Easter Exodus Causes Major Delays for Travelers

Travelers leaving Athens for Easter are facing significant delays, with traffic congestion reported on major highways. As of 5:00 PM on Maundy Thursday, increased traffic was noted on the National Road from Athens to Lamia, particularly near Kalyftaki Junction. Similar conditions were observed on the Athens-Corinth highway and the Attiki Odos, where delays reached up to 25 minutes towards Eleusis and over 30 minutes from Aspropyrgos to Eleusis exit. By midday Thursday, more than 30,000 vehicles had departed via Eleusis, while nearly 24,000 passed through Acharnes tolls. Over a 24-hour period starting Wednesday morning, over 48,000 vehicles headed toward Corinth and more than 37,000 toward Lamia—a rise compared to last year’s figures. Restrictions on heavy vehicle movement remain in place, banning trucks over 3.5 tons from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Thursday and from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Good Friday. Ports in Attica are also bustling with thousands of passengers departing for island destinations. On Maundy Thursday alone, 39 ferry routes served over 34,000 passengers from Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio. Meanwhile, bus services have been expanded due to high demand. In contrast, travelers exiting Thessaloniki experienced smoother journeys, with no major issues reported despite increased traffic.