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One of the world’s oldest maritime powers, Athens is blessed with a balmy climate and stunning coastline. The seaside suburbs of Athens are scalloped with sandy beaches, fancy yacht clubs and glamorous beach bars. Contemplate the magnitude of all that culture and ancient tourist attractions while marveling at the sun setting into the Aegean or rising over the Acropolis. Cruise ships dock at one of the modern cruise terminals where passengers can take their first steps into Greek culture. Read on for our breakdown of the Athens cruise port, including address information, cruise line terminals, directions, services and more.
Cruises
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During the Roman and Hellenistic periods, Athens saw an increase in its importance in trade and commerce, producing and shipping more oils and goods to Italy. As the Roman Empire saw its zenith, Athens was a particular favorite of Emperor Hadrian, who built Hadrian’s Library on the north side of the Acropolis in 132 AD. However, as the Roman Empire fell into decline, Greece’s global prominence sharply withdrew. Like many parts of Greece, Athens switched hands frequently throughout the centuries. In the 19th century, the Turks possessed the Acropolis until 1833, when Athens was selected as the capital of the kingdom of Greece. During World War II, Athens was thankfully spared of major destruction.
Main destinations
You will also call on Volos, Ephesus and Nafplio during your cruise through several millennia of culture and history. Wander through this charming stretch of narrow paved streets into handcrafted shops, restaurants, countless cafes, and bars. In the 1970s, the district was a prime area for nightlife, but cracking down on the local noise ordinances turned the Plaka District into a quieter, more commercialized neighborhood. Shops and restaurants quickly boomed there, and now the Plaka is popular with tourists looking for shopping and leisure. From there, walk up Ermou, the main street for high-street shopping, until you get to Syntagma. There you can jump on one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours or stay a while and watch the changing of the guard.
Can I visit any attractions near Athens during my cruise stop?
Clues point to settlement in Athens dating as far back as the Neolithic period. In the 6th century BCE, Athens saw both geographic and cultural growth, where new structures and sculptures were built to replace more rudimentary, earlier works on the Acropolis. In the 5th century BC, Athens became the first democratic city-state, or polis, to be brought into existence, and its effects on history rippled well into the modern era. Most of the novelty of Orizontes is the fact that it’s located on Mount Lycabettus, the highest peak in Athens.
GENERAL RESTRICTIONSCruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges.
Travel Tips for Athens
All ferries to the Cyclades depart from this port, and it welcomes more and more large cruise ships. At Piraeus port, local eateries offer the chance to sample these flavors in convenient proximity to the cruise ships. When a cruise ship docks at the bustling port of Piraeus, passengers often have a limited time to explore the historic city of Athens. Athens is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and it’s one of the biggest events in the world today, celebrating culture and peace among the world’s nations.
Port of Piraeus: Gateway to Athens
Our live orchestra welcomes you on board with traditional Greek music and international favourites. You’ll enjoy an optional breakfast on deck and delight in our well-balanced menu with Greek local products, including fresh fruit, yogurt and local honey. Lounging on our decks is an exceptional experience surrounded by the legendary blue waters of the Saronic Gulf. You’ll appreciate many activities on board, such as listening to music while sipping your special cocktail, dancing and the fun of taking a Greek dance lesson. Our lunch buffet offers you an exceptional culinary experience featuring a variety of authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine accompanied by local wines (optional). The line has taken the industry by storm, doing away with cliche cruise staples like main dining rooms, large buffets, and notoriously small staterooms.
The area around Piraeus, Athens' primary port, is bustling with shops catering to travelers. Here, one can walk along paths once trodden by philosophers and explore the ancient ruins that resonate with the voices of history. This section provides travelers with essential information on disembarking, navigating customs, and the transportation options available to journey into the heart of Athens. The port of Piraeus has an abundance of shops, making it easy to pick up a quick souvenir along the way. You’ll find a variety of shops along Sotiros Dios, which is a pedestrian shopping street lined with name-brand stores and smaller locally owned boutiques, as well as cafes and unfussy restaurants.
Port of Piraeus: Parking, Address & Amenity Info
Take Leoforos Apollonos/91 and keep left at the fork to stay on Leoforos Poseidonos, which will turn into Mikras Asias and later into Alipedou. Make a left on Athinon and continue until you get to Agios Dionisiou, where you’ll make a left onto Retsina and then a right onto Kononos. You can sign up to explore and then get 25% off TrustedHousesitters annual memberships with my code SUZIE25.
Additionally, there are ample buses and taxis, the latter offering fixed rates to central destinations. Visitors should note that the Plaka District is a scenic area best explored on foot. The streets here are lined with shops where tourists can browse through a selection of souvenirs, including Greek olives, capers, and more.
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All terminals have air conditioning, free Wifi, and restrooms. Terminal A is walking distance to the city center of Piraeus, making it easy to shop for souvenirs or grab a bite to eat. The Port of Piraeus has a refreshment area and duty-free shops in Terminal A. The port is also within walking distance to eating and shopping streets frequented by the local working crowd. Small restaurants and cafes can be found on Akti Miaouli Street, and more shopping and restaurant options can be found in the district's main pedestrian way called Sotiros Dios.
Watch the tangerine sun sink into sprawling cityscape from the top of Areopagus Hill. Share a mezze platter with friends, some ouzo and some laughs before it’s time to depart on your cruise from Athens. The city's recently overhauled Metro system also provides a cheap, safe and easy way to get around for sightseeing if you have extra time before or after your cruise. Though Athens is a city of ruins, it’s the very essence of modern Greece. However, there are many parking options at private lots nearby.
These ceremonial soldiers stand motionless in their elaborate and symbolic uniforms until it’s time to be replaced. Hellenic Parliament is housed in a large neoclassical building in the north that faces the famous shopping street of Ermou. Run around the track at the ancient Olympic Stadium, pose on the winners’ podium for photos or just hit your entire daily step count goal walking to the top of the seating area! It’s steep, and the marble is slippery when wet so take care. Cruise ships arrive at gate E11 and gate E12 (Lion’s Gate) and there are three docks you could stop at.
Discover the eclectic mix of ancient and modern in Athens during an electric bike ride. Stroll through Chania, visit Arkadi Monastery and Palace of Knossos or sample local olive oil. Discover picturesque views of Oia’s whitewashed, blue-domed buildings and visit Thíra. Visit one of the world’s best-preserved cities to discover ancient archaeological sites. Steep sales tax can tack on 25 percent to the cost of your purchases. Non-EU citizens may be able to reclaim some of this when you leave the country; the bad news is that this takes ages and is barely worth the bother unless you've bought something mega-expensive.
If you prefer, you can book independently for specific tours that take into account cruise ship itineraries. For shore excursions not booked through your cruise line, you’ll need to coordinate with the group organisers/ tour guide to get to and from your tour. It’s normal for a cruise line to arrange a one-day stop at Piraeus although some ships dock overnight. Most cruise ships tend to arrive in the early hours of the morning and then leave late in the evening. The only Greek cruise operator, Celestyal Cruises, offers interesting itineraries of the Greek islands and Turkey during 3, 4 or 7 nights.
Upon arrival, the bustling Port of Piraeus welcomes travelers with its busy terminals and the promise of the Athenian adventures that lie ahead. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Aside from major landmarks, even once-dingy neighborhoods like Plaka and Thissio have been restored, boasting fresh pastel-colored painted facades and chic restaurants, bars and shops. Ancient Greece had immense impact on the Romans and other European political structures as well.
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