Piraeus is also the home of the Yacht Club of Greece, a long-established organization sponsoring a number of yachting events at Piraeus and elsewhere each year.
Piraeus offers hotels, though these are generally filled with those whose business takes them to the port and, to a lesser degree, tourist overflow from Athens itself. One of these is the very pleasant Hotel Ionion.
As to be expected from a busy, working port, Piraeus restaurants are renowned for their seafood, especially those in the small harbor of Mikrolimano. If you'd like to combine a harbor cruise with dinner, the Thomas II offers dining cruises around Piraeus. They can be contacted in Athens at 988-7230 or 952-4300.
Piraeus port is the chief exit point from the city by sea for destinations amongst the Aegean Islands and elsewhere in the east Mediterranean. Domestic destinations include all of the Aegean islands. The port in Piraeus is also used by several Europe cruise companies to welcome visitors to Greece.
The centres of Piraeus are its three ports: the central port, the Zea Marina and Mikrolimano.
Piraeus Things To Do
The most important thing to do is to take a ferry to the Greek Islands. You also can have a nice walk in the harbour and look at many amazing yachts and ships. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, 31 Ch. Trikoupi Street,. Established in 1935 and expanded in 1966, the Piraeus Museum is small in size, yet holds a number of significant pieces in its collection.
Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
Although the museum was founded in 1935 a wide restructuring was made in 1966. Traces of the city's prosperity are exhibited at the archaeological museum near the Zea Harbour. A fine collection of sculptured grave monuments, reliefs and pottery mainly from the 5th and 4th centuries BC are put on a display over there. Just beside the museum are the ruins of the ancient theatre.
Municipal Gallery of Piraeus
The gallery was inaugurated in 1957 that displays works by Greek artists such as M. Axelos, K. Volanakis, P. Vyzantiou, A. Geralis, E. Doukas, D. Kokotsis, Th. Lazaris, N. Lytras, K. Maleas, M. Ekonomou, K. Romanides, A. Christofis and works of other young artists as well. It started its operation as a section of the Municipal Library in the building of the Municipal Theater.
A collection of around 80 sculptures by George Kastriotis, a collection of 156 works by artist St. Lazaros and the collection given by the famous Greek actor Manos Katrakis (that comprise theatrical costumes, photographs, theatrical material and personal belongings) are beautifully exhibited in the gallery that fetches the attention of millions of visitors.Thus, it is one of the most visited tourist destination in Piraeus.
Railway Station (Piraeus-Peloponnese)
The buildings of Piraeus Railway Station are decorated with "Bouniato" on all the four sides which are in fact the first example of industrial architecture in Greece. The frames of doors and windows, the false-roofs, the big wooden-bar doors and the decorating strips that run across the walls of the buildings are all made of stone and are covered by wooden roofs of tiles. Even the toilets have stone-made water reservoirs.
Nautical Museum Piraeus
Nautical Museum Piraeus, also known as Maritime museum highlights the whole Greek Navy's history that was founded in 1949. The oldest objects are some worked obsidian stones that represents the era around 8000 BC. The museum has nautical pieces spanning the history of the Greek navy from ancient times to the present day. Besides this, there are paintings, ship models, maps, flags, and nautical instruments. The museum also has a library with 10,000 volumes and a photographic and film collection as well.
Zea Marina
In Greece, Zea's marina is the place where some of the most impressive yachts and cruisers are moored. The coastline is full of restaurants, tavernas, bars and shops that cater to the needs of yachtsmen. Here, you can also find the Flying Dolphins (hovercrafts), if you want to go to the Saronic Gulf islands.
Mikrolimano
Once protected by the goddess Mounichia Artemis, this port is today a popular hang-out for tourists. It is a lovely little harbor full of fishing boats, small vessels and some very beautiful yachts.
Kastella
Also known as Prophetis Elias built on a hill; Kastella is Piraeus' most fashionable neighborhood. If you walk towards the top of the hill you will find yourself in narrow streets surrounded by picturesque houses. The view of the central harbor, Zea and Mikrolimano from here are just marvelous.
The centre of Piraeus and the Port can be negoatiated easily on foot if you are not carrying luggage. Yellow trolley buses (trolley bus no 20) are useful for the run from the Port to Passalimani and then follow the very scenic route around the hill of Castella, terminating at the Line 1 Metro station of Neon Phaleron (Neo Faliro), near the Peace & Friendship and Karaiskaki Stadiums.
Free shuttle buses inside the Port run from across the Metro Line 1 Terminal Station, around the north side of the port to the ships sailing for Crete, the Eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.
