Exploring Piraeus
‘Without much planning I decided to explore the neighbourhood and perhaps I’d find a few gems among the ordinary everyday Athens.’
The Greek port of Piraeus features on many cruise itineraries as it’s the port serving the city of Athens. Upon a ship’s arrival at Piraeus there’s an immediate exodus to the historic sights everyone wants to tick off their lists; the acropolis and Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium to name a few. Understandable.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Athens and absorbing myself in the history, culture, and those touristic ‘must-dos’. However, on my second arrival at Piraeus some years later, I wanted to do something different. Before arriving, I looked at the map. There must be more to Piraeus than being the industrial port area serving Athens.
There was obviously a large residential area, but I also spotted some small marinas, a museum and other landmarks. Without much planning I decided to explore the neighbourhood and perhaps I’d find a few gems among the ordinary everyday Athens.
Leaving the port area
The Port of Piraeus covers a large area and ease of getting into Piraeus itself will depend on your ship’s cruise terminal and exit gate. I was sailing on Jewel of the Seas, which docked at terminal B and thankfully I was able to exit from gate 12, near the statue of the Lion of Piraeus.
Lion of Piraeus
This lion is a duplicate of the original marble sculpture from around 360BC, which was looted by a Venetian naval commander in 1687 and now stands at the Venetian Arsenal in Italy. I couldn’t find much information about this sculpture by Giorgos Megoulas, apart from it’s a true copy of the original. The lion looks over the port and is a good spot for watching the ships.
Church of Agios Nikolaos
This neoclassical Greek orthodox church is about a 15-minute walk from the lion statue. It’s beautifully colourful and peaceful inside with impressive ceilings, artworks and stained-glass windows. The Church of the Holy Trinity (Ieros Naos Agia Triada) is also nearby.
Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
From Agios Nikolaos I headed through the residential area towards the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. The museum exhibits artefacts from the area and tells the story of ancient Piraeus and its importance as a trading centre of the Eastern Mediterranean. Piraeus is also the home of the Hellenic Maritime Museum, but my walk didn’t include this.
Zea Marina
Just around the corner from the museum is Zea Marina. It’s a lovely contrast to the industrial port - here’s where you’ll find the superyachts. The marina is surrounded by coffee shops and restaurants. There’s even a Marks & Spencer’s nearby. I walked around the marina quayside to the monument to the Pontic Greek Genocide, a contemporary sculpture of stainless steel and brass created by artist Panagiotis Tanimanidis.
Voltsalakia beach
A 5-minute walk along the palm tree-lined Akti Kountouriotou takes you to Voltsalakia beach. It was quiet when I visited and presumable mostly used by locals. So, if you arrive at Piraeus and want a relaxing beach day, this might be your spot. There’s an open-air swimming pool just up the road too.
Mikrolimano harbour
It was a 15-minute walk to the next harbour of this coastline. My route took me inland and through some interesting residential streets. Mikrolimano means ‘little port’ in Greek and has been used as a harbour for hundreds of years. Bars and cafes overlook the peaceful harbour. This was another peaceful little spot, mostly frequented by local residents.
Peace and Friendship Stadium and Park
I had time to keep walking, so continued along the coastal road without a plan. A glance at my phone showed I was walking into the Peace and Friendship Stadium Park. I presumed this was a legacy from the Athens Olympics of 2004, and although the arena was used during the games, it dates back to 1985 as is the home of local basketball.
Karaiskakis Stadium
The Georgios Karaiskakis football stadium is within walking distance from the Peace and Friendship stadium. It’s the home of the Piraeus Olympiacos football team and was also used during the 2004 Olympics. The complex includes the Museum of Olympiacos which sports lovers may find interesting.
Conclusion
If you enjoy exploring and are happy to venture away from the touristic, then you’d be happy to wander into Piraeus. If you’re looking for a walk with some relaxation at the end, Piraeus can accommodate you if you have one of the marinas or beach as your destination. If you need stimulation, you may find interest in the churches and museums. Apparently Piraeus railway station is also of architectural interest, although I didn’t visit this time.