Greek Ports, Highways Packed as Athenians Begin Summer Holidays

The ports of Piraeus and Rafina and the national highway were packed over the weekend as the first Athenians set off for their summer holidays.

Traditionally, the majority of Athenians go on holiday in August. This year, Greek travelers were affected by the increasing cost of ferry tickets and fuel, which reached 2 euros per liter on some islands this week.

Indicatively, from Friday to Sunday approximately 73,000 passengers set off for the Greek islands from the port of Piraeus alone. Ferries from Piraeus and  KTEL intercity buses traveled at full capacity. To meet the high demand, ferry operators increased the number of daily routes to 24 from Piraeus on Saturday, when some 30,000 holidaymakers departed for the Greek islands.

Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou.

The majority of travelers departing form Piraeus were headed to Crete, Tinos, Kythnos, Paros, Naxos, Sifnos and Skyros as well as to other islands in the Dodecanese and the Cyclades. In the meantime, local media report that occupancy levels are nearly full at most of the country’s main holiday spots with many vacationers choosing to travel to lesser known destinations this year.

According to a June study, one in two Greeks will not be able to go on holiday this year due to the cost-of-living crisis while one in three said they would be spending less compared to previous years.