Piraeus Athens Cruise Port

Posted in Cruise Port Excursions / Europe

The Piraeus (Πειραιάς, official transliteration Pireas) is the ancient port of Athens, and still functions as the chief exit point from the city by sea, for destinations among the Aegean Islands and elsewhere in the east Mediterranean.

Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína) is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.15 million inhabitants (2025). It was a major cultural, political and religious centre of Classical Greece, and therefore remains for many an important site within the history of Western civilization. It is a place where modern Greek culture, business and social life flourishes amidst ancient monuments.

Cruise ships dock at the new cruise terminal which is around 1 mile from the centre of Piraeus and 8 miles from Athens.

Local curreny is Euro

Things to do in Athens

If you are limited for time and only visiting Athens for a day we have highlighted the top sights to see. Before booking a cruise line excursion to your preferred highlight check out what tours are offered in Athens by Viator and Get your Guide – you could find a tour which better matches your preferences and could make a significant saving.

Our top attractions in Athens

Take a tour of Athens

Visit the famous Acropolis

Take an open top bus tour from the port around Athens

Take a day safari to spot some of the Big 5

Please remember to check that your scheduled time of arrival into port and scheduled time of departure fits with the timings of your preferred tour. We would always recommend planning to arrive back at your ship at least one hour prior to your scheduled ‘All Aboard’ time.

Extended Stay Options in Piraeus & Athens

Looking for a pre or post cruise hotel in Cape Town ? Or perhaps an extended stay to take in a longer safari – we’ve found the best options for you.

We carefully select a small selection of our preferred hotels but we recognise that the best hotels can be expensive when the city is busy around cruise embarkation / disembarkation days so please use the search box to find the best hotel that suits your budget.