| Piraeus | |
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| Map | |
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| Information | |
| Country | Greece |
| Region | Attic |
| Surface | 10,865 km² |
| Population | 163 688 |
| Area code | 210 |
| Postal Code | 185 00–185 99 |
| website | |
Piraeus - port city in Greece, in Attica, included in the Greater Athens.
Characteristic
Piraeus occupies a huge territory. Check the gate number in advance to know where to go. It may take 15 minutes to drive or 30 minutes to walk to one end of the port from the other.
Passenger facilities have improved significantly since the privatization of the Piraeus Port Authority. Air-conditioned tents have been set up at departure points around the port and free Wi-Fi internet access is now available.
Cruises (arrivals and departures) are dispatched outside the coast guard building at Karaiskaki Square, Piraeus' main bus station.
The area can get hectic, especially during the summer months, so take plenty of time to get to the right departure point.
Drive
Most of the travelers arriving in Piraeus from central Athens use the metro. Line 1 ends at the port, from there with ferries to the Saronic Gulf, hydrofoils and catamarans, or with a free shuttle bus to Crete and the Dodecanese. Ferries to the central Cyclades conveniently run from opposite the metro station. The metro ticket costs € 1.40 and allows unlimited connections to all means of transport within 90 minutes.
Direct buses Airport Express run 24 hours between the port of Piraeus and the international airport of Athens. The journey takes 90 minutes. The airport is also accessible via the metro, with connection to Monastiraki. Bus tickets to the airport, available from the driver, cost € 6.00; Metro tickets to the airport are € 10.00.
Other public buses connect Piraeus to its remote suburbs, the southern coastal zone and the center of Athens. Bus and trolleybus tickets cost € 1.40 and are valid for unlimited connections (including metro) within 90 minutes. Must be pre-purchased (usually from kiosks or inside metro stations) and approved once on board.
Many cruise lines stop here during the "season". Modest ships dock a short walk from the passenger terminal (about a mile south of the metro station). Large ships dock about 2-300 meters away, closer to the crowded port entrance. From the terminal you can take a taxi or find a city bus going towards the metro terminal (ask in the terminal); otherwise, you are in for a walk with the entrances to the ferry and cargo docks on the shore as well as various commercial and civic buildings across a very busy street. Those staying on the port side can use the pedestrian bridge over the street in sight of the metro station.
By car
Piraeus is an important road junction.
By car: from Athens on the Pireos road from Egalio on the Thivon road from Perama on the Dimokratias road
Communication
The center of Piraeus and the port are easily accessible on foot if you don't have your luggage with you. Trolleybuses (No. 20) are useful to travel from the Port to Passalimani and then follow the very scenic route around Castella Hill, ending at Lini 1 Neo Faliro metro station, close to the Peace and Friendship Stadiums and Karaiskaki.
Free buses within the port run through the Metro Terminal Line 1 on the north side of the port to ships to Crete, East Aegean Coast and the Dodecanese.
Worth seeing
- 1 Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, 31 Ch. Trikoupi. Founded in 1935 and expanded in 1966, the museum is small in size, but has many significant elements in its collection. These include bronze statues of Apollo and Athena from the archaic and classical periods of Greek art, as well as a fine collection of tomb stelae.
- 2 Piraeus Municipal Theater, 34 Iroon Polytechniou. Completed in 1895, the City Theater (Greek: Δημοτικό Θέατρο, Dimotiko Theatro) has been the hallmark of Piraeus for over a century. In its long history, it has hosted not only plays with famous actors and concerts by great composers (Manos Hatzidakis, Mikis Theodorakis and more), but also the City Gallery of Piraeus and the Historical Archive. Restoration work was completed in 2013 and the theater is now dedicated to its original purpose of running theater performances.
- 3 Piraeus Terminal Station. One of the oldest of its kind in Greece, built on the site of the first conventional train station in Piraeus, it was completed in 1929. Its original interior design and exterior architecture were restored ahead of the 2004 Olympics. Since 2005, it is also located here
- 4 Zea Marina.
Activities
The most important thing is the ferry to the Greek islands. You can go for a walk in the Pasalimani / Mikrolimano area. Amazing yachts and ships.
Another important option is Athens (see main Athens). The cost is very modest and the service is very frequent.
- 1 Votsalakia Beach.
- 2 Freatida Beach.
- 5 Karaiskakis Stadium'. Olympiacos is one of the most successful Greek football clubs, having been the Greek champion more times than any other club. Their rivalry with the Panathinaikos is widely regarded as one of the most intense in the world.
work
Science
Shopping
The main street for clothes shopping in Piraeus is Sotiros Dios, mostly busy and quite nice to walk through, going up from the port and going down towards Marina. There are many shops and cafes along the port, especially towards the cruise terminal and metro station.
Fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry - you can buy at the market in the city center (Agora).
Hondos Center - cosmetics, bath lotions, clothes, shoes etc. on Ethnikis Antystasios street.
Jumbo - school, children's, cheap products, right next to the train line No. 1 station and next to the OSE train station.
Gastronomy
Piraeus offers numerous fish bars (Greek: psarotaverna) located along the coast, especially along the Pasalimani and Mikrolimano bays.
Good coffee shops are very rare in the port.
- Bouboulina. At the end of the marina, Bouboulina has a large terrace overlooking the open sea. The service is relaxed, but more advanced and friendly. The food and drink menu has plenty of options to choose from, and while someone will come here to see more for culinary delights, Bouboulina doesn't disappoint either.
Parties
Accommodation
- Ionion Hotel. The hotel is run by Mr. Takis A. Saxionis, who responds personally to e-mails. The hotel is very close to the X96 bus stop and close to the departing ferries. The hotel is a great place to spend a night if you catch an early ferry. The cost of the hotel is approximately 50 € per night for a room for two people (bathroom in the apartment). Most of the rooms have air conditioning and a balcony.
- Phidias Piraeus Hotel.
- Piraeus Dream Hotel.
- Piraeus Theoxenia Hotel. The most luxurious hotel in Piraeus, rated five stars
- Lilia Hotel.
- Hotel Scorpios.
contact
Security
Piraeus is a rather chaotic place where the traffic is terrifying even for Greece. Particular care should be taken when crossing the street or walking along the footpath along the ferry quay, where cars, taxis and trucks are often randomized among the crowds of travelers going to and from the boat.
Piraeus is a huge port full of sailors and part of it is as difficult as you might expect. The areas right next to the ferry quays are safe enough, but avoid wandering around the rest of Piraeus, especially at night, unless you know your way around.
Unlicensed taxi drivers often encounter arriving ferries. Unlike some countries, these taxis have a bad reputation and should not be considered a cheap alternative to licensed taxis.
Pickpocketing gangs have been reported working on the Piraeus-airport bus; see the Safe Stay in Athens section for a full description.
One scam you may encounter in Piraeus is quite subtle. A man will be approaching you while you are waiting with your luggage in the line to board the ferry. This gentleman is a consummate actor: although he doesn't claim to work for a ferry or port, his demeanor and behavior suggest he is. He will pick up your luggage, throw away any objections and lead it to the top of the line, then demand a hefty tip. In one reported case, this was EUR 7.00.
Tourist information
There are many hotels here, small and large, cheap and slightly more expensive.
Trip
Piraeus is Greece's largest port which means you have a lot of destinations to choose from. From here, hydrofoils and ships depart for the Saronic Islands (Gate Ε8), high-speed catamarans and traditional ferries to the Aegean Islands (gates E6, E7, E9, E10), ferries and cruise ships to Crete, Lesbos, Chios and Dodecanese (gates E3, E2 and gate E1 respectively) and larger ships on Cyprus and Near East (gates E11, E12). Most of the largest Greek seafaring companies have their agencies here.
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