Two days in Athens in late October after cruise disembarkation

For points 1 and 2 your main friend will be the official online city guide of Athens:

https://www.thisisathens.org/

For point 3 there are plenty of possibilities in public transport
Regarding the journey to the center of Athens from the cruise port
I advise you to take a taxi.

Between the city center and the airport you can also take the metro (9€) or the X95 bus (5.50€)
But it all depends on which location in town you are going to.

The taxi costs 40€, it’s a flat rate

We recommend the hotel hera. We’ve stayed there twice now. Nice hotel. Great location. Walkable to the acropolis, acropolis museum, plaka, syntagma square and the metro which can take you to the rest of sites and restaurants.
We’ve taken a food tour, a walking tour and in the evening took in a show “Medea and friends” . Its in English and combines several greek tradjedies for a fun show.

Thanks so much for the responses. And the excellent suggestions on the method of transport and hotel option.

Since the cruise arrives at 6AM and disembarks by 8-8:30AM, early checkin at any hotel might be a bit of a challenge. I am contemplating taking a cruise excursion by way of a hop on/off bus which will let me leave my luggage in the Norwegian bus at the Athens city center for most of the day for almost the same price as the 40 euro taxi fare. Based on the info at thisisathens.org, train, metro and bus are also options to get to the city center.

Hotel Hera seems like a great option that is centrally located and reasonably priced. I will initiate contact with them and get some tips from them on how to plan the stay and the transfers before I book.

Thanks again,
Girish

We stayed at the Airotel Parthenon, right around the corner from the Plaka, and a 5-10 minute walk from the Acropolis. So, a very convenient location. The price in May 2022 was about $140. My only minor complaint is that the included breakfast buffet is mediocre. But if you don't mind spending a bit more money, there are many restaurants nearby that you can go to for breakfast, which is what we did one morning.

Rather than create a new topic I’m jumping on here since it applies to our (my wife & I) situation. We’re in Athens, 1 night in on a 3 night visit, then getting on a cruise ship (Oceania). We’re staying at the Belle Epoch hotel in the center of Athens, about a 23 minute walk (according to Google maps) from the Acropolis. We’re in from Southern California, so our first day was getting to the hotel, checking in, getting something to eat, napping to try to get past jet lag, and then eating dinner. Hotel is nice, got it through Hotels.com, seems like a good location, in good condition, not for handicapped (stairs even to get to the elevator). Quaint 2-person elevator, price reasonable, fits our budget, friendly staff, I recommend it. Dinner last night at Muse Bistro, good restaurant, reasonable price, good food, friendly staff - I recommend it. So we’re looking for advice for the 2 full days we have left. Have Rick’s Athens book but left it behind because we do carry-on only and space and weight were at a premium. Thanks for the advice! We’ll avoid mass transit, do all walking, focus on the Acropolis area, and take a taxi to the cruise ship. Taxi fare from the airport was around 50 Euros, including tip. The taxi ride was an experience all it’s own; driving here doesn’t seem like a task for the meek or passive.

So we’re looking for advice for the 2 full days we have left. Have Rick’s Athens book but left it behind because we do carry-on only

So did you read Rick's Book? And get any information from it? Make any notes of what you want to see?

Apart from the inevitable archaeological sites, since it is not far from the Belle Epoque hotel:

In the morning:

The Athens Municipal Market:
Walking route below (5 minutes):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WViejXVSbkzCff6S8

For lunch, in the market there are small local taverns, I suggest two:

Aris Tavern:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nnc15rJ4bH4VWvV97

or: Oinomageireio Epirus

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DkGW4axw8cP2aLvz5

After lunch, The National Archaeological Museum (NAM), one of the largest in Europe. Ticket 12€

Walking route from Municipal Market via Athinas St and Omonia Square below (20 minutes):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GgLpUwtHGpjR1ACp8

NAM website:

https://www.namuseum.gr/en/

If you still want to walk in Athens here is a suggestion that you won't find in the RS guide anyway:

From the NAM you are a stone's throw from the Exarcheia Neighborhood. The stronghold of the anarchist movement and Athenian counterculture.
Murals everywhere, bars and alternative shops, passing through the Technical University of Athens where the uprising against the colonels' junta began in 1973.

Don't worry, the neighborhood looks shady but is completely safe.

https://www.thisisathens.org/neighborhoods/exarchia-locals-guide

Example of a walking route:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EZ2JoPifWxsmLGZB9

Some places to have a drink:

Kubrick Cooperative Cafe Bar:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PgspFFFD2xBT55WF7

Raraou Cantina:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uwiH7HBZiiGRPbFf7

Revolt street bar

https://maps.app.goo.gl/E5HnDysLSGGfo6Ee7

Return to your hotel takes around 15-20 minutes on foot.

I see a lot of good information in response to my questions. Thank you! I do have a quick query regarding early checkin after cruise disembarkation in Athens (by 8-8:30AM or so). Most hotels and airbnbs allow check-in only after 2pm or 3pm. Are there any reasonable options for having one's luggage be held or stored somewhere till checkin time?

Most hotels will hold your bags in their back room until check in time. Contact your hotel to make sure.

1. Another vote for the Hotel Hera (pronounced EE-rah).
2. Rick Steves uses a "three triangle" system for sights he thinks are most worth your time. Read the descriptions and see which ones sound most interesting to you. For me it was the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Acropolis Museum, and National Archaeological Museum.
3. I found a taxi to be easy when burdened with luggage. Ask if the hotel will hold your bags for you until check in time. Or, if you feel like a splurge, arrange to pay for the night before you arrive so you can check in when you get there. Just be sure to clarify that you are arriving in the morning so they don't consider you a no-show.

Thanks everyone! It all worked out for me in Athens. I stayed at an Airbnb which was just a 3-minute walk from Syntagma Square. I also shared a taxi cab with some fellow cruise travelers from Piraeus to Syntagma which made it very reasonably priced. Also, there are plenty of luggage storage options for very reasonable prices around Syntagma Square though I didn't have to use one. Right at Syntagma, there were very convenient options for airport transfers including the Metro/train and the X95 bus which runs every 20 minutes round the clock. Overall, as long as one stays near Syntagma, all major attractions are walkable..I also saw some folks board the Hop On/Off bus at Syntagma which might be best if one has mobility issues.

I also was fortunate in that Monday (Oct 28th) was a National Holiday and so admissions to all the archaeological sites were free including the Acropolis/Parthenon, Arcopolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library, etc.

The one inaccuracy in the thisisathens.org site was that it seemed to suggest a direct train connection from the cruise port to Syntagma and from what I understood, there is only a direct bus route starting from the cruise port. So that was a bit of a surprise.

Thanks for the feedback.

The one inaccuracy in the thisisathens.org site was that it seemed to
suggest a direct train connection from the cruise port to Syntagma

The confusion comes from the fact that on thisisathens.org they forget to distinguish between ferry and cruise ports.

The port of Piraeus has two areas. The train and metro stations are in the ferry port area but far from the cruise terminal port area.

I forgot to mention that too, but that's why I recommended the taxi.

Thanks for the clarification!