The Pireo, nowadays a prolongation of the immense metropolis that surrounds it, was in ancient times and continues being the port of Athens. In order to arrive to the Pireo we must to take subway until the last stop.

Nowadays it is one of the most active ports of the Mediterranean, with respect both to the passengers and to the merchandise, and from it leave boats to almost all the Greek islands, which usually is only the attractiveness for the tourists.

In order to obtain the time schedules of the boats trips we can go to the Tourism and Information Office (EOT) of Athens, in the street Amerikis 2, near the Sindagma square (01/331,0561 or 331.0692; www.gnto.org). Also, we can go to the branch that is in the Pireo, in the Diikitrio Building, Zea Marina (01/418.1105).

The boats towards to the Cyclades islands usually start off at 8-9 a.m., to the islands of the Dodecanese at 1 p.m., to the islands of the northeast of the Aegean at 5-6 p.m. and to Crete and Rhodes about 7 p.m.

But, although, at first sight the Pireo only seems an enormous port, we want to remark that it is possible to eat good and fresh fish in the numerous taverns that are next to the market and even succulent Greek dishes at expensive and refined restaurants. Also, it has a little archaeological museum with some peculiarities, rescued of the boats shipwrecked near the port.