Passenger Traffic to Greek Isles Picks Up in June-August

Photo Source: Municipality of Piraeus

Outbound passenger traffic from the port of Piraeus to the Greek islands increased in the June-August period this year compared to the same period in 2016, according to tentative data released by the Hellenic Coast Guard, with the Cyclades being among the most popular destinations.

Ferries departed from Piraeus fully booked (90 percent) for the Cyclades, while outbound traffic to Crete, Lemnos, and the Sporades also rose. The port of Kavala also saw an increase in outbound traffic with a growing number of Balkan country nationals visiting North Aegean islands.

More specifically, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard, a total of 1,564,767 passengers – 340,044 in June and 1,224,723 in July and August – set off from Piraeus in the June-August 2017 period compared to 1,423,646 in the same period last year. Some 85,308 visited the Saronic isles in June and 412,639 in July and August.

Departures from the port of Rafina in June came to 121,354 and 385,572 in July and August. A total of 32,703 passengers departed from the port of Lavrio in June and 100,889 in July and August.

According to data collected by port authorities and shipping companies, a total of 1,423,646 passengers set off from Piraeus and headed to the Aegean islands in the June-August 2016 period, with 469,917 traveling to the Saronic isles. From Attica’s other two ports, 467,937 holidaymakers departed from Rafina and 122,215 from Lavrio.