Greek ports handle over 110,000 holiday travelers in weekend surge

The summer exodus from the Attica ports peaked on Friday 24 July, when 50,917 passengers left for the Aegean islands and the Argos‑Santorini area. The Port of Piraeus ran 22 sailings carrying 24,545 travelers, 4,054 private vehicles, 706 trucks and 720 two‑wheelers; the Argos‑Santorini lines operated 60 departures with 10,079 passengers; Rafina saw 12,019 passengers on 19 trips and Lavrio 4,274 passengers on 12 trips.

Port authorities warned that traffic was "red" and kept full readiness at the three harbours. Over the weekend, total departures were projected at about 62,000 – roughly 36,904 on Saturday and 25,361 on Sunday – bringing the three‑day total of holidaymakers to more than 110,000. Road links and KTEL services also reported near‑full capacities as travelers headed toward the Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus and western Greece.

The surge reflects the peak of the July holiday period, with high demand for short trips to islands such as Aegina, Agistri and the Argos‑Santorini archipelago, where return tickets cost around €25. Port officials continue to monitor the flow to ensure safety and smooth boarding.