Piraeus-Athens Greece

2380 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Azamara Club Cruises (81 Cruises)

Cruise Aza Azamara Club Cruises Journey ship

Azamara Journey

1114 Passengers
30277 tons
Visit the ship's page

Azamara Onward

30277 tons
Visit the ship's page

Celebrity Cruises (52 Cruises)

celebrity infinity

Celebrity Infinity

2170 Passengers
90940 tons
Visit the ship's page

Celestyal Cruises (144 Cruises)

Celestyal Discovery

1828 Passengers
Visit the ship's page
Celestyal Journey1

Celestyal Journey

Visit the ship's page

Costa Cruises (157 Cruises)

Cruise COS Costa Cruises Pacifica ship

Costa Pacifica

4118 Passengers
114500 tons
Visit the ship's page
Costa Serena.

Costa Serena

3780 Passengers
114500 tons
Visit the ship's page

Crystal Cruises (19 Cruises)

Cunard (25 Cruises)

Cruise Cunard Queen Elizabeth ship

Queen Elizabeth

2081 Passengers
90400 tons
Visit the ship's page

Emerald Waterways (52 Cruises)

Emerald Azzurra.

Emerald Azzurra

164 Passengers
Visit the ship's page

Explora Journeys (66 Cruises)

Explora II

Explora II

63900 tons
Visit the ship's page

Holland America Line (60 Cruises)

Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Oosterdam ship

ms Oosterdam

2024 Passengers
82820 tons
Visit the ship's page

MSC Cruises (426 Cruises)

msc lirica cruise ship

MSC Lirica

1984 Passengers
65591 tons
Visit the ship's page
msc orchestra cruise ship

MSC Orchestra

3223 Passengers
92409 tons
Visit the ship's page
MSC Cruises Seaview Ship

MSC Seaview

5179 Passengers
154000 tons
Visit the ship's page
msc splendida cruise ship

MSC Splendida

4363 Passengers
137936 tons
Visit the ship's page

Norwegian Cruise Line (38 Cruises)

Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship

Norwegian Gem

2394 Passengers
93530 tons
Visit the ship's page

Oceania Cruises (113 Cruises)

Oceania Allura.

Oceania Allura

1200 Passengers
68000 tons
Visit the ship's page
Cruise OCE Oceania Cruises Marina ship

Oceania Marina

1250 Passengers
66084 tons
Visit the ship's page

Princess Cruises (247 Cruises)

Enchanted Princess.

Enchanted Princess

3660 Passengers
145000 tons
Visit the ship's page
Sun Princess.

Sun Princess

2000 Passengers
77441 tons
Visit the ship's page

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (79 Cruises)

Seven Seas Grandeur.

Seven Seas Grandeur

1294 Passengers
55500 tons
Visit the ship's page

Royal Caribbean Cruises (63 Cruises)

royal caribbean brilliance of the seas cruise ship

Brilliance of the Seas

2112 Passengers
90090 tons
Visit the ship's page
royal caribbean rhapsody of the seas cruise ship

Rhapsody of the Seas

2040 Passengers
78491 tons
Visit the ship's page

Seabourn Cruise Line (135 Cruises)

Seabourn Ovation.

Seabourn Ovation

40350 tons
Visit the ship's page

SeaDream Yacht Club (30 Cruises)

Seadream II

Seadream II

207 Passengers
4333 tons
Visit the ship's page

Silversea Cruises (75 Cruises)

Silver Dawn.

Silver Dawn

596 Passengers
40 tons
Visit the ship's page
Silver Ray.

Silver Ray

728 Passengers
54 tons
Visit the ship's page
Cruise SIL Silversea Cruises Silver Shadow ship

Silver Shadow

690 Passengers
28258 tons
Visit the ship's page

Star Clippers (32 Cruises)

Star Flyer.

Star Flyer

238 Passengers
2298 tons
Visit the ship's page

Viking Ocean Cruises (332 Cruises)

Viking Jupiter1

Viking Jupiter

Visit the ship's page
Viking Mars.

Viking Mars

Visit the ship's page
Viking Neptune1

Viking Neptune

Visit the ship's page
Viking Saturn.

Viking Saturn

Visit the ship's page
viking sea.

Viking Sea

48000 tons
Visit the ship's page
Viking Sky.

Viking Sky

48000 tons
Visit the ship's page
Viking Star

Viking Star

47800 tons
Visit the ship's page
Viking Vela.

Viking Vela

Visit the ship's page

Virgin Voyages (47 Cruises)

Cruise Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady ship

Scarlet Lady

2770 Passengers
110000 tons
Visit the ship's page

Windstar Cruises (58 Cruises)

Star Legend.

Star Legend

502 Passengers
12995 tons
Visit the ship's page
Wind Surf

Wind Surf

552 Passengers
14745 tons
Visit the ship's page

Piraeus Athens Greece | Ancient Heritage & Cruise Guide

You do not come ashore in Piraeus for Piraeus. You come ashore for a rock that has towered over Athens for twenty-five centuries and whose mere mention already set travellers dreaming in antiquity: the Acropolis. The great Greek port, about 13 kilometres from the centre of the capital, serves as the gateway to one of the most meaningful ports of call in the entire Mediterranean. Best to plan it well.

Getting to Athens without complications

From the terminals, several options lead to the centre. The metro remains the simplest solution for independent travellers: Line 1 links Piraeus to Monastiraki station, at the foot of the old quarters, in about thirty minutes. Most cruise lines also offer a shuttle to the centre, and taxis wait at the terminal exits.

Means of transportationApproximate duration
Metro, Line 1 to MonastirakiAbout 30 minutes
Taxi to the Acropolis20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic
Cruise line shuttle to the centreAbout 30 minutes

The sacred rock

The Acropolis must be earned through a gradual climb, but every step is worth it. At the top, the Parthenon, built in the 5th century BCE under Pericles, displays its Doric columns worn by light. Beside it, the Erechtheion and its caryatids, columns in the form of young women, present one of the most recognizable profiles in Greek art. On the slopes of the rock, the Theatre of Dionysus, the cradle of tragedy, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, still used for performances, complete the ensemble. Come early if possible: the morning light and cooler air make the visit far more pleasant.

The museum that changes everything

At the foot of the site, the Acropolis Museum presents the original sculptures in a contemporary building of glass and concrete, built above excavations visible beneath its glass floors. Friezes, korai with enigmatic smiles and fragments of the Parthenon: an hour here doubles the value of the climb. The café terrace, facing the Parthenon, offers a break with a view as a bonus.

Plaka and the Ancient Agora

Below lies Plaka, the oldest neighbourhood in Athens, a maze of neoclassical lanes where tavernas serve moussaka and grilled squid beneath the vine arbours. You stroll here between two monuments before reaching the Ancient Agora, the former civic heart where Socrates taught. The Temple of Hephaestus, remarkably well preserved, watches over a field of ruins planted with olive trees. A few streets away, the stalls of Monastiraki mix antiques, leather sandals and souvenirs in a cheerful, bazaar-like jumble. Keep an eye on the time: the return trip requires the same margin as the way in, and the streets of Plaka have a way of holding on to strollers.

Syntagma and the changing of the Evzones

If time allows, continue to Syntagma Square, in front of Parliament, where the Evzones in pleated kilts and pompom shoes perform their ceremonial changing of the guard at the start of every hour. The contrast between the solemnity of their step and the Athenian traffic makes for a striking moment of contemporary Greek life.

And Piraeus itself?

Passengers who stay near the ship are not left out. The port hides two graceful coves: Mikrolimano, lined with seafood restaurants packed right along the water, and Zea Marina, a gathering place for yachters. The local archaeological museum holds ancient bronzes of rare quality, saved from the waters of the port.

Back to the sea

On the way back, from the ship's deck, Athens spreads out in the evening light, white and endless, with its rock in the middle. You think back to the caryatids, the sun-warmed marble and the buzz of Plaka. Twenty-five centuries fit into a single day in port; that is a lot to ask of one day, and it is exactly why so many travellers come back.

Frequently Asked Questions

About 13 kilometres from the capital's centre. Piraeus is Greece's main port, and it is the gateway to the Acropolis, one of the most meaningful port calls in the whole Mediterranean.
The metro is the simplest option for independent travellers: line 1 links Piraeus to Monastiraki station, at the foot of the old quarters, in about thirty minutes. Most lines also run a shuttle to the centre, and taxis wait outside the terminals, 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
The Parthenon first, raised in the fifth century BC under Pericles, then the Erechtheion and its caryatids. On the flanks of the rock, the theatre of Dionysus, birthplace of tragedy, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus complete the picture.
As early as possible. Morning light and cooler air make the climb far more pleasant, and the rock fills up quickly by midday.
Yes, and it changes how you see the site. It displays the original sculptures in a contemporary building raised above excavations visible through glass floors. An hour here doubles the value of the climb, and the café terrace faces the Parthenon.
The city's oldest quarter, a web of neoclassical lanes where taverns serve moussaka and grilled squid under vine trellises. It lies at the foot of the Acropolis, beside the ancient agora and the temple of Hephaestus.
Yes, if time allows: Syntagma Square in front of Parliament is in central Athens, and the evzones in pleated kilts perform their ceremonial changing at the top of each hour.
The port hides two graceful inlets: Mikrolimano, lined with fish restaurants at water level, and Zea Marina, a yachting hub. The local archaeological museum holds ancient bronzes of rare quality, recovered from the harbour waters.
Allow an hour of travel each way, two hours for the rock and the museum, and keep the same margin coming back as going out. The streets of Plaka have a way of holding walkers: keep an eye on the clock.
The euro and Greek, with English spoken throughout the tourist areas. Cards work almost everywhere; keep cash for the metro and the small shops of Monastiraki.