Athens Piraeus Cruise Port DIY Transfer Guide from Airport or City

Embarking on a cruise from Athens Piraeus Cruise Port? Getting from Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port is surprisingly easy, despite the cruise port being almost an hour away from Athens City Centre.

In this DIY transfer guide, I’ll help you navigate through the three cruise terminals at Athens Piraeus port and how to get to each one easily by metro, by bus or pre-booked transfers, either from Athens Airport or from Athens City Centre.

Finishing your cruise in Athens? Then check-out my in-depth guide on getting to Athens Airport or Athens city centre at the end of your cruise. Tips for late departure and luggage storage options included, so you can drop off your bags and sightsee in Athens for the day.

Update March 2025: If you’ve visited my Athens Embarkation Guide before, I’ve significantly revised it, due to Athens public transport ticket changes! I’ve also added some information from my visit in summer 2024.

This post may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases made at no cost to you.

Where is Athens Piraeus Cruise Port?

• From Athens City Centre: Athens Piraeus Cruise Port is located in the bustling coastal town of Piraeus, about 12 kms (or roughly 7.5 miles) from Athens city centre. Depending on traffic, it takes around an hour on public transport to reach the Athens Piraeus cruise port from the city centre.
• From Athens Airport: Athens Piraeus Cruise Port is between 42 – 50 kms (26 to 31 miles) away, depending on which toll roads are used. On the express bus (X96), it takes about 90 minutes on public transport.

Athens Piraeus Port Essentials: All You Need to Know

• Athens Piraeus Cruise Port Schedule: Check the cruise port schedule for your visit – you’ll need to download the file at the bottom of the page once you’ve clicked through to the official port authority’s website
• Currency: Euros
• 💶 Cash or 💳 Card? Cards are very widely accepted in Athens. I spent 4 days pre-cruise in Athens and only needed cash once for a small falafel vendor. Still, it’s always a good idea to have some euros on hand. You’ll find ATMs easily at Athens International Airport.
• Language: Greek
• Official Tourism Websites:
  • Athens Tourism: This is Athens
  • Green National Tourism Organization (Visit Greece) with information on Athens and Piraeus
• Recommended Transport App: I used Citymapper while in Athens and highly recommend it. Public transit directions were correct and up-to-date. You can also find real-time information on the official OASA S.A. website.
• eSIM for roaming in Greece: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring independently. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout

FAQ: Is there a free port shuttle bus to the cruise terminals?

Sadly, the answer is NO. You may have come across mentions of a port shuttle bus in Piraeus in other travel blogs online, and that can be confusing! The free port bus actually services the ferry terminals, not the cruise terminals.

Each cruise terminal does have its own free shuttle to get you from the terminal building to the ship itself. And that’s because each terminal can accommodate more than one ship. If your ship is docked in the closer section of the pier, it’s only about a 3-minute walk. If your ship is docked in the further section of the pier, it can be a longer walk.

However, this terminal-specific shuttle is only after you’ve checked in and ditched your bags. 👇 The photo can help you gauge the distance – this was taken from the exit of the Terminal B building after check-in, when I was boarding the Celebrity Apex.

So, don’t get caught out thinking there’s a free ride all the way to your cruise terminal!

Athens Piraeus Cruise Port Map

• On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
• On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
• If map is not loading correctly, click to see it directly on Google Maps

Athens Piraeus Cruise Port: Which Cruise Terminal?

Athens Piraeus (Greece) Port is absolutely huge! So huge that it is crucial for you to know which cruise terminal your ship is docked at. Imagine ending up at the wrong terminal just as your ship prepares to set sail – talk about a stressful start to your vacation! Trust me, dashing between terminals with your luggage is not the kind of adventure you want in Greece!

There are three cruise terminals in Athens Piraeus Cruise Port. Each cruise terminal has its own port gates. The entrance to each cruise terminal is marked on my Athens Piraeus Cruise Port map above 🗺️📌👆.

1. Athens Piraeus Cruise Terminal A “Miaoulis”

Piraeus Cruise Terminal A is the closest cruise terminal to the Piraeus metro station. But beware it’s still a 25-30 minute walk.

Personal Experience: Having done the walk as an experiment on a (typically) hot day in August 2024, I do not recommend walking. Even if you’re a good walker. Even if you don’t have a lot of luggage. The route has a lot of uneven surfaces and even if you only have a carry-on suitcase, you’ll be constantly lifting your luggage up and down the kerb, due to a lot of non-wheelchair friendly driveways. You can read all about this walk in the comments section below, in response to a reader’s question! 😅

Both the metro and the bus will get you to Terminal A, whether you’re coming from Athens airport or Athens city centre. If the metro is more convenient from your hotel, then I’ll share how to catch a bus from outside Piraeus Metro Stop to Terminal A below.

2. Athens Piraeus Cruise Terminal B “Themistocles”

Piraeus Cruise Terminal B is the furthest terminal from the Piraeus metro station. It’s at least a 45-minute walk, perhaps longer if you’re rolling along check-in luggage.

From Athens Airport, both the Airport Express bus and the metro will get you to Terminal B. From Athens City Centre, buses will be an easier option.

From Terminal B port gates, it’s less than a 5-minute walk to the Terminal B building for check-in and luggage drop off. Now this is an easy walk. It’s completely on flat ground, on a well maintained paved surface. You can roll your check-in bag along easily, just as you would in an airport.

3. Athens Piraeus Cruise Terminal C “Alkimos”

Piraeus Cruise Terminal C is next to Terminal A. It’s a roughly 35-40 minute walk from Piraeus metro station.

From Athens Airport, both the metro and the bus will get you to Cruise Terminal C. From Athens city centre, the bus will be the easier option. I’ll give you step-by-step instructions below.

4. Which Cruise Terminal Will Your Ship Dock At?

(a) Final Cruise Documentation

A few weeks before your cruise, your cruise line will send you your final cruise documentation. If your cruise line does online check-in, these final cruise documentation will be given to you at the same time, usually with your luggage tags.

Your cruise terminal will be stated in the final cruise documentation. Don’t leave this to the last minute on embarkation day – knowing your terminal in advance saves you potential pre-cruise panic!

Athens Piraeus Cruise Port can accommodate 11 (eleven) ships! During the peak 2025 season (July-August), there will be up to 10 ships docked at Athens Piraeus cruise port on a single day. So don’t assume that you can “eye-ball” where your ship is on embarkation day and definitely don’t rely on taxi drivers to tell you where your ship is 🤣!

(b) “Mega” ship vs Large ship vs Small ship

If you’d like to plan ahead like me, you may want to know which terminal your ship will dock at, before you receive your final cruise documentation.

So here’s my personal experience, based on having embarked and disembarked from all three cruise terminals at Athens Piraeus:

• Small Ships: Small ships will typically dock in Terminal A. These includes Azamara Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, Viking, Silversea and Seabourn ships. Larger ships will dock at other terminals, because the cruise pier at Terminal A isn’t long enough for longer, larger ships.
• Large ships: Large ships will typically dock in Terminal C. For example, Virgin Voyages will use Terminal C, as does the Celebrity Infinity and RC’s “smaller” ships like the Brilliance of the Seas.
• “Mega” ships: “Mega” ships with over 3,000 passengers typically dock at Terminal B. Terminal B has a huge parking area for coaches and there’s over 30 check-in counters. In addition, there’s a tented area which can be used as additional space, in the event that there’s a delay in embarkation. So ships like Odyssey of the Seas & the Celebrity Ascent will usually dock in Terminal B.

Note: My reference to ship size above are all relative! For example, Royal Caribbean’s latest “mega” ships Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas do not sail in Mediterranean because there’s not that many Mediterranean ports which can accommodate their size. So when I say “mega” ship, you know I mean the largest ships that sail in the Med, not the largest cruise ships in the world!

The above is a guide only, based on my personal experience. ALWAYS go to the cruise terminal stated in your final cruise documentation!

5. Can You Walk Between Cruise Terminals?

If you’ve got a back-to-back cruise booked with different cruise lines, you may wonder whether you can walk between the three cruise terminals. The short answer is “Yes”.

But bear in mind that it’s not as close as it looks in the photo above, because due to security reasons, you’re not permitted to walk dock-side from one ship to the next. You’ll need to exit whichever cruise terminal you’re at and walk along the main road, then enter the port gates for the cruise terminal that you’re heading to.

From Piraeus Cruise Terminal A to Piraeus Cruise Terminal C, it’s about a 10-minute walk, from the Terminal A building exit to Lions Gate. The Terminal C building is just behind Lions Gate.

From Piraeus Cruise Terminal A to Piraeus Cruise Terminal B, it’s a 15-20 minute walk in total, from the Terminal A exit, past Lions Gate to enter Terminal B and then the final 5-minute walk from Lions Gate to the Terminal B building.

Between Piraeus Cruise Terminals B&C, it’s roughly a 8-minute between the entrances of terminal buildings.

Getting from Athens Airport to Athens Piraeus Cruise Port: Your Options

Arriving in your embarkation city a day or two early is ideal, as it provides a buffer for unexpected travel delays. However, if a same-day arrival is unavoidable, reaching Athens Piraeus cruise port using public transport is a breeze – and much easier on your wallet than private transfers!

New for 2025: Paying for public transit fares using contactless cards (known locally in Athens as Tap2Ride) are now working on ALL Athens metro rides, buses, trams and trolley buses including the express buses below. If you intend to use contactless cards, have a read on “Athens Public Transport – Paying by Contactless Cards” below.

1. By Bus: Athens Airport to Athens Piraeus Cruise Port

The X96 Express Bus is a convenient and affordable way to reach Athens Piraeus cruise port from Athens International Airport. Here’s what you need to know:

• Frequency: The X96 runs up to 3 times an hour during summer peak times. Find the current timetable here, selecting “AER/NAS Athinon – Peiraias” as the direction.
• Journey Time: Expect around 90 minutes, but may vary due to traffic
• Bus Stop: Located at the arrivals level between Exits 4 and 5. This is well sign-posted.
• Tickets: 
  • Paper Ticket: Purchase at the ticket booth before boarding (2025 Prices: €5.50 adults, €2.70 kids 7-18/seniors 65+). Don’t forget to validate your ticket on the bus! Buy a paper ticket if you’d like to purchase concession fares for kids and seniors, as contactless cards are for adult fares only.
  • Contactless Cards (New for 2025): Tap your card to pay the adult fare. Only Visa & Mastercard. ApplePay & GooglePay works but only Visa & MC.
• Luggage: Buses have space for luggage, so not an issue!

Bus Stops for Piraeus Cruise Terminal A

If your cruise is departing from Terminal A – check my map above on where the stops are to change buses:

• Where to Get Off: Alight X96 at Stop “Pl. KARAISKAKH“, aka Piraeus Gate E7/8/9/10 stop
• Change Bus to Cruise Terminals: Hop onto Bus 826, 843 or 859 from the same stop towards Piraeus cruise terminals and alight at either “TELONEIO” stop (4 stops away) or “PEIRAIAS” (5 stops away). Terminal A is between these two stops and is a few minutes walk away from either stop.
• Hang onto your ticket:
  • Paper Ticket: Your X96 bus ticket is valid for the transfer, provided it’s within 90 minutes of initial validation
  • Contactless card: Tap with same card for a free transfer. You won’t be charged again, provided it’s within 90 minutes of when you tapped for your X96 bus ride.

Bus Stops for Piraeus Cruise Terminals B & C

If your cruise is departing from Terminal B or C, here’s how to change buses:

• Where to Get Off: Alight X96 at Stop “Pl. KARAISKAKH“, aka Piraeus Gate E7/8/9/10 stop
• Change Bus to Cruise Terminals: Hop onto Bus 826, 843 or 859 from the same stop towards Piraeus cruise terminals and alight at “PEIRAIAS” (Piraeus) (5 stops away)
• Hang onto your ticket:
  • Paper Ticket: Your X96 bus ticket is valid for the transfer, provided it’s within 90 minutes of initial validation
  • Contactless card: Tap with same card for a free transfer. You won’t be charged again, provided it’s within 90 minutes of when you tapped for your X96 bus ride.
• Once you arrive at “PEIRAIAS” stop, the Lions Gate (E12) is less than 100m (~300 feet) away. The Lions Gate is the main set of port gates for Terminal B & C. Terminal B is less than 5 minutes walk on flat ground away and Terminal C is right behind Lions Gate.

If you prefer not to change buses, a taxi to the cruise terminals from the X96 stop is €7-€10 depending on traffic.

2. By Metro: Athens Airport to Athens Piraeus Cruise Terminals

If traffic makes you nervous, the metro is a reliable alternative – though be prepared for a quick bus hop to reach your cruise terminal. Here’s the detailed guide from Athens International Airport using the metro:

• Blue Metro Line: Take the M3 (Blue) line all the way to Piraeus (the second-to-last stop). This is the only line departing from Athens Airport station, so no need to worry about catching the wrong train. Just follow the English signs from airport arrivals to get to Athens Airport station.
• Frequency: Trains leave the airport every 36 minutes. No need to check timetables. Great signage will show you when the next train is departing.
• Journey Time: About an hour from the airport to Piraeus, but give yourself extra time for that bus connection to the cruise terminal.
• Tickets:
  • 2025 Prices: €9 adults, €4.50 kids 7-18/seniors 65+
  • Paper Tickets: Grab yours at the ticket machines before hopping on the train. You can use cash or card, including contactless to pay for your tickets. If your cruise is roundtrip, a 30-day return ticket to the airport is €16. Hold onto your ticket – you’ll need it to exit and for the bus transfer! If you’re buying kids or seniors’ fares, you need to buy a paper ticket.
  • (New for 2025) Pay by Contactless: Tap your card at the ticket gates to pay the €9 fare. Visa & Mastercard only. ApplePay & GooglePay also works but the underlying card needs to be Visa or MC.
• Air-Conditioned Comfort: The metro train is air-conditioned. But the stations are not!
• Luggage: Good news – the M3 metro trains have luggage racks.
• Interchange Bus Stop opposite station: Once you exit Piraeus metro station, cross to the opposite side of the street. If you’ve got heavy luggage, look for the lifts and escalators on the pedestrian only bridge to cross the street.
• Personal Experience: I’ve used the metro service to/fro Athens Airport a few times. All the rides were smooth and the carriages clean. If you get on at Athens Airport station, you’ll almost always get a seat.

Bus Stops for Piraeus Cruise Terminal A

• Buses to Cruise Terminals: Hop onto bus #826, #843, or #859 heading towards the Piraeus cruise terminals.
• Hang On to Tickets: Use your metro ticket as your transfer ticket. Or tap with the same contactless card you used to pay for your airport metro ride. You won’t be charged again if it’s within 90 minutes.
• Where to Get Off: You’ll want to get off at either the “TELONEIO” stop (5 stops) or the “PEIRAIAS” stop (6 stops, also the last stop). Terminal A is nestled between these two, just a quick walk from either one.

Bus Stops for Piraeus Cruise Terminals B & C

• Buses to Cruise Terminals: Hop onto bus 826, 843, or 859 heading towards the Piraeus cruise terminals. These buses run past Terminal A before stopping closer to Terminals B&C
• Hang On to Tickets: Use your metro ticket as your transfer ticket. Or tap with the same contactless card you used to pay for your airport metro ride. You won’t be charged again if it’s within 90 minutes.
• Where to Get Off: You’ll want to get off at either the “PEIRAIAS” stop (6 stops, also the last stop). Walk towards the Lions Gate (E12), less than 100m (~300 feet) away. Terminal B is less than 5 minutes walk on flat ground away and Terminal C is right behind Lions Gate.

Alternatively, you can get off at the last stop of the M3 line called Dimotiko Theatro. Then change to Bus 40 or Bus 49 for Cruise Terminals B or C. I prefer getting off at Piraeus as the buses to the cruise terminals run more frequently.

3. Airport to Port Pre-Booked Private Transfers

For a private transfer from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port, pre-book here. For two people, it will generally work out cheaper than a taxi. For larger groups, it will be easier than having to find a taxi van at the airport.

4. Taxis

A licensed taxi from Athens Airport to Athens Piraeus will be about €60 – €80 depending on traffic. The trip should take about 40-60 minutes depending on traffic. (There are no fixed rate fares to Piraeus port, so make sure the meter is turned on. The only fixed taxi fare is from Athens Airport to Athens city centre.)

Ubers do exist (and work) in Athens but all Ubers in Athens are licensed taxis. So you’re effectively just using the Uber app to call a “normal” taxi. Note that not all taxis accept card in Athens and they may prefer cash too. If you don’t want to pay in euros cash, check with driver first.

Getting from Athens City Centre to Athens Piraeus Port: Your Options

If you’ve arrived the day before your cruise or enjoyed a few days exploring Athens, you’ll need to get from the city centre to the cruise port in Piraeus. Here are three easy ways to do it – the bus options tend to be slightly simpler than the metro route.

1. By Bus: Athens City Centre to Athens Piraeus Cruise Port

(a) X80 bus from Syntagma Square to Athens Piraeus Cruise Port

• Summertime Special: The X80 bus is a summer-only route (usually May to October). It’s the most direct way to reach the cruise terminals – no bus changes needed!
• Find the Stop: X80 stop is on the western side of Syntagma Square, right outside McDonald’s. See the stop marked on my Athens Piraeus Cruise Port map above 🗺️📌👆
• Tickets:
  • Pay by Contactless: Contactless cards are now the easiest way to pay for the X80 bus. Just tap your card on the reader & you’ll be charged €4.10.
  • Paper Ticket: Only the 24-hour ticket (€4.10, same price for kids & seniors, no concessions) works on the X80. (You’ll need to buy it at a metro station or a newsagent before hand. Now that contactless cards are working, buying a paper ticket is more of a hassle.)
• Covers all Terminals: The X80 stops at Terminals A, B, and C.
• Afternoon Rush: Many cruise ships visit Athens Piraeus as a port of call. If your embarkation time is mid-afternoon or later, the X80 gets crowded with passengers returning to Athens Piraeus Cruise Port, after their port days. Buses 40 and 49 (below) are reliable alternatives if you’d rather avoid the rush or want a better chance at snagging a seat.

(b) Bus 40 or Bus 49 from City Centre to Athens Piraeus Cruise Port

Bus #40 from Syntagma Square and Bus #49 from Omonia both travel to the Piraeus cruise terminals. Bus #49 is especially handy if your hotel is closer to Omonia than Syntagma.

These two commuter bus routes work especially well if you’re heading to Cruise Terminals B or C, as they stop just outside Lions Gate without the need to change buses.

How to Check Whether Your Hotel is on these Bus Routes:

• Bus Route #40: Click here for local transport authority OASA’s website, then change the direction to “Syntagma – Peiraias” on the top of the page. Then click “show map”. You can then see all the bus stops along the route.
• Bus Route #49: Click here for local transport authority OASA’s website, then change the direction to “Omonoia – Peiraias” on the top of the page. Then click “show map” You can then see all the bus stops along the route.
• Where to Get Off:
  • Cruise Terminal A: Hop off at the last stop called “Piraeus“
  • Cruise Terminal B & C: Get off at the second-to-last stop called “ZOODOXOS PHGH“. Keep an eye out on the bus monitors so you don’t miss it! If you do miss the stop, don’t despair. It’s just adds about 2 minutes to walk.
• Tickets: Pay by contactless cards (€1.20) or buy 90-minute single tickets in advance(€1.20 for adults, €0.50 for kids/seniors).

My Experience on Route #49 to Athens Piraeus Cruise Terminal B:

I travelled on Bus #49 as a trial in October 2023, all the way to Athens Piraeus Port for Terminal B. The buses are long “bendy” buses. While there are no luggage racks (as these are more commuter buses), there were lots of room for both my check-in bag and my hand luggage.

I picked a seat for my check-in bag to sit in front of me. I caught the bus around 9:30am on a weekday, deliberately avoiding the pre-9am rush. The trip took less about 50 minutes. I got off almost directly opposite “Lions Gate” – the cruise port gates for Terminal B & C. It was then an easy 5-minute walk on flat ground to drop off my check-in bag.

2. By Metro: Athens City Centre to Athens Piraeus Port

If your hotel is conveniently located near a metro station, this might be the way to go for reaching the Athens Piraeus cruise terminals.

• M3 Blue Line: Find your nearest metro station and hop on the M3 (blue line) heading all the way to Piraeus.
• Bus Interchange to Cruise Terminals: Once there, follow the same directions as above to catch a local bus to your cruise terminal.
• Need to Change Metro Lines? If you’re changing lines at either Syntagma or Omonia stations, I recall them having step-free options, which is great if you’ve got luggage! So look out for escalators and lifts if you need them.
• Tickets: Tickets for a single 90-minute ticket is €1.20 for adults and €0.50 for kids 7-18 or seniors 65+.

3. Athens to City Pre-Booked Private Transfer

Just want the convenience of a pre-booked door-to-door transfer from your hotel? Then you can either pre-book a yellow licensed taxi through your hotel. For larger groups, you may want to pre-book a larger van so you can keep the group together.

• For groups of up to 3: Pre-book transfers in a car – it should work out cheaper than a taxi
• For groups 4 to 7: Pre-book transfers in a van – it should work out cheaper than getting two taxis and give you more room for luggage

4. Taxis

Depending on where your hotel is in Athens, the estimated taxi fare varies quite a bit. I would estimate it from around €25 – €50 depending on which area you’re in and how bad the traffic is. Ubers exist but in Athens, it’s just an app to call a licensed taxi as all Ubers are licensed taxis.

(New for 2025) Athens Public Transit: Pay by Contactless Card

Hurray! Pay by contactless cards on all of Athens’ public transit is finally operational!

If you’ve visited Athens before, this is new for 2025! The system was being selectively tested during summer 2024. I was in Athens in August 2024 and contactless only worked on selected bus routes.

Now it’s working system-wide in Athens! This means that whether you choose to travel by bus, metro, trams or trolleybuses, you can pay by contactless cards!

Traveling by public transit is now significantly easier for tourists. You no longer need to find a newsagent to buy bus tickets in advance or stop by a metro ticket machine to buy tickets. Here’s a few things to bear in mind:

• Single Ride Tap for €1.20: All one-way rides are €1.20. There’s no need to tap out. Same price for metro, buses and trams.
• Adult fares only for contactless: Contactless cards only work for adult fares. If you’d like to buy kids or seniors’ fares (usually 50% off), you’ll still need to buy a paper ticket. The only exception is the X80 bus route, where it’s the same price for everyone with no concessions.
• Visa & Mastercard only: Only Visa & MC contactless cards work. No Amex. No JCB, Diners, Discover or UnionPay cards.
• ApplePay & GooglePay works: ApplePay & GooglePay, on your smartphones and smart watches work too but only if you select a Visa or MC in your phones or smart watches.
• Daily Cap of €4.10: If you’re taking multiple rides on a single day, the system will cap your daily charge to €4.10 if you tap in with the same card.
• Special Fares still apply: X80 fare of €4.10 remains, as does the Airport Express bus fares of €5.50 one-way and Metro Airport fares of €9 one-way.

Note that if you’re staying for a few days before your cruise, paying by contactless may not be the cheapest option. For example, a 5-day ticket is only €8.20! It’s even good for the trip to the cruise port on Buses 40 & 49. (Just remember, it doesn’t work on the X80). Days don’t need to be consecutive – each day you validate counts as one day. (This 5-day pass is valid on buses and metro, except on express buses and travel to/fro airport station.)

Ticket bundle: Another option is buying 11 single tickets for the price of 10 (€12 adults, €5 kids / seniors). But note that these “ticket bundle” tickets cannot be shared, as it is in fact one ticket, with 11 rides on it, not 11 separate single tickets. If you’re a group of 4 adults, you can’t all use the same ticket and pay for 4 rides.

Featured Image by Patrick on Unsplash

If you’re joining your cruise from Athens Piraeus cruise port, I hope you have the most wonderful cruise! Drop me a comment below if you have any questions! Zana

Anchors aweigh! 👇 Find your next port of call here!

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