseio. These locations are close the the tourist attractions and also have metro links.
Syntagma is easy reachable from the airport and cruise port by the bus and the metro line which makes it one of the ideal locations to stay before or after your cruise. The main tourist attractions are within 1 mile (1.6km) of Syntagma Square which makes them easily walkable from from the area. There are various 4 and 5 star hotels within the area of Syntagma €100 to over €1000 per night.
Monisteraki is also easy reachable from the airport by metro and is the stop after Syntagma. However if taking the airport bus, you will either need to walk or take the metro to Monisteraki metro station. The walking distance to the hotels is anywhere between 1/2 mile to just under a mile away. There are less four and five star hotels in this area and they start at around €150 up to €800 per night.
Koukaki will require a change at Syntagma and take the metro to either of the stations of Acropolis or Syngrou Fix metro stations which are on metro line 2 (red). The tourist attractions are still easily reachable from this area and the hotels are generally a little cheaper. The prices range from just under €100 to just over €300 per night for hotels in this area.
Plaka is the oldest area in Athens with narrow streets containing small shops and places to eat such as tavernas. Plaka is just a short walk from the metro stations of Syntagma and Monisteraki. There aren't as many four and five star hotels in this area and they range from around €100 to just under €800 per night.
Psiri is an area just off Monisteraki Square and can be reached from the metro station of Monisteraki from the airport. The main tourist attractions are again easy reachable by foot from Psiri. The hotels range from just over €100 to €200 per night.
Thisseio is located to the west of the Acropolis. To reach this area from the airport will require a change at Monisteraki metro station to metro Line 1 (green) and exit at Thisseio metro station. The hotels are generally cheaper in this area and are generally less than 1km away from Thisseio metro station. Also, metro line 1 goes to the port of Piraeus. The prices range from just under €100 to around €400 per night.
Athens Top Attractions
****Write about Athens History****
Acropolis & Parthenon
The famous Acropolis is the focal point of Athens. It was built in the 5th century BC and sits on a rock that rises over 150m above sea level overlooking Athens. The name "Acropolis" means high city in Greek and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Within the Acropolis you will be able to see:
- The Parthenon - A temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and the construction started in around 447BC.
- The Temple of Athena Nike - A temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike and constructed in 420 BC.
- The Erechtheum - This was dedicated to both Athena and Poisedon and was constructed around 430 to 405 BC.
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus - A Roman theatre built in 161 AD by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla.
There are 2 entrances to the Acropolis, the main entrance and the side entrance. The main entrance is situated on the western side and can get extremely busy especially in the summer months. The side entrance is quieter and located on the south eastern edge, close to the Acropolis museum.
Bus 230 stops near to the main entrance of the Acropolis and Acropoli metro station (Line 2, red) is located outside the Acropolis museum allowing access through the side entrance.
Ticket prices start at €13 for entrance to the Acropolis and Parthenon with options for upgrades available such as an audio guide and access to the Acropolis museum.
Other tickets are available at various prices to include guided tours, entrance to the acropolis museum, access to other archaeological sites around Athens and the Hop On Hop Off Bus.
Entrance to the Acropolis is also included in one of the Athens City Pass options that may provide better value if you intend to visit multiple sites.
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum was founded in 2003 and was opened to the public in 2009. The museum houses over 400 artefact found on the Acropolis and surrounding slopes. The artefacts contained in the museum date back from the Greek Bronze Age through to the Roman and Byzantine Greece and the museum also lies over top of part of the Roman and early Byzantine Athens.
The museum is at the south eastern edge of the slopes of the Acropolis and the nearest metro station is Acropoli. There are various bus routes and stops close to the museum including bus routes 40, 230, A2, and 550. It is also easy reachable on foot from the Acropolis, Temple of Zeus and the area of Plaka.
The museum opens at 9am Monday to Friday all year, but does have different closing hours during the summer and winter months. During winter the museum closes at 5pm Monday to Thursday, 10pm Fridays and 8pm on weekends. In the summer it closes at 5pm on a Monday, 8pm Tuesday to Saturday and 10pm on a Sunday.
The cost of admission in the winter months is €10 for adults and €15 in the summer. There are reduced rates available of €5 in the winter and €10 in the summer as below. The reduced rate includes visitors between 6 and 25 from non-EU countries and senior citizens over 65 from Greece and other EU member countries.
There is also free admission for some groups which include visitors unto the age of 25 from EU member countries and children up to the age of 5 from non-EU member countries. The reduced rate is upon presentation of passport for verification.
Access to the museum is also included on the Athens City Pass.
The Temple of Zeus
The Temple of Zeus (Olympieion) is situated in the centre of Athens and construction commenced in the 6th century BC, but was not finished until the 2nd Century AD. Once completed it contained over 100 columns and was one of the largest temples in Greece.
The closest metro station is Acropoli, and is also easy reachable on foot from Syntagma Square. There are various bus routes (40, 209, 230 , 550, A2, E14, X14) close by as well as a tram stop.
Tickets cost €8 for an adult and a reduced rate of €4.
The temple is situated around 500m away from the Acropolis to the south east
Ancient Agora of Athens
Panathenaic Stadium
Syntagma Square & The Greek Parliament
Monastiraki
Plaka
Lycabettus Hill
National Achaelogical Museum
Athens War Museum
Athens Toy Museum
Athens Museum of Illusions
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