Ending Cruise in Athens? How to Get to Airport or City

Disembarking your cruise in Athens? My Athens Cruise Port DIY Transfers Guide will share with you how to get from Athens Cruise Port to Airport, or to Athens City Centre if you’re staying on a post-cruise trip.

If you’ve got a late flight, I’ll also give you tips on where to store your bags, so you can see the iconic Acropolis before heading to the airport. Let’s dive into the best ways to get from Athens’ Piraeus cruise port to your next destination.

Starting your cruise in Athens? Then check-out my in-depth guide on how to navigate around the three cruise terminals at Athens Piraeus Port plus tips on DIY Transfers from Airport or Athens city centre.

Port of Call at Athens? Is your ship calling at Athens just for a day? Then read my “Athens in a Day” DIY shore excursion guide instead. I go into a lot more detail on how to visit the key attractions including the Acropolis and Syntagma Square.

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Athens Cruise Port: Manage Your Expectations

With over 1,000 cruise ships docking at the Athens Piraeus cruise port in 2024! In 2025, during the peak travel months of July and August, there will be as many as 10 (ten) ships at port. Expect some crowds when you disembark!

• Airport Bound? Distance from Athens Cruise Port to Athens International Airport is about 30 miles (50 km). Give yourself plenty of extra time to beat potential traffic. The journey can be up to an hour’s drive in a taxi or private transfer, or up to 90 mins on the Airport Express bus.
• Staying in Athens post-cruise? Don’t pre-book attraction tickets too early after disembarkation. With multiple ships at port, there can be congestion in Athens port area, even though distance from Athens Cruise Port to Athens City Centre is only about 7.5 miles (12 km).
• Catching a late flight out of Athens? Read my FAQs below on how to ditch your bags so you can enjoy your day.

Want to check how many ships are port for your visit? Head to the official Athens Cruise Port website here. Then scroll down to the bottom right corner and download either the PDF or Excel files. These files are typically updated about once a week.

Want to know which terminal your ship is going to dock at? That information isn’t published officially by Athens Cruise Port unfortunately. But I will tell you below which terminal your ship will dock at based on personal experience below.

Arriving at Athens Piraeus (Greece) Cruise Port: What You Need to Know

• Currency: Euros
• Language: Greek
• Free WiFi at Port: Free Wi-Fi is available at all three cruise terminals. So no excuse not to check your flight times before leaving for the airport 👇
• Official website for Athens International Airport: Check your flight times here.
• Taxis: Taxis are available immediately outside the arrivals hall of all three cruise terminals. But you guessed it, expect a wait during peak times! Jump straight to my section on taxis here.
  • Uber is also available in Athens with the UberTaxi product — you can call an Uber via your app and a yellow taxi will pick you up.
• 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 from the cruise terminals?

No. Unfortunately, not the kind that’ll get you to Athens Piraeus Metro Station. You might’ve seen mentions of a free port shuttle bus online but those are only for getting around between ferry terminals, not the cruise terminals.

Good news though: if your ship ends up berthed far away from the terminal building, they do have free shuttles to help with that walk. But you can also get lucky like I did! You can see below that the Celebrity Apex was docked not far away from cruise terminal B!

Athens Piraeus Cruise Port: Which Cruise Terminal?

Athens Cruise Port is huge! And that’s why I always plan ahead! At least two days before disembarkation, you’ll receive ship-specific information about disembarkation procedure, usually via information delivered to your cabin or in your daily cruise guide. Can’t find it? Ask guest services before you disembark.

Note: Each cruise terminal has its own port gates. You can see all three terminals marked on my Athens Cruise Port map above.

Here’s some info about each terminal based on my personal experience:

1. Athens Cruise Port Terminal A “Miaoulis”

Terminal A is the closest cruise terminal to the Piraeus Metro Station. But beware that it’s still a 25-30 minute walk.

You’ll find many online sources, including the official port authority’s, that Terminal A is walkable to Piraeus Metro Station. I wonder whether anyone writing these travel guides has actually done the walk, but I have 🤣! And I won’t be doing it again! So I do not recommend walking as one of the options, even though it’s do-able.

My Experience in Athens Cruise Terminal A

• Small ships dock in Terminal A: Only small ships “fit” in Terminal A – these includes Azamara Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, Viking, Silversea and Seabourn ships.
• Multiple ships dock: Terminal A have multiple berths, so it’s likely that multiple ships will be docked in Terminal A at the same time. On my disembarkation day in August 2024, three ships were docked in Terminal A
• Earlier the better: If you’re doing DIY transfers to Athens airport or Athens city centre, then the earlier the better, if you have a choice! I think timing matters for Terminal A, because the transport pickup area is quite small, so more prone to congestion – see photo above 📸👆 .

I attempted to walk from Terminal A to Piraeus Metro Station (for a connection to Athens Airport) in my August 2024 cruise. It was a very difficult walk, primarily because of quite poorly maintained foot paths which made rolling my check-in bag one tough job! There are also many driveways along the route and most drivers did not give priority to pedestrians.

I also don’t tolerate heat well. At 7am, it was already well over 30°C (~85°F+) and the route has very little shade. The walk took me 25 minutes. By the time I got to Piraeus Metro Station, I was definitely relieved to find the airport train was air-conditioned! (The station is not though.)

2. Athens Cruise Port Terminal B “Themistocles”

Terminal B is the furthest terminal from Piraeus Metro Station but it’s also the largest cruise terminal out of the three.

In photo above 📸👆, the port gates are marked by the red entrance in the centre of the photo, just below the ship. The Terminal B building itself, is towards the left, out of the photo and you can’t see it from the main road. (I took this on the top deck of the Azamara Pursuit when it was docked at Terminal A.)

My Experience in Athens Cruise Terminal B

• “Mega” ships dock here: Ships with over 3,000 passengers will dock at Terminal B. There’s a huge parking area outside the terminal for coaches and there’s also a tented area which can be used as additional space to “hold” passengers, in case there’s a delay in disembarkation. Ships such as the Odyssey of the Seas and the Celebrity Ascent will usually dock in Terminal B.
• Two ships may dock here: Terminal B’s cruise pier can accommodate two ships. If your ship happened to be docked in the outer pier, it’s best to use the free shuttle to get yourself into the Terminal building.
• Terminal B port gates a short walk away: Because of the huge car park area, the Terminal B port gates (for public transport connections) is a few minutes walk on flat ground – this is a very easy walk on well maintained paths.

3. Athens Cruise Port Terminal C “Alkimos”

Terminal C is “sandwiched” between Terminal A and Terminal B. It’s slightly smaller than Terminal B but there’s also an “overflow” tented area next to the main terminal building – it’s the area just in front of the Celebrity Infinity in the photo above 📸👆

My Experience in Athens Cruise Terminal C

• Large ships dock here: For example, Virgin Voyages typically uses Terminal C, as does the Celebrity Infinity and Royal Caribbean’s “smaller” ships like Brilliance of the Seas
• Multiple ships dock here: Cruise pier at Terminal C can also fit multiple ships.
• Terminal C port gates right outside: The port gates are directly right outside the Terminal C terminal building and faces the main road.

Athens Cruise Port & Cruise Transfers 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 here to see it directly on Google Maps

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

Your cruise line will definitely sell terminal-to-airport transfers, although from my experience, it can be the same price as a taxi! Obviously, a taxi will be the easiest option but I’d like to let you know all the options, so you can make your own informed decision based on what works best with your flight itinerary.

The public transport options to Athens Airport obviously aren’t for everyone, especially if you have a lot of luggage! But if you travel (reasonably) light, then it can be a very quick and cost effective way to get to Athens Airport from Athens Cruise Port.

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 and the airport metro train below. If you’ve been to Athens before, you’ll remember how you need to buy a bus ticket before boarding and that was a bit of a hassle!

1. X96 Express Bus: Athens Cruise Port to Athens Airport

The X96 Express Bus is a convenient and affordable way to reach Athens International Airport from Piraeus Port. The bad news is that it doesn’t stop at the cruise terminals! But here’s all you need to know:

• Connecting Buses: Look for Buses #826, #843, and #859 – don’t worry. Almost everyone who catches these buses have luggage with them!
  • From Cruise Terminal A: Walk a few minutes to the “TELONEIO” stop (see my map above). Take the bus 4 stops to “Pl. KARAISKAKH“, marked in my map. Catch X96 from the same stop.
  • From Cruise Terminal B & C: Walk to the nearby “PEIRAIAS” bus stop. Take the bus 5 stops to “Pl. KARAISKAKH“. Catch X96 from the same stop.
• Tickets (2025 Prices): Journey is €5.50 adults – tap your contactless card to pay. If you’d like to pay for a concession fare (€2.70 kids 7-18/seniors 65+), you’ll need to buy a ticket first:
  • Terminal A: Purchase at the ticket booth outside the arrivals hall before boarding
  • Terminals B & C: Purchase at the ticket machine near Gate 12 (see my map) – make sure you’re buying a ticket for the X96 Express bus, as the ticket costs more. A normal concession bus ticket is €0.50 but is not valid all the way to the Airport.
• 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

2. By Metro: Athens Cruise Port to Athens Airport

The M3 Metro service to Athens Airport starts from Piraeus Metro Station. The airport station is the last stop on the M3 Metro but note that not every M3 train departing from Piraeus Metro Station stops at the airport.

Metro (M3 line) vs. X96 Bus: Which is best for the airport? While I found the metro carriages clean and spacious with luggage racks (check the timetable here), I prefer the X96 express bus to the airport. Especially in summer, the X96 runs slightly more frequently than the metro.

• Connecting Buses: Look for Buses #826, #843, and #859. Use my map to find the stop closest to your cruise terminal. They stop directly across from Piraeus Metro Station. Use the escalators for the pedestrian bridge walkway to cross the street.
• Ticket info: Airport metro tickets cost €9 for adults or €4.50 for kids 7-18 / seniors 65+. Pay using a contactless card; tap using the same card when you board your connecting bus and you’ll get the transfer for free – ie. €9 total price. €4.50 concession fare requires you to stop by a ticket machine to buy a ticket!
• Finding your bus stop:
  • From Cruise Terminal A: Buy tickets from the booth outside arrivals. Walk a few minutes to the “TELONEIO” stop (see my map above). Take the bus 5 stops to “Metro Piraeus“, marked in my map.
  • From Cruise Terminal B & C: Find the ticket machine near Gate E12 (see my map). Walk to the nearby “PEIRAIAS” bus stop. Take the bus 6 stops to “Metro Piraeus“
• Frequency: Trains to the airport run every 36 minutes.
• Journey Time: It takes about an hour from Piraeus metro station to the airport.

3. By Taxi: Athens Cruise Port to Athens Airport

Traveling with lots of bags? Don’t think you can cope with a change of buses? While public transport is a great way to get around Athens, navigating with heavy luggage can be a challenge. If it’s pushing you to your limits, taxis are readily available at each of the cruise terminals at Athens Cruise Port. Official taxis are yellow in colour.

Taxi fares will range from €55-€60 during the day, with a trip taking about 45 minutes depending on traffic. Fares are higher during night time (from midnight to 5am). Note that there are no fixed taxi fares from Piraeus Port to the Airport, so make sure that the meter is running and don’t let the taxi driver tell you otherwise. (There’s only a fixed taxi fare between the Airport and the City Centre.)

Important Note: Taxis in Athens are not allowed to drive in dedicated bus lanes. In fact, there was a Taxi Union strike in Athens in February 2025 to demand free access for taxis to dedicated bus lanes. So you may be stuck in traffic. (There are no HOV lanes in Athens.)

4. By Private Transfer: Athens Cruise Port to Athens Airport

If you’re a group, consider booking a private transfer, as it will likely be cheaper than splitting the group into multiple taxis. When you book, enter “Cruise Terminal A/B/C” as the pick up address.

Getting from Athens Cruise Port to City centre: Your Options

If you are staying in Athens post-cruise, then which method is easier will depend on where you’re staying. If your accommodation happens to be on the #40 or #49 bus routes, choosing the bus may in fact be a very quick transfer, even if you’ve got check-in luggage. So I’ll explain all the options and let you pick the one that works best for your itinerary:

1a. By Bus: X80 Express Bus from Athens Cruise Port to Athens City Centre

• Summertime Special: The X80 bus is a summer-only route (usually May to October). While the X80 is more designed for cruisers whose ship is calling at Athens Piraeus for the day, you can definitely board the bus with luggage.
• Bus route: The bus starts at cruise terminal A, then picks up from terminal B & C. The final stop is at Syntagma Square, where you can easily change to the metro at “Syntagma” station. Syntagma is on the M2 (Red) line and M3 (Blue) line. The X80 also stops at the Acropolis.
• Tickets: Easiest way is to tap & pay with a contactless card. €4.10 – no concessions.
  • You’re effectively being charged for a 24-hour ticket, so if you take another metro or bus trip later in the day, use the same card and you won’t be charged again.

1b. By Bus #40 or #49 from Athens Cruise Port to Athens City Centre

Bus #40 will take you to Syntagma Square and Bus #49, to Omonia. Note that the #40 is the commuter “all stops” version and therefore will stop frequently and will take longer. But if your hotel is along the route, then it’s more useful than the X80 express bus.

• Need route details? Use Citymapper or Transport for Athens’ website to check the route for stops along the way.
• Tickets: A single 90-minute ticket costs €1.20 for adults or €0.50 for kids 7-18 or seniors 65+. Tap to pay by contactless card. You’ll need to purchase a paper ticket first if you’d like to obtain a concession fare.
• Finding your Bus Stop:
  • From Cruise Terminal A: Buy tickets from the booth outside arrivals or on the bus. Walk a few minutes to the “TELONEIO” stop (see my map above).
  • From Cruise Terminal B & C: Find the ticket machine near Gate E12 (see my map). Walk to the nearby “PEIRAIAS” bus stop.

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

Piraeus Metro station is a short bus ride away but it has lifts and escalators for easy access. Also, all Athens metro stations are accessible. You will find lifts and/or escalators at your destination metro station but not all exits are accessible.)

• Finding your Bus Stop:
  • From Cruise Terminal A: Buy tickets from the booth outside the terminal or on the bus. Walk a few minutes to the “TELONEIO” stop (see my map above). Catch the bus for 5 stops to “Metro Piraeus“, marked in my map.
  • From Cruise Terminal B & C: Find the ticket machine near Gate E12 (see my map). Walk to the nearby “PEIRAIAS” bus stop. Catch the bus for 6 stops to “Metro Piraeus” (see my map)
• Look for these bus routes: Buses #826, #843, and #859 all stop directly across from Piraeus Metro Station.
• Metro Station opposite: Once you’ve alighted the bus, cross to the opposite side of the street using the pedestrian bridge. There’s escalators if you’ve got check-in luggage with you.
• Ticket info: A single 90-minute ticket costs €1.20 for adults or €0.50 for kids 7-18 or seniors 65+. Tap to pay by contactless card at the ticket turnstiles or buy a concession ticket from a ticket machine.
• Blue Line (M3): Once at Piraeus metro station, jump on the first metro (M3 blue line). Trains run every 5-6 minutes during peak times. Alight either at Monastiraki (9 stops) or Syntagma (10 stops). Change at Syntagma to M2 (Red line) for 1 stop for Acropoli station. Follow signs once outside Acropoli station for either the Acropolis main entrance or the Acropolis Museum.

3. By Taxi: Athens Cruise Port to Athens City Centre

Taxis are readily available at each of the cruise terminals. A licensed taxi costs anywhere between €25 – €50 depending on where in Athens you’re heading to.

Note that there are no fixed fares from Athens Cruise Port to Athens City Centre, so make sure that the meter is running. The only fixed taxi fare is from Athens Airport to Athens City Centre.

4. By Pre-Booked Private Transfers

If you’re a group, it will be easier (and most likely cheaper) to book a van for a private transfer to your hotel than to wait for multiple taxis.

FAQ: Late flight from Athens? How to make the most of your last day and see the iconic Acropolis!

Here’s how to travel from Athens cruise port to the Acropolis:

1. Ditch the bags: Obviously you won’t be allowed to drag luggage around ancient ruins! Check out Athens’ Tourism Board suggestions for luggage storage locations. Aim for ones near Syntagma Square – it’s the perfect central spot.
2. Hop on the bus: The easiest way from the cruise port to the Acropolis is bus #80. Bus #40 will also take you there but it stops more often, so will take longer.
3. Time to explore: Since the Acropolis is super popular, book your timed tickets online ahead to guarantee entry. Give yourself extra time to drop your bags, take the metro to “Acropoli” (just one stop from Syntagma Square), and get to the entrance so you don’t miss your slot.
4. Head to the Airport: Grab your bags and catch the metro (€9) or the express bus X96 from Syntagma Square (€5.50)

Pro Tip: Athens is awesome, so if you find yourself with even more time after the Acropolis, explore the Plaka district around the Acropolis – it’s full of charming streets and shops!

There’s a new service at Piraeus Ferry Gate #3 where you can drop your bags and have them shipped straight to the airport – it’s like an in-town check-in! I haven’t personally tried it (they were a bit mysterious about the price online!), but if you do, please let us know how it goes! Share your experience in the comments below.

Featured Image by Constantinos Kollias on Unsplash

I hope you have the most amazing cruise around the Greek Isles and the Mediterranean! If this article helped you plan your trip, please share it – your friends may be navigating that Athens cruise port maze for the first time, too! 😉 Happy cruising!

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

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