My husband and I are taking a Greek cruise (easyCruise) departing at the end of October. We arrive at the Athens airport at 9:30 Sunday night and need to make our way across the city to the cruise ship (which doesn't depart until 6:00 Monday morning). We're trying to do this on a budget, and taking a taxi across the city sounds expensive (not to mention that Greek taxi drivers have a bad reputation for taking advantage of customers). We're looking at taking the metro instead. Is the metro safe that time of night? Does anyone have any other suggestions? We'll just have two backpacks, so mobility isn't a problem. Thanks!
Posted by
Gloucester, MA, USA
59 posts
You will be fine. From the Airport hop the Pireaus - Athens Airport Express.
It is a train that leaves from the airport and rather than going to the center of Athens, it takes you along the coast and to Pireaus. Passes through the coastal towns along the way. Kind of nice.
Or if you want to see the sites lit up at night take the Metro Line 3 from the airport to Monastiraki. Then transfer to line 1 to Pireaus. Both trains are above ground except within the city center so you get a nice visual tour of the whole area. Line 1 goes past the Olympic venues.
After 9:30 everything is closed, especially on a Sunday so better to just head to the port. It is a port town and is a little gritty so keep your wits about you. Don't go for a foot tour into the town at that time of night. Not much to see anyways.
Under no circumstance do you ever take a taxi in Athens unless you speak and look like a local. They will rip you off worse than playing 3 card monty.