Catch the X96 Express Bus from AIA to Piraeus
If you prefer to take the Express X96 bus to Piraeus, you need to leave through exit door 5 (turn right out of customs, the last door at the end of the arrival hall).
You need to purchase a ticket from the booth before boarding the bus.
Tickets cost less than €10 per person
(2020). The X96 bus and the bus stop are clearly marked in English and Greek with the destination (Piraeus).
There's plenty of space for luggage and the buses go at least twice an hour, 23 hours a day. When you board please make sure you validate your ticket
in the red box on the post behind the driver's seat. There are on-the-spot fines
if an inspector finds un-validated tickets! The journey time on an average day takes approximately 1.5 hours at peak times.
It's not the most exciting of journey's. You won't pass any of the ancient monuments but about 15 minutes from the end of your ride (on a good day) you will pass the huge kidney-shaped Friendship Stadium. Checking off the stops along the way with the map on the wall of the bus is a good way to amuse youngsters. You don't have to worry about missing your stop because it's the last one on the route. When you get off the bus, turn yourself towards the sea and enter the harbour at Gate E8. Turn left into the harbour and walk about 300 meters to the Hydra bound, Hellenic Seaways ticket office to exchange your email printout for the real tickets.
If you want to reduce the amount of walking when you get off the bus, the closest bus stop is between the two kiosks in front of the Piraeus Dymos building (ΔΗΜΟΣ ΠΕΙΡΑΙΑ) opposite Gate E9
(as shown in the photo below). It's one stop before the last and you can ask the driver to let you know when it's reached. You will need to cross the main road, which is very busy so please use the crossings at the lights.
Return Journey
Disembark from the dolphin or cat and then walk left along the inner harbour road passing the waiting room, public toilets and Port Police offices (which will all be on your right) and then exit Gate E8
turning right. Walk along the pavement to the lights on the corner and then cross the service road so the you are heading away from the sea with the harbour at your back. The pick up stop for the X96 will be the first one you come to on your left, and the ticket office is right next to it.
