The Easter exodus from the Greek capital is reaching its peak today, Good Friday, as thousands of travelers leave Athens by every possible means to celebrate Orthodox Easter — which, this year, coincides with Catholic Easter.

Blessed by favorable spring weather, with temperatures unusually high for the season, holidaymakers are taking full advantage of the sunshine to kick off their Easter break.

Ferries bound for the Saronic Gulf islands, the Cyclades, and Crete are sailing at full capacity, with nearly 100% occupancy reported. To meet the surging demand, extra routes have been added, including on Attica intercity bus services (KTEL) where schedules have been bolstered with numerous additional services.

At the same time, Greek traffic police are on high alert to ensure the safe passage of travelers, monitoring major roads and motorways as the flow out of the city intensifies.

86,000 Vehicles Leave Athens in 24 Hours

According to official data, between 6:00 a.m. Thursday and 6:00 a.m. Friday, more than 86,000 vehicles passed through the toll stations at Elefsina and Afidnes.

On Holy Tuesday, roughly 60,000 vehicles had already departed Athens, while from last Friday — the unofficial start of the Easter getaway — through Holy Monday, an average of about 50,000 vehicles per day hit the roads.

Heavy Traffic at Ports

Port activity is also ramping up. An estimated 35,000 passengers are expected to set sail from the port of Piraeus by the end of the day. Traffic congestion around the port remains high, with long lines of vehicles forming at the departure gates.

According to data from the Coast Guard, Saturday is expected to see another 16,000–17,000 passengers departing from Piraeus, around 10,000 from Rafina, and roughly 3,000 from Lavrio.

Fewer ferry routes will operate on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, before preparations shift toward managing the post-Easter return. Authorities expect another wave of travelers — an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 — to return to the capital on Easter Monday and Tuesday.

Extra Bus Routes for Increased Demand

To accommodate the growing number of passengers, bus services KTEL have scheduled 200 regular routes for today, along with 160 additional services. More may be added depending on demand, as thousands continue to head to their holiday destinations.