Travelers who arrive by ferry to Piraeus are disembarking at one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe which is receiving millions of tourists every year!
Piraeus is located in the southwest area of Athens, is a part of Attica and is the 4th biggest city in Greece with a population of around 165.000 permanent inhabitants. Piraeus’ port has been awarded from MedCruise as the “Best Cruise Port in Eastern Mediterranean Region” and is steadily among the top 10 destinations in the entire Europe. The city itself is very old with a rich background, containing plenty of attractions and of course, many hotels, bars and restaurants thus being a very lively and busy city.
Through our online booking engine, you can check all ferry routes starting from Piraeus harbour while also you have the opportunity to compare prices, get discounts (if possible) and finally, book your ferry tickets to Piraeus in advance.
Ferry routes from Piraeus
The massive port of Piraeus is facing the Saronic Gulf, opposing Salamina. It is the busiest port in Greece by far and the main starting point for the ferry routes from Piraeus to Cyclades, Small Cyclades, Dodecanese Islands, Crete, to the islands of the Saronic Gulf and to other islands of the Aegean. Since it is a vivid port town and very close to the center of Athens, there are several daily ferries from Piraeus to many of the Greek islands while in summer season, they tend to get denser. Some popular connections with great demand are the:
Piraeus Port to Greek Islands
Big conventional ships but also smaller, faster high speeds and catamarans depart every day with frequent routes from Piraeus port towards the Greek islands. There are well developed crossings to the islands of the Saronic Gulf (Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses) which abstain only few kilometers and are suitable even for one day excursions.
Crowded ships depart form Piraeus also to the Cyclades and Small Cyclades such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Syros and Koufonisia. Have in mind that these routes are extremely famous to tourists so booking your tickets early for summer would be the wisest choice.
Piraeus is well connected with the Dodecanese like Kalymnos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, Patmos, Karpathos and more while also with Crete's Heraklion and Chania. The sailings might take long so please, check the accommodation options each ship offers and book what suits you best.
International Ferry Connections to Piraeus Port
Italy to Greece: Visitors who are coming from Italy cannot go directly to Piraeus. They first have to arrive at either the port of Igoumenitsa, Corfu or Patras and from there, they will be able to reach Piraeus port. Please, keep in mind that the only way to get to Piraeus from Patras or Igoumenitsa is by driving your own car / camper or by using the public ground services (buses, trains).
The starting points from Italy towards Greece are Venice in the north, Ancona in middle Italy, Bari and Brindisi on the southern part. Tourists who travel with their campers should examine the option of camping on board or book a bed cabin in order to enjoy the time consuming crossings.
Turkey to Greece: Same goes to those who are entering Greece from Turkey; they need to travel by ferry to Samos, Kos, Chios, Mytilene, Symi, Kalymnos or Rhodes from the Turkish ports of Bodrum, Datca, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Cesme or Fethiye and then get on board the ferries to Piraeus. The duration of the sailings might be long considering there will be stopovers so booking a cabin on board is the best way to have a relaxing and pleasant voyage.
Piraeus ferry port
Piraeus abstains 210 km from Patras, 40 km from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos and just 10 km from Athens city center. In Piraeus ferry port, you can find tourist information, pedestrian lanes and a little further, in the city center of Piraeus, there are numerous cafeterias, restaurants, accommodations and interesting places to stroll around.
By the time you get off your ship you will easily see plenty of taxis with their characteristic yellow color waiting to pick you up and transfer you everywhere in Athens. You can also use a bus which is much cheaper but not as convenient since you will have luggage with you too. There are several buses that run from the port of Piraeus towards almost every part in Athens.
Patras to Piraeus
Patras is one of the biggest ports in Greece and has high traffic especially during summer months. Getting to the port of Piraeus from Patras can easily be achieved by using the following transportation means:
Bus
Take the bus line 420 and reach Piraeus port in approx. 3.30 hours with the cost of 25 Euros. More information in Patras to Piraeus Bus.
Train
In order to get to Piraeus from Patras by train, you will have to take the bus to Kiato and then get on the train directly to Piraeus. The total time the journey requires is approx. 3.30 hours and the cost about 15 Euros. Please, visit the Train OSE Patras in order to get the latest information about train departures and arrivals.
By Car
Take the N.E.O. Patron - Athinon road and follow the signs to Athens and then to Piraeus. The average driving time is about 2.30 hours. Have in mind that there are tolls on the way which cost around 12 Euros.
Athens International Airport to Piraeus Port
Upon arrival at the Athens International Airport you can get to Piraeus Port easily by Metro, Bus and Taxi. See below your alternatives in further detail.
Metro
Use line 3 to Monastiraki and then board on line 1 to Piraeus. The total journey to Piraeus port takes about 60 minutes and connections occur very frequently. Please check the Official Metro Website for more specific information.
Bus
Use line X96 Athens International Airport - Piraeus. The journey time to Piraeus port is approx. 70 minutes and connections take place very frequently. Please check the Official Airport Bus Website for more specific information.
Taxi
In front of the Terminal is the taxi stand. Taxis are available on a 24/7 basis. The journey time to Piraeus port takes approx. 45 minutes and costs ca. 45,00 Euro. Please check the Athens Airport Taxis for more specific information.
Athens City Center to Piraeus Port
From the City Center of Athens, you can get to Piraeus port by taking advantage of the following public transportation means.
Metro
Board on line 3 from Syntagma Square to Piraeus or line 1 from Monastiraki. The journey to Piraeus port takes about 30 minutes and connections occur very frequently. Have in mind the the subway station in Piraeus abstains a 20 minute walk form the port so if you carry heavy luggage you should consider taking a taxi from there or choose another alternative. Please check the Official Metro Website for more specific information.
Bus
Use line 040 Syntagma to Piraeus. The journey time to Piraeus port is approx. 60 minutes and connections occur very frequently. Please check the Athens Buses for more specific information.
Taxi
Taxis are omnipresent in and around the city center on a 24/7 basis. Catch a taxi on the go or call them anytime to schedule a transportation. You can use the tel. numbers 18300, 18180 or search the Piraeus Taxis.
You can also schedule a Piraeus ride with a Luxury Taxi Service for sightseeing and long or short distance transfers!
Day trips from Athens (Piraeus)
It is a common choice to make day trips from Athens (Piraeus) to the nearby islands of the Argo-Saronic Gulf. They are all wonderful and constitute ideal getaways from the city noise, especially for weekends. Such trips are the:
It is also possible to make island-hopping from one to another and we strongly recommend it since it is a fun way to explore these little island jewels!
What to do in Piraeus
Before your ship departs for the Greek islands, there are many things you can do in Piraeus in order to spend your time. As referred above, it is an immense city with a very interesting background and can keep you quite busy if you desire to look a little deeper. Some of the most worth-seeing sites and areas in Piraeus are:
- The Archeological Museum
- Pasalimani
- Mikrolimano
- Kastella
- Trouba
- Sotiros Dios Street
If you have time and for the reason that Piraeus is so close to the center of Athens, you can use the public means of transportation and pay a visit to Greece’s capital.
