Piraeus is the sea gate of Greece. The best entertainment in the port of Piraeus (Athens) and the surrounding area. Museum of Laskarina Bubulina

Mediterranean cruise or ferry trip to the Greek islands? It is unlikely that you will be able to pass the Athenian Piraeus - sea ​​gate Greece and one of major ports in Europe. The port of Piraeus serves over 20 million passengers annually. Grekoblog has already written a detailed article about . Now we will talk in more detail about the port itself.

Port history

The history of the Athenian port of Piraeus has more than 25 centuries. Up to the 5th c. BC. in its place there was only a small village, and the Athenian ships used the harbors of the Faler Bay, territorially located closer to the city, but more open, and therefore more vulnerable to bad weather and attacks.

At the beginning of the 5th century BC. Archon of Athens Themistocles began to implement the strategy of Athenian domination of the sea. As a consequence, soon followed the decision to build a new port, necessary for the maintenance of a large fleet (up to 400 triremes) and trade operations. The Piraeus peninsula, which forms 3 harbors, was the best suited for these purposes.

Up to the 5th c. BC. on the site of the port there was only a small village

All the harbors of the Athenian port - Piraeus proper, divided into western and eastern parts, Zeya (now the port of Psalimani, intended for private yachts) and Munichius - were walled, united with Athens through the famous Long Walls.

During especially strong storms or in view of the threat of attack from the sea, the entrance to the mouth of the Piraeus was blocked by chains.

Very soon, Piraeus became something of a new trading satellite policy of Athens. Sailors and merchants settled on its streets, preferring to do business with overseas partners right at the docks.

March 1, 86 BC Athens was captured and plundered by the troops of the Roman dictator Sulla. The walls were also destroyed, and Piraeus became an unremarkable harbor for many years.

In the Middle Ages, it was restored by the Turks, who placed one of their naval bases on its territory. At the entrance to Piraeus, a statue of a lion was installed, which is why it was often called "lion" (Porto Leone). In 1687, the Venetians captured Piraeus for a short time and transported the statue to Venice.

How to get to Piraeus and how to get around

In the 70s of the XX century, Athens and the port of Piraeus itself were completely rebuilt. At the entrance to the central harbor of Piraeus, a copy of the statue taken away appeared. Interestingly, in Greece for many years there has been a movement "Committee for the Return of the Lion".

As we wrote above, details on how to get to the port of Piraeus follow. And this shouldn't be much of a problem. Another thing is when you get directly to the port - its territory is huge and in order to have time to find the right vessel, it is better to arrive a little early.

You must be at the pier no later than 30 minutes before the departure of the vessel.

To make it easier to navigate the port of Piraeus, it makes sense to purchase or download its map, and here you should be careful. In 2013, 2 new terminals were commissioned in Piraeus. Thus, port maps issued before 2013 may contain inaccuracies.

To avoid unpleasant consequences, we decided to publish a fresh map of the port of Piraeus - download it.

With regard to navigating the port, it is easier for travelers going on a cruise: a few hours before the departure of the liner, at the main gate of Piraeus, free buses, which take tourists to the desired pier. A plate with the name of the vessel is usually located behind the windshield of the bus.

A few hours before the departure of the liner, free buses appear at the main gate of the port, which take tourists to the desired pier

If you are going to the Eastern Cyclades (berths E6 and E7), it will be enough for you to get to the main entrance to the port of Piraeus by metro or bus, and then cross the bridge or across the road to the main entrance, from where you can easily reach the desired piers.

The rest of the piers of the Piraeus port are located further away, so free shuttles also go to them directly from the main entrance.

You can try and walk to the desired pier of the port. Moreover, there is something to see in Piraeus. Permanently located in the port a large number of a wide variety of ships: from small "cats" (FlyingCat) to gigantic multi-storey liners. So it is better not to hide the camera far.

Passenger harbors of the port

If you have already downloaded the map of Piraeus, which we gave from the link above, now you should have it before your eyes in order to understand where your ship can depart from:

• Berth E1 (Akti Vassiliadi). From here there are ferries to the Dodecanese archipelago (Rhodes, Kalymnos, Kos, Leros, Patmos).
• Berth E2 (Akti Hetion). Ferries to Lesvos, Chios, Ikaria, Samos, Crete depart from this pier.
• E3 (Agios Dionisios, Akti Kondili). Serves ferries going to the island of Kythira and Crete. The shuttle stop is located closer to the E4 pier and the E5 entrance area.
• E4 is for travelers arriving from Kythera only.
• Zone E5 - designation bus stop, the main entrance to the port and the main passenger terminal.
• Berth E6 (Akti Kalimasiotti). Ferries depart from it to Crete (Rethymnon) and the Eastern Cyclades (Santorini, Paros, Syros, Tinos, Naxos, Mykonos).
• E7 (Akti Tzelepi) also handles boats to the Eastern Cyclades. Near the landing zone there are ticket offices, cafes and taverns.
• E8 (Akti Poseidonos). From here ships go to the Saronic Islands. There is also an entrance for tourist cars.
• E9 (Akti Miauli) is intended for ferries and high-speed "dolphins" departing for the Western Cyclades, Samos and Ikaria. Nearby is one of the new terminals.
• E10 - for those who arrived from the Western Cyclades, Samos and Ikaria.
• E11 and E12 serve only cruise ships. There are also terminals here, where there is everything: ticket offices, cafes, rental agencies and travel agencies (for example, for travelers who want to go on an excursion to Athens during parking).

If you want to walk to the desired harbor of the port of Piraeus on foot, you should remember that you need to be at the pier no later than 30 minutes before the departure of the ship. Passengers who arrive later may well be considered late with all the ensuing consequences of this status.

The “walk” to the desired port berth can take up to an hour, depending on where you were dropped off from the transport (one of the arguments in favor of a taxi). There are no automatic lockers in Piraeus, but they are at the Piraeus metro station, which is convenient only for those who decide to walk around Athens if they have time.

In order not to run around the port in search of a ship, you should take a taxi

If you arrive at the port of Piraeus in the evening, and depart, say, in the morning, then it makes a lot of sense to take a hotel while waiting.

Piraeus is a full-fledged city, and its hotel infrastructure well developed. Best selection hotels with a map, distance from the port, photos of rooms and reviews of guests who have been here, and the current hotel discounts are given below.

If you want to spend your waiting time with benefit, you can go to see Athens - this metro will take less than an hour.

If this is your first time in the city and your time is limited, then hiring a local Russian speaking guide, who will conduct a tour of the city, show and tell about the main attractions. Detailed review and the contacts of one of the guides are also on Grekoblog - there is also his contact and a contact form for those who want to book an excursion.

The port does not have automatic lockers, but they are at the Piraeus metro station

Read your ticket carefully in advance. The port of Piraeus is open daily from 7.30 am to 2.30 am. If the schedule indicates that the ship arrives at 07.30 and departs at 14.30, but the time on the ticket is 06.30-16.30, you need to focus on the earlier departure of the ship, at 14.30.

The period indicated on the ticket may include the time reserved at the port in case of a storm, strike or any other unplanned situation.

The time of the ship's stay in the port may vary due to weather and strikes.

If you do not have a ticket yet, but you know for sure that you want to plan your trip by sea, then you can purchase it in advance online through the Ferriesingreece service.

Grekoblog described all the details on how to make a purchase and get a ticket in hand in the video below. By the way, this video is part of a large video course in Greece, where ferries are only a small part. More details with all sections can be.

To minimize the risks when trying to get to Piraeus from the Athens airport or from the ship to the hotel or airport you need, it makes sense to book a taxi online. Do it .

The parking time of our liner was from 6 am to 5:45 pm. We didn't go to Athens. I was there 13 years ago and there was no desire to look at the rebuilt Parthenon again. And there are no other interesting sights, in my opinion, in Athens anymore. Therefore, we decided that it was better to go to some Greek island located close to the coast. Aegina turned out to be such an island. I was already there in 1998, but, to be honest, I have already forgotten everything. Therefore, the interest was the same as if for the first time.

And the day before, a notice was brought to the cabin that a strike would take place in Athens on October 14th. AND public transport will not walk, taxi drivers are also on strike. So everything in itself was decided in favor of the island of Aegina.

The only thing I was worried about was that the rocket boats would not sail either. But we were lucky. Marine workers did not join the land "rebels".

I knew that the boat to Aegina sailed from pier (pier) 8 or 9. Meeting the dawn, I saw where these piers were. The direction was.

Walk about 20 minutes. But this is from our pier. There are other piers, much further.

In the morning we were in no hurry, and as it turned out in vain. Arriving at the pier, we saw that there was a "rocket" and people were entering it. We approached to find out if a boat was sailing towards Aegina. The ticket girl answered: “Yes, but you don’t have time anymore, because. the boat departs in 1 minute.” It was 50 m to the ticket office. There - back plus buying a ticket - it would be unrealistic to be in time.

Dejected, we went to the ticket office for tickets for the trail. flight. We look at the schedule - the next boat is only at 11 o'clock, and the outgoing one was at 8:50. Such are the breaks. I'm already upset. Plans are falling apart. And then suddenly a crowd of people rushes along the pier to the boat, on which the ladder has already been removed. It turned out tourist group. The ladder was lowered from the boat again. We quickly bought tickets and also ran along with the others. So we are incredibly lucky.

And my fault is that I didn't look at the schedule. For some reason I thought that the boats run every half an hour - an hour.
By the way, next to the cash desk of another company. And the timetable was 8:45; 13:45. Their boats are even less frequent.

The ticket price from Hellenic Seaways is 13.5 euros one way for 1 person. Not cheap. But I wanted to see the island where I was 13 years ago. Remember your youth, so to speak. Plus buy pistachios, which are famous for their taste. Sailed for 40 minutes.

There is an opinion that if the city is a port, then swimming in its waters is not safe. Perhaps somewhere this opinion is relevant, but not in Piraeus. If you drive along coastline, then you can see excellent equipped beaches. One is opposite a rock surrounded by the sea, like an island. And the other is opposite the Maritime Museum. The water is clean, as is the sand on the beaches. There are cafes, changing rooms, showers. They are located far from the port, and ship routes are laid away from them to avoid pollution. Few people - mostly locals.

Traveling in transit, tourists miss the opportunity to admire the city. But in vain! There is something to see in Piraeus, however, as in any city of legendary Greece. The ruins of Themistocles and the church of Agia Triad are amazing. By visiting the Maritime Museum, located in the harbor of Zea, you can trace the history of shipbuilding, admiring the models of ships, both past centuries and the present. The archaeological museum will shed light on the past of civilization.

A bit of history

Interesting fact. During the Middle Ages, Piraeus was called Porto Leone. The name of the city was given in honor of the gigantic stone sculpture of a lion, which, as it were, protected the entrance to the port.

Soon, of course, from the point of view of history, Piraeus falls into decay and to XIX century almost completely empty. However, in 1834, when the capital of Greece was again moved to Athens, the revival of Piraeus begins - active urban planning is underway and the influx of population is increasing. In the 70s of the last century, the city underwent a grandiose redevelopment, as a result of which many old administrative buildings were demolished.

Attractions Piraeus

The beaches of Piraeus

Note information. Piraeus annually hosts the Ecocinema Film Festival, as well as a carnival under interesting name"The Way of the Three Kings". By joining a field trip, you can enhance the impressions of the rest.

And yet the main attraction of Piraeus is the smallest, but at the same time the most picturesque bay named Mikrolimano. Now this bay natural origin, is literally flooded with fishing yachts and all sorts of restaurants located on a hill that seems to frame the bay. From any restaurant offers an unimaginable beauty of the view of the bay. And at the very top of the hill there is a restaurant with a great view of Athens.

Piraeus from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Piraeus.

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Piraeus (Piraeus) is located in Attica, on the coast Aegean Sea. It is the main commercial and passenger port of Greece and largest port Mediterranean. Although Piraeus has existed as a separate city for centuries, it is now located 12 km from the center of the capital and is considered part of Athens.

The history of Piraeus is rooted in ancient times: it developed most actively at the beginning of the 5th century BC. e., when it was chosen as a port and harbor in which all imports and transit trade states. Today Piraeus is very noisy and active city, an industrial and commercial center and the site of one of the leading universities in Greece.

Most tourists tend to slip through Piraeus as quickly as possible, using it solely as a staging post. Which is probably right: in Greece there will be more than enough interesting places for the first, second and even fifth trip. But if you are in the country for the tenth or twentieth time, it makes sense to take a closer look at Piraeus. Each of its districts is distinguished by a specific culture, from the neoclassical elegant hill of Castella to the picturesque little harbors of Mikrolimano and Zea, where fishing boats and in the evenings the fun begins.

How to get to Piraeus

Buses No. 40 and No. 49 run between central Athens and Piraeus (fare 2 EUR) 24 hours a day. Bus number X96 operates regular routes between Piraeus and Athens airport (cost 6 EUR, travel time 90 min). The airport can also be reached by metro (10 EUR). Prices on the page are for March 2019.

Cruise ships from almost all the islands of the Aegean Sea (with the exception of the Sporades and some smaller islands of the Cyclades and Dodecanese, where a transfer is required) and the Eastern Mediterranean moor to the port of Piraeus all year round.

Search for flights to Athens (nearest airport to Piraeus)

Weather in Piraeus

The climate is Mediterranean with big amount sunny days during the whole year. Rainfall is most likely between November and April due to the close proximity of Piraeus to Mount Parnitha.

The hottest time in Piraeus is during the summer months - ideal for relaxing and sunbathing, and best time for travel with an excursion purpose - autumn or spring.

Shops and restaurants

Cafes and shops are located along the harbor, near the cruise terminal, and also near the metro. central avenues Piraeus - Iroon Polytechneiou and Grigoriou Labraki are considered major trading areas.

Piraeus is famous for its great variety of taverns and restaurants famous for their cuisine. Most of them specialize in seafood and are concentrated near the harbors of Mikrolimano and Piraiki.

Popular hotels in Piraeus

Entertainment and attractions of Piraeus

Notable among the archaeological sites of Piraeus are the ancient port gates and part of the fortifications built during the Peloponnesian War, which have survived in good condition to this day. Ruin ancient city located in the basement of the Cathedral of Agia Triada and the ancient theater of Zea next to the archaeological museum. The archaeological museum has an extensive collection of ancient artifacts found during excavations in Piraeus, mainly in the waterfront area.

Kastella is considered one of the most attractive areas of the city with neoclassical mansions. The hills of Kastella offer panoramic views of Athens and the Saronic Gulf. In the center of Piraeus are the Neoclassical City Theatre, built in 1885, and the Neo-Byzantine Cathedral of Piraeus.

Numerous museums of the city are also of interest: the Greek maritime museum, historical Museum, museum of ships named after Georgios Averof, museum of electric railways, municipal art Gallery and the city library, one of the largest in Greece.

Port of Piraeus

Events

One of the popular events in Piraeus is the Ecocinema Film Festival, held annually in February. In summer, Piraeus meets the sea festival and the Rock Wave festival. And the festival "The Way of the Three Kings" marks the beginning of the carnival with all the ensuing consequences - costumed shows and performances.

• Where to stay: In a variety of hotels in the heart of Greek civilization - magnificent Athens: there are both "excursion" "three rubles" and fashionable business class hotels. For a more leisurely life without interruption from the “noise of the city”, go to the port city of Piraeus, now part of Athens. The atmosphere of a luxurious holiday can be found in Glyfada, and Vouliagmeni will please you with a good selection of hotels and the scents of pines and eucalyptus. "Chip"

Piraeus has been the port of Athens since ancient times. Once Piraeus was an island, and those wishing to visit it were transported from mainland Greece on the ship. It is very likely that the name of the city came from this crossing. Until the 5th century BC. The port of Athens was Faliro Bay. The first who fully understood the significance of Piraeus and made it the main Athenian port was Themistocles, who built the fortress walls of Piraeus. Their construction lasted from 493 to 479. BC. Later fortifications were completed by Pericles, who built the so-called long walls, protecting on both sides the road from Athens to Piraeus throughout its entire length. The city of Piraeus was built in the 5th century. BC e. according to the plan of the architect Hippodamus. The same plan formed the basis of the new layout of the city in 1834. As a result of the rapid development, Piraeus merged with Athens into a single whole, and at present the border between the two cities is practically indistinguishable and has only administrative significance.

Today's port of Piraeus, built on the site of an ancient city, is a major maritime and shopping mall not only Greece, but the entire Mediterranean. From here depart ships linking Greek capital as with the most remote corners insular Greece as well as with other countries. Piraeus is located about 10 km southwest of the center of Athens and is connected to the capital by bus and metro. Rising above the port are the hills of Profitis Ilias and Kastella, with neoclassical mansions and modern buildings that seem to float above the sea.

Among the noisiest business and tourist areas Piraeus should be named for its small natural harbors: Mikrolimano, Pasalimani, Zea, Freatida and Hadzikiryakio. Here, on the coast, in numerous taverns, exotic dishes of fish and other seafood are prepared. The smell of the sea and fish, the splash of numerous boats, boats and yachts, swaying on the waves not far from your table, a fresh sea breeze that brings the desired coolness in hot weather. summer evenings, - all this gives a unique charm to the local climate and creates a sense of romance. Be sure to visit the fish taverns of Mikrolimano, try fish, seafood, sea urchin salad.

The sights of Piraeus include the archaeological museum, which stores exhibits found in Piraeus. They recreate the history, rise and fall of the ancient city. The most interesting of them are the bronze statues discovered in 1959: the archaic Kouros-Apollo, two statues of Artemis, a Piraeus Athena and a tragic mask.

traveler's story about the port of piraeus

Piraeus has been the port of Athens since ancient times. Today's Piraeus, built on the site of an ancient city, is a major maritime and commercial center not only in Greece, but throughout the Mediterranean. Ships depart from here, connecting the Greek capital, both with the most remote corners of island Greece, and with other countries. The city of Piraeus was built in the 5th century BC. e. according to the plan of the architect Hippodames from the island of Melos. The same plan formed the basis of the new layout of the city in 1834. As a result of the rapid development, Piraeus merged with Athens into a single whole, and at present the border between the two cities is practically indistinguishable and has only administrative significance. IN medieval period Piraeus was known as Porto Leone, derived from the huge stone statue lion, as if guarding the entrance to the port.
Modern Piraeus, being the main port of Athens and the largest in Greece, is the leading center of navigation. Life in Piraeus is concentrated around three estuaries - the central one, the Zeya estuary and Mikrolimano.
We recommend that you continue your visit to Piraeus with a walk around Castellet. In addition to many beautiful buildings standing on this hill, you will see a magnificent panorama of the Saronic Gulf. Be sure to visit the archaeological museum.
The area is famous for its fresh fish dishes and attracts lovers from all over Attica.
After lunch, you will be energized by a walk along the yachts and sailing ships standing at the pier Zeya.
The main tone of Piraeus life is set by the sea. His presence is felt so strongly that it seems as if the sea surrounds the city from all sides.
In ancient times, Piraeus was indeed an island, and those wishing to visit it were transported from mainland Greece by ship. Piraeus is located about 10 km southwest of the center of Athens and is connected to the capital by bus and metro. The hills of Prophet Elijah and Castella rise above the port, with neoclassical mansions and modern buildings framing the city from the sea. Among the noisiest and most touristic areas of Piraeus are its small natural harbors: Mikrolimano, Pasalimani, Zea, Freatida and Hadzikiryakio. Here, in countless taverns near the sea, exotic snacks from fish and other inhabitants are prepared. sea ​​depths. You can taste them with a unique, purely Greek drink - ouzo. And to top off the pleasure - the fresh smell of the sea and the measured splash of numerous boats, boats and yachts swaying on the waves, very close to your table.

Port of Piraeus

The port of Piraeus is located 12 km from Athens. Piraeus is the largest sea ​​port throughout Greece. The port of Piraeus is located right next to Athens. Piraeus is not just a port in Greece, but also Big City, as well as an industrial and commercial center. According to the 2001 census, the population of the city of Piraeus was 175,697.

The history of the port of Piraeus dates back to Ancient Greece. Piraeus received the main impetus in the development in the 5th century BC. when Piraeus was chosen as the main port of Athens, concentrating in itself the point of contact of all major trade sea routes.

The port of Piraeus is the largest passenger port in Europe and the third largest in the world. Piraeus serves about 20,000,000 passengers a year. Apart from passenger traffic, the port is among the ten largest cargo ports.

Port of Piraeus for its long history accumulated a large number of attractions. Kastella Hill is one of the most attractive areas of the city, offering panoramic views of Athens and the Saronic Gulf. In the city of Piraeus, from ancient times, as well as from the reign of the Venetians, many old beautiful mansions have been preserved. Every year the picturesque harbors of Mikrolimano and Pasalimani attract a large number of visitors. Every night in the local clubs of these harbors there are colorful parties.

Piraeus. port of Athens, the largest port in the Balkans and one of the largest ports mediterranean sea. Even now, when Athens and Piraeus have practically merged, Piraeus retains its face and its distinctive features that distinguish it from antiquity to the present day.
The city was founded in the 5th century BC. when Athens was in charge maritime power in the Mediterranean. In ancient times, Athens and Piraeus were connected by a road, which was protected by fortress walls. Thus, Athens and Piraeus were united in ancient times into a single whole.
The construction of the walls began during the wars between Greece and Persia. It began immediately after the expulsion of the Persians from Attica. At that time, Attica was completely in ruins, but the inhabitants of Athens understood the importance of building defense structures to strengthen their power and, first of all, instead of rebuilding their personal homes, they made every effort to build public and defense structures.
Today, getting from Athens to Piraeus is pretty easy. The center of Athens is connected to Piraeus by a separate metro line. By and large, today there is no clear dividing border between Athens and Piraeus.
The metro goes straight to the central port. From the central port of Piraeus, you can easily get to any island in Greece. There are many companies that transport goods and passengers; tickets can often be bought right before boarding.
For tourists, the port of Mikrolimani will be more interesting. At the entrance to the port you can see the remains of ancient watchtowers and old docks. During the Turkish rule, the naval forces of the Ottoman port were based in the port, and today the port is famous primarily for its fish restaurants, which are supplied every morning with freshly caught seafood.
There are two museums in Piraeus. Archaeological and Maritime Museum. IN Archaeological Museums Artifacts that were found as a result of archaeological sites Piraeus. The maritime museum presents the history of the development of the fleet, from ancient times to modern exhibits. The entrance to the Maritime Museum is pretty easy to find. near the museum there are guns taken from ships and a cabin of a submarine.

Sources: vegatours-online.ru, otvet.mail.ru, www.arrivo.ru, yapiligrim.ru, www.bliss-tour.by

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