Below, you will find information about how to get to the ports of Athens, information about the city, what ferries depart from each port, where to buy your tickets and many photos.
Being one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens can be described as a large, captivating open-air museum. Its rich history, combined with the fact that it is the capital and most vibrant city of Greece, makes it capable of satisfying all kinds of travelers.
In addition to its airport, it has three ports from which ships depart daily to almost all island destinations in the Aegean Sea.
HOW TO TRAVEL FROM THERE
The International Airport of Athens receives dozens of international and domestic flights every day, so taking a flight to the Greek capital is easy as pie. At the same time, three ports that are well-connected to several islands serve Athens - namely Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion.
Piraeus is the largest port in Greece and lies closer to the city center, while Rafina is located in the airport’s vicinity.
Ferry Connections
Most ferries depart from the port of Piraeus, as it is the biggest of them all. Itineraries to several destinations are available daily, including the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Saronic islands, Crete and the North Aegean islands. On the other hand, ferries departing from Rafina and Lavrion mainly reach some islands of the Cyclades.
• Ferries from Piraeus: There are ferries from Piraeus to the Cyclades islands, the Dodecanese islands, the Saronic islands, the Northern Aegean islands, and Crete every day throughout the year. During peak season, there are more frequent ferry connections between Piraeus and the islands. Piraeus has 10 gates of departure in total. Ferries from Piraeus to the Cyclades depart from gates E6, E7, E9, and E10, ferries to the islands of the Dodecanese depart from gate E1, ferries to the Saronic islands depart from gate E8, ferries to the Northern Aegean islands depart from gates E2, E9, and E10, ferries to Heraklion and Chania depart from gates E2 and E3, and ferries to Rethymnon depart from gates E6 and E7. Some of the most popular ferry routes from Piraeus are to Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and Heraklion in Crete.
• Ferries from Rafina: Rafina is located in the northeastern part of Attica and serves ferry connections between Athens and the Cycladic islands. More specifically, ferries from Rafina also travel to Santorini, Paros, Naxos and Mykonos but also to Andros, Tinos, and more destinations. Keep in mind though that some ferries from Rafina operate seasonally, i.e. they have itineraries from May to October.
• Ferries from Lavrion: Lavrion port is located in the southeastern part of Attica, 40m km away from Athens, and 7 km away from Sounio. It mainly serves ferry routes to Kea and Kythnos but also to Paros, Naxos, Milos, and Syros. Ferry routes from Lavrion are more frequent during the summer.
Island hopping
Athens is the perfect starting point for your island-hopping experience. The number of available ferries and potential destinations seems endless, especially during summer when extra itineraries are added to serve millions of travelers. Santorini is the number one most-preferred destination; that comes as no surprise after taking into account its unique caldera, imposing volcano, romantic sunset and opulent hotels and establishments. Mykonos, also known as the Greek Ibiza, comes next, with thousands of tourists paying a visit to its thrilling parties and charming beaches.
Crete is many people’s favorite, too, especially the areas of Heraklion and Chania.
What types of ferries travel there?
Regarding passenger vessels, both conventional and high-speed/catamaran ferries depart from the three ports of Athens.
Conventional ferries are larger - they boast garages that can transfer hundreds of vehicles and have a higher passenger capacity. Due to their size and weight, they sail slower. Companies owning such ships are Blue Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, Saronic Ferries, Minoan Lines and Zante Ferries.
On the other hand, high-speed/catamaran ferries reach higher velocities because of their small sizes. They can transport a limited number of vehicles and individuals, while some crafts don’t have a garage at all. The companies Seajets, Golden Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways mainly own that type of ferry. Note: Since high-speed/catamaran vessels are smaller, they can be affected by challenging weather conditions (mainly winds). Hence, delays may transpire.
Booking your ferry tickets is one of the first and most important steps in organizing your holidays from Athens.
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The city of Athens is the oldest residential city in Europe, being inhabited for 3.000+ years! The first settlement was established in the Acropolis rock since its location and geomorphology made it an excellent fortress.
Mythology states that the city was named after Athena, the Olympian goddess of wisdom, after she won a contest against Poseidon, the Olympian god of the sea. In particular, both gods wanted to become protectors of the city, so they approached its king, Cecrops, willfully claiming the current capital. Zeus, the father and king of the gods, decided to intervene at some point, as he believed they would end up fighting. He came up with the fairest solution: a contest, the prize of which would be the city. Poseidon offered Athenians sea water, which was not quite useful since the area had rivers and the sea is located nearby. Athena, on the other hand, gifted people the olive tree, which could provide them with food and timber. The king crowned the goddess the winner and the city has been named Athens ever since.
During Cecrops reign, the residents of Athens were grouped into 12 settlements, which Theseus later unified into one settlement sharing the same religion and administration.
Cleisthenes managed to establish the institution of democracy, which continued developing, with its heyday being the Golden Age of Athens, a period when the city was led by Pericles, a man who promoted democracy more than anyone. During his rule, the state was separated from the religion, and the city developed art- and economy-wise.
The constant desire for spiritual development is responsible for Athens being considered the cradle of civilization, as many famous ancient Greek philosophers discussed their ideas and opinions in the Agora.
Over the centuries, the city has gone through difficult times, such as the Turkish yore that lasted for 400 years, the German occupation during World War II and the civil war that followed it.
Today, Athens is a multifaceted, densely populated city that hosts a plethora of ancient monuments, museums, cultural sites, all kinds of entertainment and shopping establishments, parks and much more. Of course, the Acropolis is still the landmark and most important part of the city.
Best time to visit
Athens is a year-round destination, making your stay pleasant regardless of the month you plan on visiting it. Nonetheless, visiting between May and September is recommended due to the sunny weather that allows you to wander around all day and go to the places you want to without any inconvenience.
Is the city for you?
No matter what you're looking for from your vacation when you're in a city like Athens, your expectations will be exceeded! Infinite historical and cultural sights, numerous restaurants of all cuisines and budgets, beaches, parks, lively bars and clubs and several shops of all kinds, are all part of the Athenian scene.
Sightseeing
The imposing Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, the Theater of Herodes Atticus and the Panathenaic Stadium are only a few of the sites of interest abounding in Athens. The changing of the guards in front of the Greek Parliament is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you should not skip witnessing, too!
Facts
Learn what you don't know about Athens!
The city center counts around one million residents, while the suburbs have around 2.5 million inhabitants.
According to mythology, the god Poseidon offered the Athenians as a gift an abundance of seawater and requested to their king to name the city Poseidonia. The goddess Athena offered the people an olive tree, which would provide them with food and wood. Athena's gift was more useful to mortals and, ultimately, the city was named after her.
Athens has not always been the capital of Greece. In fact, after the Greek War of Independence, Nafplion was the capital of the newly formed Greek State.
As theater has been a major part of the Athenians' life since antiquity, the city hosts around 150 theater stages.
People can admire archaeological findings in exhibitions housed inside some metro stations. Syntagma and Piraeus Municipal Theater are two of the most impressive ones, while the entrance to the exhibitions is free.
The largest and most important port of Greece is Piraeus, located about 10 km to the south of Athens center. The port of Piraeus usually covers the schedules to the most popular Greek islands, including the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Eastern Aegean islands and Crete.
Apart from the normal ferries, there are also catamarans, high-speed boats, and flying dolphins to the Saronic islands.
Free shuttle bus for transportation within Piraeus port:
There is a free shuttle bus connecting Gate E5 with Gates E3, E2, and E1 approximately every 20 minutes when there is a ferry departure from these gates. The free shuttle bus stop is situated inside Gate E5, opposite Piraeus Metro station.
How to get to Piraeus port from Athens city center
By metro: Piraeus Port is connected with Athens center by the Blue Metro Line and the Green Metro Line. From Syntagma you can get Metro Line 3 (Blue Line). From Monastiraki and Omonoia squares in Athens city center, you can get Metro Line 1 (Green Line). The metro station in Piraeus lies in front of the port, so it’s very easy to navigate. The metro in Athens operates from 05:30 until midnight. However, on Fridays and Saturdays, it runs till 1.20. The journey from Athens city center to Piraeus lasts for about 30 minutes. There are trains to Piraeus from all metro stations every 10 min (maximum). The cost of a Metro ticket is '1.20' 'EUR'(1.20 Euro) and it is valid for 90 minutes.
Download the Athens Metro Map (PDF)
By bus: Bus line 049 connects Omonoia with Piraeus and bus line 040 connects Syntagma with Piraeus. Buses to Piraeus depart from Omonoia/Syntagma every 15-20 min. Buses in Athens normally operate from 05:00 until 23:30, but bus line 040 operates 24/7. Bus tickets cost '1.20' 'EUR'(1.20 Euro) and the journey from Athens city center to Piraeus lasts for 30-40 minutes.
By taxi: You can get from Athens city center (Omonoia/ Syntagma) to Piraeus port by taxi in about 30 minutes. The distance between the two is 10 km. A taxi ride from Athens city center to Piraeus port costs about '20' 'EUR'(20 Euro) during the day and '25' 'EUR'(25 Euro) during the night (24:00-05:00). Do you need a ride? Book your transfer with us and our driver will pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb host.
How to get to Piraeus port from the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos)
By metro: You can reach the port of Piraeus by metro from the airport with the Blue Line. There is a metro station right in front of the airport. The first metro train departs from the airport at 06:10 and the last at 23:34. Trains leave from the airport every 36 minutes. The journey from the airport to the port lasts for about 1 hour and the cost of the ticket is '9' 'EUR'(9 Euro).
Download the Athens Metro Map (PDF)
By suburban railway: You can reach the port directly by the suburban railway (Proastiakos). The suburban railway station lies at the same point as the metro, just outside the airport. The journey from the airport to Piraeus port lasts for about 1 hour. The suburban railway operates daily from 06:07 to 22:07 (last itinerary). The price of a ticket for the suburban railway is '9' 'EUR'(9 Euro)
By bus: Bus X96 connects the airport with the Piraeus port directly. Buses operate 24/7 and the journey lasts for about 90 min. Buses depart every 20 minutes from 05:00 to 22:30 and every 40 minutes from 22:30 to 05:00. A bus ticket for this route costs '5.50' 'EUR'(5.50 Euro).
By taxi: At the gates of the airport, you’ll find many taxis. A taxi ride from the airport to Piraeus Port lasts for 40-60 min, depending on the traffic. A taxi ride from Athens airport to the port of Piraeus costs about '50' 'EUR'(50 Euro) during the day and '65' 'EUR'(65 Euro) during the night (24:00-05:00). Do you need a ride? Book your transfer with us and our driver will be waiting for you with a panel and your name on it at the airport’s arrival gate.
Photos of the port
Port on Map
ABOUT RAFINA PORT
Port description
The second busiest port of Athens is the port of Rafina. It is a small charming town to the north of Athens. It has a lovely waterfront, beautiful squares, and many taverns for you to enjoy a meal. It is located about 30 km from the center of Athens, 40 km from the port of Piraeus, and 10 km from Athens International Airport.
Destinations: Rafina is the only port that serves ferries to Andros, as it is closer than Piraeus. There are also ferries to Tinos and Mykonos, among other islands of the Cyclades.
By taxi: The duration of a taxi ride from Athens city center (Omonoia/ Syntagma) to Rafina is 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you want to be closer to Rafina, we suggest taking the Metro (Blue Line) up to the Nomismatokopio Station and getting a taxi from there. A taxi ride from Nomismatokopio to Rafina lasts 35 minutes. The taxi fare (indicative) from Athens city center to the port of Rafina is about '50' 'EUR'(50 euros) during the day and '65' 'EUR'(65 euros) during the night (24:00-05:00). Do you need a ride? Book your transfer with us and our driver will pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb host.
By bus: Suburban (KTEL) buses to Rafina leave from Pedion Areos, in Athens city center. Buses usually depart every hour and the ride lasts for about 70 minutes. To get to Pedion Areos by public means of transportation, take the Green Metro Line up to the Victoria station and then walk up Heiden Street. The bus ticket costs '2.4' 'EUR'(2.4 euros).
How to get to Rafina port from the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos)
By taxi: You can find many taxis in front of the airport gates. A taxi ride from Athens Airport to Rafina lasts 20 minutes and costs '35' 'EUR'(35 euros) during the day and '50' 'EUR'(50 euros) during the night (24:00-05:00). Do you need a ride? Book your transfer with us and our driver will be waiting for you with a panel and your name on it at the airport’s arrival gate.
By bus: Suburban (KTEL) buses connect Athens airport with Rafina in about 30 minutes. The price of a bus ticket from the airport to Rafina is '3' 'EUR'(3 euros). Check for bus schedules from Athens Airport to Rafina Port and from Rafina Port to Athens Airport.
Photos of the port
Port on Map
ABOUT LAVRIO PORT
Port description
Lavrion is a small coastal town at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula. In ancient times, it was a mine area, which reopened in the early 20th century. Today the mines have closed, but the town gets lively from its port, which serves nearby and remote islands. It is located 60 km from the center of Athens and 25 km from Athens International Airport.
Destinations: Vessels from Lavrion travel to the nearby Kea and Kythnos islands. They also serve remote Eastern Aegean islands, such as Lemnos and Agios Efstratios.
By taxi: A taxi ride from Athens city center (Omonoia/ Syntagma) to Lavrion lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The taxi fare (indicative) is '65' 'EUR'(65 euros) during the day and '80' 'EUR'(80 euros) during the night (24:00-05:00). To get closer to Lavrion by public transport, you can take the tram from Syntagma or Faliro to Voula and then take a taxi to Lavrion from there. A taxi ride from Voula to Lavrion lasts for about 30 minutes. Do you need a ride? Book your transfer with us and our driver will pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb host.
By bus: Suburban (KTEL) buses will take you to Lavrion from Athens city center (Pedion Areos) in 2 hours. To get to Pedion Areos, you should take the Green Metro Line up to the Victoria station and walk up Heiden Street. The price of a bus ticket is '4.90' 'EUR'(4.90 euros).
How to get to Lavrion port from the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos)
By taxi: A taxi will get you from the airport to Lavrion port in about 30 minutes. The cost of a taxi ride from Athens International Airport to Lavrion is '50' 'EUR'(50 euros) during the day and '70' 'EUR'(70 euros) during the night (24:00-05:00). Do you need a ride? Book your transfer with us and our driver will be waiting for you with a panel and your name on it at the airport’s arrival gate.
By bus: Suburban (KTEL) buses depart from Athens airport to Lavrion every hour and reach Lavrion via Markopoulo, a town midway from the airport to Lavrion. From Markopoulo, passengers should take another bus. Buses from Markopoulo to Lavrion are very frequent. The price of a bus ticket is '4' 'EUR'(4 euros). Check for bus schedules from Athens Airport to Lavrion Port and from Lavrion Port to Athens Airport.
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