Athens

September 30, 2026 | Mein Schiff 5

Today, we set off early. At 08:05, we leave the Mein Schiff 5 and make our way to discover Athens on our own. We want to see as much as possible while staying relaxed, using buses, trains, and the metro.

At 08:21, we board bus 843 towards the Piraeus train station. Paying with a credit card is really convenient. Just check in when you board and check out again when you leave. The same system applies to the metro. By the end of the day, the cheapest fare will be automatically calculated. I will add how much our rides cost in total later.

From the Piraeus station, we continue by suburban train towards Athens. We had originally planned to transfer at Monastiraki, but unfortunately, we missed the station. 😄 So, it’s time to change our plans and keep going. Around 09:30, we finally arrive at Syntagma Square. Our little detour is already part of our first experiences of the day.

From there, we first make our way to the Greek Parliament. Then we head to the adjacent National Garden. The tranquility there is refreshing after the hustle and bustle of the city. The garden is surprisingly large, and we discover some truly lovely spots. Lots of greenery, shady paths, and little corners to linger. I can imagine it being extremely pleasant here on a hot summer day.

Exiting the National Garden through another gate, we continue to the Olympieion, the Temple of Olympian Zeus. We only view the impressive remains from the outside. Right after that, we stand at the Arch of Hadrian.

And then, of course, there's always that view upwards: the Acropolis. It’s just omnipresent, ensuring that even during an ordinary stroll through Athens, you keep stopping to look up.

We walk further through Plaka. We really enjoy the small streets, the houses, and the bustling activity. Plus, the view of the Acropolis keeps reappearing – moments like these are what make a stay in Athens special for me.

At some point, it’s time to head back to the ship. We want to take the express bus X80 to Piraeus. Unfortunately, we're having a bit of bad luck again: due to the red pedestrian lights, we miss the bus right in front of us. 🙈

But no problem – we have become quite skilled at changing our plans spontaneously. Right next to us is a metro station. So, we board there, first heading back to Syntagma Square and then taking Metro Line 3 to Piraeus.

Once in Piraeus, we take bus 843 again. Just a few meters from our stop is access E12, which leads us to our ship.

Before boarding, we pass by the Lion of Piraeus. From here, we have a nice view of the Mein Schiff 5. There it is – our home for this journey – already waiting for us.

When I look back on our day, it was exactly the kind of outing I enjoy: not a meticulously planned trip with constant glances at the clock, but just setting off, trying public transport, taking a little detour along the way, and experiencing Athens entirely on our own. And not everything going according to plan somehow adds to the adventure. In fact, the little mishaps often become the stories you cherish later. ❤️