Piraeus

Hand on heart, how many of you knew that Piraeus is a port city in its own right and not “just” Athens’ famous port?

While many focus on the neighborhoods of Athens, Piraeus is actually a separate city within the Attica region, and some tend to associate it with the capital due to their proximity. You might be surprised to learn that Piraeus is a bustling, vibrant city that is definitely worth a visit and deserves special attention. It also offers significant real estate potential.

Piraeus is Greece’s fourth-largest city, with a population of approximately 164,000, and is located 11 km southwest of central Athens. It is famous for its well-known port, which is Greece’s main port and is also considered one of the largest ports in Europe. It also serves as the “gateway” for visitors arriving in Greece by sea. Piraeus has two additional military ports, Zea and Monichia, alongside the large commercial port in the western part of the city, Kenitra.

The name “Piraeus” means “place at the crossing.” There is evidence that the area was inhabited as early as the 26th century BCE, and by the 6th century BCE, the area had already attracted attention due to its strategic advantages. In 480 BC, the Greek navy, which had been based in Athens until then, was transferred to Piraeus, where it remains to this day. Over time, Piraeus established its status as a maritime hub and a major transportation hub in Greece and beyond.

Piraeus has much more to offer than its well-known status as a maritime hub—there’s no shortage of things to see and places to enjoy. Among other things, it features a luxurious marina area that attracts affluent residents and businesspeople, and there is no shortage of tourists who want to stay in Piraeus for a night or two before taking a ferry to one island or another, or on their way back to Athens.

In Piraeus, you’ll find dozens of seaside taverns, pubs, clubs, shopping boulevards, restaurants with spectacular sea views, and a bustling promenade. Piraeus also boasts quite a few interesting and fascinating museums, such as the Archaeological Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Railway Museum, and more. One of its most famous spots is “Marina Zea,” an area with elegant yachts moored alongside cafes, bars, and restaurants. Marina Zea is considered a favorite spot among local Greeks for a beer at the end of the day or an afternoon coffee.

Piraeus also offers great shopping opportunities; on Sotiros Dios Street and the parallel streets, you can find dozens of international brands such as Zara, H&M, Replay, Nike, Marks & Spencer, Bershka, and more.Vasilios Georgiou Avenue is home mainly to jewelry stores by local designers, while on Tsamado Street you’ll find mostly bookstores and upscale shopping centers.

Location

11 kilometers southwest of downtown Athens.

Transportation

A metro station and a wide range of bus routes. Piraeus is just a short metro ride from downtown Athens, and most ferries to the many Greek islands depart from there.

Major locations

Marina Zea, the Archaeological Museum, the Hellenic Maritime Museum, the Olympiacos Stadium (Karaiskakis), the Kastella neighborhood, the Mikrolimnos Port, the Railway Museum, and the Piraiki Peninsula.

Rental potential

Local residents, port workers and ship crews, tourists and vacationers, businesspeople, and the affluent population in the more exclusive and upscale section of the marinas.

Good to know

During the Ottoman period, Piraeus was known as “Aslan Liman” (Port of the Lions), a name given to it by the Turks who conquered Greece because of a famous lion statue erected there, known as the “Lion of Piraeus.” The statue was later stolen by the Doge of Venice, Francesco Morosini (1687), who placed it in Venice—where it remains to this day. A replica of the lion statue is on display at the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus.

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