15+ Things To Do In Piraeus, Greece
Things to do in Piraeus, Greece. Easy to get to from Athens and with lots to see, do, and eat, Piraeus is definitely worth a visit.
Is Piraeus Worth Visiting?
You might be asking… Is Piraeus worth a visit? The answer is yes! Although it is often overshadowed by nearby Athens, Piraeus has its own plethora of attractions. You could visit for the day or you could easily spend a weekend visiting museums and churches, doing some shopping, and eating at the many amazing restaurants.
Where Is Piraeus?
Some other questions you might be asking… Where is Piraeus and how far is Piraeus from Athens? Well, Piraeus is about 12 kilometers southwest of Athens. It’s not far at all and pretty easy to get to. By car it should take around 15 minutes and by bus it should take about 40 minutes.
How To Get To Piraeus
To get from Athens to Piraeus you can drive, take a taxi, or use public transportation. We personally used public transportation and thought it was easy. There are multiple bus lines that travel to Piraeus.
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Things To Do In Piraeus
So now that we know Piraeus is worth a visit, where it is, and how to get there, let’s get into all of the fun things to do in Piraeus…
Archaeological Museum Of Piraeus
Address: Char. Trikoupi 31, Piraeus 185 36
Hours: Wednesday to Monday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Closed Tuesday
Cost: €4
One of the most popular Piraeus attractions is the Archaeological Museum Of Piraeus. It has exhibits spread out over two floors and an outdoor area. You’ll find pottery, sculptures, and much more from Piraeus and the Greek coast.
Hellenic Maritime Museum
Address: Akti Themistokleous, Piraeus 185 37
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM, Closed Sunday and Monday
Cost: €4
The Hellenic Maritime Museum was established in 1949 by citizens of Piraeus and Naval and Merchant Navy officers. They were passionate about the sea and maritime history. Over the years, the museum’s collection has grown. It now houses over 2,500 artifacts that detail the area’s maritime history from the prehistoric era through today.
The museum also has a nautical library that has more than 17,000 books and magazines. Outside, visitors will find sculptures and outdoor exhibits. This includes the turret of the historical submarine “Papanikolis,” one of the most successful Greek submarines during World War II.
Piraeus Municipal Gallery
Address: Filonos 29, Piraeus 185 31
Hours: Monday to Friday 10 AM to 2 PM, Closed Saturday and Sunday
Cost: Free
The Municipal Art Gallery of Piraeus opened in 1957. It is located in a restored building, what was once an old post office! Inside, visitors will find oil paintings, sculptures, theatrical costumes, photographs, and art made on wood. Besides the over 800 pieces in their permanent exhibit, the gallery also hosts many temporary exhibits, lectures, and events.
Electric Railway Museum of Piraeus
Address: Located inside the Piraeus Metro Station
Hours: Open daily from 8 AM to 2 PM
Cost: Free
We have a thing for train museums. We’ve been to a bunch, including the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Lancaster County and The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History outside of Marietta, Georgia. So when we found out there was an electric railway museum in Piraeus, we knew we had to visit.
It’s located just inside the Piraeus Metro Station and is free to visit. There are a few floors of exhibits with photographs, books, old uniforms, and other memorabilia. There is even a restored wooden carriage. The museum was established in 2005, but items on display date back as far as 1869.
When you arrive, make sure to grab an English brochure, as all of the exhibits are in Greek only. Also, note that photos are not allowed inside.
Municipal Theatre
Address: Leof. Ir. Politechniou 32, Piraeus 185 35
Hours: Vary
Cost: Vary
If you have time, catch a show at the Municipal Theatre Of Piraeus. This neoclassical building first opened its doors in 1895. Hosting both theatrical and musical performances, it’s considered one of the best theatres in the country. Parts of the building were destroyed during both World Wars, but it underwent a massive restoration and reopened in 2013.
Olympiacos Museum at Karaiskakis Stadium
Address: Καραολή και Δημητρίου, Sofianopoulou και, Piraeus 185 47 (By gates 10/11, to the left of the RED store)
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday 12 PM to 8 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM. On match days, it closes 2 hours before kick-off.
Cost: €2
Did you know that the Olympiacos F.C. is the most successful club in Greek football history? You can learn all about this accomplished team at the Museum of Olympiacos. There are special collections and exhibits that detail the team, its athletes, and the history of football and the other sports supported by the club. In addition, there are often lectures, seminars, and temporary exhibitions.
Bay of Zea (Pasalimani)
Address: Piraeus 185 36
Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: Free
As the second largest of Piraeus’ three ports, the Bay of Zea has a lot to offer. Take a stroll along the harbor and enjoy views of the Saronic Gulf. There are bars, restaurants, and coffee shops where you can sit and relax. You can also admire the many fancy yachts that are docked at the marina.
Mikrolimano
Address: Akti Dilaveri 9, Piraeus 185 33
Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: Free
Another harbor worth exploring is Mikrolimano. It is almost a perfect oval and is lined with upscale seafood restaurants. In ancient times, Mikrolimano was Athens’ main naval port with more than 80 ship sheds.
The MindTrap
Address: Praxitelous 183, Piraeus 185 35
Hours: Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 8:30 PM, Friday to Sunday 10 AM to 10 PM
Cost: €11 – €15 per person depending on the room
One of the most unique things to do in Piraeus is to go to an escape room! The MindTrap Piraeus has seven escape rooms, three of which are family-friendly. Find hidden objects and solve puzzles while you’re accompanied by an accordingly dressed actor. Each escape room experience lasts about an hour.
Piraeus Sign
Address: Akti Kountouriotou 1, Piraeus 185 34
Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: Free
It’s always fun to take a picture in front of a city’s name spelled out in giant letters. The letters stand on an embankment and you have the sea as a beautiful backdrop. Along with the letters, there are also benches for you to sit and enjoy the view.
Votsalakia Beach
Address: Piraeus 185 34
Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: Free
One of the top things to do in Piraeus is to head to the beach. The most popular is Votsalakia Beach and it sits between Zea and Mikrolimano harbors. It is the largest beach in Piraeus, with clean and clear blue water. The shore, however, is a bit rocky.
Freatida Beach
Address: Piraeus 185 37
Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: Free
Another popular beach in Piraeus is Freatida Beach. It is small, but often less crowded than Votsalakia Beach. This is also a gravel beach.
Agia Triada (Church of the Holy Trinity)
Address: Εθνικής Αντιστάσεως, Leof. Vasileos Georgiou A 2, και 185 32
Hours: Open daily from 6:30 AM to 9 PM
Cost: Free
This impressive church is one of the top things to see in Piraeus. The original Holy Trinity Church was built in the early 1800s, however, it was completely destroyed in 1944. Eventually, it was rebuilt and its doors opened once again in the mid-1960s. It is truly impressive inside, with mosaics, ornaments, and a dome with a painting of Christ Pantocrator that can be seen from any part of the church floor.
Agios Nikolaos
Address: Agiou Nikolaou 2, Piraeus 185 37
Hours: Open daily from 6:30 AM to 6 PM
Cost: Free
Known for its blue dome, the Agios Nikolaos is another must-see in Piraeus. It’s one of the oldest churches in the city and has impressive paintings inside.
Shopping In Piraeus
Whether you’d like souvenirs or a new coat, you can find them in Piraeus. The city’s main commercial area is on the pedestrian street Sotiros Dios. Here you’ll find local shops mixed in with name-brand stores. And, of course, plenty of cafes and bakeries sprinkled in so you can keep up your energy while you shop.
Piraeus Restaurants
Being right on the water, it’s no surprise that seafood reigns supreme in Piraeus. Everywhere you look, you’ll see restaurants offering fresh fish, octopus, sardines, anchovies, and more. If you really want to splurge, visit Varoulko Seaside Restaurant along the Mikrolimano harbor. This Michelin-star restaurant is known for its incredible menu, impeccable service, and stunning views of the sea. If you’d like to enjoy some seafood but are traveling on a budget, restaurants in the Chatzikiriakio or Kastella neighborhoods are good alternatives.
Near Piraeus
Along with the many sites and attractions in town, there are also many things to do near Piraeus. Here are a few suggestions…
Athens
If you haven’t been to Athens yet, that should definitely be your next stop. There’s a lot of history in Athens, so you should plan to spend at least a few days there. Getting from Piraeus to Athens is easy by public transportation or taxi.
Aegina
Being a port city, it is easy to catch a ferry from Piraeus to many of the surrounding Greek islands. The closest and easiest to get to is Aegina. On a day trip to Aegina, you’ll experience historic temples, gorgeous cathedrals, and exquisite food (Aegina is known for its pistachios!).
Museum Ship Averof
Address: Marina Flisvos, Trokadero, Paleo Faliro 175 10
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9 AM to 2 PM, Saturday to Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM, closed on Monday
Cost: €3
If you head about 7 kilometers east to the town of Paleo Faliro, you’ll find the Museum Ship Averof. This floating naval museum has several areas open to the public, so visitors can see what life was like aboard the armored cruiser. The battleship Georgios Averof was built in 1910 and was considered the glory of the Greek Navy. The ship was also affectionately known as “Lucky Uncle George”.
Benaki Toy Museum
Address: Λεωφ. Ποσειδώνος 14 &, Tritonos 1, Paleo Faliro 175 61
Hours: Thursday to Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM, closed Monday to Wednesday and the month of August
Cost: €9
Also in the town of Paleo Faliro is the Benaki Toy Museum. We adored this museum and consider it one of the best museums in Greece. The museum has over 20,000 toys, books, photographs, and more from all over the world. There are some toys from ancient times (including an ancient yoyo!), but most are from the 18th to 20th centuries.
Final Thoughts On Piraeus, Greece
As you can see, Piraeus has a lot to offer. Don’t make the mistake of quickly passing through on your way to Athens or to the nearby islands. Stop, take your time, and enjoy this port city and its many attractions, shops, and restaurants.
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