Cruise organized shuttles to Athens will be announced the night before.
Athens Hop-on Hop-off Tour starts at about 200 meters from the cruise terminal. Turn left from the cruise terminal building (lower level) and walk over the parking lot. There is also a little tourist train here, but only travels through Piraeus.
Metered taxis are generally available just outside the terminal building. Prepare to negotiate.
Link to site with Athen maps
The Express line X80
There is a brand new public bus x80 line available, designed to serve cruise – ship passengers who wish to travel to Athens centre: The cost of the daily (24 hours) ticket for this bus is 4.50 Euro and covers unlimited travels.
One of the central Athens X80 bus stops for return to Piraeus is on the western side of Syntagma Square.
Note: The X80 bus is not running low season. Then take a city bus the 6 stops to the Metro station and then the Metro to the centre of Athens. Price still €4.50
Athens Walking Tour at National Geographic:
Central Market to Ancient Agora
The Grand Promenade
Mount Lycabettus to the National Gardens
Sights
- Acropolis - No visit to Athens is complete without heading to the Acropolis. There are a few temples at the top with the most famous being the Parthenon. Your ticket will include entrance to other archaeological sites including the Agora and South Slope of the Acropolis/Theatre of Dionysos. Since you will pass the South Slope entrance if walking from the Akropoli metro, buying your ticket here could bypass the potentially longer lineups at the main Acropolis ticket office. Getting to the Acropolis early will avoid the crowds, tour groups, and hotter weather later in the day. Admission is €12. Opens at 8am daily in the summer but later at 11am on Mondays. Main entrance is on the west side signposted from either Thissio or Akropoli metro. Link here.
- Acropolis Museum - This new museum at the foot of the Acropolis showcases some of the site's treasures still remaining in Greece. Be sure to catch the film on the top floor and the original Erechteion statues. Open Mondays for summer tourist season only but not late. Admission is €5. Link here
- Syntagma Square - This is the city's central square. Beside Syntagma are the parliament buildings where you can catch the changing of the guard. If you are there on a Sunday, there is a more elaborate ceremony at 11am. Syntagma Square is also the site of most government protests so check the news before you visit unless you like the smell of tear gas.
- National Archaeological Museum - This museum houses Greek's famous antiquities. Five minutes from Metro Viktoria. Admission is €7. Opens later at 12:30pm on Mondays. Link here.
- Panathenaic Stadium - Constructed of marble, this stadium hosted the first modern Olympic games. You can peer through the gates.
Shopping
- Ermou Street off Syntagma has designer goods and boutiques.
- The Plaka area between the Acropolis and Syntagma has many restaurants and souvenir shops.
- Monastiraki Flea Market is a street full of shops west of the square.
- Adrianou Street bordering the metro tracks directly off the southwest corner Monastiraki is lined with restaurants with views of the Acropolis. Antica Cafe is a recommended restaurant here.
- Athens Central Market is located on Athinas St midway between Monastiraki and Omonia metro stations. A block esast of the central market is Aiolou pedestrian street where you can find Krinos Cafe. They specialize in loukoumades, greek donuts drenched in honey and sprinkled with cinammon.
- There is a Carrefour supermarket close to Piraeus metro station by the food markets in the area and a Sklavenitis supermarket about a block south of cruise terminal A at Chatzikyriakou 24 & Flessa
Internet
The cruise terminal has free wifi but you will be competing with crew for limited connections and bandwidth. You can also try cafes, restaurants and McDonalds for wifi.
