Athens on our own - Transfer to town and Terminal

[TheBandit]

Hi

 

We will be in Athens again in October. Arriving at 5.30 with the Odyssey of the Seas. Not our first time in Athens and we'd like to go from Port to Athens on our own. Both ways. The official "On your own" tours are too long for us. We would get back to the Odyssey at around 3pm. Now I'm not sure should I pre-book an official Taxi or get a private transfer with a tour company? If so, it's quite a walk from the cruise terminal to the taxi/limo pickup, isn't it?

 

If anybody has some experiences or could give me any tips, I'd be grateful.

 

Thank you. 

[Charles4515]

I took an express bus from the port to the city center. About 30 minutes. There are also non express buses. The bus stop was easy to find at the port. The caveat is that you have to remember where to catch the return bus in the square. You can also take the Metro. I took the bus because I wanted to see stuff on the ride. 

Edited August 31 by Charles4515

[firefly333]

My athens port has a transfer excursion for 69 pp. So I'm assuming I wouldnt walk. If you dont want to book a transfer thru royal then use a last minute taxi or book ahead. What other choices?

[Charles4515]

26 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

My athens port has a transfer excursion for 69 pp. So I'm assuming I wouldnt walk. If you dont want to book a transfer thru royal then use a last minute taxi or book ahead. What other choices?

No it’s not walkable to the city center. The buses are about 5 euros each way. I would guess the metro is less. Could likely find a private tour for less than $69. We did a private taxi tour out of a roll call but it was years ago. OP should check the port of call board for Athens. Also their cruise critic roll call might have some shared private tours. 

Edited August 31 by Charles4515

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

No it’s not walkable to the city center. The buses are about 5 euros each way. I would guess the metro is less. Could likely find a private tour for less than $69. We did a private taxi tour out of a roll call but it was years ago. OP should check the port of call board for Athens. Also their cruise critic roll call might have some shared private tours. 

It says the transfer is a ride 45 minutes each way to a statue. I'm not interested. I wanted to see the acropolis which luckily 1 spot came open. Grabbed it. Just saying a saw a transfer offered for 69 each way. I cant wait to see the acropolis. 

[Charles4515]

2 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

It says the transfer is a ride 45 minutes each way to a statue. I'm not interested. I wanted to see the acropolis which luckily 1 spot came open. Grabbed it. Just saying a saw a transfer offered for 69 each way. I cant wait to see the acropolis. 

I did a private tour the Acropolis. The main problem there is you don’t want to arrive the same time as a bunch of cruise line buses. The private tour driver timed our arrival so the lines were short. There is a new museum near the city center which I took the bus to. Very good museum. The statue is in a main square in the center. I have been to Athens a bunch of times, even overnighted and did private tours or took the bus. Never a cruise line transfer or excursion there. I don’t take cruise line excursions as a general rule but I have done those cruise line transfers in some ports if they have enough time at the site. 

[pcur]

Personally, I avoid transportation on city streets in Athens, as the traffic is usually congested and slows you down. I suggest downloading the Athens metro app, and plan your routes accordingly. Piraeus is the nearest station, so you may have to Uber to it from Terminals A, B, or C.

[little britain]

Uber was under €20 each way last year!  Dropped us right at Syntagna in time for changing of the guard 

Edited August 31 by little britain

[mapleleaves]

We walked about 1/2 mile from the port to the metro station.

 

You may want to read thru the Greek Ports of Call forum for suggestions such as this one:

Athens (Piraeus) X80 shuttle - Greece Ports - Cruise Critic Community

 

[Host Kat]

13 hours ago, TheBandit said:

Hi

 

We will be in Athens again in October. Arriving at 5.30 with the Odyssey of the Seas. Not our first time in Athens and we'd like to go from Port to Athens on our own. Both ways. The official "On your own" tours are too long for us. We would get back to the Odyssey at around 3pm. Now I'm not sure should I pre-book an official Taxi or get a private transfer with a tour company? If so, it's quite a walk from the cruise terminal to the taxi/limo pickup, isn't it?

 

If anybody has some experiences or could give me any tips, I'd be grateful.

 

Thank you. 

 

Hello @TheBandit

 

Thank you for your new thread! However, your inquiry was off topic where posted. Your new thread has been moved to the Ports of Call - Europe - Mediterranean - Eastern & Western - Greece Ports forum where it will be on topic. Browse through the thread titles in this forum looking for threads of interest. You may find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

The Cruise Critic website and message boards are both great resources for new as well as experienced cruisers and we are so glad you are posting! Please feel free to browse the Cruise Critic Community categories list of the various forums. I suggest you put the page link in your browser's Favorites for quick & easy access in the future. Please read a few threads in the different forums to get a feel for what each forum is about. Make sure you read any pinned threads (aka stickies) on the top of the first page of threads in most forums. You will find very important instructions or information there. 

 

I also suggest you use the Follow feature on any new threads you start or any other threads or forums where you are interested in the new replies. That way you will not have to go looking to see if there are new posts because they will come l👀king for you as notifications! If you need information on how to do it, please click here: How to: Follow Topics & Forums (Subscribed Threads/Forums Info) and here: How To: Change Email Settings/Unsubscribe: Notification Settings

 

I sincerely hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

[TheBandit]

Thanks for all the answers and suggestions so far. I did find some trustful providers of transportation. Looks like there is a big possibility that the Odyssey will dock at Terminal B. Quite a far way from the Taxi hub and other transportations. Will we have to walk from Terminal B all the way there (I checked the map, it's about a 30-40min walk)? Or is there another way?