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Piraeus Cruise Port stands as the main gateway for cruise departures from Athens. It supports a high volume of traffic throughout the year and includes multiple terminals arranged around different gates. Large ferries and international cruise lines dock here, serving routes across the Aegean and beyond. Piraeus Port, Greece’s largest and one of Europe’s busiest, lies on the Saronic Gulf near Athens. Operated by Piraeus Port Authority, it is majority-owned by China COSCO Shipping, one of the world’s top container shipping companies
Athens International Airport (ATH), also known as Eleftherios Venizelos, handles the majority of Greece’s air traffic. It lies about 45 kilometers from Piraeus. The trip from Piraeus to the airport often takes about an hour. With nonstop flights to Europe, Asia, and North America, ATH connects many travelers to cruise departures from Athens. This makes it the best airport to Athens cruise port for both international and local passengers.
Cruise port parking is available close to the terminals. Several areas offer short-term and long-term spots, some in open-air lots and others behind gates. Cruise passengers who arrive by car often check a cruise port map to locate nearby parking and terminal entrances before their trip. You can check cruise port map including ferry gates, cruise terminals, transport links, and port infrastructure.
- Three cruise terminals serve ships—A, B, and C—located on the southern quay.
- Ferry gates (E1–E9) are separate from cruise areas; cruise ships dock at E11/E12.
- Three main terminals (A–Miaoulis, B–Themistocles, C–Alkimos), all within easy walking distance (about 1 km between each)
- 11 cruise berths along southern quays; Terminal A handles up to 1,200 pax/hour, B up to 1,500, C around 700
Good to Know : Most cruise ships at Piraeus Port dock directly at Terminal A, Gate 11
Ralph Häusler from About the Airport
Official Name: Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)
Location: Roughly 33 km (20 miles) east of central Athens, Greece
Airport Facilities: ATH includes one main terminal and a satellite terminal. The main terminal manages both Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Travelers find a wide range of dining spots, shops, and duty-free stores throughout the building. The airport offers free Wi-Fi, currency exchange counters, and several ATMs.
Private Cruise Transfers from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
Piraeus Cruise Port handles a steady flow of cruise passengers, especially throughout the summer season. Located southwest of central Athens, the port connects directly with major international cruise lines and serves as a gateway for those traveling between the Aegean islands and the Greek mainland.
AirportTransfer.com organizes pre-booked private cruise transfers between Piraeus Cruise Port and Athens International Airport (ATH), including flexible one-way and round-trip services. Piraeus Cruise Port transfers cover both airport to port and port to airport trips, tailored to solo travelers, families, or small groups with different vehicle choices available.
AT drivers meet travelers at the port or airport arrival areas, offering door-to-door service without delays. With Athens airport taxi option, passengers avoid long taxi lines and do not have to rely on public transit or shared rides. Routes run directly between the cruise terminal, airport terminals, and popular areas around Athens.
Booking through the AT platform allows travelers to choose their vehicle, confirm pickup details, and settle everything online before their trip. A fixed rate appears clearly at checkout, with no unexpected charges. Free cancellation is available up to 48 hours before pickup and 100% refunds apply when plans change.
AT also offers a mobile booking option through the AirportTransfer App from the Google Play Store or Airport Taxi Transfer App Store.
Cruise Transfers from Piraeus Cruise Port
Piraeus is Athens’ main port and one of the busiest cruise hubs in the Mediterranean. Many major cruise lines stop here regularly, including:
- Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian, Celebrity, and Princess
- Celestyal Cruises, known for Greek island trips
- Luxury lines like Silversea, Seabourn, Oceania, Azamara, Viking, and Windstar
- Others like Disney, Cunard, Costa, TUI, P&O, Virgin Voyages, Ponant, Sea Cloud, and Emerald Yacht Cruises
You’ll see a wide mix of large ships and smaller luxury vessels sailing in and out of Piraeus, especially during cruise season.
If you're staying overnight before or after a cruise from Piraeus, there are plenty of hotels near the port for all budgets.
Luxury: Piraeus Theoxenia, The Alex.
Mid-Range: Mitsis N'U, Port Square Hotel, Phidias Piraeus, Athenarum Portus, Gallery Suites.
Budget: Piraeus City Hotel, Hotel Triton, Hotel Anemoni, Hotel Achillion, Faros 1, Argo Anita
You can arrange a Athens Hotel Transfer in advance to take you between Athens Airport, your hotel in the city, and the Piraeus Cruise Port.
Group Transfer from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port
Bus Transfers to Piraeus Cruise Port from Group Travel
Athens Bus Hire service is a smart choice for group travel to Piraeus Cruise Port. Whether you're coming from the city center or Athens Airport, a private coach or minibus picks you up at your chosen spot and takes your group straight to the terminal—no stops, no shared rides.
Ideal for tours, school trips, weddings, business events, or large families, the service includes luggage help, vehicle size options, and a fixed price agreed in advance. Return transfers from the port can also be arranged, even for groups with different flight times. Contact us for bus rental bookings and private group travel to Piraeus Port.
So, how do you get from Piraeus Port to Athens Airport? You can go by taxi, private transfer, bus, or the metro. You can also use Bolt, Uber or Free Now, but Athens experiences frequent taxi strikes. During these times, ride-hailing apps will be severely impacted, and finding a taxi via any method will be challenging or impossible. Pre-booking a private Athens Airport taxi is a convenient and reliable way to get to Piraeus Port.
Bus from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
Journey Time: The full ride from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens International Airport takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. You can take the X96 express bus, which runs all day and night, including weekends and public holidays.
Key Point: Find the X96 bus stop right outside the cruise port area. The bus leaves about every 20 to 30 minutes. Once you’re on board, it heads straight to the airport without requiring any transfers.
The bus follows a long route through the city and makes many stops. This can stretch the trip and make it feel uncomfortable, especially if you have a lot of luggage or are short on time. If you're in a hurry, this might not be the best option. The average wait for the bus is around 30 minutes.
Bus Fare from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
The Bus fare from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport costs €6 per person.
Metro from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
Journey Time: The metro trip from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens International Airport lasts about 1 hour. The metro line connects the two points directly without the need to change trains.
Key Point: The metro station near Piraeus Port is about a 10 to 15-minute walk from the cruise arrivals area. Take the Blue Line (Line 3) heading toward the airport. Trains run every 30 minutes. Stay on the train until you reach the final stop, which is Athens Airport.
Metro Fare from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
The metro fare from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport costs €9 per person.
Taxi from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
Journey Time: A taxi ride from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens International Airport takes about 40 minutes.
Key Point: Taxis wait outside the cruise port arrivals. All taxis use meters, and the price depends on traffic and distance. Night rides add a 25% surcharge. Extra charges apply for additional luggage.
Taxi Fare from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport
The fare from Piraeus Cruise Port to Athens Airport is around €80.
The best transfer Athens Airport reviews are at AirportTransfer.com!