PiraeusCruise Port
Cruising out of Athens? Piraeus is the port. Find which of the three terminals is yours, sort out parking, and plan the trip in from Athens airport.
Bon voyage from Piraeus
- Terminals
- 3
- Cruise lines
- 2
- MSC and Royal Caribbean
- Nearest airport
- ATH
- Athens International Airport, 32 mi, about 50 min
- Port parking
- See live price
- 0 official lots; no published rate, see the parking table
Last checked
Terminals by cruise line
Piraeus has three cruise terminals: A (Miaoulis), B (Themistocles) and C (Alkimos). Your line and ship decide which one is yours, and it can change at the last minute. Holland America says signs at the port entrance show where each ship is docked. Check your boarding documents before you travel.
Terminal B (Themistocles)
Cruise lines
MSC
MSC can use this one. It is through Gate E12, and the building is about 0.4 mi further in along the port road.
Akti Miaouli 10, Piraeus 185 38, Greece (Gate E12)
Terminal A (Miaoulis)
Cruise lines
Royal Caribbean, MSC
Royal Caribbean's terminal, and MSC can use it too. It is the one at Gate E11 on Akti Miaouli.
Akti Miaouli 10, Piraeus 185 38, Greece (Gate E11)
Terminal C (Alkimos)
Cruise lines
MSC
MSC can use this one. It shares Gate E12 with Terminal B.
Akti Miaouli 10, Piraeus 185 38, Greece (Gate E12)
| Terminal | Cruise lines | Address | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal B (Themistocles)MSC can use this one. It is through Gate E12, and the building is about 0.4 mi further in along the port road. | MSC | Akti Miaouli 10, Piraeus 185 38, Greece (Gate E12) | Map of Terminal B (Themistocles) |
| Terminal A (Miaoulis)Royal Caribbean's terminal, and MSC can use it too. It is the one at Gate E11 on Akti Miaouli. | Royal Caribbean, MSC | Akti Miaouli 10, Piraeus 185 38, Greece (Gate E11) | Map of Terminal A (Miaoulis) |
| Terminal C (Alkimos)MSC can use this one. It shares Gate E12 with Terminal B. | MSC | Akti Miaouli 10, Piraeus 185 38, Greece (Gate E12) | Map of Terminal C (Alkimos) |
Hotels the night before
Staying the night before means no early start and no missed boat. We couldn't confirm a cruise shuttle or a hotel within an easy walk of the terminals, so no single hotel is listed. Use the search below to compare hotels near the port by distance.
Piraeus cruise parking
The port has no car parking for cruise passengers. The pier has no public parking either, so you leave the car at a private garage in Piraeus. Two garages are listed here. POLISPARK sells a travellers' price for a stay of 3 to 15 days, which you pre-buy in its app. Pittas takes a booking request online.
The POLISPARK price is its published travellers' offer for 7 days of parking, not a quote for a particular sailing.
Covered parking
POLISPARK Agios Nikolaos Piraeus
WalkCoveredPrivate
Private lots nearby
| Lot | To the terminal | Cover | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
POLISPARK Agios Nikolaos PiraeusBig 727-space car park near the central port, with EV chargers.+ More− LessPre-buy in the POLISPARK app by picking the Agios Nikolaos station, your entry date and the number of days. Reservations are first come, first served. Each day past 15 costs €16. The car park's published travellers' offer for 7 days of parking, pre-bought in its app (about €35 for 3 days, €5 more per extra day to €100 for 15). It is a published rate for a 7-day stay, not a quote for a particular sailing. | WalkCovered | Covered | €607 nights | Check rates → for POLISPARK Agios Nikolaos Piraeus |
Pittas ParkingEnclosed, monitored garage between the city centre and the port.+ More− LessPittas publishes no rate, so ask when you book. The booking form takes your vehicle height, and the garage replies to confirm. Office hours are 09:00 to 21:00. Pittas publishes no daily rate; the booking form shows an estimated cost of 0 until it is answered, so no price is recorded. | WalkCovered | Covered | See live price | Check rates → for Pittas Parking |
Getting there
Athens International Airport is the only airport to know. It is about 32 miles from the terminals, roughly 50 minutes by road without traffic. Metro Line 3 goes from the airport straight to Piraeus station, and the X96 bus runs around the clock. There is no metro station inside the port, so allow time to get from the station to your gate.
Athens International Airport ATH
Athens' only international airport, with a direct metro line to Piraeus.
- Distance
- 32 mi
- Drive
- about 50 min
Ways to the port
- Bus: X96 express bus — Runs 24 hours a day, including holidays. Cheapest option, but slower in traffic.
- Shared shuttle: Metro Line 3 (blue line) · €9.00 — Single airport ticket (€16 return), per the transport authority OASA. Direct from the airport to Piraeus station in about an hour. No station inside the port. Operator site → for Metro Line 3 (blue line)
- Taxi · €60 — Holland America's approximate fare; check traffic. Taxis run around the clock from the airport ramps and take about 45 minutes, sometimes over an hour in traffic.
- Uber and Lyft: Uber — Holland America lists Uber through the app.
Prices checked
Pre-book a private airport transfer
A driver booked ahead meets you at arrivals with room for bags. Check that your airport, the port and your date are covered first.
Ports you'll visit from Piraeus
MSC's cruises from Piraeus visit the Greek islands, Turkey, Croatia and Italy. Here are the stops it lists. Other lines' routes weren't confirmed.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Santorini
How the tender works, the cable car and steps to Fira, and the bus to Oia.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Heraklion
The piers, the walk to the old town, and getting to Knossos.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Corfu
The New Port terminal, the walk to the Old Town, and timed excursions.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Istanbul
Galataport in Karaköy, the tram to Sultanahmet, and a walking map.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Kusadasi
The port in the middle of town, and how far Ephesus is.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Dubrovnik
Gruž or a tender, the bus to Pile Gate, and a walking map.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Katakolon
The short walk to the village and the trip out to Ancient Olympia.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Split
A ten-minute walk to Diocletian's Palace, and island day trips.
Read the guide →Sailing to
Venice
Marittima, San Basilio or Fusina, and the way into the city.
- Guide coming
Sailing to
Bari
- Guide coming
Sailing to
Trieste
Quick answers
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Piraeus Port Authority (OLP): cruise terminal
- MSC Cruises: Piraeus (Athens) port page
- Holland America Line: Piraeus (Athens) port page
- Royal Caribbean (Israel site): Cruise from Athens (Piraeus)
- POLISPARK: parking at the port of Piraeus for travellers
- Pittas Parking
- POLISPARK: Agios Nikolaos Piraeus station
Terminals & cruise lines
Which cruise terminal is in Piraeus, and which one does my ship use?
Piraeus has three cruise terminals: A (Miaoulis, Gate E11) and B and C (Themistocles and Alkimos, both Gate E12). Royal Caribbean says its terminal is Terminal A, and MSC uses A, B or C depending on the sailing. We found no official page tying other lines to a terminal, and assignments can change at the last minute, so check your boarding documents and the signs at the port entrance. See the terminals.
What cruise lines sail from Piraeus?
Royal Caribbean and MSC both sail from Piraeus, and the port authority's 2026 schedule shows about three-quarters of the 759 cruise calls (566) are homeport turnarounds. Many other lines call or start cruises here, but no official page we found says which terminal they use. Confirm yours on your cruise documents. Find your terminal.
Is there luggage storage at Piraeus cruise port?
No: Holland America says there is no luggage storage at the Piraeus pier, and no public parking either. If you arrive before check-in, plan to keep your bags with you or leave them at your hotel.
Hotels
Which hotels near the Piraeus cruise port have a shuttle?
We couldn't confirm any Piraeus hotel with a cruise shuttle or a park-and-cruise package, so none is listed. The terminals are at the far south end of the port, with no metro station inside it, so a hotel near Piraeus station means a taxi or a longer walk to your gate. Compare hotels near the terminals.
Parking
How much is parking at the Piraeus cruise port?
The Piraeus port runs no car parking for cruise passengers, so you pay a private garage. POLISPARK's Agios Nikolaos car park publishes a travellers' price of €60 for 7 days (€35 for 3 days), and each day past 15 costs €16. Pittas Parking publishes no rate, so ask when you book. Prices can change. See the parking.
Where do you park for a cruise out of Piraeus?
Park in a private garage in Piraeus, because there is no public parking at the pier. POLISPARK's Agios Nikolaos car park at Melina Mercouri 1-6 has 727 spaces and is open 24 hours, and you pre-buy in its app. Pittas Parking on Kountouriotou is an enclosed garage you book by request. Neither runs a cruise shuttle that we found. See the parking.
Getting there
What is the closest airport to the Piraeus cruise port, and how far is it?
Athens International Airport (ATH) is the airport for Piraeus, about 32 miles from the cruise terminals and roughly 50 minutes by road without traffic. MSC says a taxi takes about 45 minutes and can top an hour in traffic. See getting there.
How do I get from Athens airport to the Piraeus cruise port?
Take Metro Line 3 from the airport straight to Piraeus station, about an hour, for a €9.00 single ticket. The X96 express bus runs 24 hours a day and is the cheapest option, and a taxi is the fastest door to door at an approximate €60 per Holland America. Uber also works. There is no metro station inside the port, so you still need a short walk or taxi to your gate. See getting there.
Can I walk from the Piraeus metro station to the cruise terminal?
Yes, but it's a long walk with bags. From Gate E11 (Terminal A) it is about 1.1 miles to Dimotiko Theatro metro station, around 25 minutes. From Gate E12 (Terminals B and C) it is about 1.4 miles, around 30 minutes, and Terminal B's building is a further 0.4 miles inside the port. A taxi is easier, and every terminal has a taxi rank.
What is the difference between Athens and Piraeus, and how far apart are they?
Piraeus is the port city and Athens is the capital inland, about 12 kilometres away. MSC says the centre can usually be reached in under an hour. Metro Line 1 from Piraeus station runs straight to central Athens, and for the Acropolis you change at Omonia to Line 2. The 24-hour 040 bus and a seasonal X80 express also run to Syntagma Square. See getting there.
Embarkation day
How early should I arrive at the Piraeus cruise terminal?
Your cruise line sets your arrival time, and the sources we opened for Piraeus give no window. MSC tells guests to follow the latest departure information and the on-site guidance at the port, because the terminal may vary. Build in time to find your gate: there is no metro station inside the port and the terminals are a long walk from the town.
Do I need to pay a cruise passenger fee in Greece?
Yes. MSC says that since 21 July 2025 Greece charges every cruise passenger visiting its ports a mandatory fee, whatever their age and whether or not they take a tour. The amount depends on the season, and MSC's page does not state it, so check your cruise line's documents.
Where the ships go
Where do cruises from Piraeus go?
MSC's cruises from Piraeus visit Greek islands such as Heraklion, Corfu and Santorini, plus Katakolon, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Split, Dubrovnik, Bari, Venice and Trieste. Other lines' routes weren't confirmed. See ports you'll visit.