Piraeus Ferry Harbour, Athens: The Main Port for the Greek Islands
Piraeus is the main port of Athens and the harbour where most Greek ferries start their journey to the islands, 8 kilometres southwest of the old Acropolis. Piraeus has served as the port of Athens since ancient times, and today it is a large, commercial suburb rather than an idyllic island, so a short plan turns a chaotic arrival into a smooth one: know which of its three harbours your boat leaves from, reach it from the airport by metro, bus or taxi, and book a room if you must wait overnight for a morning ferry.
- Serves
- Port of Athens
- From Acropolis
- 8 km SW
- Harbours
- 3
- Airport bus
- X96
The port and its three harbours
Piraeus has three harbours, and the “Great Harbour” on the western side is by far the largest. The Great Harbour handles all the large car and passenger ferries, along with the hydrofoils to Aegina, and the international ferries leave from its southern side. Half a kilometre east, over a hill, lies the harbour of Zea, mainly a yacht marina but also the starting point for the hydrofoils and catamarans to the Saronic islands. The third port, Flisvos, sits 7 kilometres east of Zea and serves excursion boats. Piraeus is a commercial town of shipping offices and banks, so it feels unromantic compared with the islands, yet it stays unavoidable for reaching most of them.
Which islands leave from where
| Harbour | Where it lies | What departs from it |
|---|---|---|
| Great Harbour | Western side, the largest port | Large car and passenger ferries; hydrofoils to Aegina; international ferries from the southern side |
| Zea | 0.5 km east, over a hill | Yacht marina; hydrofoils and catamarans to the Saronic islands |
| Flisvos | 7 km east of Zea | Excursion boats |
Ferries group roughly by the island group they serve, and most keep a regular berth, though the berth sometimes changes. The large ferries and the Aegina hydrofoils leave from the Great Harbour, while the fast hydrofoils and catamarans to the Saronic islands leave from Zea. For the Cyclades destinations of Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Paros, the smaller port of Rafina is the wiser choice than Piraeus.
Getting to Piraeus from Athens airport
Athens airport connects to Piraeus by metro, bus or taxi. The metro runs on line 3 from the airport; change at Monastiraki station to line 1 for Piraeus, a journey of about 60 minutes. The X96 express bus leaves from the bus station outside the airport, where a small ticket office sits on the left of the exit and you buy the ticket before you board; in 2015 the fare was 5 euro. The second and third stops from that ticket office are the Piraeus stops. Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes, less often at night, and the ride to the harbour takes about 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes. A taxi is the third way to the port.
Practical tips for the port
Plan a little ahead, because Piraeus can be chaotic and knowing where you want to go turns the arrival smooth. Arrive at the berth 30 minutes before the departure time so you find your ferry, since berths shift now and then. Buy international tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment, and reserve ahead if you travel with a car or want a special ferry such as a very fast one in high season. Book a room if you arrive late in the evening or in high season and must wait overnight, because Piraeus holds few tourist hotels and rooms sell out quickly while prices rise.
Where to stay near the port
Hotel Faros 1 sits a few steps from the town centre, near the port and the metro station, which makes it a practical base for an early ferry. The hotel was fully renovated in 2007 and offers 46 rooms, each with a private bathroom, air conditioning, central heating, colour TV, telephone and ADSL internet access. Its reception runs 24 hours and holds a tour desk where you book trips to the Greek islands, and the hotel keeps a bar and a breakfast bar; on foot you reach the picturesque Pasalimani and Mikrolimano. For more places to stay near the capital, see our Athens hotels guide.
