Greek Ports Busy as August Exodus from Athens Kicks Off

As August is the month that most Greeks take their summer vacation, port authorities are advising travelers to arrive an hour earlier at the point of their departure as increased passenger traffic is expected at the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion.

Sector professionals have estimated that this year’s passenger traffic in August to the Aegean islands — especially the Cyclades group — will move to satisfactory levels, while vessel capacity is expected to reach 80-90 percent.

On just the first day of the August, 21 ferry routes took place from Piraeus port, as 23,036 passengers, 3,336 private cars, 742 trucks and 607 motorcycles departed for various Aegean islands. For the islands of the Argosaronic group, 29 routes took place with 5,707 passengers, 521 private cars, 47 trucks and 182 motorcycles.

Twelve ferry routes took place at the port of Rafina, with 5,636 passengers, 1,180 private cars, 94 trucks and 118 motorcycles departing for various islands of the Cyclades.

From Lavrio, six ferry routes took place, transporting 1,886 passengers, 491 private cars, 26 trucks and 45 motorcycles.

According to data from the central port authorities and ferry companies, last June, July and August a total of 1,423,646 passengers departed from Piraeus to various Aegean islands and 469,917 passengers traveled to islands in the Argosaronic. During the same three months last year, 467,937 passengers traveled out of the port of Rafina and 122,215 passengers departed from Lavrion.