Piraeus ferries connect Athens with Crete, Cyclades Islands, Dodecanese Islands, Aegean Islands, Samos, Lesbos, Saronic Islands, Greece & Ikaria with crossings available to Heraklion, Sitia & Chania (in Crete), Milos, Schinoussa, Syros, Tinos, Anafi, Katapola, Aegiali, Donoussa, Ios, Iraklia, Koufonissi, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Thira, Sifnos, Serifos, Kimolos, Kythnos, Sikinos & Folegandros (in Cyclades Islands), Astypalea, Rhodes, Tilos, Karpathos, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Lipsi, Symi, Chalki, Diafani & Kasos (in Dodecanese Islands), Chios, Psara, Fournoi & Limnos (in Aegean Islands), Karlovassi & Vathi (in Samos), Mytilene (in Lesbos), Poros, Aegina, Agistri, Hydra & Spetses (in Saronic Islands), Ermioni, Porto Heli, Kavala & Methana (in Greece) & Evdilos & Agios Kirikos (in Ikaria). Sailings from Piraeus are operated by numerous ferry companies.
There are up to 162 ferry crossings daily from Piraeus with sailing durations starting from 40 minutes. Our Piraeus ferry summary provides a good guide but for the latest sailing information use our fare search.
The city is relatively small in comparison to its more prominent neighbour, so much of the centre and port area can be covered on foot. A bus system operates around the popular areas, and a free shuttle bus transports passengers between the ferry terminal and the metro station.
Piraeus is located within the outskirts of Athens, located around 12 kilometres to the southwest of the city centre. The port is used as the primary ferry terminal for Greece’s capital, proving to be the gateway to the many Greek islands off the east coast of the country.
The largest ferry port in the Mediterranean, Piraeus hosts over 20 million passengers a year, all passing through the busy port city that dominates the east coast. Piraeus is a city in its own right, yet few choose to spend over a day in the buzzing hub of shops, shipping offices and busy streets - those that do stay on the mainland tend to slide away into the allure of Athens’ city centre. The proximity to the capital, as well as the constant maritime traffic ensures that the city has enough to entertain tourists and the half a million local residents; the walk along the seafront promenade is a picturesque trail of flowers, trees and beautiful views – perfect for watching the ships sail along the crystal blue sea.
Away from the port, Piraeus’ famous market attracts many visitors hoping to snag a bargain, before they move onto the shopping centres or embark on a sightseeing tour of the grand architecture. There are lesser known spots all over the bustling city, the most attractive being Zea Marina, a metropolis of restaurants, cafes and bars, typically adorned by workers and passengers who are winding down after a long day of travel.