Cruises from Athens

Athens has two major cruise ports: Piraeus, the most important, a natural harbor located 10 kilometers from the city center, and Lavrion, which is about 60 kilometers away.

Piraeus

With more than 20 million passengers a year, the legendary port of Piraeus is the main port of Europe. From Piraeus depart, in addition to countless cruise ships, all the ferries that connect Greece with its more than 100 islands, and with countries such as Cyprus, Turkey, Italy and Egypt.

The port of Piraeus is very well-connected to the city center by metro (line 1) and bus.

Lavrion

Since its reconstruction a few years ago, the port of Lavrion has taken on a new life. From here ferries depart to the Cyclades islands and little by little it is becoming more and more important for some shipping companies.

If you prefer not to take a cab or hire a transfer (which can be expensive but recommended), there is a public bus that goes to both the center of Athens and the airport, though the travel time is around 2 hours.

Main destinations

Although Athens is connected to numerous harbors in the Mediterranean, the most popular cruise and ferries are to the picturesque Greek islands, followed by trips to Turkey (Istanbul, Bodrum and Kuşadasi). Other ports in the Adriatic Sea are also a favorite like Venice, Bari and Dubrovnik.

Cruises in Greece

As mentioned, Athens offers the opportunity to visit other islands and regions of Greece by taking a cruise. If you have the chance, we highly recommend this activity for an unforgettable experience. Here are our top three options:

• Cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina
• Cruise to Agistri, Metopi and Perdika
• Cruise to Agistri, Moni and Aegina

Best time to travel

The main cruise companies sail around the Mediterranean between March and November, when the temperatures are pleasant.

There are numerous cruise packages, some of which are only three nights long, so you should easily find a cruise to suit your travel plans. Most tourists who visit Athens combine it with a cruise around some of the Greek islands.

When to book a cruise?

There are so many cruises from Athens that it is easy to find great deals for most dates in spring, summer and autumn. Notwithstanding, if you want a specific type of cabin, we suggest you book in advance.

The only Greek cruise operator, Celestyal Cruises, offers interesting itineraries of the Greek islands and Turkey during 3, 4 or 7 nights. Their medium-size ships can dock in most ports, so the experience is more comfortable and faster.

On board, you can enjoy the typical Greek cuisine, since the company’s priority is for its passengers to discover the Greek culture in depth.