Cruise Port Piraeus: Athens Cruise Port on Your Own
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Tips for visiting Athens on your own from the port of Piraeus. Including how to see the famous Acropolis without a shore excursion.
Planning a cruise to multiple Greek Islands? Check out our Guide to the Cruise Ports of Greece!
How To Get to Athens from the Piraeus Cruise Port
The best way to get to the city center from the cruise terminal is by taxi. The trip will take about 20 minutes and should be under €15 for the one-way trip. (Our round trip with tip cost USD$31.36). While Uber is not available, it is possible to use the Uber app to book a local taxi just as you would a ride share.
It is possible to take public transportation from the port to the city center. From the cruise terminal, you need to either walk about 30 minutes to the Piraeus metro station or take a 15-minute bus ride from outside the port to the station. From there, a 15-minute subway ride gets you within walking distance of all the central city sights.
A 90-minute subway ticket allows you to take the bus and the subway for just under €2 (a 24-hour ticket is €4.50).
When To Visit the Acropolis
Go early, or go late. The Acropolis is crowded with fellow cruise passengers in a way that was quite unexpected. The crowd level was unpleasant during our mid-day visit. The site is open from 8 am - 8 pm daily.
How To Beat the Lines at the Acropolis
The best trick is to enter the Acropolis from the backside away from the main entrance used by tour groups. On Google Maps the entrance is listed as South Slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
You should buy your tickets online in advance. The best price we found was on Viator. We printed the tickets at home and scanned them at the turnstiles. Despite the sight being extremely busy, we did not wait at all for entry. We scanned and went right in.
It is worth noting that the Acropolis is a hilly site with uneven steps and limited shade. Bring water, sturdy shoes, and an extra dose of patience. There is an elevator available for those with mobility issues, but the wait to ride it can be 2 hours or longer (each way).
What To See at the Acropolis
The full archeological site is massive. We are a big fan of Rick Steves' wonderful app and guidebooks. If you download his free app, you can download a free step-by-step audio walking tour with maps and photos to keep you on track. You will have to tweak the tour a little bit to accommodate our entry from the back gate of the archeological site, but it is easy to do. Plan to visit the site for 1-3 hours depending on your interest level.
The most famous sites are all located on top of the giant hill, but you could spend many more hours visiting the archeological sites surrounding the foot of the hill. There are also numerous museums that you could visit to further deepen your understanding.
Other Things To See in Athens
The vast majority of the top sights are within walking distance of the Acropolis.
Nearby, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch are worth a visit. The once great temple lies in ruin, with a surrounding open-air museum.
Also nearby is the Panathenaic Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic games. After purchasing tickets you have free rein to explore the entire stadium, including the field. If you’re feeling up to it, you can take a lap just as they did in the first games here in the late 19th century.
Syntagma Square is home to the Hellenic Parliament and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, where you can see the hourly changing of the guard ceremony.
Where To Shop and Eat in Athens
After a few hours in the hot sun of the Acropolis hill, you’ll want to wind down with lunch in any of the shaded cafes near Monastiraki Square. Here you will find plenty of Greek food options and some great Gelaterias where you can cool down with a cone.
Check out our guide to the Plaka Neighborhood for more dining and sightseeing suggestions.
Surrounding the square is the Monastiraki Flea Market. The market is an antique lover’s paradise, with shops spilling onto the pedestrian alleyways. There are also souvenir shops and second rate t-shirt and electronics stores mixed into the area.
