Beyond Athens: Day Trips That Fit a Cruise Stop in Piraeus

Seen Athens before, or just want the sea and the countryside? Several of Greece’s great sights are within reach of Piraeus in a single port day. The key is choosing a trip that matches the hours your ship is in port.

Half-day trips (about 5 hours)

• Cape Sounion: the coast road along the Athenian Riviera to the Temple of Poseidon on its cliff above the sea.
• Ancient Corinth and the Corinth Canal: the canal cut through the rock, then the Temple of Apollo and the city where Saint Paul preached.
• Marathon and Rhamnus: the battlefield of 490 BC, the Marathon Run Museum and the temples of Rhamnus.

Full port days (about 8 to 9 hours)

• Athens and Cape Sounion: the Acropolis in the morning, Poseidon’s temple in the afternoon.
• Athens and Corinth: the highlights of Athens, then the canal and Ancient Corinth.
• Athens and the Athenian Riviera: the city, then the seaside suburbs and Lake Vouliagmeni.

Trips that need more time

Delphi takes about 8 to 9 hours, and Meteora and Olympia about 10 to 12 hours each. They rarely fit a normal port day, but they are perfect before or after your cruise if you stay a night or two in Athens. See our Delphi Tour and Meteora in a Day.

How it works

Every trip is private, in a Mercedes with your own English-speaking driver, who meets you at your cruise terminal and plans the day around your ship’s all-aboard time. Licensed guides for the archaeological sites can be added on request. See all our private shore excursions from Piraeus.