Flying Cats and Dolphins from Piraeus to Hydra

[Citizen_Kane]

Attached is a map of the Pireaus port area in which I have pointed out the walking route and the following locations:
A - the terminal metro station Pireaus (Line 1, green)
B - the Hellenic Seaways office at Karaiskaki Square
C - the Gate E8 entrance/exit sign
D - the area where the boats to Hydra depart
E - the bus stop Karaiskaki Square (Bus X96, straight from the airport)

Your boat ticket should say the type of vessel and vessel number, for instance Flying Dolphin 19 (XIX). This number is also painted on the side of the vessel. Also, at the entrance to the vessel plates show to which destinations the vessel will go, for instance Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Hermioni etc. Oh, and don't forget to validate your metro/bus tickets (metro: machines at the entrance to the station/platform; bus: in the bus itself).

[hydriot]

Note that there are now two services that rival Hellenic Seaways: Alpha Lines running Speed Cat 1 and Magic Sea Ferries running Magic 1. These two often fill the quiet mid-afternoon slot, which is helpful. I like Speed Cat 1 because upstairs you can sit outside at the stern. I have not yet used Magic 1: it goes via Aegina not Poros.

The Flying Dolphins have now been withdrawn from this route: they have been replaced by Aero Highspeed.

The simplest route to Piraeus from the airport is on the X96 bus: cost 5.50€. It takes about 75 minutes depending on traffic. Get off at NAT, the stop after Demotika: that will leave you alongside the quay where the ferries to Hydra depart.

A shrewd move is to buy two tickets at the airport kiosk. The second can be used for the return journey, picking up the X96 just behind the ferry ticket cabins. The second ticket is needed because this bus-stop does not have a ticket kiosk.