A Piraeus hop on hop off bus links the cruise port of Athens with the Acropolis, the harbours and the coast. It is one of the Greek tours listed on Greece VIP.
This post covers tickets, stops, cruise passengers, port history and sights, the Riviera lines, reviews and Cape Sounion. Weather, season and common questions come last.
Each section ends with a bus ticket or a tour from Athens that can be booked online.
What is a Piraeus hop on hop off bus?
A Piraeus hop on hop off bus runs a loop between the cruise terminals and the Acropolis. One ticket covers the port route and, on the full passes, the city and coast routes too.
Three tickets sold from the port hold the bulk of the reviews. The largest holds 6,264 reviews and covers four colour-coded lines.
Blue serves Piraeus, Orange central Athens, Yellow Glyfada and Green Vouliagmeni.
A second ticket holds 5,691 reviews and runs open-top double-decker buses. It sells passes for 24, 48 or 72 hours.
A third holds 1,626 reviews and lists over 40 stops across Athens, Piraeus and the Riviera. Its three routes meet at the Acropolis.
On the double-decker ticket, the Piraeus hop on hop off route starts from the Acropolis interchange. Buses on it leave every 60 minutes.
- Validity: The four-line ticket runs 2 days from first activation.
- Children: Kids aged 4 and under ride free on the four-line ticket.
- Access: Its buses have low floors and a wheelchair space.
A Piraeus hop on hop off ticket works as a port transfer and city tour.
Which stops does a Piraeus hop on hop off route make?
A Piraeus hop on hop off route stops at the cruise terminals, the museum and the small harbours. It then runs inland to the Acropolis.
On the double-decker ticket, the Piraeus route lists Pantion University and the Niarchos Foundation first. The Municipal Theatre and Cruise Terminals A and B follow.
Next come the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, Votsalakia Beach and Mikrolimano Harbour. A hotel stop closes the list.
The 40-stop ticket starts its Piraeus route at the cruise terminal. Its stops include Plaka and the south entrance of the Acropolis, Panteion and the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center.
That route also serves the Municipal Theatre, Cruise Terminals A, B and C, and Pasalimani.
The Blue Line passes the cruise terminals, the yacht marina at Pasalimani and Mikrolimano.
The Blue Line links to the Yellow Line at the Planetarium stop.
- Museum stop: Serves the Archaeological Museum and the ancient Theater of Zea beside it.
- Mikrolimano: A stop on two of the three Piraeus routes.
- Theatre stop: The Municipal Theatre stands at the centre of Piraeus.
A Piraeus hop on hop off rider can cover the port’s main sights in one loop.
How do Piraeus hop on hop off tickets compare?
Piraeus hop on hop off tickets differ in lines, validity and stops. The four-line ticket has two coast lines, while the double-decker passes run up to 72 hours.
The four-line ticket pairs a one-day pass on all four lines with a free extra day in Athens.
Its buses carry free WiFi, and a reviewer praised its booklet of maps.
The double-decker ticket sells three passes. Its Piraeus and Riviera routes come as an upgrade on the city route.
Its vouchers stay valid for 12 months from the date picked at checkout. An agent swaps the voucher for a paper ticket at the stop or on the bus.
The 40-stop ticket sells 48-hour and 72-hour passes. A free app shows each bus live on a map.
That ticket covers the Athens, Piraeus and Riviera routes, and its staff wait at seven main stops.
- Widest network: The four-line ticket, with four colour-coded routes.
- Longest pass: 72 hours on two of the three tickets.
- Live tracking: The app on the 40-stop ticket.
Riders who plan to stay in the centre can compare the Athens hop on hop off buses.
How do cruise passengers use a Piraeus hop on hop off bus?
Cruise passengers board a Piraeus hop on hop off bus at the terminals. They ride to the Acropolis and return on a later bus before sailing.
Ships over 300 m dock at Terminal B and smaller ones at Terminal A, one operator notes.
One reviewer found the bus right in the port terminal, next to the other tour buses. It left promptly for the Acropolis.
There the reviewer switched to the city line without trouble. The return to the harbour went smoothly too.
Another cruise passenger rode to the Acropolis, walked in the park and shopped in Plaka. The full city loop did not fit before the ship left.
- Terminal B: Takes ships over 300 m.
- Terminal A: Takes the smaller ships.
- Arrivals gate: One operator’s buses wait 2 minutes’ walk from it.
A Piraeus hop on hop off ticket gives cruise passengers a fixed loop back to the ship.
What history does a Piraeus hop on hop off bus pass?
A Piraeus hop on hop off bus passes three ancient harbours and a classical street grid. Themistocles first fortified the port in 493 BC.
The historian Thucydides records that start. Themistocles later urged Athens to use these natural harbours instead of the sandy bay of Phaleron.
After the second Persian invasion, he fortified all three harbours and built ship houses. The Themistoclean Walls were finished in 471 BC.
The town was rebuilt on the grid plan of Hippodamus of Miletus.
In 404 BCE, Athenian democrats beat the forces of the Thirty Tyrants at the Battle of Munychia. The hill of that name is Kastella today.
Attempts to settle people from Hydra in 1792 and from Psara in 1825 failed. Lasting settlement began in 1829.
By the end of the 19th century, Piraeus held 51,020 people. Refugees from Asia Minor nearly doubled the count, from 133,482 in 1920 to 251,659 in 1928.
- Kantharos: The ancient name of the central harbour.
- Lamian war: A Macedonian garrison held Munichia after 322 BC.
- Agia Triada: Ruins of the ancient city lie under its cathedral.
Passengers who want an escorted day instead can compare the Piraeus shore excursions.
Which sights stand near Piraeus hop on hop off stops?
Piraeus hop on hop off stops lie near the Municipal Theatre, the museum and two sports venues. The museum keeps a copy of the Piraeus Lion.
The Municipal Theatre is a neoclassical building by the architect Ioannis Lazarimos. It opened on 9 April 1895 and seats 600.
The Piraeus Lion is a white marble statue about 3 m high, carved around 360 BC. It stood at the harbour from the 1st or 2nd century AD.
It became so famous that Italians called the port Porto Leone. The Venetian commander Francesco Morosini took it as plunder in 1687.
The original now stands at the Venetian Arsenal. Two long runic inscriptions, carved in the 11th century, cover its shoulders and flanks.
The Peace and Friendship Stadium, an indoor arena, opened in 1985 on the Faliro coast. The Karaiskakis Stadium nearby seats 33,334 for football.
The planetarium at the Planetarium stop belongs to a foundation set up in 1956. Its digital dome measures 25 m across.
- Ancient theatre: The Theater of Zea lies next to the Archaeological Museum.
- Beach stop: Votsalakia Beach is a stop on the double-decker route.
- Lion copies: Copies stand in Piraeus and in a Stockholm museum.
A Piraeus hop on hop off ticket turns these scattered sights into one loop.
Does a Piraeus hop on hop off ticket reach the Riviera?
A Piraeus hop on hop off ticket reaches the Athens Riviera on all three passes. The four-line ticket adds two coast lines, and the other two add one Riviera route each.
The Yellow Line starts at the Planetarium stop on the Blue Line. It runs from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation area to Alimos Marina.
Riders watch the sunset from Marina Flisvou or swim at Agios Kosmas. The line ends at a terminal in Glyfada.
The Green Line serves Vouliagmeni. Its listing names the Allied Forces Cemetery and the Byzantine Museum among its sights.
It continues to Kavouri Oceanis Beach and ends at Lake Vouliagmeni, known for its thermal waters.
The 40-stop ticket runs its Riviera route from the Acropolis. One reviewer found it handy for a day of sunbathing on the coast.
The double-decker ticket’s Beach-Riviera route stops at Oceanis Beach. Buses on it leave every 60 minutes.
A reviewer of the 40-stop ticket found only one coast bus every hour.
- Sunset: Marina Flisvou on the Yellow Line.
- Swim: Agios Kosmas and Kavouri beaches.
- Lake: Lake Vouliagmeni closes the Green Line.
A Piraeus hop on hop off rider with a free afternoon can end the day by the sea.
What do reviewers say about a Piraeus hop on hop off bus?
Reviewers praise a Piraeus hop on hop off bus as an easy port link. Complaints focus on audio quality and gaps between buses.
The four-line ticket scores 4.1 out of 5. Reviewers call it good value and a handy port link, though the audio strikes others as sparse.
One rider liked the attendants at the stops. Another found it exciting to see Piraeus, the harbour, the huge cruise ships and the Riviera.
The double-decker ticket scores 4.3. A rider who took all three routes recommended the 72-hour pass.
Another found the commentary hard to hear over the traffic on the open deck.
The 40-stop ticket scores 4.1. Riders praise the app, the friendly staff and the informative audio. One asked for water on board in summer.
Another praised staff who kept order among the crowds hopping on and off.
- Praise: An easy port link and helpful staff.
- Complaint: Audio that fails or drowns in traffic.
- Tip: One rider advised booking all three routes.
A Piraeus hop on hop off ticket suits riders who plan for hourly port and coast buses.
Can a Piraeus hop on hop off ticket add Cape Sounion?
A Piraeus hop on hop off ticket can come bundled with a sunset trip to Cape Sounion. The bundle pairs a 2-day bus pass with a coach to the Temple of Poseidon.
That bundle holds 550 reviews and scores 4.3 out of 5. The coach follows the south coast along the Athenian Riviera.
The date picked at booking applies to the Sounion trip only. The 2-day bus pass has no fixed dates, so riders choose any 2 days.
Entry to the temple costs extra. Reviewers asked for clearer notice of that fee.
Reviewers praised the coastal views, the sunset and the escorts. One escort tracked down a couple who had boarded the wrong bus.
Another found the café at Sounion crowded and short of clean glasses.
- Pass: 2 days on the four bus lines.
- Extra: Temple entry is not included.
- Escort: Included on the Sounion coach.
Riders who want the coast with an escort can compare the Athens Riviera tours.
How does weather shape a Piraeus hop on hop off ride?
A Piraeus hop on hop off ride meets hot, dry summers and wet winters on the open deck. The port’s weather station logged a 34.5 °C August high average this year.
That station stands 29 m above sea level in Piraeus. August peaked at 39.2 °C on 24 August and stayed dry, with 0.0 mm of rain.
July averaged 33.6 °C and peaked at 36.7 °C on 18 July. June averaged 31.4 °C and saw no rain at all.
Last summer ran hotter. Last July averaged 35.8 °C and peaked at 41.5 °C on 25 July.
Last June peaked at 39.5 °C on 26 June. An open top deck offers no shade in that heat.
Winter brings the rain. January logged 102.4 mm this year, with 74.0 mm on 21 January alone.
Last December logged 142.0 mm, with 71.6 mm on 4 December. Last November brought 130.6 mm, 47.8 mm of it on 28 November.
A 64.4 km/h gust hit the port on 1 April. That day also brought 36.6 mm of rain.
- Coldest morning: 2.9 °C on 2 January this year.
- Wettest month: Last December, with 142.0 mm.
- Dry spell: June and August, with 0.0 mm this year.
A Piraeus hop on hop off rider in summer needs a hat, water and sunscreen.
When is the best season for a Piraeus hop on hop off ride?
A Piraeus hop on hop off ride suits spring and autumn best. April averaged a 21.5 °C high this year, and October so far 23.8 °C.
September averaged 29.8 °C this year and peaked at 36.3 °C on 2 September. It logged 17.2 mm of rain.
October brought 34.4 mm by mid month, with 24.6 mm on 13 October. Last October averaged 23.5 °C with 41.6 mm of rain.
Last September averaged 30.4 °C with only 2.2 mm of rain. Last November stayed mild at a 21.6 °C average high.
Spring warms fast. Last March averaged 19.0 °C and last April 20.7 °C. This year April peaked at 27.1 °C on 27 April.
Winter rides stay possible on dry days. January averaged a 15.3 °C high this year, and February 17.2 °C.
March stayed dry this year, with only 8.2 mm of rain. Its high averaged 17.0 °C.
- Spring: April averaged 21.5 °C this year.
- Autumn: Last September brought just 2.2 mm of rain.
- Cool snap: Last February averaged 13.2 °C.
A Piraeus hop on hop off ride in spring or autumn avoids the worst heat.
What do travelers ask about a Piraeus hop on hop off bus?
Travelers ask about Piraeus hop on hop off validity, cruise terminals, children, access and audio. Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours ahead on all three main tickets.
How long does a Piraeus hop on hop off ticket last?
The four-line ticket runs 2 days from first activation. The other two sell passes of up to 72 hours.
Where do cruise passengers board?
At the cruise terminals. Ships over 300 m dock at Terminal B, and smaller ones at Terminal A.
Do children ride free?
On the four-line ticket, kids aged 4 and under ride free.
Is the Piraeus hop on hop off bus accessible?
The four-line ticket’s buses have low floors and a wheelchair space.
Which languages does the audio cover?
Up to 16 languages, Hebrew, Finnish and Turkish among them.
Can riders track the bus?
Yes, on the 40-stop ticket, through a free app.
Is Acropolis entry included?
No. The bus tickets cover the ride only. A separate cruise-port coach trip offers Acropolis tickets as an option.
Does the electronic voucher work as a ticket?
Not on the double-decker ticket. An agent swaps it for a paper ticket before boarding.
Riders who want the cape at sunset can compare the Cape Sounion tours.