Cruises to & from Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Greek cuisine is known and loved worldwide, and you’ll discover it at its finest in Athens, whether you’re in search of Michelin stars or the humblest beachfront taverna. Sample delicious mezze, shared dishes of ultra-fresh salads with salty feta cheese, along with hummus, tzatziki, and taramasalata. Enjoy stuffed vine leaves and bell peppers filled with rice and herbs, as well as sizzling souvlaki, which is meat roasted on skewers, and rich moussaka. Don’t miss a chance to sample flaky spanakopita, a spinach and feta pie with phyllo pastry. And then there’s the exceptional seafood, from calamari to lavraki, which means sea bass, or tsipoura, which is gilt-head sea bream, cooked fresh on a grill with garlic and lemon.

Greek wines are making a name for themselves; this is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in the world. Try Assyritiko from Santorini, perfect with seafood, aromatic Moschofilero, or the rich Malagousia, comparable to a good Viognier. Reds include the full-bodied Agiorgitiko and the complex Xinomavro.

Athens today is like a living museum; the Parthenon, at its heart, is nearly 2,500 years old. Athens emerged as a powerful city-state in the 5th century BCE during the Classical period, the very early days of democracy, philosophy, theater, and art. The city was a place where great thinking flourished, home at various times to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. 

The city was defeated by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BCE, but remained an important cultural center during the Hellenistic era and later, under Roman rule. Ottoman rule began in the 15th century, lasting until Greek independence in the 19th century. 

In 1834, Athens became the capital of modern Greece. Its economy today relies on industry, commerce, shipping, and tourism. You’ll discover a highly cultured city and warm, hospitable people, as well as a thriving food, arts, and nightlife scene; it’s certainly worth adding a day or two onto your cruise to take it all in.

The port of Piraeus isn’t necessarily a place to shop for high fashion—there’s plenty of that in Athens city center—but it does have a good variety of brand names and independent boutiques along pedestrianized Sotiros Dios. The narrow streets behind the Piraeus Tower are lined with tiny shops selling homeware and yachting gear. There are some excellent markets, too; try the Sunday flea market along Alipedou and Omiridou Skilitsi streets.

Athens has an effective public transportation system. There are three metro lines, a rail service, and a network of buses, trolley buses, and trams. You’ll also find taxis waiting by all the main attractions. Taxis run on meters, so make sure the meter is operational. Your Uber app will work here, too.

The euro is the currency of Greece. Smaller shops and businesses occasionally don’t accept credit cards, so ask before using one. Tipping taxi drivers isn’t common, but rounding up to the nearest euro is polite, especially if you had a helpful driver. Leave a 10% tip behind at a restaurant if there is no service charge included. Don’t forget to tip your tour guide—five to ten euros is polite when taking a guided tour in Athens.