Making the most of Lavrion Athens
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Lavrion's port lies on the east coast of the Attica peninsula, approximately 60 kilometres south-east of Athens. One of Greece's key ports, it handles ferries as well as cruise ships.
The town centre is within walking distance of the port, taking around 15 minutes. Cruise lines frequently run shuttles costing roughly 3 Euro. A newly completed terminal building anticipates a rise in future cruise calls.
Check the travel instructions from Athens or the airport.
Carry the printable map with you.
At the tip of the Atikki Peninsula, Lavrion, or Lavrio, receives little attention in many Greece guidebooks. Yet the town contains the country's oldest and largest ancient amphitheatre, along with a mysterious giant hole that could attract Fortians and people seeking unexplained phenomena if they knew it existed.
Lavrion is not a tourist town, but an hour or so still allows time for an enjoyable walk or a drink at a reasonably priced pavement café.
Lavrio's past is rooted in mining, and its silver mines provided a source of wealth for Classical Athens.
Getting around
Where cruise ships dock at Lavrio's port, the surrounding area has been expanded and remodelled over recent years. The marina has also been refurbished, while renewed roads lead towards both Athens and the airport.
Buses depart for Athens every 30 minutes. Allow 90 minutes for the journey, which costs 5.50 Euro.
Nearby places
Make time for the Temple at Sounion, south of Lavrio and only 7 kilometres away. The former prison island of Makronissos lies opposite Lavrion, and nearby Kea is also worth visiting.
Food and shopping
Lavrio has numerous fish tavernas as well as a good fish market.
Money
The local currency is the Euro.
Opening Hours and
Public services open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 2.00pm. Retail stores and specialist shops trade Monday to Friday between 9am and 1.30pm, then reopen from 5pm to 9pm; Saturday hours are 9am to 2pm. Supermarkets open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 6pm. Most tourist shops and convenience stores have no official hours and usually remain open from dawn until well after midnight during summer.