Easter Exodus: Ferries Departing Full, Emergency Routes Set by KTEL – 200,000 Vehicles Passed Through Eleusis and Acharnes Checkpoints in Two Days

With every means of transport available, travelers are leaving the cities for the provinces to spend their Easter holidays in their hometowns. On this Great Friday (April 18, 2025), the exodus reaches its peak as ferries from Attica’s ports are fully booked, and emergency routes have been scheduled by KTEL. Those opting to leave Athens by car should prepare for patience and choose their departure time wisely, as significant traffic jams were observed yesterday on the Athens highway and the National Road from Athens to Thessaloniki during rush hours. Traditionally, the movement intensifies around noon on Good Friday. In the last 48 hours, over 200,000 vehicles have passed through the checkpoints of Eleusis and Acharnes. Thirty-two ferries will depart today from the three ports of Attica heading to the Cyclades, Saronic Gulf, Crete, and Dodecanese islands. Fifteen additional routes are scheduled for Holy Saturday from Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio. By 9 PM, congestion was evident at the Piraeus port with queues forming outside the ferry bound for Chania. Similar conditions were seen at the ferry destined for the Cyclades (Tinos – Mykonos – Paros) departing at 10 PM. Many prefer KTEL buses to leave Athens, especially with added emergency routes primarily to Thessaloniki and Peloponnese where passenger traffic is high.