Hotel Bella Vista

Buying Your Ferry Tickets

by johngayton

There is a block of ferry offices on Platia Karaiskaka just inside the main entrance to the docks all of which sell ferry tickets. Some only sell tickets for one particular line, whilst others claim to sell for all lines but may have a preference for a particular company. It shouldn't make any difference where you buy your tickets though as the prices are supposed to be fixed, though you may be charged a small booking fee.

What you will find about using the offices is that all the staff are really helpful with planning itinaries and suggestions. I personally used Philippis Tours, who also do air tickets, hotels and car hire, and the guy there was really good, taking about 20 minutes to help me plan my route and then double checking that we were agreed that that was what I required. Also having bought my ticket they were quite happy for me to leave my bag with them until later that evening when I was due to sail.

Philippis Tours, 3 Akti Tselepi St, Karaiskaki Sq, Piraeus 210 4133 182 or 417

Petrokaravo

by Kuznetsov_Sergey

The Saronic Gulf --a microcosm of the Aegean-- is sprinkled with islands, islets, and rocks, adding a unique color to the southern entrance to Athens. You'll pass through a small chain of rocks called "Petrokaravo" or "Rockboat" in English, because the rock chain resembles a small boat.
Petrokaravo is a rocky island 15 meters high. It’s both a visual navaid and a navigation hazard for boats traversing between the Poros straits and Aegina.
Petrokaravo is what's left of an islet that used to be used as shooting target for the navy in the past.

You may watch my high resolution photos of Petrokaravo on Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37º 39' 26.86" N 23º 28' 41.26" E
or on my Google Earth Panoramio Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3.

Piraeus - Cruise over the Saronic Gulf

by Kuznetsov_Sergey

Actually, Piraeus is the western part of the Athens coastal zone.
The Saronic Gulf and its islands of Salamis (5 minutes) and Aegina (1hr) with Hydra, Poros and Spetses (5hrs) close behind are visible from the heights of the Acropolis.
Salamis, the very closest island to Athens is historically important because in ancient times, the Athenian navy, under Themistokles, defeated the Persian, under Xerxes, in the worlds first recorded naval encounter.

You may watch my 37-pics high resolution SLIDE-Show Piraeus and Saronic Gulf from my WebShot page.

One day cruise over Saronic Gulf and its three Islands: Poros, Hydra and Aegina is the best way to learn this area in short time. You may watch my
1 min 10 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Piraeus port Cruise departure from my YouTube channel with the popular Antique "Opa-Opa" song.

4 min 06 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Piraeus-Poros Island cruise from my YouTube channel with the popular Antique "Greek Megamix" song.

If you don't want to waste time on watching video I recommend you only listen to the music while watching and reading my tips and slide-show.

You may also have a look at my other VT-pages out of my Greek trip in November, 2007:
1) Vravrona,
2) Piraeus,
3) Poros Island,
4) Hydra Island,
5) Aegina Island,
6) Corinth,
7) Epidaurus,
8) Nafplio,
9) Mycenae,
10) Olympia,
11) Patras,
12) Navpaktos,
13) Delphi,
14) Arachova,
15) Thermopylae,
16) Meteora & Kalambaka,
17) Sounio,
18) Athens.

Follow the Guide -Museum-

by amsterdam_vallon

"Archaeological Museum of Piraeus"

The first Museum was founded in 1935. The extension of the new Piraeus Museum was carried out in 1966.

"Bronze statue of Apollo"

Bronze statue of Apollo. Dated to the archaic period (end of the 6th century B.C.)

"Bronze Statue of Athena"

Bronze Statue of Athena. Dated in the 4th century B.C.

"Grave stele"

Grave stele showing two young hoplites of the Peloponnesian War (420-410 B.C.)

"Dedicatory relief to Asklepios"

Dedicatory relief to Asklepios, 4th century B.C.

"Other important exhibits of the Museum are:"

- Grave stele of the hoplite Pancharos from the battle of Chaironeia (338 B.C.)

- Bronze statue of Artemis. Dated in the 4th century B.C.

- Bronze statue of Artemis. Dated in the 4th century B.C.

- Bronze tragic mask of the 4th century B.C.

- Grave monument (mausoleum type) from Kallithea.

- Neoattic relief slab with a scene from the shield of the chryselephantine Athena by Pheidias (2nd century B.C.)