Piraeus (Athens)
Piraeus, the historic port city of Athens, has served as Greece’s maritime gateway since the 5th century BC. Strategically developed during the Golden Age of Athens, it was designed by the urban planner Hippodamus of Miletus, whose grid-based layout became a model of ancient city planning. With its three natural harbors—Kantharos, Zea, and Mounichia—Piraeus became the heart of Athens' formidable naval power and commercial success, playing a crucial role in the expansion of the Athenian empire. Although it declined during Roman and Byzantine times, the port never lost its strategic importance. Following Greek independence in the 19th century, Piraeus was revitalized and transformed into a modern industrial and shipping hub. Today, it remains Greece’s largest port and one of the busiest in Europe, serving as the main departure point for ferries to the Greek islands and a key stop for cruise ships. Piraeus blends ancient legacy with contemporary dynamism, reflecting the enduring maritime spirit of Greece.
💡Piraeus (Athens): Good to Know
🛂 Visa: most European countries plus Canada, Australia, the US, Korea, and Japan are visa-exempt for a stay of up to 90 days
✈️ Closest Airport: Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)
💬 Language: Greek, but English is widely spoken
🏷️ Price Level: It is said that Greece is about 30% cheaper than the US
🍔 Big Mac Index: US: US$5.69 / Greece US$ 5.68
💰 Currency: Euro (EUR)| 1 USD = ca. 0.90 EUR)
☀️ Best Times to Visit: The best months to visit are March to May and September to November
🚘 Transportation: local trains, metro, city buses, and taxis
🔌 Adapter: Greece uses type C and F plugs. No adapter is needed if you are from Europe, but it is needed when coming from the US
🛜 WiFi: widely available; “City of Athens” is a free, government-provided public WiFi service that can be accessed
🏧💰ATM and “Cash or Card”: While some small stores take only cash, payments with cards are generally accepted; ATMs are available throughout the city
💸 Tipping: Tipping is customary but modest; round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants. A small change is appreciated by taxi drivers, hotel staff, and café staff.
🚢 Cruise Terminal Address: Piraeus Cruise Port. 18538 Athens, Greece (docked)
✈️ 🚇🚕 Getting There and Around
🏙️ Piraeus is located about 6 miles (15 km) from the city center of Athens.
🎟️ Athens’ public transport uses Ath.ena tickets and cards, available at metro and tram stations. For added convenience, Tap2Ride lets you pay directly at validators with a contactless Visa/Mastercard (physical or digital via Apple Pay/Google Pay) and is ideal for visitors.
✈️ Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) is located around 20 miles (35 km) east of the city center of Athens. Metro Line 3 connects the airport to the city centre (Syntagma Square). The journey time is approximately 40 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm. One-way tickets cost €9 (€4.50 for children, teenagers, over 65), return tickets cost €16. Another option is the X96 bus, which connects the airport and Piraeus Port. It runs 24/7 with buses leaving every 20 minutes. In regular traffic, the journey takes about 90 minutes but can take about 2 hours during rush hour.
🚇 To get from Piraeus to Athens, the easiest way is to walk from the port to the Piraeus metro station and take Metro Line 3 to the city center (Syntagma Square) in about 20 minutes. Metro trains are frequent, and announcements and signage are well-posted and in English. Another option is to take the X80 express bus. The bus stops close to the cruise terminal and stops at the Acropolis and other tourist stops throughout the city (more info here). The bus runs only during high seasons (May to October).
🚌 Two different companies offer hop-on-hop-off buses that connect the main sights throughout the city. City sightseeing offers one route (more info here) while Big Bus Athens serves one route in Piraeus and two in Athens (more info here)
⭐️ Top Sights in Piraeus & Athens
"Athens is notable as Europe's oldest capital and the birthplace of democracy."
📸 Acropolis: The Acropolis is a fortified hill that was the heart of ancient Greek cities, particularly famous for the Acropolis of Athens. It served as a religious center, a citadel, and a high-status residence. The term "acropolis" means "high city" in Greek and refers to the fortified upper part of a city, often a hill with steep sides.
📸 Parthenon: The Parthenon is a prominent, marble temple in Athens, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena. It's located on the Acropolis and was built between 447 and 432 BC. The Parthenon is famous for its Doric architecture and the sculptures that adorned it, including the original ivory and gold statue of Athena.
📸 Ancient Agora: The Ancient Agora was the central public space in ancient Greek cities, serving as a marketplace, meeting place, and center of public life. It was a bustling area where citizens gathered for political discussions, religious ceremonies, and social interactions. The Agora in Athens, for example, was the heart of Athenian democracy, where citizens debated laws, elected officials, and participated in civic life. It is now a preserved archaeological site and museum, located in the Monastiraki District of Athens.
📸 Plaka: Plaka is the historic, charming old neighborhood of Athens, nestled at the foot of the Acropolis. It's known for its narrow, labyrinthine streets, neoclassical buildings, and proximity to many ancient sites, earning it the nickname "Neighborhood of the Gods". Plaka is also a vibrant area with traditional shops, cafes, and restaurants.
📸 National Archaeological Museum: The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is one of the world's most important museums dedicated to ancient Greek art and artifacts. It houses a vast collection, considered the richest in the world, spanning from prehistoric times to the Hellenistic Age. The museum's neoclassical building is itself an architectural landmark.
📸 Syntagma Square: Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens, Greece, and a major hub for political and social life. It's located in front of the Hellenic Parliament, an iconic landmark formerly known as the Old Royal Palace. The square also features the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Evzones, and is famous for the hourly changing of the guard ceremony.
📸 Theatre of Dionysus: The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens is one of the oldest known theaters in the world, built in the 6th century BCE. It's located on the south slope of the Acropolis hill, and was part of the Sanctuary of Dionysus Eleuthereus. The theatre hosted the City Dionysia festival, a major dramatic competition where plays by famous playwrights like Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes were performed. It eventually had a capacity of up to 17,000 spectators.
📸 Temple of Olympian Zeus: The Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens is an ancient temple dedicated to the king of the Greek gods, Zeus, and is located in the heart of Athens. Construction began in the 6th century BC and took over 600 years to complete, with Hadrian finishing the temple in AD 131-132. It was one of the largest temples in the ancient world and is now a popular tourist attraction.
📸 Panathenaic Stadium: The Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, is a significant historical landmark renowned for hosting the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Built on the site of an ancient stadium, it's the only stadium in the world entirely constructed from marble. It has also hosted other major sporting events, including the 2004 Summer Olympics, and continues to be a popular tourist destination.
🍽️😋 Regional Specialties
Athenian cuisine, like the broader Greek cuisine, is characterized by a Mediterranean approach, focusing on fresh, seasonal ingredients like olive oil, grains, vegetables, fruits, and dairy. It's a blend of traditional Greek flavors with influences from the surrounding regions, including Turkey and the Middle East.
🍽️ Moussaka: Moussaka is a classic Greek baked dish consisting of layered eggplant, potatoes, a meat sauce (typically ground lamb or beef), and a creamy béchamel sauce. It's often topped with cheese and baked until bubbly. While traditionally baked with eggplant and potatoes, variations can include zucchini or even other vegetables.
🍽️ Pastitsio: Pastitsio is a traditional Greek dish that is essentially a layered casserole, often described as "Greek lasagna". It features a meat sauce, pasta, and a creamy béchamel sauce, all baked together. While it resembles lasagna, pastitsio typically uses tubular pasta (like ziti) and is topped with a thicker, Greek-style béchamel.
🍽️ Fasolada: Fasolada is a traditional Greek bean soup, often considered a national dish, made with dry white beans, olive oil, and vegetables. It's a hearty and flavorful soup, often served during the winter months.
🍽️ Kolokythokeftedes: Kolokithokeftedes are Greek zucchini fritters or patties. They are a popular meze (appetizer) dish, often served with tzatziki sauce. The fritters are made with grated zucchini, herbs, feta cheese (or other cheese), breadcrumbs, and other ingredients, then formed into small patties and fried or baked.
🍽️ Spanakopita: Spanakopita is a traditional Greek savory spinach pie. It's made with layers of phyllo dough, a filling of cooked spinach, feta cheese, and often other herbs, eggs, and onions. It's a popular vegetarian dish often served as a main course or side dish.
🍽️ Dolmades: Dolmades, a popular Greek dish, are stuffed grape leaves, typically filled with a mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat. The word "dolma" is of Turkish origin, meaning "stuffed," and the dish is also found in other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. Dolmades are often served as an appetizer or a light meal, and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
🥤 Ouzo: Ouzo is an anise-flavored spirit that tastes like a mix of licorice, anise, and sometimes other herbs or spices like fennel, cardamom, and coriander. It's often described as having a strong, distinct licorice flavor, similar to absinthe, but smoother.
📍🗺️ Maps, Apps & Links
🌐 Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour I
🌐 Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour II
🚕 Uber Taxi
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