Athens Hop-On and Hop-Off Bus from Piraeus

Discover all you need for Athens hop-on-hop-off bus tours from Piraeus right here: explore the routes, pricing details, and handy tips.

Is Athens hop-on hop-off from Piraeus worth it?

Hop-on hop off buses are one of the most affordable ways to cover ground quickly and see all the major sights!

Athens Greece is one of the highlights of everyone's Mediterranean cruise - its rich history, the blend of ancient and modern Greek culture, the landmarks like the Acropolis and the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Syntagma Square and the charming Plaka - all waiting to be explored.

That's why you should make some effort to plan your day here: you should decide what your priorities are when it comes to sightseeing and most importantly, how you are going to get from the cruise port in Piraeus to the center of Athens.

Of course, taking one of the private or shared Athens shore excursions is always a great idea - they will optimize your day and provide you with a wealth of knowledge!

However, if you are looking for a more budget-friendly option (but don't feel brave enough to use Tourist bus X80 or the metro train), taking Athens hop-on hop-off tours is a great option!

These buses help you make the most of your short stay in the city by providing an easy and flexible way to see Athens and its major attractions - that is why most cruise passengers find them worthy!

Why take Athens hop-on hop-off tours from cruise terminal?

Still wondering why to take the Athens hop-on hop-off bus tour from Piraeus? Here are my top 6 reasons why taking them is a good idea:

1. They provide extensive coverage: Hop-on-hop-off buses usually stop at all of the main Athens landmarks and attractions, such as Syntagma Square, Plaka, and the Acropolis. This makes it possible for cruise guests to quickly see all the highlights of the city in one day.

2. Easy Accessibility: Cruise passengers can easily hop on and off at designated stops in front of Piraeus Port Terminals A or B (or both) - the buses conveniently connect the ship with all the major attractions and you won't have to bother with the logistics of using public transportation.

4. Educational Commentary: Hop-on-hop-off buses offer educational audio commentary in several languages, educating you about the history, culture, and landmarks of Athens while traveling through various neighborhoods you can get a feel for local culture and the vibe of the city.

5. Cost-Effective: Especially when compared to private tours, these tours offer an affordable way to see Athens. For access to numerous routes and locations, there is a one-time fee.

6. Convenient Ticketing: Cruise passengers can easily purchase tickets in advance online and just show the code on their cellphone at the beginning of the tour.

What types of Athens hop-on hop-off from Piraeus are there?

Red Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

There are three different companies that provide Athens hop-on hop-off tours from Piraeus to Athens and they are very much alike. There are a few detail differences in their pick-up stops in Piraeus and routes and we will explain them below.

1) Red bus - City Sightseeing

2) Blue bus - Sights of Athens

3) Yellow bus - Atens Open Tour

Blue Bus

Yellow Bus

CityCightseeing Athens hop-on hop-off tour (red line)

Where do we catch it? Red buses stop at a local bus stop on the street outside the Piraeus cruise terminal A. It is the same stop where Tourist Bus X80 stops. You will recognize it by the Teloneio OLP sign. If your ship docks at Terminal B, you can always take the free shuttle that operates only inside the port and connects the terminals. There is also a stop in front of Terminal C, at the Lion's Gate location (Akti Miaouli 385).
Which line should we pick? Pick the Athens and Piraeus tickets when buying your online ticket. It allows you to interchange between the Piraeus route (stops at the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum) and the Athens route (takes you to Syntagma Square and Plaka)
How many stops are there? There are 11 different stops on the Piraeus route and 15 stops and 12 attractions on the Athens route.
How long does the route take? If you just sat on the Piraeus route and didn't get off, it would take you 1 hour and 20 minutes to do the full circle. It takes about 35 minutes from the port into Athens (even less in August when everyone is on vacation and the city is empty). It is 1 hour and 30 minutes for the Athens route.
What is the price? It starts from $25 per person for 48 hours (in case you are staying in Athens before or after your cruise)
What is the operating schedule? On days when there is a cruise ship in port, the Piraeus line tour will operate every 30 minutes from 8 am until approx. 6:15 pm. On other days it operates from 12:15 pm - 6:15 pm, every 60 minutes. In Winter (November - March), the Piraeus Route will operate 2 tours only per day, times may vary though customers will need to check locally for the latest timetable. The Athens line tour operates every day from 8:30 am - 8:30 pm, every 30 minutes

"We loved the bus tour.. it was an easy way to see the major spots of interest.. we got on the first bus and rode around to see the important buildings and points of interest and took pictures..covered a lot in less time…"(Irene_C)

Athens Open Tour hop-on hop-off bus (yellow line)

Which line to buy? You will buy the All Lines 24hrs + 1day Free ticket which is the best value for money taking into account you are staying for one day only. It allows you to use the Piraeus Line and interchange with Athens line once you get to central Athens.
Where do we catch it? There are two stops, one for Terminal A (read the instructions for the red bus above), and another one for Terminal C (same as above).
How many stops are there? There are eight stops on the Piraeus line and many more on the Athens line which you can interchange to!
How long does it take? You will get from the cruise ship to the Acropolis in about 35 minutes if there are perfect traffic conditions. Just keep in mind there rarely are!
What is the price? It starts from $14.18 per person - it is much cheaper compared to other lines but you need to be aware running times from the port of Piraeus are way less frequent.
What are the running times? Piraeus line's first departure is only at about 11.25 (buses are often late due to traffic conditions), which means you will use it only if you want to visit Athens Acropolis in the afternoon. The next chances to catch this bus are at 13:15, 15:05, and 16:55. Athens line running times are much more frequent.

More info: check departure times and the most up-to-date prices on the yellow bus' website.

"Great way to see all of Athens from the cruise port. All the major attractions in Athens have stops for you to get off & back on with commentary in multiple different languages. We enjoyed this hop on-hop off tour. Friendly staff. We would do it again."

Sights of Athens hop-on hop-off bus (blue line)

What line do we take? Take the Blue Line to reach the city from the cruise port at Piraeus. It's interchangeable with the Orange line that runs around the center of Athens.
Where do we catch it? It stops at the same OLP bus station in front of Terminal A (on the main street of Piraeus) as the red bus above, at the Lion's Gate for Terminal C, and in front of Terminal B (Marias Chatzikiriakou 14-16)
How many stops are there? - there are 10 stops and it passes by 4 points of interest
How long does it take? The full round takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. It gets you from the port to Athens Acropolis in about 35 minutes.
What is the price? The price is from $16.36 if you buy it through our Viator links (savings compared to the official site).
When does it operate? From April to October, it runs from 8:30 am until 6:30 pm, every 30/45 minutes. From November to March: 11:45 until 4:45 pm, every 90 minutes. During cruise ship arrivals at the port of Piraeus departures from and to the port every 30/15min
How often does it depart? Buses run with a 30-45 minute frequency schedule (depending on how heavy the traffic is)

Find out more at the official Blue Line webpage.

"It was a great way to get around Athens, and the pick up form the cruise port made it perfect. I really liked the headphones for the audio tour while riding the bus."