Greece’s annual Easter travel rush is in full swing, with thousands of people leaving major cities for holiday destinations, as transport networks operate at near capacity ahead of the long weekend.

Passenger traffic at ports in the Attica region has surged, with ferries to popular island destinations—especially the Cyclades—reporting occupancy rates close to 100%. Authorities have added extra sailings through Holy Saturday to accommodate the spike in demand.

Heavy traffic across all transport modes

The country’s largest port, Piraeus, is handling the bulk of the outbound flow. On Wednesday alone, more than 12,000 passengers departed on 15 scheduled sailings. Increased traffic was also recorded on routes to nearby islands in the Saronic Gulf, as well as from the ports of Rafina and Lavrio.

Officials estimate that more than 32,000 passengers are expected to depart from Attica’s main ports on Holy Thursday, with at least 43 ferry departures scheduled across the three ports.

Road traffic has also intensified, with approximately 60,000 vehicles leaving the Attica region on Wednesday. Toll stations west of Athens recorded around 34,000 vehicles, while more than 27,000 passed through northern exits.

Intercity bus services are similarly operating at high capacity, with many routes nearly fully booked as travelers head to mainland destinations.

Travel conditions remain favorable

Despite the surge in travel, weather conditions are expected to remain manageable. Forecasters predict mild instability from Good Friday through Easter Sunday, with localized showers but no significant disruptions.

Rain is expected to ease from Friday onward, while Easter Sunday will see generally improved conditions, with only light, scattered showers in some areas and a slight rise in temperatures.

Authorities expect the exodus to continue through Holy Saturday, as more travelers leave urban centers for family gatherings and holiday celebrations.