circee Posted March 6, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 6, 2018 I am vacillating between getting a taxi at the port to take us to the Acropolis, walking to other nearby sites, then finding a taxi after roaming Plaka to go back to the port, or booking a private 8-hour tour with George's Taxi. How easy is it to get a taxi to take us from the port to Athens? I know there will be a taxi line outside the port terminal; however, one poster said he had difficulty finding a taxi to take them into Athens as the drivers all wanted to give tours. The other option is a tour with George's Taxi, but I' wonder whether this option would offer much more than a DIY day? Looking for opinions/suggestions (except for the bus or HOHO, which my husband refuses to take). This will be our first time to Athens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted March 6, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 6, 2018 We've never had a problem getting a taxi from the port to drop us off downtown. So for us we would skip the tour and do it on our own. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 4cats4me Posted March 6, 2018 #3 Share Posted March 6, 2018 We simply prebooked a taxi with PKTravel. They are wonderful to work with. They were right there to pick us up at the port. You then arrange a pickup time with them to get you back to the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezedr Posted March 6, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Loads of taxis when we were at the port and no issues about going downtown. I would highly recommend DIY. Visit the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Plaka, the Agora, etc ., all of which are easily walkable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circee Posted March 7, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted March 7, 2018 Thank you for your assurances that we'll be able to catch a taxi at the port. I assume it will be no problem finding a taxi to take us back to the port when we're ready. This will also help me convince my DH that this is the way to do Athens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted March 7, 2018 #6 Share Posted March 7, 2018 Thank you for your assurances that we'll be able to catch a taxi at the port. I assume it will be no problem finding a taxi to take us back to the port when we're ready. This will also help me convince my DH that this is the way to do Athens. It shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time you don't hail a taxi on the street, though. Where will you be ending the day? I've asked a museum or a hotel to call a taxi for me sometimes. Or if you are near a Metro station, they often wait in front... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circee Posted March 7, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted March 7, 2018 It shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time you don't hail a taxi on the street, though. Where will you be ending the day? I've asked a museum or a hotel to call a taxi for me sometimes. Or if you are near a Metro station, they often wait in front... We'll probably end up in the Plaka area after seeing the sites, so leaving from there. I do have a little fear in the back of my mind that we'd have difficulty finding a taxi to take use back to the ship and get stranded in Athens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 4cats4me Posted March 7, 2018 #8 Share Posted March 7, 2018 . I do have a little fear in the back of my mind that we'd have difficulty finding a taxi to take use back to the ship and get stranded in Athens. Which is why I recommended PKTravel to reserve a taxi for both pickup and drop off. I emailed them from home and arranged a set time for pickup at the port and set a time for pickup from the Plaka. https://www.pktravelgreece.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted March 7, 2018 #9 Share Posted March 7, 2018 We'll probably end up in the Plaka area after seeing the sites, so leaving from there. I do have a little fear in the back of my mind that we'd have difficulty finding a taxi to take use back to the ship and get stranded in Athens. That's extremely unlikely. I've been in Athens several times, both on my own as a cruise stop and staying over there before or after a cruise. I've done just what you're thinking of doing and I've never seen any shortage of taxis. It would probably pay to post somewhere like the Athens board on Tripadvisor to ask where the best places to pick up a taxi around the Plaka area are. There are no shortage of restaurants, shops and hotels in that area, any one of which would probably be happy to call one for you if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modem9 Posted March 8, 2018 #10 Share Posted March 8, 2018 We took a taxi from outside the terminal this past October. There were plenty of them. It was 20 Euro from port to the Acropolis Museum. Our driver volunteered to meet us at the drop off point in a couple of hours and return us to the port. He was there right on time and made the day very convenient. However, while waiting for our return taxi, we also noticed many available taxi's driving by that we could easily have hailed. Don't know what the price back would have been however. With 3 of us, we found the taxi much more convenient and less expensive than a tour or even the HoHo busses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaseballMomof4 Posted March 8, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 8, 2018 We use Welcome Pickups. You can prebook and prepay. Shortly before your booking they send you a photo of your driver so you know who to look for. They have been great! And their prices are reasonable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circee Posted March 8, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted March 8, 2018 I appreciate everyone's opinions. I have made inquiries to PK Travel and Welcome Pickups. My concern with going the pre-arranged pick up route is that I don't know how long we'll want to stay in the area before heading back to the port. I'm still leaning toward using taxis for the flexibility. Thanks cruisemom42 for suggesting asking the Athens' board on Tripadvisor for the best places to find a taxi in the Plaka area. I always forget to check the forums on Tripadvisor; the forums are a wealth of information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southerngirl8 Posted March 13, 2018 #13 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Last time we were in Athens there was a transit strike and taxi's were scarce... we had pre-booked welcome pickups. You can book them from the ship to the city and return at the end of the day, which we are doing in May. You pre-pay and they are waiting for you at the Pier and at your afternoon pre-arranged pick up location. Well worth it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponstad Posted March 22, 2018 #14 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Another vote here for PK Travel - we spent a few days in Athens before our cruise, and they provided us with both a walking tour and a taxi to the port the next day. They were very reliable and easy to communicate with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamchops Posted March 23, 2018 #15 Share Posted March 23, 2018 You could always take the X80 bus outside the terminal on the main road. It’s about 40 minutes to the Acropolis stop in front of Hadrian’s Arch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelers2Med Posted April 23, 2018 #16 Share Posted April 23, 2018 We boarded our cruise from Piraeus, so I can’t say if it is easy to find a taxi upon arrival. You could try contacting Private Greece Tours, they offer this option. We used it last summer and we were very happy with the service they provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieKes Posted April 24, 2018 #17 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Last time we were in Athens there was a transit strike and taxi's were scarce... we had pre-booked welcome pickups. You can book them from the ship to the city and return at the end of the day, which we are doing in May. You pre-pay and they are waiting for you at the Pier and at your afternoon pre-arranged pick up location. Well worth it! Hi Amy, I saw that the transit you booked into Athens is full. Would you suggest I book with Welcome Pick Ups for just me and my husband or should I try to start another group? I’m new to all of this and have never been to Europe before. I’m totally nervous about messing up these excursions! I’m interested in joining the food tour with Ropeadope (Jim I believe - still trying to learn who everyone is) and I see he is signed up on your transit. Apparently the tour begins at 9:30. Just want to be sure I get there in time. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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