Piraeus

Piraeus is the main port of Athens and the city's gateway to the islands of the Aegean. It is the largest port in Greece and one of the busiest in Europe, serving over 20 million passengers every year. There are daily ferry crossings from the Port of Piraeus to the Saronic islands, the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese and the North Aegean islands.

Port of Piraeus: gates and destinations

The Port of Piraeus is located 12 km southwest of the center of Athens, on the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. There are 12 gates at the port, each one serving connections to different destinations in the Aegean:

The 12 gates and all the destinations from the port of Piraeus

Important: keep in mind that departure gates may change depending on traffic at the port. As such, it is recommended to confirm your departure gate with your ferry operator before setting off, as well as checking the electronic display boards located at the port or asking the port authority information desks.

Getting around the Port of Piraeus

It takes around 1 hour to walk from one side of the port to the other, so it is important to confirm your departure gate before heading to Piraeus. In our map, we have highlighted useful information about the Port of Piraeus to make navigation easier: gate locations, distance between gates, taxi ranks, shuttle bus stops, ticket booths, metro and suburban railway station.

 Ferryhopper's map with all the info about the port of Piraeus

Shuttle bus within the Port of Piraeus

The Piraeus Port Authority operates a free shuttle bus service within the port. The bus departs from the main entrance of the port of Piraeus, near gate E5, as shown on our map. Electronic display boards at the stop show the estimated waiting times. The shuttle stops are the following:

1. Electric Railway (ISAP) - Suburban Railway Terminal
2. Agios Dionysios 1 - Hellenic Railway (OSE)
3. Agios Dionysios 2
4. Ietion 1
5. Ietion 2
6. Dexamenes
7. Ministry of Maritime Affairs
8. Vasiliadis 1 - Customs
9. Vasiliadis 2
10. Terminal - Bus terminus

Ferry routes from the Port of Piraeus

Piraeus is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe, serving ferry connections from Athens to the Saronic Islands, Cyclades, Crete, Dodecanese, and North Aegean.

• Piraeus - Saronic Islands: gate E8 links Piraeus with many islands in the Saronic and Argolic Gulf, including Aegina, Agistri, Hydra, Poros and Spetses.
• Piraeus - Cyclades: from gates E4, E6, E7, E9, and E10, you can catch multiple daily and weekly ferries from Piraeus to islands in the Cyclades such as Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Donousa, Folegandros, Ios, Irakleia, Kimolos, Koufonisia, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Schinoussa, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros and Tinos.
• Piraeus - Crete: there are many daily ferry crossings from the Port of Piraeus to Crete, with ferries to Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno usually departing from gates E2 and E3.
• Piraeus - Dodecanese: there are many daily and weekly ferries from Piraeus to Dodecanese islands, such as Astypalaia, Chalki, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Leipsoi, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Pserimos, Rhodes, Symi and Tilos, which usually depart from gate E1.
• Piraeus - North Aegean: from gate E2, you can catch daily and weekly ferries from Piraeus to the islands of the North Aegean, such as: Agios Efstratios, Chios, Fourni, Ikaria, Lesbos (Mytilene), Lemnos, Oinousses, Psara and Samos.

For more details on routes, schedules, companies, and ticket prices, take a look at our dedicated page on Piraeus ferries.

Good to know: from Athens, you can also catch a ferry to the Greek islands from the ports of Rafina and Lavrio.

Panoramic view of the port and the city of Piraeus

How to get to the Port of Piraeus

You can easily reach the Port of Piraeus from the center of Athens and the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos by car, taxi and public transport.

From downtown Athens to Piraeus

By metro

You can get to the Port of Piraeus by metro via lines 1 (green) and 3 (blue):

• Line 1 runs from the northern suburbs of Kifissia to Piraeus, with stops at Omonoia, Monastiraki and Thisio in central Athens. The metro ride from Monastiraki to Piraeus takes about 20 minutes, with departures approximately every 10-15 minutes.
• Line 3 runs from the Airport to Piraeus and serves several areas across central Athens, including Syntagma and Monastiraki. The ride from Ambelokipi to the Port of Piraeus takes about 25 minutes and services run every 5-10 minutes.

By bus

There are plenty of buses that connect Athens to Piraeus, with the main lines being 040 (Syntagma - Piraeus) and 049 (Omonoia - Piraeus). The Korai Square stop is about a 10-minute walk from the port.

By car or taxi

The car or taxi ride from downtown Athens to the Port of Piraeus normally takes about 15 to 35 minutes, depending on your location and traffic conditions. If you are traveling during rush hour or the high season, the ride can take upwards of an hour. A taxi ride from Syntagma Square to the Port of Piraeus usually costs around €20 during the day and €25 at night (00:00-05:00).

From Athens airport to Piraeus

By metro

The easiest way to get from the Airport of Athens to Piraeus is by metro. Trains on line 3 (blue) depart from the airport every 36 minutes, with the ride taking about 1 hour.

By suburban railway

You can travel from Athens International Airport to the Port of Piraeus with the suburban railway in just over 1 hour. Services normally operate between 06:00 and 22:00.

By bus

The X96 bus route connecting the airport with the Port of Piraeus runs 24/7, with departures every 20-30 minutes. The bus ride normally takes up to 1.5 hours.

By car or taxi

The ride from the Athens International Airport to the Port of Piraeus via Attiki Odos takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic. The taxi fare is around €60 during the day and around €70 at night (00:00-05:00).

Public transportation tickets prices

Standard tickets last 90 minutes and are valid for all public transport operated by the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA), including buses, trolleys, trams, metro lines 1, 2 and 3, and the Suburban Railway (TRAINOSE). You can either purchase tickets at all stations or you can swipe your bank card on the validation machines. Standard ticket prices are as follows:

• Standard tickets cost €1.20
• Airport tickets cost €9 for the metro and €5.50 for the bus

Good to know: there are also daily passes, 3-day and 5-day tourist tickets, as well as special discounts for multiple tickets.

Parking at the Port of Piraeus

If you are traveling to Piraeus with a vehicle, keep in mind that parking is not allowed inside the port. You can park your vehicle in a nearby private parking lot or try to find a spot on the streets around the port. However, street parking can be limited and may take some time to find, especially during busy periods.

The historic building of the metro station at the port of Piraeus

Useful info for the Port of Piraeus

At the port, you will find 4 passenger terminals near gates E1, E2, E3 and E8, with air-conditioned waiting rooms, Wi-Fi, snack bars, ticket offices, tourist information desks, toilets, and storage lockers.

In the surrounding area you will find cafés, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, as well as metro and bus stops, taxi ranks, ticket offices, and banks. There are ATMs between gates E6 and E7 (National Bank of Greece and Eurobank) near the main entrance, near E8 (NBG and Piraeus Bank), as well as E3 (Piraeus Bank and Credia Bank) and E4 (Euronet).

The center of Piraeus is a short distance from the port and you can easily get there on foot or by public transportation.

Important phone numbers for Piraeus

Some useful contacts to keep handy when traveling to and from Piraeus:

• Piraeus Port Authority: +302104172675, +302104226000-4
• Information on sailings for the week: +302104147800
• Tzaneio Piraeus General Hospital: +302104519411
• General State Hospital: +302104915061
• Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos: +302103530000
• Athens and Piraeus public transport info: +302144146400
• Piraeus tourist police: +302104290664

Sightseeing in Piraeus

Often seen as the gateway to the Greek islands, Piraeus is also a destination rich in maritime history, neoclassical architecture and scenic coastal neighborhoods. Once the naval hub of ancient Athens, the city today blends archaeological landmarks, lively marinas and panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Saronic Gulf. Some of the highlights in Piraeus include:

• Archaeological Museum of Piraeus: this museum houses artifacts from the Mycenaean to Roman periods, including impressive bronze statues such as the famous Piraeus Athena.
• Mikrolimano Harbor: this picturesque marina is one of the most scenic spots in Piraeus and lined with colorful fishing boats, waterfront tavernas and seafood restaurants.
• Zea Marina (Pasalimani): surrounded by elegant buildings and cafés, Zea Marina is a lively harbor, with striking views of the Saronic Gulf.
• Kastella: built on a hill overlooking Mikrolimano, Kastella is one of Piraeus’ most charming districts with narrow streets, neoclassical houses and panoramic viewpoints of the port and the Saronic Gulf.
• Veakeio Municipal Theater: located on Prophet Elijah Hill in Kastella, this open-air amphitheater hosts concerts, theater performances and cultural events throughout the summer.
• Hellenic Maritime Museum: discover Greece’s long naval tradition through ship models, naval artifacts and exhibits on maritime exploration and warfare.
• Greek Genocide Memorial (Alexandra Square): a striking contemporary monument commemorating the Pontic Greek victims of genocide.
• Karaiskakis Stadium: football fans will recognize this stadium in the Neo Faliro district as the home ground of Olympiacos, one of Greece’s most successful clubs.

Go for a walk in Mikrolimano and enjoy fresh seafood by the sea in Piraeus

Book ferry tickets from Piraeus to the Greek islands

Traveling by ferry from Piraeus to the Greek islands has never been easier! On Ferryhopper, you can compare prices and companies, find all schedules, offers, ticket types and book ferry tickets for Crete, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the North Aegean and the Saronic islands in just a few clicks!