Many travelers land at Athens airport to get on board a ferry or a cruiser at Piraeus port. From Piraeus, you can set off to discover amazing Greek islands and cruise the Mediterranean. To board your vessel, you need to cover the 50 km (31 miles) distance between the two transport hubs. And there are several convenient ways to do so.
Options at your disposal range from affordable yet slow, and fast but expensive. And these include taxis, metro, bus lines, and private transfers. Now, let’s see what these means of transport offer for getting from Athens airport to Piraeus port.
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Getting from Athens airport to Piraeus port
| Option | Time | Cost | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | 100 min | € 5.50 | 24/7 |
| Metro | 80 min | € 9 | 06:35–23:35 |
| Welcome Pick Ups | 40 min | € 61 ((05:00-24:00)) / € 75 (00:01-04:59) | 24/7 |
| Taxi | 40 min | € 54 ((05:00-24:00)) / € 70 (00:01-04:59) | 24/7 |
Private transfers with Welcome Pickups
Ordering a private transfer with Welcome Pickups is a fast and convenient way of commuting between the airport and the seaport. Welcome Pickups is a well-rated pickup service and you just pay a flat fee for your transfer – no surprises. A driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals hall, with a bottle of water ready to take you safely to your destination.
In general, transfer times are around 40 minutes in ideal circumstances.
Click here for more information and to book your private transfer.
Traveling from Athens airport to Piraeus port by bus
Bus X96 provides direct transfers between Athens Airport and Piraeus Port. This bus line operates 24/7 at intervals between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on time, day, and season. The full price of the ticket is €5.50 (adults between 18 and 65 years). Passengers between 6 and 18 years old and over 65 years pay half the price. Children under 6 travel for free.
You will find the bus terminal at the Arrivals gate at the airport, between exits 4 and 5. The other terminal is next to the main port of Piraeus. You can buy tickets from the bus driver.
The duration of the journey from the airport to the seaport depends on the traffic. In ideal circumstances, you will need around 1:30 hours to cover the distance. In case of heavy traffic, the journey could last up to 2 hours, even longer sometimes.
From Athens airport to Piraeus by bus and metro via the Athens city center
If you have a lot of time before your ferry departs and little luggage, you may travel to Piraeus port via downtown Athens. In that case, take the express bus X95 to commute between the airport and Syntagma Square.
The bus departs every 15 or 20 minutes from the terminus between exits 4 and 5 at the Arrivals Level. In ideal conditions, it takes around 40 minutes to cover the distance. Keep your valuables well once you arrive in Syntagma Square because of pickpockets.
To continue your journey to Piraeus port, you need to get to the Syntagma metro station (exactly next to the bus terminal) and take the blue line towards Agia Marina and get out at the next stop at Monastiraki. There, you can catch metro line 1 (green), the world’s second-oldest metro line towards Pireaus. Once you begin this leg of the journey, you will need approx. half an hour to get to the port.
One-way bus tickets cost €5.50 for adults. A one-way metro fare for grown-ups costs €1,40. Travelers aged between 6 and 18 and over 65 years pay half the price.
While in the city center, you can choose among many things to do and attractions to visit. The famous Benaki Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art are within walking distance. A two-hour visit to any of the museums would do.
The National Parliament and the National Garden are even closer. Ermou Street, beginning at Syntagma, is the main shopping street in Athens. Finally, the Hadrian’s Arch, the stunning remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum are a bit farther.
Getting from Athens airport to Piraeus seaport by metro
Getting between the airport and the port by metro is also an option. The elevated pedestrian bridge connects the airport terminal to the metro station. You should cover the distance in several minutes at most.
Metro line 3 departs at 30-minute intervals between 6:33 am and 11:33 pm from Athens airport. It is a modern line that takes you to the Monastiraki station in central Athens.
At the Monastiraki station, change the platforms and take line 1 towards Piraeus port. Metro line 1 starts operating at around 5 am. In general, the journey from Athens airport to Piraeus port should last between 1:15 and 1:30 hours.
Line 3 travels around 40 minutes from the airport to the city center, while line 1 commutes around 30 minutes between the downtown and the port.
Note that metro line 1 is old, and delays prolonging the journey are always possible. Also, secure your belongings well, especially during rush hours. A one-way metro fare for grown-ups costs €9. Travelers aged between 6 and 18 and over 65 years pay half the price.
If you have some time to spare, get off line 3 at the Syntagma metro station, just before Monastiraki. There, examine the archaeological collection excavated during the construction process of the station.
Important! Since October 2022, there has been direct access to Piraeus Port from the airport. Metro line 3 has been extended, and you no longer need to change lines at Monastiraki Square. Instead, you take line 3 from the airport, and you get off at the stop Pireaus. From there, you need to walk to your ferry terminal, depending on where you are traveling.
Taxi service between Athens airport and Piraeus port
For travelers in a hurry, a taxi is the best option for getting from the airport of Athens to the port of Piraeus. Yellow taxis provide fast and reliable transfers.
Usually, taxis travel between the destinations for around 40 minutes. You can find the airport taxi station at the Arrivals section, exit 3. Cabs are available 24 hours, 7 days a week, and drivers speak English. Complimentary conveniences for travelers are Wi-Fi and mineral water. Yellow taxis charge a flat rate of €54 during the day (5 am-midnight) and €70 during the night.
Please note if you are traveling to the cruise terminal, you need to take a taxi from the metro or bus stop at Piraeus. Public transportation leaves you close to the ferry terminal, not the cruise terminal. So if you are going on a cruise, a taxi or private transfer from the airport is the best choice.
So, budget travelers and those with a lot of time at their disposal can use bus transfers. If you travel in a group, taxis, and private transfers make an efficient and budget-friendly option. If every minute counts, you should resort to taxis or private transfers.
Transfers combining metro and bus or metro lines only are OK on certain occasions. These include at least a few-hour space between the landing of your plane and the departure of the ferry (cruiser). However, these alternatives are worthwhile only if you wish to visit the center of Athens.
How far walking time from the cruiseport Piraeus Terminal to the busstop going to International Airport Athene? Is this possibel with two lugages? Thnak you in advance for your answer, we cannot find the distance.
It is not very near. I suggest taking a taxi to the Piraeus metro stop, which is very near so around 5 euros to get there and then the metro to the airpoty