Piraeus has been the port of Athens since antiquity. In the 5th century BC Themistocles made it the Athenian fleet's base and the Long Walls linked it to the city, letting Athens withstand sieges by land. Today it is a separate municipality of about 170,000 people within the metropolitan area, Greece's largest passenger port and one of the Mediterranean's main container ports, run since 2016 by China's COSCO.
Getting there
| From | Transport | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Central Athens (Monastiraki, Omonia) | Metro line 1 (green) | 20-25 minutes |
| Syntagma and airport | Metro line 3 (blue) to Piraeus | about 25 minutes from the centre, about 1 hour from the airport |
| Airport | Bus X96 | about 90 minutes |
| Airport | Suburban railway | about 1 hour |
| Syntagma and coast | Tram | about 1 hour |
| Central Athens | Taxi | 20-40 minutes depending on traffic |
The metro and train station is right opposite the ferry area for the Saronic islands and some Cyclades.
Gates and departures
The port is huge and divided into gates (E1, E2, E3 etc.). Broadly:
| Area | Indicative destinations |
|---|---|
| E1-E2 | Dodecanese and North-East Aegean islands |
| E3 | Crete (Heraklion, Chania) |
| E6-E7 | Cyclades, fast and conventional ships |
| E8 | Saronic islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses) |
Gate allocations can change: always check your ticket and the departure boards. A free shuttle bus links the metro station to the furthest gates.
What to see
- The Piraeus Archaeological Museum, with superb bronze statues found in the harbour, including the Piraeus Apollo.
- Mikrolimano, the little yacht harbour lined with seafront fish restaurants.
- Kastella hill, with views over the Saronic Gulf.
- Pasalimani (Zea), a marina with cafés and a promenade.
- The church of Agia Triada and the neoclassical municipal theatre.
See also Athens and island ferries.