Piraeus Excursion suggestions NOT Athens

[Danor71]

So our ship, Explorer of the Seas, will be docking in Piraeus in a few weeks.   We’ve been to Athens before and have done the “best of Athens” tour at that time.  We are there from 8am to 8pm and would like to explore something different.  Delphi was an option but we don’t feel like a 6 hour ride back and forth for 3 hours of touring was time well spent.

 

Any suggestions for an alternative to Athens while in Piraeus?

 

Thank you

[Saab4444]

1 hour ago, Danor71 said:

So our ship, Explorer of the Seas, will be docking in Piraeus in a few weeks.   We’ve been to Athens before and have done the “best of Athens” tour at that time.  We are there from 8am to 8pm and would like to explore something different.  Delphi was an option but we don’t feel like a 6 hour ride back and forth for 3 hours of touring was time well spent.

 

Any suggestions for an alternative to Athens while in Piraeus?

 

Thank you

The Corinth Canal is a great sight, if offered as an excursion.

Edited August 7, 2023 by Saab4444

[truffles2]

17 minutes ago, Saab4444 said:

The Corinth Canal is a great sight, if offered as an excursion.

The best yogurt I ever had in my life was at Corinth Canal!  So if you go there it is worth a taste.

[marazul]

An excursion to Corinth and Mycenae would de ideal. You can easily add Nafplion and/or Epidaurus to the tour or take the boat ride over the sinking bridges of the canal.

Another option would be the Saronic islands. Aegina is a short ride away.

Any of the private tour companies will customize their tours to fit your time. 

georgestaxi.com or PK Travel are both excellent. 

https://www.georgestaxi.com/#private_tours

[jennmaybe]

Can anyone recommend a company to book a tour with that includes Corinth Canal?

[cruisemom42]

Corinth and Mycenae is easily the best option if you want an alternative to Athens. The driving distances aren't far, so you get a lot more time sightseeing. Corinth was a major city in antiquity so there are nice ruins, easy to figure out (but I'd bring a guidebook or some notes or at least a map of the site). Mycenae has a stunning setting.

 

Access to Corinth's acropolis and also access to Mycenae itself do require some uphill walking (the acropolis at Corinth being the more strenuous). But there is plenty to see at Corinth without trekking to the acropolis.

 

[Vineyard View]

If Nafplion is already a port of call, is there a second suggestion? 

[cruisemom42]

2 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

If Nafplion is already a port of call, is there a second suggestion? 

 

Epidauros (or Epidavros) is a good option from Nauplion (or Nafplion or Navplion -- love Greek fluidity).

 

Many tours that go there only visit the beautiful theatre but the site itself is fascinating. It was a healing center in ancient times and the whole site was set up to facilitate this, from special dormitories where the patients slept to exercises and games to various treatments they received -- and including a hall for the interpretation of dreams. I read a good deal about it before going and it really enhanced my visit. I recommend this book if you can get your hands on a copy (used is fine):

 

https://www.amazon.com/Epidauros-R-Tomlinson/dp/0292720440/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YACMPGC5YFLB&keywords=Epidauros+Tomlinson&qid=1691505906&s=books&sprefix=epidauros+tomlinson%2Cstripbooks%2C97&sr=1-1

 

You could spend several hours at Epidauros. Or if you feel it isn't enough, you could pair it with Tiryns, a lesser known Mycenean era site that is less well known (and hence less crowded) than Mycenae itself.

 

While Tiryns doesn't have the famous reputation of Mycenae (with its associations with the Trojan War, Greek tragedies, and of course Heinrich Schliemann) it IS supposed to be the place where Hercules completed his twelve labors.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiryns

 

[Vineyard View]

Thank you cruisemom42. You are always so helpful. Mycenae was a wonderful visit on our last Nafplion stop. 

[wineoclock]

Also Sounion from Piraeus - Sounion is one of my favourite places. We went last year & used PK Travel.