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Athens is known worldwide as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With vestiges of its splendid history set in a picturesque geographical setting, it is no wonder the visuals of Athens are already enough to attract millions of visitors each year. Add Mediterranean climate and lifestyle, plus delicious Greek cuisine, and the city certainly ranks as a most satisfying destination, just over 20 years since it hosted the Summer Olympics that saw Athens receive a beautifying facelift in the lead-up to that event.

: Athenarum Portus exterior

: Athenarum Portus outdoor terrace

Greece is a maritime nation whose thousands of islands are connected by an enormous network of ferry routes. As an alternative to the tourist crowds in central Athens, staying in the port city of Piraeus is a pleasant option, especially for cruise passengers beginning or ending their voyages here, saving the trek into or from Athens before or after a cruise. Until recently, Piraeus did not offer suitable accommodation for upscale travellers on the many luxury cruises starting or finishing in the city. Still, thankfully, a newly refurbished property has solved the dilemma. The Athenarum Portus Life & Style Hotel has been a boon to cruise passengers, welcoming them to its immaculate property where Greek hospitality is a permanent resident. Located just off the main waterfront boulevard, Athenarum Portus takes on the country’s nautical identity in name and spirit. Guests are greeted warmly by young professionals staffing the Reception desk in a casual, chic lobby. The relaxed but stylish surroundings are also appreciated in the spacious guestrooms and the hotel’s restaurant, where the open-air terrace is a favourite locale for a drink or snack. The breakfast room on the first floor allows you to try some of Greece’s famous pastries and the usual breakfast buffet items for a nice combination of the local and the familiar.

: A roomy room at Athenarum Portus

: Greek cheeses please the breakfast palate.

: Olives are integral to a healthy Greek breakfast.

While the seaside city sees thousands of people arriving and departing from the piers of its huge port area, few consider the possibility of staying in Piraeus. For travellers who have been to Athens before or who prefer the convenience of a hotel right near the port, Athenarum Portus makes an ideal base for an authentically Greek experience. In the hotel vicinity are ‘normal’ shops that do not cater to tourists with T-shirts and souvenirs but rather merchandise needed in everyday life, giving cultural insight unexpectedly. The Horiatiko bakery around the corner from Athenarum Portus is open 24 hours a day, offering an irresistible selection of Greek cookies, pastries, cakes, and sweets for early risers, late-night carousers, and everyone.

Even when the charm of Athens calls and a(d)venture in the city centre is warranted, Athenarum Portus is still a convenient place to stay. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the Piraeus metro station, where Line 1 can take riders directly to Monastiraki in central Athens in about 20 minutes. The metro is clean, reliable, and devoid of traffic worries in a city notorious for road congestion. Not all the cultural sights are in central Athens, however; there are museums in Piraeus, too, including the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, the Georgios Averof naval museum (appropriately located on a ship in the harbour), and the superb Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. The Athenarum Portus website maintains a page of helpful information showing why Piraeus is a worthy destination.