The annual summer exodus of July and August vacationers is now in full swing, with traffic at Athens’ ports surging to peak levels. Ferries are departing fully loaded as thousands head to the Aegean islands and the Saronic Gulf. Friday, 24 July 2026, marked the busiest day so far — a total of 50,917 passengers left the Athens basin via port terminals, according to official data from the Hellenic Coast Guard.
Piraeus: The Main Hub
At the central port of Piraeus, 22 ferry departures carried 24,545 passengers, 4,054 private cars, 706 trucks, and 720 motorcycles.
Saronic Gulf Routes
For the Saronic Gulf routes, 60 scheduled sailings transported 10,079 passengers, 1,161 private vehicles, 50 trucks, and 466 motorcycles.
Rafina and Lavrio Also Bustling
Rafina port saw 12,019 passengers board ships across 19 scheduled departures — with 2,571 cars, 101 trucks, and 301 motorcycles loaded aboard. Meanwhile, Lavrio port handled 12 sailings carrying 4,274 passengers, 1,127 cars, 40 trucks, and 99 motorcycles.
Weekend Traffic Remains High
Traffic is expected to remain intense through the weekend. For Saturday, 25 July, Piraeus has 24 scheduled departures (projected 22,759 passengers), while the Saronic Gulf will see 29 high-speed catamaran trips (505 passengers) and 27 vehicle ferries (2,525 passengers). Rafina plans 14 sailings for 8,000 passengers; Lavrio, 7 sailings for 2,715 passengers.
Gradual Easing Expected Sunday
Although numbers remain elevated, authorities anticipate a gradual easing on Sunday, 26 July. Piraeus will operate 22 sailings (16,292 passengers expected); the Saronic Gulf will run 24 vehicle ferries (1,759 passengers) and 14 catamarans (290 passengers). Rafina schedules 14 departures (4,829 passengers), and Lavrio closes the weekend with 13 sailings (2,091 passengers).
Coast Guard personnel are on full alert across all three ports — Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio — to ensure smooth operations and passenger safety.