What to Expect
The cruise terminal at Piraeus is Gate E-12 in the main port complex — follow the cruise terminal signs from the ship. Metro Line 1 (Green Line) from Piraeus station to Monastiraki (Plaka/Acropolis area) takes 25 minutes, €1.40. The walk from the cruise terminal to the Metro station is 15 minutes. Taxi from the terminal to the Acropolis: €25–35, 20–30 minutes. The choice for most passengers is Metro vs private transfer — the Metro is cheaper and not significantly slower in normal traffic.
Getting Around
Metro Line 1 from Piraeus to Monastiraki: 25 minutes, €1.40. Validate your ticket before boarding — inspectors are common. Taxis from Piraeus: metered, expect €25–35 to the Acropolis area, more in traffic. The city OASA bus network is comprehensive but impractical for port-day logistics. Walking around the Plaka (old city below the Acropolis) is easy and pleasant. The Acropolis Museum, the Plaka neighborhood, and the Monastiraki Flea Market are all within 10 minutes' walk of each other.
Tipping and Currency
Euros. Greece tips modestly — 10% at restaurants is appreciated, rounding up at cafés is fine. Taxi drivers don't expect a tip but appreciate rounding up. ATMs throughout Athens; avoid currency exchange at tourist areas (poor rates). Greeks drink Greek coffee (similar to Turkish coffee) and treat it seriously — a good frappe or freddo espresso is €2–3.
The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis (€20 in summer, €10 shoulder season) is the most important ancient site in the Western world — the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Propylaea date from 447–406 BCE and are in better condition than most people expect. Buy tickets online to skip the queue entirely; arrive early (opens at 8am) before the heat and the crowds. The New Acropolis Museum ($10, at the foot of the hill) has the original Elgin Marble sculptures and explains the site better than any audio guide. The two together take 3–4 hours. If you can only do one thing in Athens, it's this.
What to Eat
The Monastiraki Flea Market area has good souvlaki joints at lunch prices. Thanasis on Mitropoleos Street (an Athens institution since 1964) serves lamb kebabs worth the line. The Plaka neighborhood has a concentration of sit-down tavernas — most are fine, none are exceptional; the setting is the appeal. For a proper Greek lunch, Diporto in the central market (a basement with barrels on the walls and no written menu) is the city's best-kept secret for grilled fish and rough local wine. Spanakopita (spinach and cheese in filo) from any market bakery makes a good walking lunch.