Athens is a very popular cruise ship port visit though cruise ships scheduled to visit Athens actually dock at the port of Piraeus: which is some distance from the city itself.

This guide will hopefully give some idea of what can be achieved in a day from Piraeus port.

From Piraeus cruise Terminal entrance it is approximately 15 minutes brisk walk the railway station to catch the train to Athens.

It is easier to keep to the left hand side of the road, following the port perimeter, till you come to the Railway Station, the yellow building on the right, having crossed the road via the foot bridge….

 

The following rail/tram map will give an indication of where we are going in terms of the Athens Public Transport system and I have ‘arrowed’ the stations that will be pertinent for our day out…

 

Taking the train from Piraeus we deliberately passed what is considered to be the normal stop for The Acropolis (Thissio) and continued to a stop named Monastiraki…

 

The reason being this is a better station for the city centre but also for the more scenic climb up to The Acropolis.

The route to the Acropolis is signposted though a tourist map may well prove an additional benefit. Our walk route took us through some pretty narrow streets, many lined with cafes and restaurants…

 

…many of which have wifi facilities (always good to play catchup while having an excellent coffee.

Once out of the street areas the path ascends towards The Acropolis, bending and turning and eventually passes the Church of the Metamorphosis…

 

This small Byzantine church, built in the 11th century, is situated approximately half way up the northern slope of the Acropolis: close to Kanellópoulos Museum. Metamorphosis incidentally, means Transfiguration in Greek.

Very soon a good view of The Acropolis…

 

…will appear. The Acropolis is the most popular tourist spot in Athens and I don’t intend adding too many pictures or descriptions of the buildings. Suffice to say that  I would suggest an allocation of around two hours to take in a reasonable tour this amazing hill top venue.

Without any doubt the jewel on the Acropolis  is The Parthenon…

…a temple dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron deity. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power.

 

Another preserved building, the  Pandroseion…

 

…served as a sanctuary dedicated to Pandrosus, one of the daughters of Cecrops I.

Spectacular views are to be had from almost all the walls on the Acropolis, none more so than that of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus…

 …a stone amphitheatre located on the south slope of the Acropolis. It was built in 161 AD.

And viewed from a slightly different angle…

 

Having completed our visit to the Acropolis we descended back into the city centre and headed for the Hellenic parliament building…

 

…which so happens to be  as a close marker for the Syntagma tram stop where we would take a ride to our next destination, the seaside district of Palaio Faliro…

 

Tram tickets are easily purchased from machines at each stop. They carry both Greek and English instructions…

 

The journey to Faliro took just over 30 minutes and the tram skirts the coastline and beaches of Southern Athens.

Our destination was to be the Greek Naval floating museum at Palaio Faliro and for this we alighted the tram at the ‘Trocadero’ stop.

The centre piece of the collection of ships is the old Greek cruiser, George Averof…

 

*****

 

 

Information of which can be found at…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_cruiser_Georgios_Averof

Admission to the ship was a remarkable is 2 Euro. The ship has been well maintained – remarkably better than some of the Greeks ancient buildings – while the ship itself was fitted with an extraordinary combination of equipment: Italian engines, French boilers, British artillery and German generators

The Stern Deck…

 

Forward Deck…

 

the Galley…

 

…and ratings mess decks complete with stowed hammocks…

 

For anyone with an interest in Naval history this museum will prove a real delight. There are many other features on display in addition to a good video theatre on board.

The tram journey to Palaio Faliro  also takes one to an area of Athens not normally on the cruise excursion routes and  gives an interesting insight into the beaches and holiday resorts along the southern edge of Athens:  as well as transiting through one or two fashionable areas of the city.

It is possible to take a shorter route back to Piraeus from Faliro ( a quick study of the train and tram map will show the route) should any time constraint be in operation.

Otherwise, reverse of the route and enjoy the ride.

 

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Disclosure to potential conflict of interest:

It is common throughout the travel industry for travel journalists and many cruise bloggers to be provided with complimentary cruises for the purpose of their reviews.

Solent Richard has no ‘conflict of interest’ as he is not an accredited journalist, he pays for his cruises, and is happy to confirm that all his reviews are his own given without fear or favour.