Photo: Virgin Voyages
Sailing Virgin Voyages from Athens
Athens, through the port of Piraeus, is Virgin’s Greek Isles homeport. I sailed from there on Resilient Lady in September 2025, with Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Mykonos as the port days, and I am booked out of Athens again on Scarlet Lady in July 2028. Here is how I plan the city, the terminal, the heat, the tender ports, and a Corfu day I have done myself.
The short answer
- Virgin sails from Piraeus Terminal A, B or C, about 12 km from central Athens. The app confirms your terminal a few days before sailing, and boarding generally starts around 2:15 pm.
- Metro Line 3 runs from the airport straight to Piraeus in about an hour for €9. A taxi is metered, roughly €55 to €70, and 45 to 75 minutes.
- Arrive a day or two early. Stay in Plaka, do the Acropolis at opening, and give yourself an evening in the city before you board.
- Most Athens sailings visit Mykonos and Santorini; several add Corfu, Kotor and Dubrovnik. Kotor and Mykonos are tender ports, and a Virgin Shore Thing gets you tender priority.
Which terminal
Virgin uses three Piraeus cruise terminals: Terminal A at Akti Miaouli, Gate E11; Terminal B on Quay Themistocles, Gate E12; and Terminal C at Alkimos, Gate E12 (Virgin port information). Your terminal is confirmed in the app a few days before sailing, so check it the morning you travel. The gates are about 1.5 km apart and the port is big, so give the taxi driver the terminal letter and gate, not just “the cruise port.”
Virgin notes there is very little waiting space at Piraeus and asks sailors not to arrive before their Terminal Arrival Time. Boarding generally begins around 2:15 pm. Pick your arrival slot in the app and treat it as real, because the terminal will.
Getting there
Athens airport is about 45 km from Piraeus, on the far side of the city. You have three good options.
- Metro Line 3 runs directly from the airport to Piraeus in about an hour. The airport ticket is €9 per adult (OASA fares). Trains have luggage racks, but it is a train, so this is my pick for one bag each, not four.
- X96 express bus runs 24 hours between the airport and Piraeus for €5.50, about 90 minutes in traffic (OASA airport express lines).
- Taxi. The airport’s flat fare covers central Athens only; Piraeus is outside that zone, so the meter runs (Athens Airport taxi information). Expect roughly €55 to €70 by day, more between midnight and 5 am, and 45 to 75 minutes. Virgin also sells airport transfers as Shore Things.
From a hotel in central Athens, the port is a 20 to 30 minute taxi, usually €20 to €25. Metro Line 1 also ends at Piraeus, about a 15 minute walk or short taxi from the terminals.
Before you sail
For hotels, I point clients to the Plaka area, right under the Acropolis and walkable to everything. My clients and friends love Ergon House and Ergon Bakehouse, and there are a lot of very cute apartments in the neighborhood too. I wrote up my favorites in 6 Splendid Hotels in Athens. Already working with me? Browse and book Athens hotels in my Fora portal.
Virgin Shore Things first
I always look at Virgin’s own tours first. For Athens that means the airport transfers and any pre-cruise tours listed under your sailing in the Virgin Voyages app; the charge goes on your onboard account. For the city itself, I like Greek TravelTellers, a local company that runs small-group and private Athens tours, and I can book them for you.
Nothing strike your fancy? Explore other partners
- Acropolis, Parthenon & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour on GetYourGuide, rated 4.8 by 14,318 travelers, 2 - 4 hours, from $38
- Exclusive Athens with Free Time in the Plaka on Shore Excursions Group, 5 hours, from $88.99
- The Classical Acropolis Tour on Tours by Locals, rated 5.0 by 241 travelers, 4 hours, from $514 / group
- Original Athens Food Tour (Full Meal Experience) on GetYourGuide, rated 4.9 by 3,643 travelers, 4 hours, from $77
- Athens Old and New by Bike on Shore Excursions Group, from $148.99
Pre-cruise tours are low risk, since the ship is not waiting on you. On port days, getting back before all-aboard is on you, so leave a big buffer.
Heat, crowds and timing
My September 7 to 14 sailing was still very hot and very crowded. I am from the DC area and used to East Coast summers, and even I struggled with the heat in Athens and a few of the ports. July and August will be hotter and just as busy. Totally doable, but plan for it: Acropolis at opening, shade and water by early afternoon, and the swims in Mykonos and Corfu are the reward.
- Late May, early June, late September and October are the sweet spot for sightseeing weather. Virgin’s Athens season runs roughly May through October.
- Seven-night Mykonos Overnight sailings skew a little younger and livelier. The 10 and 11 night Adriatic and Turkey itineraries skew older and more port-focused.
- If heat is a real concern, pick an itinerary with more sea time and tender-free ports, or book the shoulder months. I can walk you through the trade-offs.
Port day: Corfu
Corfu is on several Athens round trips, including the one I sailed. Ships dock at Corfu’s New Port, about 1.5 to 2 km from the Old Town. It is a flat 20 to 30 minute walk along the water, or a short taxi ride.
We had a rainy morning in Corfu and the Old Town was still charming; outside the port feels a little rough, but once you are in the heart of town it is a different atmosphere. On Resilient Lady, my Corfu day was Paleokastritsa, the hill village of Lakones, an olive oil tasting and then Corfu Town. A private boat is a good option here too.
Virgin Shore Things first
I always look at Virgin’s own tours first. You book them in the Virgin Voyages app, and the charge goes on your onboard account.
Corfu's Breathtaking Sights & Flavors
Catch a glimpse of the unique Corfiot lifestyle
Private Seafaring Experience
Spend a day aboard your own private vessel
Panoramas of Corfu
Explore the island from multiple angles
Hike Along the Ionian Coast
Hike on a scenic path along the Ionian coast
Nothing strike your fancy? Explore other partners
- Full-Day Boat Tour of Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves from Corfu on Viator, rated 4.6 by 1,741 travelers, 6 to 10 hours, from $74
- Day Cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos, and Blue Caves on GetYourGuide, rated 4.6 by 4,528 travelers, 7 - 12 hours, from $50
- Corfu Past and Present on Shore Excursions Group, from $98.99
- Breathtaking Views of Corfu on Tours by Locals, rated 5.0 by 24 travelers, 3.5 hours, from $771 / group
- Corfu Island Sailing Trip with Snack and Soft Drinks on GetYourGuide, rated 4.8 by 1,164 travelers, 5 - 10 hours, from $77
With an independent tour, getting back before all-aboard is on you, so leave a big buffer.
Kotor, Dubrovnik and Mykonos
These three show up on most Athens round trips beyond the Greek Isles, and they were the heart of my sailing.
The sail into Kotor was one of the most breathtaking moments of the whole trip, surrounded by the fjord-like bay, and you do not want to miss it from an open deck. Tendering there was a mess, though. I was glad we had RockStar priority tendering, because it was a long wait otherwise. The fix for everyone else: book a Virgin Shore Thing in both Kotor and Mykonos. Even the simpler ones are worth it for the tender priority alone. Fair warning, if Virgin cancels the excursion you also lose that tender reservation, so have a plan B.
Photo: Derek Gebelhardt
- Kotor: skip the generic highlights tour. Walk the Old Town, and if you are up for the climb, the fortress hike has stunning views. A boat tour of the bay is the other great option.
- Dubrovnik is pure magic if you have not been. Walking the walls and seeing the old city from above is a true must-do. Go early; the walls are exposed and hot by midday.
- Mykonos lives up to the hype: whitewashed Cycladic lanes, bougainvillea, and that blue water. On Mykonos Overnight itineraries you get the evening too. Tender port, so see above.
I book Shore Things for clients through the app and can line up private tours in all three ports. Ask me which to choose for your sailing.
Every Athens sailing open for booking
Round trips and one-ways that start in Athens, 2027 through 2028. My own July 2, 2028 sailing is the Greek Isles & Mykonos Overnight on Scarlet Lady.
| Voyage | Ports | Dates | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek Isles, Turkey & Mykonos Overnight 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Chania (Souda Bay), Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Mykonos | May 16, 2027, Oct 3, 2027, May 14, 2028 +2 more | $1,393 per person | See May 16, 2027 |
| Greek Isles & Mykonos Overnight 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Bodrum, Rhodes, Mykonos | May 23, 2027, Aug 1, 2027, Sep 17, 2028 | $1,323 per person | See May 23, 2027 |
| Greek Isles & The Adriatic 11 nights · Scarlet Lady | Mykonos, Kotor, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Bodrum, Chania (Souda Bay) | May 30, 2027 | $2,299 per person | See May 30, 2027 |
| Greek Isles, Turkey & Cairo Overnight 10 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Alexandria (Cairo), Rhodes, Mykonos | Jun 10, 2027 | $2,590 per person | See Jun 10, 2027 |
| Mediterranean: Athens to Barcelona 11 nights · Resilient Lady | Mykonos, Kotor, Catania, Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Tuscany/Cinque Terre (La Spezia), Cannes, Provence (Marseille) | Jun 16, 2027 | $2,299 per person | See Jun 16, 2027 |
| The Adriatic, Albania & Greece 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Dubrovnik, Kotor, Sarandë, Mykonos | Jun 20, 2027, Aug 15, 2027, Sep 26, 2027 +1 more | $1,443 per person | See Jun 20, 2027 |
| Greek Isles & Mykonos Overnight 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum, Mykonos | Jun 27, 2027, Aug 8, 2027, Oct 10, 2027 | $1,323 per person | See Jun 27, 2027 |
| Red Hot Sailing Club Voyage from Athens 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Chania (Souda Bay), Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Mykonos | Jul 4, 2027 | $1,323 per person | See Jul 4, 2027 |
| Greek Isles & The Adriatic 10 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Bodrum, Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu | Jul 11, 2027 | $1,990 per person | See Jul 11, 2027 |
| Greece & Turkey with Mykonos Overnight 11 nights · Scarlet Lady | Chania (Souda Bay), Rhodes, Santorini, Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Istanbul, Mykonos | Jul 21, 2027 | $1,749 per person | See Jul 21, 2027 |
| Mediterranean: Athens to Rome 9 nights · Scarlet Lady | Bodrum, Santorini, Mykonos, Valletta, Catania, Amalfi Coast (Salerno) | Aug 29, 2027 | $2,061 per person | See Aug 29, 2027 |
| Greek Isles & Mykonos Overnight 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Chania (Souda Bay), Bodrum, Santorini, Mykonos | Sep 19, 2027 | $1,673 per person | See Sep 19, 2027 |
| Greek Isles, Albania & The Adriatic 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Dubrovnik, Sarandë, Corfu, Mykonos | Oct 17, 2027 | $1,253 per person | See Oct 17, 2027 |
| Mediterranean: Athens to Barcelona 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Mykonos, Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Cannes | Oct 24, 2027 | $1,323 per person | See Oct 24, 2027 |
| The Adriatic, Albania & Greece 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Kotor, Dubrovnik, Sarandë, Mykonos | May 21, 2028, Aug 13, 2028, Sep 24, 2028 | $1,463 per person | See May 21, 2028 |
| Greek Isles & Mykonos Overnight 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum, Mykonos | May 28, 2028, Jul 2, 2028, Oct 8, 2028 | $1,393 per person | See May 28, 2028 |
| The Adriatic, Albania & Greece 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Dubrovnik, Sarandë, Kotor, Mykonos | Jun 4, 2028 | $1,463 per person | See Jun 4, 2028 |
| Greek Isles & The Adriatic 10 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Bodrum, Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Chania (Souda Bay) | Jun 11, 2028 | $2,090 per person | See Jun 11, 2028 |
| Mediterranean: Athens to Barcelona 11 nights · Valiant Lady | Mykonos, Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Catania, Palermo, Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Cannes | Jun 14, 2028 | $2,299 per person | See Jun 14, 2028 |
| Greek Isles, Turkey & Cairo Overnight 11 nights · Scarlet Lady | Rhodes, Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Alexandria (Cairo), Santorini, Mykonos, Chania (Souda Bay) | Jun 21, 2028 | $2,519 per person | See Jun 21, 2028 |
| Mediterranean: Athens to Rome 10 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Bodrum, Mykonos, Valletta, Catania, Amalfi Coast (Salerno) | Jul 23, 2028 | $2,090 per person | See Jul 23, 2028 |
| Greek Isles, Turkey & Mykonos Overnight 7 nights · Scarlet Lady | Santorini, Chania (Souda Bay), Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Mykonos | Aug 20, 2028 | $1,393 per person | See Aug 20, 2028 |
| The Adriatic, Italy & Greece 10 nights · Scarlet Lady | Kotor, Venice (Trieste), Koper, Ravenna, Dubrovnik, Mykonos | Aug 27, 2028 | $1,990 per person | See Aug 27, 2028 |
| Greek Isles, Turkey & Cairo Overnight 11 nights · Scarlet Lady | Chania (Souda Bay), Rhodes, Santorini, Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Alexandria (Cairo), Mykonos | Sep 6, 2028 | $2,189 per person | See Sep 6, 2028 |
| Mediterranean: Athens to Barcelona 8 nights · Scarlet Lady | Mykonos, Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Palma de Mallorca | Oct 15, 2028 | $1,672 per person | See Oct 15, 2028 |
One-ways that end in Athens
Fly into Barcelona or Rome, fly home from Athens. These are the sailings that finish at Piraeus, which makes an Athens stay the natural post-cruise extension.
| Voyage | Ports | Dates | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean: Barcelona to Athens 8 nights · Scarlet Lady | Ajaccio, Rome (Civitavecchia), Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Catania, Mykonos | May 8, 2027 | $1,752 per person | See May 8, 2027 |
| Mediterranean: Barcelona to Athens 10 nights · Resilient Lady | Cannes, Rome (Civitavecchia), Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Valletta, Chania (Souda Bay), Mykonos | Jun 6, 2027 | $1,890 per person | See Jun 6, 2027 |
| Mediterranean: Rome to Athens 12 nights · Scarlet Lady | Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Pompeii/Capri (Naples), Palermo, Valletta, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Ephesus (Kuşadasi) | Sep 7, 2027 | $2,268 per person | See Sep 7, 2027 |
| Mediterranean: Barcelona to Athens 10 nights · Scarlet Lady | Cannes, Tuscany/Cinque Terre (La Spezia), Rome (Civitavecchia), Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Catania, Valletta, Mykonos | May 4, 2028 | $1,890 per person | See May 4, 2028 |
| Mediterranean: Barcelona to Athens 10 nights · Valiant Lady | Cannes, Tuscany/Cinque Terre (La Spezia), Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Valletta, Chania (Souda Bay), Mykonos | Jun 4, 2028 | $2,190 per person | See Jun 4, 2028 |
| Mediterranean: Rome to Athens 11 nights · Scarlet Lady | Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Catania, Valletta, Mykonos, Santorini, Ephesus (Kuşadasi) | Aug 2, 2028 | $2,299 per person | See Aug 2, 2028 |
Starting cabin fare per person, based on two sharing, before taxes, fees and gratuities, as of October 20, 2026. Fares change daily. The book buttons use my First Mate link, so I am attached to your reservation.
More to read before you go
My Athens hotel picks, plus Fora’s editorial guides. My links open them with my name attached, so anything you find in them, I can book for you.
Quick answers
Which terminal does Virgin Voyages use in Athens?
Piraeus Terminal A (Akti Miaouli, Gate E11), Terminal B (Quay Themistocles, Gate E12) or Terminal C (Alkimos, Gate E12). The app confirms yours a few days before sailing.
How do I get from Athens airport to the Piraeus cruise port?
Metro Line 3 runs direct in about an hour for 9 euros. The X96 bus is 5.50 euros and about 90 minutes. A taxi is metered, roughly 55 to 70 euros by day, and 45 to 75 minutes.
What time does boarding start in Athens?
Virgin says boarding generally begins around 2:15 pm, and asks sailors not to arrive before their Terminal Arrival Time because there is little waiting space at Piraeus.
Where should I stay in Athens before the cruise?
Plaka, right under the Acropolis. It is walkable to the main sights and the port is a 20 to 30 minute taxi away.
Can I walk from the Corfu cruise port to the Old Town?
Yes. It is about 1.5 to 2 km, a flat 20 to 30 minute walk.
Do I need a Shore Thing in Kotor and Mykonos?
Both are tender ports, and a Virgin Shore Thing gives you tender priority. If the excursion is cancelled you lose that priority, so keep a backup plan.
Sources I checked
Policies change. I checked these on November 8, 2026, and you should confirm anything time-sensitive with me before you rely on it.
Sailing from Athens? Let me set it up.
I’ll match you to the right Greek Isles or Adriatic sailing, line up Athens hotels before you board, and sort the Shore Things that matter in the tender ports. I take the stress. You take the photos.
Derek Gebelhardt, At Ease Travel Co. · derek@ateasetravel.co · 202-802-0990. Eligible bookings made at least 121 days before sailing also get Virtuoso Sailor Loot. The amount depends on voyage length, and I confirm yours in writing before you pay. I make sure you get every perk your booking qualifies for, including what stacks with Virgin’s current promotions.