How do I get from Athens airport to Piraeus?

So that’s it! You’ve just landed in Athens and are ready to head off on vacation to the Greek islands. All that’s left to do is head to the port of Piraeus to board your ferry. And that’s when the crucial question arises: how do I get from Athens airport to Piraeus? How long does it take? What’s the most practical means of transport?

Don’t panic! We’ll tell you all about it. The port of Piraeus is easily accessible.

Here are the different means of transport available to get from Athens airport to Piraeus: by bus, direct train, metro, cab or rental car. With information on fares, frequency and timetables, as well as advantages and disadvantages. Piraeus is about 40 km from the airport.

Whichever means of transport you choose, we advise you to allow at least 2 or even 3 hours between the arrival of your plane and the departure of your ferry.

Transport from the airport to Piraeus

You may also be interested in the following articles:

• Getting to the port of Piraeus from downtown Athens
• Athens ports: how to get to Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio by ferry?
• Mikrolimano, the little port of Piraeus
• Our favourite hotels in Piraeus
• Where can I find luggage storage in Athens?

From Athens airport to Piraeus by cab

Cabs are parked in the arrivals area of the airport. For greater convenience, we recommend that you book your cab before you arrive. That’s right, Welcome PickUps offers excellent service. It’s slightly more expensive than a regular cab, but the driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it in the airport lobby. And best of all, your driver will drop you off directly in front of your boarding platform, which takes the stress right out of the equation.

• Time : 45mn to 1h30 depending on traffic conditions
• Price : With Welcome PickUps drivers, the rate is €58 during the day and €71 at night. With a regular cab, the fare is a little cheaper.
• Frequency: 24/7
• Advantage: the most comfortable and fastest solution (when there are no traffic jams). The driver drops you off in front of the dock. Air-conditioned in summer, which is appreciated.
• Disadvantage: the price

From Athens airport to Piraeus by bus

The X96 bus connects Athens International Airport with the port of Piraeus. No need to make any changes. This yellow-and-blue bus picks up at the airport arrivals area, so you’ll easily find the stop. The terminus is on platform E1 in Piraeus (“Harbour” stop).

• Journey time: 1h to 1h30 depending on traffic conditions
• Price: €5.50
• Frequency: every 25 to 40 mins depending on the time of day (X96 bus timetable )
• When: 24 hours a day
• Advantages : cheapest solution / has the big advantage of being able to circulate even at night
• Disadvantage: this is the longest form of transport, and the journey time varies according to traffic jams which, depending on the time of day, can be very long.

Take the suburban train to Piraeus

There is also a train from the airport to the port, passing through Athens station. The line is direct, so there’s no need to make any changes. This is the Prostiakos suburban train operated by Trainose (Hellenic Train) on the Αεροδρόμιο – Πειραιάς (Airport-Piraeus) line.

• Journey time: 1h
• Price : €9 – Tickets can be purchased online from the Hellenic Train website.
• Frequency : every 60 minutes. Timetables can be found on the Hellenic Train website.
• When: trains run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Advantage: quick and easy solution
• Disadvantages: impossible for late arrivals. And impractical for families with small children, the elderly or people with a lot of luggage.

The metro

If you opt for the metro, take line 3 (blue) towards Dimotiko Theatro, to the Pireas 3 stop. For your information, here are the Metro line 3 timetables.

Then, once you’ve arrived in Piraeus, you’ll have to walk to your quay. Beware: in some cases, you’ll have to walk quite a long way from the metro station to the boarding platform, sometimes taking around 15 minutes.

• Time: just under 1 hour
• Price: €9
• Frequency: approximately every 35 mins
• When: daily from 6.10am to 11.30pm (2am on Friday and Saturday nights).
• Advantage: no advantage over the Prostiakos train. The metro is an interesting option if you want to stop off in central Athens (Syntagma or Monastiraki).
• Disadvantage: Beware of pickpockets, who are quick to spot tourists with luggage.

Rent a car

If you’re planning to rent a car during your vacation in Greece, you may find it easier to collect your vehicle directly from Athens airport and then take it on board the ferry.

In fact, you’ll find a number of car rental companies in the arrivals area of the airport. Visit the RentalCars to compare offers from different rental companies at a glance and find the best value for your money.

You can easily find the port of Piraeus by following the signs or using your GPS. Allow at least 45 minutes’ drive from the airport, or much longer at certain times depending on traffic.

• Time: 45 mins to 1h15 approx. depending on traffic conditions
• Price: saves on cab fares. Car rental rates are lower on the mainland.
• When: allow a little extra time, as you’ll need to collect your vehicle from the airport first.
• Advantage: you’ll avoid load breaks between the airport, the port and your establishment on the islands.
• Disadvantage: there is an additional cost for ferrying the car across.

Need luggage storage?

If you’re in transit for a few hours or one or two days between your plane and ferry, you’ll have plenty of time to visit Athens. But what to do with your luggage? We have selected for you and detailed the conditions of a few luggage lockers at the airport or in the center of Athens, so you can visit the Greek capital without lugging your luggage around.

Find your ferry in Piraeus

The port of Piraeus can be a little daunting when it comes to accessing the boats.

To find your way around, first look on your ferry or boat tickets for the number of the boarding dock (they are numbered from E1 to E12). In fact, the quays stretch for more than two kilometers.

We also strongly recommend that you arrive early so that you can easily find the boat that will take you to your island.

^{Laure M.}