Piraeus is located in Athens and is connected by ferry to and from Crete, the Aegean islands, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Greek Mainland, the Ionian Islands, the Peloponnese, the Saronic Islands and the Sporades.
There are 18 ferry companies operating ferries to and from Piraeus. Aegean Flying Dolphins, Aegean Sea Lines, Aegean Speed Lines, Aegeon Pelagos, Alpha Lines, Anek Superfast, Anes Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Boatman Union of Santorini (Maistros Santorini), Fast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries, Magic Sea Ferries, Minoan Lines, San Lorenzo Ferries, Saronic Ferries, Sea Speed Ferries, Seajets and Zante Ferries all operate ferries to and from Piraeus. In the summer season, there are a total of 739 sailings per week.
The most popular route in terms of sailings is the route from Aegina to Piraeus with 116 sailings per week.
The port or island closest to Piraeus is Myli (Agistri) with a distance of just 20.03 kilometres - that's 12 miles or 11 nautical miles. While the port or island furthest away is Kastellorizo at a distance of 566 kilometres - that's about 352 miles or about 306 nautical miles.
Ferries to Piraeus are normally available throughout the year but there are fewer sailings in the winter. Piraeus is served by a mix of fast and conventional ferries.
You can travel to or from Piraeus with your vehicle or on foot. And normally you can take a bike with you or a pet.
Click Book Now and use the booking form to get the latest prices and see the real sailing dates for all ferries on to or from Piraeus.
In the summer months the port can become quite chaotic with long queues for cars. So please arrive at least one hour in advance if travelling by car. For more information about Piraeus, you can visit Wikipedia
The port of Piraeus has 12 well marked gates and each gate is for a different destination.
Yes, you can take your dog or other pet on the ferry but it isn't possible to book a space in the kennel in advance. All Greek ships by law must have some kennel space.
If you are travelling on conventional ferry (not a fast ferry or catamaran) there is normally space available in the kennels and you should also be able to have your dog on all deck areas (but not inside) with you. Strictly speaking, this at the discretion of the ferry company but in general you should have no issues - though please take a muzzle with you just in case and keep your dog on a leash at all times. Small sized dogs and cats can travel in the ship as long as they stay inside a special travel box.
The other option, for absolute peace of mind, is to book a pet cabin. These are like normal cabins but have linoleum flooring. They are also available for day crossings at reasonable prices. This way you don't have to worry about finding space in the kennels and you and your dog or cat can relax. In July and August ferries can get very busy with people and other dogs.
Fast ferries and catamarans will also have kennels but these will be limited in number. In addition, the majority of fast ferries (though there are exceptions) don't have open deck space accessible throughout the journey, so you will not be able to stay out with your pet during your crossing. However, if your pet is small and inside a travel box you will be able to keep him or her inside.
I've been coming to the Greek islands for years now and whilst on my initial travels I didn't enjoy travelling by ferry, now I quite enjoy the whole experience truth be told.
There are many gates and the distance from gate to gate can be on the large side.
If you're staying in a hotel before your journey it's advisable to choose one close to your actual gate rather than the Piraeus area as a whole unless you know the area quite well.
An internal bus service at the port which does a circle from gate to gate. There is no number or sign on the bus but it is the only bus within the port area.
Arriving by train from the airport we had about an hour before our ferry left. There were no signs so we just followed everyone else. After crossing a busy road (apparently there used to be a bridge but now it's shut) you arrive in the port area. There are hawkers everywhere and I didn't feel particularly safe.
Once in the port you have to then find your ferry. Ferries can be spread quite a way apart. Luckily we spotted a port police woman who told us to take the free bus. The driver read out the gates. If he hadn't I would have no idea.
Getting on was easy and straightforward because cars and lorries were still waiting.
