Piraeus X80 Express Bus to Athens

We docked at Terminal A on May 10 and I have better instructions for catching the x80 bus from Terminal A. We went out the wrong exit and unnecessarily went across the street searching for the bus stop.

The bus takes about 20-25 minutes and if you take the first bus you can get to the Acropolis ahead of the main crowd. A taxi is faster but the price of the bus is right and it will get you there early enough.

1. Exit the boat and walk thru terminal A.

2. As you exit the terminal doors you are in a covered area. There is a taxi circle to the right, an island straight ahead and a sidewalk to the left along the fence. https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/11312938_1061996420495528_8798892691003171688_o.jpg

3. Go left, follow the sidewalk, hug the left side.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11337013_1061996387162198_6032930925134328297_o.jpg

4. After about 50-100 feet you'll come to a car gate, go left thru the gate to exit the covered area and enter the parking lot. Stay left along the fence.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11119130_1061996370495533_8537295747524538878_o.jpg

5. Just before you reached that exit, on your right, on the island is a little drink kiosk you can get drinks on your way back to the boat. Beer and soft drinks, maybe chips. Don't pet the dog without asking.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11143135_1061996353828868_644767501390507692_o.jpg

6. Walk thru the parking lot, there may be tour buses lined up. Stay left on the "sidewalk" along the fence. Do not walk thru the middle of the parking lot like the people in the picture, stay left. Did I mention, stay left?

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/11057501_1061996350495535_7027481326476425627_o.jpg

7. At the exit of the parking lot (200 feet?) there is a guard shack with 4-5 dogs. From here you can see the ticket kiosk. The ticket kiosk is not on the main road, it is sort of in the entry to the parking lot.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11266458_1061996227162214_6523840087126020754_o.jpg

8. Buy your bus ticket at the kiosk. You can buy on the bus, but the bus driver gets irritated if he has to sell a bunch of tickets. Once on the bus you have to validate your ticket by getting it punched by the machine in the middle of the bus. The picture shows a window in the kiosk, but I think the kiosk is automated, no person.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11334038_1061996240495546_6185726878091814207_o.jpg

9. Once your buy your ticket go to the bus stop which is on the main road, the four lane divided road. The bus stop is on THIS side of the street. The bus will come from the right (terminal B) and turn around and pick you up. The bus stop is not "down" from DHL it is across the street from DHL. Actually it is across the street from the Keg n Crew pub, which you should stop at on your way back to the boat if you have time.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.936969,23.638311,3a,75y,327.51h,78.09t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s4p6YsE7rUYGGUXBPSbqIRw!2e0!6m1!1e1

10. The bus stop is on the main road, just past where the split is to enter the parking lot on the same side as the terminal. There is a shelter and a bunch of bus related signs. There is a little tiny decal on the bus stop that indicates the x80 bus. In this picture, the harbor and ticket kiosk are on your left, the Keg n Crew is across the street on your right. The bus will come from behind you on the other side of the divided road, turn around and it will be coming from the direction this picture is looking.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11270509_1061996097162227_3990644509136478440_o.jpg

11. The bus is really only for cruise people. The bus driver is only looking for cruise people so he will do what he can to pick you up as long as you dress like a tourist and act confused and helpless. The bus runs every "30 minutes".

12. The bus makes no other stops. when it gets to athens it goes up Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias, the street with the arch of Hadrian, you will see this on the right and the bus driver will tell you to calm down, that he will turn around and drop you off at the Acropolis. He's right.

13. The bus will drop you off just past the corner of Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias and Dionisiou Areopagitou. Dionisiou Areopagitou is the road that goes right up to the back entrance of the Acropolis. As you exit the bus, go right 30 feet and if you look left up Dionisiou Areopagitou might see the Acropolis. There is a big brown sign pointing you toward the Acropolis you can see on google street view.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.969481,23.731601,3a,75y,281.95h,79.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sNZzn0FW59EB5K-59AgYNzg!2e0!6m1!1e1

14. Follow Dionisiou Areopagitou up the hill, it is a short walk (0.2 miles?), you can see the Acropolis and you will literally run into the back entrance which is down by the Theatre of Dionysus. You have to jog right slightly when you get to the fence that is around the Acropolis. Pay your money and go in. The back entrance is where the group of people is, behind the bush.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.969424,23.729296,3a,75y,323.78h,78.09t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sYJQulZxdqVe4yNJ5F4vQyw!2e0!3e5!6m1!1e1

15. To return, the bus picks you up in the same place. Right in front of the fur store next to the Alpha Bank. There is a bus stop with a label, it is literally 30-50 feet down the main street from the corner of Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias and Dionisiou Areopagitou.

16. The buses run every "30 minutes". When we picked the bus up the people waiting complained they had been waiting an hour and saw no bus. They may have been exaggerating, we waited about 5 minutes and the bus arrived. I suggest having enough Euros to take a taxi just in case. It's a 20-25 minute ride so you have to be careful to time it right and not miss the boat.

17. Also note there are no toilets at Temple of Olympian Zeus, so if your plan is to do that last and then ride the bus, find a restroom first.

18. When you get back the bus drops you in the same place. Just go left and hug the fence on your right and you are home. Or, go across the street to the Keg n Crew for a quick beer. A surprisingly nice place with good restrooms.

Wow, welcome to Cruise Critic, as I see it's your first post. What a great one it is - thank you! I will be in Athens soon and have copied the information you provided into the document I'll be taking.

Thanks for the specific and timely information.

Just looked at all the pictures - thanks for those, too!

17. Also note there are no toilets at Temple of Olympian Zeus, so if your plan is to do that last and then ride the bus, find a restroom first.

Thanks for the GREAT info, jumbojimbo!

Want to give a tip on the restrooms at the Temple of Zeus. Last summer when we asked, we were told they were "through the trees". They are in a structure that looks like a service building, near the the fence (on the other side of the fence is main street where the X80 dropped us off).

Happy Travels!

We docked at Terminal A on May 10 and I have better instructions for catching the x80 bus from Terminal A. We went out the wrong exit and unnecessarily went across the street searching for the bus stop.

 

The bus takes about 20-25 minutes and if you take the first bus you can get to the Acropolis ahead of the main crowd. A taxi is faster but the price of the bus is right and it will get you there early enough.

 

1. Exit the boat and walk thru terminal A.

2. As you exit the terminal doors you are in a covered area. There is a taxi circle to the right, an island straight ahead and a sidewalk to the left along the fence. https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/11312938_1061996420495528_8798892691003171688_o.jpg

3. Go left, follow the sidewalk, hug the left side.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11337013_1061996387162198_6032930925134328297_o.jpg

4. After about 50-100 feet you'll come to a car gate, go left thru the gate to exit the covered area and enter the parking lot. Stay left along the fence.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11119130_1061996370495533_8537295747524538878_o.jpg

5. Just before you reached that exit, on your right, on the island is a little drink kiosk you can get drinks on your way back to the boat. Beer and soft drinks, maybe chips. Don't pet the dog without asking.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11143135_1061996353828868_644767501390507692_o.jpg

6. Walk thru the parking lot, there may be tour buses lined up. Stay left on the "sidewalk" along the fence. Do not walk thru the middle of the parking lot like the people in the picture, stay left. Did I mention, stay left?

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/11057501_1061996350495535_7027481326476425627_o.jpg

7. At the exit of the parking lot (200 feet?) there is a guard shack with 4-5 dogs. From here you can see the ticket kiosk. The ticket kiosk is not on the main road, it is sort of in the entry to the parking lot.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11266458_1061996227162214_6523840087126020754_o.jpg

8. Buy your bus ticket at the kiosk. You can buy on the bus, but the bus driver gets irritated if he has to sell a bunch of tickets. Once on the bus you have to validate your ticket by getting it punched by the machine in the middle of the bus. The picture shows a window in the kiosk, but I think the kiosk is automated, no person.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11334038_1061996240495546_6185726878091814207_o.jpg

9. Once your buy your ticket go to the bus stop which is on the main road, the four lane divided road. The bus stop is on THIS side of the street. The bus will come from the right (terminal B) and turn around and pick you up. The bus stop is not "down" from DHL it is across the street from DHL. Actually it is across the street from the Keg n Crew pub, which you should stop at on your way back to the boat if you have time.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.936969,23.638311,3a,75y,327.51h,78.09t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s4p6YsE7rUYGGUXBPSbqIRw!2e0!6m1!1e1

10. The bus stop is on the main road, just past where the split is to enter the parking lot on the same side as the terminal. There is a shelter and a bunch of bus related signs. There is a little tiny decal on the bus stop that indicates the x80 bus. In this picture, the harbor and ticket kiosk are on your left, the Keg n Crew is across the street on your right. The bus will come from behind you on the other side of the divided road, turn around and it will be coming from the direction this picture is looking.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11270509_1061996097162227_3990644509136478440_o.jpg

11. The bus is really only for cruise people. The bus driver is only looking for cruise people so he will do what he can to pick you up as long as you dress like a tourist and act confused and helpless. The bus runs every "30 minutes".

12. The bus makes no other stops. when it gets to athens it goes up Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias, the street with the arch of Hadrian, you will see this on the right and the bus driver will tell you to calm down, that he will turn around and drop you off at the Acropolis. He's right.

13. The bus will drop you off just past the corner of Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias and Dionisiou Areopagitou. Dionisiou Areopagitou is the road that goes right up to the back entrance of the Acropolis. As you exit the bus, go right 30 feet and if you look left up Dionisiou Areopagitou might see the Acropolis. There is a big brown sign pointing you toward the Acropolis you can see on google street view.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.969481,23.731601,3a,75y,281.95h,79.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sNZzn0FW59EB5K-59AgYNzg!2e0!6m1!1e1

14. Follow Dionisiou Areopagitou up the hill, it is a short walk (0.2 miles?), you can see the Acropolis and you will literally run into the back entrance which is down by the Theatre of Dionysus. You have to jog right slightly when you get to the fence that is around the Acropolis. Pay your money and go in. The back entrance is where the group of people is, behind the bush.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.969424,23.729296,3a,75y,323.78h,78.09t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sYJQulZxdqVe4yNJ5F4vQyw!2e0!3e5!6m1!1e1

15. To return, the bus picks you up in the same place. Right in front of the fur store next to the Alpha Bank. There is a bus stop with a label, it is literally 30-50 feet down the main street from the corner of Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias and Dionisiou Areopagitou.

16. The buses run every "30 minutes". When we picked the bus up the people waiting complained they had been waiting an hour and saw no bus. They may have been exaggerating, we waited about 5 minutes and the bus arrived. I suggest having enough Euros to take a taxi just in case. It's a 20-25 minute ride so you have to be careful to time it right and not miss the boat.

17. Also note there are no toilets at Temple of Olympian Zeus, so if your plan is to do that last and then ride the bus, find a restroom first.

18. When you get back the bus drops you in the same place. Just go left and hug the fence on your right and you are home. Or, go across the street to the Keg n Crew for a quick beer. A surprisingly nice place with good restrooms.

Hi Jimbo Jimbo

We used this service in November and your photos are really useful in giving directions from the terminal.

All I would say is that at point 10. we had to catch the bus on the opposite side of the road. We originally waited exactly where you stated and were advised to cross over the road - there is also another bus stop with an identical sign post to your photo outside the DHL shop.

The X80 map from the website also shows the stop on the opposite side.

I seem to recall for the DHL side bus stop you had to walk between cars parked at the side of the road to get to the bus. There were one or two people with strollers and one person on a motorised disabled scooter who really struggled with this. For this reason, maybe the bus stop has been changed? It would make sense for tourists not to have to cross this busy road?

We found the whole service really good value for money and will be using it again in 2 weeks time - though I'm not sure now which side of the road I need to be on 😜

Hi, just to clarify things - we have recently returned from our cruise which included Athens and we went across the road to the stop in front of the DHL building. However the route seems to have been changed and it now stops on the same side of the road as the cruise terminal, so the instructions given are correct. Sue

Hi, just to clarify things - we have recently returned from our cruise which included Athens and we went across the road to the stop in front of the DHL building. However the route seems to have been changed and it now stops on the same side of the road as the cruise terminal, so the instructions given are correct. Sue

Thanks Sue for this info - it makes more sense for it to be there, the road was very busy when we last visited. :)

The only thing that's a bit confusing to me is this: I went on Google Earth and found a street view of the area of the port. Things look fairly compact and the instructions look great. However, I'm still a bit unsure as to whether to go a little to the right on the main, busy street to get to the bus stop (visible in one of the pictures posted) or to the left, which looks to be across the street from DHL. The instructions are to stay on the same side of the street for the bus stop, not the DHL side, which also has a little statue in a green spot in front of DHL. Do you go right or left to get to the bus stop, and is it the one you can see in one of the pictures? (I started to post a screenshot of what's on Google Earth, but it's what the poster provided, so would be almost the same.) I was confused as it looks to me like standing on that side of the street means you're getting on a bus that's heading (I think) west toward gate E12 (Terminal B). Have I got my directions mixed up, or is it possible the bus does not go back to Terminal B at that point, and just zips up a side street to go to Athens? Any help to "unfog" my brain would be appreciated.

Hi, just to clarify things - we have recently returned from our cruise which included Athens and we went across the road to the stop in front of the DHL building. However the route seems to have been changed and it now stops on the same side of the road as the cruise terminal, so the instructions given are correct. Sue

have you the approx times of the bus from the port to Athens

This is a link to the website of the bus time table: http://www.oasa.gr/xmap.php?id=px80&lang=en#null

This is a link to the website of the bus time table: http://www.oasa.gr/xmap.php?id=px80&lang=en#null

Hi: I see you are sailing the Splendour before our sailing on 11/14. Have you checked to see if the X80 will be operating for your sailing. I had heard that they discontinue this route in the fall.

If it is available we will surely use the service

If you would please post your experience when you return

Thanks

Dave

Hi Dave, I wil check it for you. I also sent an e-mail to the bus company to inform about the bus continuing in the fall. I wait for an answer

Hi Dave, I wil check it for you. I also sent an e-mail to the bus company to inform about the bus continuing in the fall. I wait for an answer

Thanks! I also sent an e-mail about a month ago with no response. We will be the only ship in port on our visit so I can't imagine many people using the service. We have been to Athens a few times before and the bus seems like an easy way to return without spending a fortune. The ship doesn't have any interesting excursions other than the usual into Athens.

Have a great trip

Dave

Thanks! I also sent an e-mail about a month ago with no response. We will be the only ship in port on our visit so I can't imagine many people using the service. We have been to Athens a few times before and the bus seems like an easy way to return without spending a fortune. The ship doesn't have any interesting excursions other than the usual into Athens.

Have a great trip

Dave

We've been to Athens before, too, so I'm exploring other options. We're thinking of taking a ship's excursion to the Temple of Poseidon. Viator goes also, but in the afternoon, which doesn't work for us. I think there's a public Athens bus that also runs down there, but I didn't save the particulars. I also considered taking a ferry to Aegina - an island not too far away and 24 euros roundtrip or less; multiple vendors. I don't think there's a lot to do there, but at least it sounds like a nice island and something different.

We've been to Athens before, too, so I'm exploring other options. We're thinking of taking a ship's excursion to the Temple of Poseidon. Viator goes also, but in the afternoon, which doesn't work for us. I also considered taking a ferry to Aegina - an island not too far away and 24 euros roundtrip or less; multiple vendors. I don't think there's a lot to do there, but at least it sounds like a nice island.

I agree with your selection of Temple of Poseidon! Unfortunately we arrive at noon and leave at 8:30pm so that tour is not offered on our cruise. Sunset is 5:15 with full darkness 30 minutes later. If the bus is not available, we will probably relax on the ship.

Dave

Well, Viator's trip is mid-afternoon, which is why we can't take it. You could probably do it. I've never used Viator before, but assume they're reliable!

I'd be trying to capture something nice for sunset with the hours you have. My husband would probably find himself a segway tour, which they do have.

Well, Viator's trip is mid-afternoon, which is why we can't take it. You could probably do it. I've never used Viator before, but assume they're reliable!

 

I'd be trying to capture something nice for sunset with the hours you have. My husband would probably find himself a segway tour, which they do have.

We have used Viator in Rome and Quebec City finding there tours excellent and more reasonable than the cruise line excursions. I mostly prefer to setup private tours with 6-12 pax when we travel overseas. Our cruise rollcall is not very active and it has been hard to setup tours. I have setup tours in 2 ports, but the rest we will wing it.

Dave

I received an answere from the bus company. I asked about the running hours this fall.

Dear passenger,

on the operation of the bus line X80 than we were informed by the transportation department unfortunately will run until October 31. Your service will be done by other lines or by metro. Thank you

I received an answere from the bus company. I asked about the running hours this fall.

Dear passenger,

on the operation of the bus line X80 than we were informed by the transportation department unfortunately will run until October 31. Your service will be done by other lines or by metro. Thank you

Thanks for the information! I thought this may be the case as I am hearing that most of the ports begin their winter schedule after October.

Dave

September 2015 I highly recommend taking the X80 bus to Athens from the Port of Piraeus. It takes about 30 minutes, and costs 4Euro (it's an all day pass). Get your bus ticket before you get on the bus. There are bus stops at Terminal A and Terminal B - very convenient. The bus stops in Athens near the Acropolis, and at Syntagma Square. If you are not sure where your stop is - let the bus driver know. Attached are pictures of the bus stop at Terminal B, and of the bus stop sign for the return to Piraeus, near the Acropolis. The bus runs daily.

September 2015 I highly recommend taking the X80 bus to Athens from the Port of Piraeus. It takes about 30 minutes, and costs 4Euro (it's an all day pass). Get your bus ticket before you get on the bus. There are bus stops at Terminal A and Terminal B - very convenient. The bus stops in Athens near the Acropolis, and at Syntagma Square. If you are not sure where your stop is - let the bus driver know. Attached are pictures of the bus stop at Terminal B, and of the bus stop sign for the return to Piraeus, near the Acropolis. The bus runs daily.

Thanks so much for the detailed information, we'll be using this in June next year. We are berthed over night, so I need to look into the times of the last buses.

Deb

September 2015 I highly recommend taking the X80 bus to Athens from the Port of Piraeus. It takes about 30 minutes, and costs 4Euro (it's an all day pass). Get your bus ticket before you get on the bus. There are bus stops at Terminal A and Terminal B - very convenient. The bus stops in Athens near the Acropolis, and at Syntagma Square.

Just to add after using the X80 last week -

- You do not need to buy the ticket before getting on the bus, the driver will sell the €4 tickets.

- The bus runs every 30 minutes. There wasn't a timetable at the port, but there was at the stop at Syntagma Square for the return journey.

- The stop outside terminal B is immediately outside the terminal building.

Oh yeah and ignore all the taxi drivers telling you there is a bus strike! LOL

Even if there was a bus strike, I wouldn't use a taxi, but use Uber instead, as they only charge around €6 to €8 to Syntagma Square.

You may want to consider the hop on hop off bus which costs 20 euros. You can pick it up right at the cruise terminal & tour Athens. It's good for 2 days and also you can save an additional 10 % on any other hoho bus tour in other cities for 1 year. The audio also is pretty good.