Many Greeks are taking advantage of the long weekend celebration of August 15 (Feast of the Assumption) for domestic travel.

By sea: 

There is increased traffic at the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. Ticket reservations to the Cycladic islands ahead of the August 15 (Assumption Day) public holiday are at 80-100% while most tickets for Crete, the Eastern Aegean, the Dodecanese and the Argosaronic Gulf islands have already been sold.

Port authorities state that on Tuesday there were 20 different routes leaving from the port of Piraeus from which 18,345 passengers left, down from the 21,717 that left on the same date last year.

Specifically from August 1-12, 322,086 passengers moved to and from the Dodecanese, the Cyclades and Crete, up from 300,281 that had traveled last year.

The coastal guard is on call to deal with the demands of increased traffic at the port. People who will be taking their cars to island destinations are advised to arrive an hour earlier due to increased traffic at roads around ports.

People who have yet to buy tickets should call in advance to ensure that there are vacancies before arriving to the port.

Automated information on arrivals and departures is available by phone on 14944 (Hellenic Telecoms line) and 14541 (Piraeus Port Authority line).

By road:

Greek traffic police are taking precautions to deal with the increased movement on the road network around Greece.

Specifically:

– Policing the road network based on the traffic circulation at each district and bearing in mind the measures that are in force during the winter season and according to the levels of danger.
– Increased police presence at areas where accidents are frequently noted.
– Traffic guards at key crossroads to avoid traffic build-up.
– More traffic checks to ensure that the law is enforced in matters such as speeding, drunk driving and other offences that are linked with serious accidents.
– Increased traffic police at areas where there is increased passenger transport, such as airports, ports and railway stations.
– Traffic restructuring of areas were special events are held for the August 15 Assumption feast.
– More police at toll gates to ensure that traffic circulation is better facilitated and to give advice to drivers.
– Giving information regarding which arteries to take and other problem areas.

Drivers are advised to be informed about the traffic situation, be careful while driving during the long weekend, follow the road rules and the regulations of the traffic police.