Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating to ancient Greece. The city was largely developed in the early 5th century BC, when it was selected to serve as the port city of classical Athens and was transformed into a prototype harbour, concentrating all the import and transit trade of Athens. During the Golden Age of Athens the Long Walls were constructed to connect Athens with Piraeus. Consequently, it became the chief harbour of ancient Greece, but declined gradually after the 4th century AD, growing once more in the 19th century, especially after Athens' declaration as the capital of Greece.

Find out more about Piraeus' history.

Long Walls

In Piraeus there are important monuments, such as a part of the Long Walls of the 5th century BC, remains of ancient temples and buildings. The Long Walls according to Thucydides was a project instigated by Themistocles and it connected Piraeus to Athens. The Northern Long Wall measured around 6 km in length and ran from the south west of Athens to the north east of Piraeus.The second wall ran to Phaleron and, therefore, blocked the land access to the port. 

Archaelogical Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus contains mainly sculptures, discovered in Piraeus and in the area of the Attic coast from Bronze Age to Roman times. The collections finds consist mainly of excavation finds or accidental finds and they have also enriched by the donations of private collections. 

Municipal Theatre

There are also the neoclassical Municipal Theatre, which is a landmark of the city. It was founded in 1884, according to designs of the architect Ioannis Lazarimos. It is considered the most important neoclassical building in the city and one of the most important theaters of the country. Many famous Greek directors, such as Karolos Koun, Alexis Solomos, Dimitris Rondiris, Spyros Evaggelatos, have presented their work there.

Its main stage is in baroque style. The renovated Municipal theater started its operation during October 2013. Since then the viewers can enjoy an interesting program including theatrical plays, concerts, exhibitions, interactive theater, educational programs and many more.

Important Buildings

The industrial buildings of the early 20th century and impressive modern buildings such as the Peace & Friendship Stadium and the G.Karaiskakis Stadium. Moreover, there are several museums with the most important the Archaeological and the Hellenic Maritime Museum.

GOING ASHORE

When you leave the cruise ship you have two choices: Either to go towards the shopping area of the city, Pasalimani and Castella, or head towards Hatzikyriakio, Piraeus Peninsula and Zea Marina.

1. To the commercial and retail centre of Piraeus Korai Square, or Pasalimani and Castella. When you leave the cruise ship, your other option is to turn left on Akti Miaouli Street and to make a right turn onto 2nd Merarchias which leads you to the Terpsithea area. Continue all the way down to Pasalimani. The seafront road, Akti Moutsopoulou Street, goes round the harbor and changes its name to Akti Kountouriotou Street. Then it takes you right above Votsalakia beach. It then changes its name once more, to Apostolou Pavlou Street, and runs through the beautiful Castella area with its elegant neoclassical buildings.
Alternatively, when you reach 2nd Merarchias you may not continue on to Pasalimani but turn left, so that you will find yourself in the main shopping area of Piraeus. Take Karaiskou Street to Korai Square and its numerous coffee shops, while admiring the renovated Piraeus Municipal Theater across the street. On Vassileos Georgiou Street there are more shops and neoclassical buildings worth seeing.

2. Hatzikyriakio, Piraiki & Zea Marina. Leaving your cruise ship, turn right onto Akti Miaouli Street and continue along the street to visit the Piraeus Lion and enjoy a coffee with a view of the Port (right at the end of Akti Miaouli Street). Alternatively, make a left turn onto Klissovis Street to reach Hatzikyriakio where you can try the excellent food served at the local taverns. Further down Hatzikyriakio Street you will find the premises of the Hellenic Naval Academy and Theotoki Street will take you to Piraiki’s seafront road. Then, you can follow the road round the sea. There are seafood taverns open here and you can admire the remains of the Cononian Walls on the famous Piraiki rocks. You can continue this route to Zea Marina and from there go on to Pasalimani."

Welcome day for the Incoming Students for the academic year 2016-17

The Erasmus+ Mobility for Traineeship is a unique opportunity for students to gain practical experience and put their knowledge into practice.

We accept incoming students for traineeships all year. In our University you can work on specific projects with a member of our Acedemic Personnel or join one of our Administrative Offices.

Piraeus is a vivid city, the largest passenger port in Europe and the second largest in the world. It has a long recorded history, dating to ancient Greece. The presence of the University of Piraeus and the Technological Education Institute of Piraeus make it a student city, with events taking place almost on a daily basis and a unique lifestyle.

Piraeus extends from the Gulf of Eleusis up to Faliro bay, opposite Salamis. Its main geographical feature is the Piraeus peninsula, on which stands Pasalimani or port of Zea,  Mikrolimano (or Tourkolimano) and the hill of Castella (or hill Prophet Elias). It is located 12km southwest of the centre of Athens. The main port of Piraeus is located between Piraeus peninsula and Drapetsona. Piraeus has become a major international maritime and shipping industry centre thanks to its size, location and the very ancient relationship of Greeks with the sea. Apart from commercial trading it transports million passengers each year to the Aegean islands.

For more information you can visit the following links:

- www.destinationpiraeus.com

- www.pireasnet.gr

- http://www.visitgreece.gr/el/main_cities/piraeus

Here you can find information about life in Piraeus and about your Erasmus in the University of Piraeus.

In this section you can find answers to the most common questions incoming students and staff have for us!

1. What are the visa requirements for Greece?

For EU citizens’ visa is not necessary to enter Greece. However, a valid passport is required. If you are a non EU citizen you must know that the maximum stay in Greece is 3 (three) months, 90 (ninety) days. Visitors wishing to prolong their stay are required to obtain Resident's Permit.

Those who will be staying in Greece for more than 3 months, according to Greek national law, must present themselves to the Municipal Office of their residence area and apply for a Residence Permit.

If you are not a citizen from the EU you are advised to contact the Greek Embassy or Consulate (http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/Greece) in your home country for entrance regulations prior to your departure.

If you are a student accepted through a student exchange program, you will need a student visa issued by the Greek embassy or council in your country of residence. To obtain this visa you will need a letter from the University which states the reason for your visit and the duration of your stay.

2. Is there accommodation and nutrition provided by the University of Piraeus?

The University of Piraeus is not able to provide student residence to its students. However, the International Relations Office will provide help on finding accommodation for your stay as an Erasmus exchange student at our university.

Before you arrive at University of Piraeus you are asked to fill in a paper with your preferences about the accommodation so as that we will try to match your criteria with some of the houses’ offers that we have. Nevertheless you are free to search on your own through Internet or with the help of ESN of Unipi. (ESN=Erasmus Students’ Network).

It is advisable to book a hostel prior your arrival at Piraeus and the International Relations Office will provide you a list of flats and available rooms in Piraeus and in the centre of Athens.

University of Piraeus provides you with a nutrition card with which you can have free meals in the restaurant of the University for as long as you are Erasmus students at UniPi.

3. Are there specific insurance requirements?

Erasmus EU exchange students must bring with them their European Health Card obtained from the health insurance carrier in their own country.

For Erasmus students that could not obtain the European Health Card, a private health insurance is required.

The Incoming students for Placement should have a health insurance as well a third-party /liability insurance and a personal accident insurance.

The registration procedure at our university would not be finalized without having a health insurance.

4. When is the deadline for my application form?

Winter semester: 15^th June

Spring semester: 15^th December

5. Can I undertake an Erasmus+ Mobility for Traineeship in the University of Piraeus?

We accept incoming students for traineeships all year. At our University you can work on specific projects with a member of our Academic Personnel or join one of our Administrative Offices but after communication and arrangement with the relevant department or professor.

6. I have been selected to take part in an Erasmus+ Mobility. What is the procedure?

A.Before arrival

As long as we receive the nomination letter (official approval) from your University that you have been selected to attend the Erasmus Mobility program for a specific period you will be asked to send us the following:

• Student Application form
• Learning Agreement form (Before Mobility)
• Housing Application form
• European Health Insurance Card
• Passport (photo) or identity card (photo)

*The Student must have a certificate (letter of acceptance) from their Home University stating that they have been selected under the Erasmus+ programme. This certificate is necessary for their registration.

B. Registration for Erasmus + students (arrival at University of Piraeus)

Upon arrival, all incoming students are obliged to attend the Orientation Day which takes place at the University of Piraeus (exact dates will be announced). After that, they can be enrolled at the Department they have been accepted.

The documents needed for the enrolment of exchange students at the Secretariat of their Department are the following:

• Two (2) personal photographs
• A copy of passport or identity card

7. Does the University of Piraeus provide other services to the incoming students?

University of Piraeus offers facilities and services for sports activities through the gym of Panteion University with which University of Piraeus is cooperated with.

Some of the offered sports are: track and field, swimming, water polo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, chess, skiing, football, volleyball, basketball, and aerobics.

The Library of the University of Piraeus is at the second basement level of the main building and

is open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm every workday.

You can borrow without a fee a book according to the terms of your study cycle.

8. Is it possible to take part in Greek language course at the university?

Unfortunately it is not possible anymore this year to participate in Greek language course as it was during previous years.

9. How do I know that I am nominated and to which department I am assigned?

Firstly, you get acceptance at your university. Secondly you receive e-mail from our university about nomination and assigned department.

11. Which subjects can I choose and for how many credits?

You can find the available courses, according to your Department in UniPi in this link: http://www.unipi.gr/unipi/en/intl-office-european-projects/intl-office-erasmus-plus/mobility-for-studies.html

12. How long time can I stay for studies/placement? Is it possible to extend my stay?

Every incoming student can come for studies for one semester or one year, after first semester it is possible to extend your stay, but please note that, if your original grant was for the summer semester, you cannot extend your stay to include the winter semester.

The duration of a traineeship period is of a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 12 months. In case of a combined study and traineeship, the minimum duration is 3 months and the maximum duration is 12 months, no matter how the time is shared between studies and traineeship.

13. Is it possible to stay for placement after I finish my studies at UniPi?

Of course it is possible, but first of all you have to finish your study cycle and fix all of issues connected with the documents after mobility. In order to start the procedure for the placement mobility, you must be approved by your higher educational institution and find a specific task with the appropriate staff to cooperate with (Academic or Administrative).

14. Are there any facilitations for people with special needs?

All   actions   of   Erasmus+   are   open   to   people   with   special   needs. The programme aims at promoting equity and inclusion by facilitating the access to learners with disadvantaged backgrounds and fewer opportunities compared to their peers including people with mental, physical, sensory or other disabilities.

15. I am an MBA/PhD student. Can I come for Erasmus+ studies/traineeship?

Under Erasmus+, MBA or doctoral students enrolled in a higher education institution can study or train abroad more than once as long as a total maximum of 12 months per study cycle is respected. This means that you can receive grants for mobility periods totalling up to 12 months during your master or doctoral studies.

16. Do I have to attend classes?

It depends on subjects and professors. Some courses require every week attendance, some other to write down essays and some of them meetings with professors in their offices. You will communicate with the responsible professor of each subject so as to arrange your schedule.

17. Is there any extra support from UniPi or from other projects?

You can get support from members of ESN UniPi, who are responsible for the assistance of Erasmus Incoming Students ,as well for organisation of events, trips and other activities.