Piraeus is the great port of Athens and one of the busiest in Europe, the main gateway to the Greek islands by ferry, with the scenic Kastella hill, pretty marinas and a fine archaeological museum. Plan your island-hopping and city days around it with skip-the-line tickets and tours from My Greece Tours.
The port is the launchpad for any island adventure in the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover what it is, the ferries, getting there, what to do, Kastella and the marinas, where to eat and tips.
What is Piraeus in Athens?
The main port of Athens and the largest in Greece, Piraeus ranks among Europe’s busiest passenger ports, handling over 20 million travellers a year. Lying about 10 kilometres south-west of central Athens, it is the gateway for ferries to the Saronic, Cyclades, Crete, Dodecanese and North Aegean islands, and also a city in its own right with neighbourhoods, marinas and history.
For most visitors to Greece, Piraeus is the place where an island adventure begins, but it is far more than just a ferry terminal. Situated around ten kilometres south-west of the centre of Athens, with which it has effectively merged into one continuous urban area, Piraeus is the largest port in the country and one of the busiest passenger ports in all of Europe, handling well over twenty million passengers every year. From its many gates depart the ferries that connect Athens to almost every Greek island group, from the nearby Saronic islands to the Cyclades, to Crete, and on to the Dodecanese and North Aegean, making it the beating heart of Greek sea travel. Yet Piraeus is also a substantial city in its own right, with its own long history reaching back to antiquity, when it served as the naval base of ancient Athens, as well as lively neighbourhoods, elegant marinas, a hilltop quarter with sea views, museums, theatres and a busy waterfront life beyond the commercial harbour. Understanding the port helps any island trip run smoothly. It is the starting point for islands like those in the Hydra day trip guide. Its ferries are the main reason most visitors come.
Where do ferries from Piraeus go?
Ferries from Piraeus serve almost all the Greek islands, including the Saronic islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra), the Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros and more), Crete (Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno) and the Dodecanese and North Aegean. Different island groups leave from different numbered gates around the large harbour, so check your gate in advance.
The great appeal of Piraeus is the sheer reach of its ferry network, which links Athens to the vast majority of inhabited Greek islands. The nearby Saronic islands, including Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses, are served by frequent fast and conventional boats ideal for day trips. The famous Cyclades, among them Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Milos, Ios, Syros and Tinos, are reached by a mix of large car ferries and high-speed catamarans, while a string of daily crossings serves the great island of Crete, with boats sailing to Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno. Boats also run to the Dodecanese and the North Aegean islands. Because the harbour is so large, the different island groups depart from different numbered gates, often a considerable walk apart, so it is essential to know your gate number, usually printed on your ticket, before you arrive, and to allow plenty of time. Free shuttle buses circulate within the port to help passengers reach the more distant gates. Fast ferries cost more and sail quicker, while conventional ferries are cheaper and carry vehicles. Booking ahead is wise in the busy summer months. The Saronic options are detailed in the Poros day trip guide. Reaching the port is easy.
How do you get to Piraeus?
The easiest way to reach Piraeus is the metro: line 1 runs from central Athens (Monastiraki, Thissio) to Piraeus in about 20 minutes, while line 3 connects directly from the airport in around 60 minutes, arriving by gate E6. Buses, the suburban railway and taxis also serve the port. Allow extra time to walk to your specific ferry gate.
Getting to Piraeus from Athens or the airport is straightforward thanks to good public transport, which is the recommended way to avoid traffic and parking problems. The simplest option from central Athens is metro line 1, the green line, which runs directly from stations including Monastiraki and Thissio down to the Piraeus terminus in around twenty minutes, with frequent departures every ten to fifteen minutes; the station sits right by the main harbour. From the airport, the extended metro line 3, the blue line, now runs all the way to Piraeus in about an hour with no change, arriving conveniently opposite gate E6, which is a great help for travellers heading straight to a ferry on arrival. The suburban railway and various buses also connect the port to the city and airport, and taxis or ride-hailing offer a door-to-door alternative, though they are subject to traffic. Crucially, once you reach the port, allow extra time to find and walk to your specific ferry gate, as the harbour is very large and some gates are a fair distance from the metro; free shuttle buses help with the longer stretches. Arriving at least an hour before departure is sensible in summer. The wider network is explained in the Athens airport to city centre guide. Beyond the ferries, Piraeus rewards exploration.
What can you do in Piraeus?
Beyond catching a ferry, in Piraeus you can explore the scenic Kastella hill with its mansions and sea views, stroll the pretty Mikrolimano and Marina Zeas harbours lined with tavernas and yachts, visit the excellent Archaeological Museum of Piraeus with its bronze statues, and enjoy the waterfront, the Municipal Theatre and a lively local food and café scene.
While many travellers pass straight through Piraeus to their ferry, the port-city actually offers plenty to enjoy if you have a few hours or a day to spare. The most beautiful area is the hilltop neighbourhood of Kastella, also called Profitis Ilias, a short distance from the main harbour, where elegant nineteenth-century mansions and winding streets climb to a summit with sweeping views across the Saronic Gulf, a peaceful contrast to the bustle of the commercial port. Below it lie two of the most charming corners of Piraeus, the picturesque small harbours of Mikrolimano and Marina Zeas, both ringed by fish tavernas, cafés and bars and filled with fishing caïques and gleaming yachts, ideal for a seaside meal or a relaxed stroll. Culture lovers should not miss the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, a short walk from the port, a compact gem displaying finds from the Bronze Age to Roman times discovered in and around the city, including magnificent ancient bronze statues such as the famous Piraeus Kouros. The handsome Municipal Theatre, the long waterfront and a genuine, unpolished local atmosphere complete the picture. There is more here than first meets the eye. The bronzes complement the collections of the National Archaeological Museum. The hill and harbours are the highlights.
What are Kastella and the marinas like?
Kastella is the most scenic neighbourhood of Piraeus, a hill of neoclassical mansions and stepped lanes crowned by the church of Profitis Ilias and the open-air Veakeio Theatre, with panoramic sea views. Below it, Mikrolimano and Marina Zeas are pretty yacht harbours lined with seafood tavernas, cafés and bars, popular for dining, sunset drinks and waterfront walks.
The loveliest side of Piraeus is found around the Kastella hill and the elegant marinas at its foot, an area that feels worlds away from the industrial container terminals. Kastella, rising above the sea just east of the main port, is a desirable residential quarter of grand nineteenth-century neoclassical mansions, bougainvillea-draped lanes and steep stepped streets climbing to the hilltop church of Profitis Ilias, beside which the open-air Veakeio Theatre stages summer performances against a backdrop of the glittering gulf. The views from the top, stretching across the sea to the islands and back over the sprawl of Athens, are superb, especially at sunset. At the base of the hill curves Mikrolimano, a postcard-pretty horseshoe harbour packed with fishing boats and yachts and ringed by some of the best fish tavernas in the Athens area, a classic spot for a long seafood lunch by the water. Nearby Marina Zeas, the largest yacht marina, offers a smarter waterfront of cafés, bars and restaurants with a relaxed, affluent air. Together these make the eastern side of Piraeus a genuinely delightful place to wander, dine and watch the boats. The seaside setting recalls the Athens Riviera beaches. The food here is a highlight in itself.
Where do you eat in Piraeus, and what tips help?
Piraeus is famous for fresh seafood, best enjoyed at the tavernas around Mikrolimano and Marina Zeas harbours, with classic ouzeri and mezedopoleia in the back streets. Tips: know your ferry gate number and arrive early, use the metro to avoid traffic, allow time to walk between gates, and combine a ferry day with a meal in Kastella or the marinas if your schedule allows.
Eating well is one of the pleasures of Piraeus, a city long associated with the sea and its bounty. The port is renowned above all for fresh fish and seafood, and the finest place to enjoy it is among the tavernas that line the picturesque harbours of Mikrolimano and Marina Zeas, where you can choose your fish, watch the boats and dine by the water. Away from the marinas, the back streets of the port and its neighbourhoods hide excellent traditional ouzeri and mezedopoleia serving plates of grilled octopus, fried small fish, salads and meze with ouzo or tsipouro, often at fairer prices than the waterfront. For practical visiting, a few tips make a difference: always know your ferry’s gate number in advance, as the harbour is huge and gates are far apart; use the metro rather than a car to avoid traffic and parking headaches; arrive at the port well before departure, at least an hour in summer, and allow time to walk or shuttle to your gate; and if your ferry leaves later in the day, consider filling the spare time with a meal or a stroll in scenic Kastella or by the marinas. With a little planning, Piraeus is easy and enjoyable. The wider transport picture appears in the getting around Athens guide. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Athens to Piraeus port?
The easiest way is the metro: line 1 runs from central Athens, including Monastiraki and Thissio, to Piraeus in about 20 minutes, while line 3 connects directly from the airport in around 60 minutes, arriving near gate E6. Buses, the suburban railway and taxis also serve the port, though the metro avoids traffic.
Which islands can you reach from Piraeus?
From Piraeus you can reach almost all the Greek islands by ferry, including the Saronic islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra), the Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros and more), Crete (Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno), and the Dodecanese and North Aegean. Different island groups depart from different numbered gates around the harbour.
Is Piraeus worth visiting beyond the ferry?
Yes, Piraeus is worth exploring beyond the port, especially the scenic Kastella hill with its mansions and sea views, the pretty Mikrolimano and Marina Zeas harbours lined with seafood tavernas, and the excellent Archaeological Museum of Piraeus with its ancient bronze statues. It makes a rewarding half-day away from central Athens.