Athens suspends 'Ring' traffic restriction from July 25 for summer

The temporary traffic‑restriction scheme known as the “Ring” (or Small Ring) in central Athens ends on Friday 24 July 2026. From Saturday 25 July vehicles will be able to circulate freely throughout the area, as the odd‑even licence‑plate rule is lifted for the summer months.

The measure, in force since 20 October each year, limited private‑car and light‑truck traffic on weekdays (07:00‑20:00 Monday‑Thursday, 07:00‑15:00 Friday) based on the last digit of the licence plate. It did not apply on weekends, official holidays or days of a mass public‑transport strike, and vehicles travelling only on the peripheral roads of the ring were exempt.

Authorities say the restriction is intended to ease congestion and improve air quality in Athens’s centre. The scheme is scheduled to resume in autumn, with the exact start date to be announced by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.