Hi there!

Aside from a cab, what's the best way to get from the port (Piraeus) to the Athens Marriott? We're public transportation people, so we'd prefer a metro or bus as long as it's safe after dark (will be a Monday night). I know its a bit of a walk from the Metro to the hotel, but that doesn't bother us either as long as it's safe and doable with luggage.

Also, what's the best route from the Marriott to the Airport on public transportation?

Thanks bunches!

Julia

Take the Green Line Suburban Railway train from the Piraeus Metro Station to Omonia Square, then transfer to the Red Line Metro in the direction of Agios Dimitrios. Get off at the Syngrou-Fix station and walk one kilometer down Syngrou Avenue, southwest to the Athens Marriott.

To get to the airport you can take the Syngrou-Fix Metro to the Monastiraki Metro Station then transfer to the Blue Line Metro that goes to the airport, between 5:30 AM and midnight. You can also go to Syntagma Square and take the Airport Express Bus #95 to the airport for 3.2 euro each. Buy your ticket from the driver and validate it in the machine inside the bus. There are luggage storage racks inside the bus, and the bus leaves Syntagma Square every half-hour or so 24/7/365. There might also be a bus from your hotel to Syntagma Square, which would make it easier. You can catch the Blue Line Metro at the Syntagma Metro Station as well.

Brotherlee,

Thanks! Very helpful! And you think we'll be okay walking with our luggage after dark?

Julia

Piraeus is not well lit at night. And there are quite a few homeless people who have set up camp in the park near the port. I wouldn't advise walking around there late at night, but see what other posters think.

Weadles I don't think they're talking about walking around in Piraeus.

Syngrou St. is well-lit, it won't be unsafe walking from the Metro Station to your hotel.

Just curious! BrotherleeLove, why do you suggest taking the Green Line Suburban Railway train from the Piraeus Metro Station to Omonia Square, then transferring to the Red Line Metro? Why not take the Metro all the way, changing line at Omonia? Is the Suburban Railway much quicker? Easier to change lines?

It's a common misconception that there is a Metro train from Piraeus to Omonia. Only the Suburban Railway goes to Piraeus on the Green Line unless something has been added that I'm not aware of (and that is certainly a possibility!)

Brotherleelove - Yes, I see – it's just a question of the NAME. I thought it must be the proastiakos (suburban) railway which links Athens Central Railway Station (Larissa Station) with the Airport, but of course this doesn't go through Omonia. But really, now everything except the proastiakos is just called the Metro –the three line system is so simple, compared with say, the London Underground, that people don't talk about different lines (though the announcements on the trains do say e.g."Change for Line 2&quot or the green, red and blue colours which are used on the maps. You just have to know where to change, and in which direction the train will be going, eg Ag. Dimitrios. And there are usually plenty of signs pointing you in the right direction.

Hi Julia

Are you arriving by ferry or cruise ship? I hear that the cruise ship port is a bit of a hike from the metro.

"I thought it must be the proastiakos (suburban) railway which links Athens Central Railway Station (Larissa Station) with the Airport,"

So would the reverse of this work to get from airport to Nafplio (via Larissa)in the afternoon after a 2:00 arrival (international)? Thinking not to drive with jet lag, safer for all!

Thanks!

Cmor – So are you thinking of getting to Nafplio by TRAIN?? All the websites I've seen seem to warn against this – the trains are infrequent and actually take longer than the bus. Sounds like a fun ride, though, but maybe not ideal when you've just got off a transatlantic flight! However, the X93 airport bus takes you directly to the Kifissou bus station for Nafplio and the Peloponnese: there's a bus every hour - modern, air conditioned, pullman style coaches, ideal for relaxing after the flight! The trip takes 2½ hours. I couldn't find a timetable, but I think the buses leave at half past the hour. If you're hungry, there's a really good restaurant inside the bus station, where Greeks come to eat lunch – simple, taverna style food. (But the last time I was there was 2006.)

With reference to the original post – having made a complete mess of getting to the Attiki station by an unfamiliar route today, I would now revise my original remarks about the clarity of the directions on the Metro! I think there should be more maps of the routes on the actual platforms, so that you can check if you're going in the right direction – I wasn't!!

Hi Nikoletta,

Just exploring options, not arriving until Apr 29. Bus ride sounds great for a little snoozing- Still a lot of research to do, but it's good to have some idea(s) of what's possible before I get any big ideas! Thanks for the info, I'm cutting and pasting like crazy

Thanks for all the replies!

World- We are arriving by ferry.

Julia

Cmor, I gave u directions to the KTEL bus station on your other posting ... there is a train to Corinth, but you take the BUS to Nafplio -- and to do that, you get the X93 bus from airport to KTEL bus terminal A on Kissifou st.