Greek ports record surge as thousands head to islands

On July 13–14, 2026, the main ports of the Attica region – Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio – scheduled a total of 44 ferry departures to serve the summer holiday rush. Twenty‑one vessels left Piraeus, fifteen from Rafina and eight from Lavrio, carrying thousands of travelers to the Greek islands.

Transport Minister Vasilis Kikilias visited the Piraeus port early on July 13, inspected the operations and spoke with passengers, drivers and coast‑guard staff. He stressed that safety is the top priority, urged travelers to follow the instructions of port officials, and warned that vessel occupancy could reach 100 % by mid‑August.

At the same time, beaches in southern Attica such as Saroniada, Anavyssos, Lagonisi, Varkiza, Alimos, Falirou and Glyfada saw massive crowds of Athenians and tourists seeking relief from temperatures that rose to 35 °C. The weather was largely sunny with light winds, creating ideal conditions for swimming.