Traffic surged at Attica's major ports Friday as the first mass summer holiday exodus got underway, with more than 200 ferry departures scheduled from Piraeus, the Saronic Gulf, Rafina and Lavrio between Friday, July 17, and Sunday, July 19.
More than 100,000 passengers are expected to travel to island destinations over the three-day period, with the heaviest traffic recorded at Piraeus, the country's central port, where 59,053 passengers are expected to depart.
Road traffic leaving Attica was similarly heavy, as large numbers of residents headed to the regions for the weekend. Significant delays were reported along Athinon Avenue between Chaidari and Aspropyrgos, as well as on Schistou Avenue.
Long queues formed at the Elefsina tolls, with slow-moving traffic continuing as far as Nea Peramos.
According to Greek traffic police, 36,800 vehicles passed through the Athens-Corinth highway and 24,376 through the Athens-Lamia highway between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, a combined total of 61,176 vehicles.