With summer weather, excursionists will travel for their Easter, with temperatures rising from today and throughout Easter. Forecasts indicate that long periods of sunshine and mild temperatures will prevail, providing the perfect excuse for trips to beaches and the countryside.

Today and tomorrow are also expected to be the peak of the Easter outings. According to sources in the ferry market, bookings are running at about the same level as last year. From today until Good Friday, in fact, the occupancy rate on most routes for the Cyclades is 100%, while for the islands of the North Aegean, Crete and the Dodecanese it is about 60%.

The ferries are ready for Easter

From early morning on Holy Wednesday, ferries are departing with the Cyclades being the most popular destinations. Hundreds of travelers flock to the port of Piraeus every day, while 16 ships with 16,568 passengers departed yesterday.

Seven ships with 5,800 passengers sailed from the port of Rafina, while six ships with at least 1,280 passengers sailed from the port of Lavrio.
From 1,280 vessels, there were 1,280 passengers and 1,280 passengers with 1,100 passengers.

Today, 22,190 passengers are expected to travel from Piraeus and 9,800 from Rafina. It is worth noting that tickets for today’s Good Thursday and Good Friday are not available, due to the increased demand for Easter.

Record number of passengers on the bus services for the Easter holidays

Bus services departed with 100% occupancy from both Kifissos and Liosion bus stations. From last Friday, when the wave of Easter excursionists started, until Holy Saturday, more than 100,000 passengers are expected to depart from the Athens bus station, with the daily number of routes gradually reaching 280.

According to data from the Panhellenic Federation of Intercity Transport Motorists (KTEL), a 20% increase in the number of travelers who chose KTEL for their journeys during this year’s Holy Week, compared to last year, is estimated at a national level.

An additional 40 routes were added on Great Wednesday, departing from Kifissos and Liosia stations. The peak is expected today and for this reason, the number of additional routes is estimated at around 100 or more, if necessary due to the increased demand for Easter.

Increased traffic on the highways due to the Easter rush

Traffic on the highways is also gradually increasing. It is typical that more than 60,000 excursionists have passed through the Elefsina and Afidnon toll roads from six o’clock on Tuesday morning until six o’clock on Wednesday morning.

Specifically, from six in the morning to six in the afternoon of Wednesday, 34,660 vehicles have passed through the Elefsina Toll and the Athens-Corinthos National Road at the exit and 27,648 vehicles have passed through the Aphidnon Toll at the exit of the Athens-Lamia National Road. This means that there is a tendency to double the number of exits compared to the previous day.

Security measures for Easter excursionists

The Coast Guard in view of the exit of Easter excursionists has taken all the measures to facilitate passengers from major ports of the country. Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias has set the safety of passengers as an immediate priority.

“The safety of citizens, travelers and workers, comes first and I urge you all to be disciplined in this doctrine and the Coast Guard will ensure that it is implemented at 100%,” Kikilias said recently when he took over the Shipping Ministry from his predecessor Christos Stylianidis.

Tips for Easter travelers:

– Those traveling by vehicle are advised to be at least one hour before at the gate from which they will depart
– Early booking of tickets for return journeys is recommended
– It is recommended to avoid traveling during peak hours, especially on Good Friday
– It is essential to check vehicles before departure for long journeys

Holiday timetable: How shops will operate at Easter

The festive opening hours for Easter 2025 have been in force since last Saturday.

Since Saturday 2025, the new holiday has been in force since Saturday, 2025.

The Commercial Association of Athens proposes the following opening hours for commercial shops:

G. Thursday 17/04/2025. 09.00 – 21.00
G. Friday 18/04/2025 13.00 – 19.00
G. Saturday 19/04/2025 09.00 – 15.00
Easter 20/04/2025 Holiday
Monday 21/04/2025 Holiday

The festive opening hours in the shops of Thessaloniki

In Thessaloniki, commercial stores will operate as follows, according to the local Trade Association:

G. Thursday 17/4 from 10:00 to 21:00
G. Friday 18/4 from 13:00 to 19:00
G. Saturday 19/4 from 10:00 to 16:00
Easter Sunday: Closed
Easter Monday: Closed

The weather until Easter Monday

From Good Thursday the temperature is expected to gradually rise, while Good Friday is expected to see the peak of excursionists choosing coastal destinations and inland villages. The seas are expected to be calm for those who chose island destinations.

A few localised showers in patches in parts of the country will last until Holy Saturday, when there is a chance of rain in the west and north.

As for the African dust that has been plaguing citizens in recent days, it is expected to subside on Saturday when the wind will turn north, according to Gannis Kallianos.

According to Gannis Kallianos, the highest national temperature will be recorded on Good Thursday in Agrinio where the mercury will climb to 30 degrees Celsius.

Great Thursday

According to Giorgos Tsatrafyllias, the temperature on Good Thursday will range from 6 to 8 degrees above normal for the season. The mercury will reach 30 degrees Celsius in areas of the southwestern Peloponnese, while in Athens it will climb to 28 degrees. Also, in Crete the temperature will range from 24 to 26 degrees and in the Cyclades 24 degrees.

Good Friday

On Easter Sunday the maximum temperatures will be recorded in:

Athens 26 Celsius
Larissa 26 Celsius
Sparta 26 Celsius
Thebes 26 Celsius

The weather today

In the east and south clear weather with thin clouds. In the west and the north clouds that will increase mainly from the afternoon hours and there will be local showers or rain in the northern Ionian Sea and Epirus. Locally limited visibility or fog on the mainland in the morning and evening hours. Meteorological conditions favour the transport of African dust.

Winds in the west will blow southeast 5 to 7 and in the Ionian Sea locally 8 Beaufort. In the east will blow east northeastern 3 to 5 and in the Thracian Sea partly in the morning locally 6 Beaufort.

The temperature will rise slightly further and will be above normal, reaching 25 to 27 degrees Celsius in the west and 23 to 26 degrees Celsius in the rest of the regions.

The weather on Good Friday, April 18

Good Friday, 18 May, with a maximum of 18 hours of rain.
In the west and the north a few clouds, partly increasing with local showers of short duration mainly in western Macedonia and Epirus. In the rest of the country the weather will be almost clear with a few clouds. Visibility in the evening hours on the mainland will be limited in places and mainly in the west, local fogs cannot be excluded.

Winds will blow from westerly directions 3 to 5 and locally from noon in the central and southern parts 6 Beaufort. Although the temperature will drop slightly in the west, it will remain relatively high for the season throughout the country, reaching 22 to 23 degrees Celsius in the west and north and 23 to 25 degrees Celsius in the rest of the country.

Generally clear weather and only in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and possibly in the northeastern Aegean clouds will develop and local rain or rain will occur in the midday-afternoon hours.

Visibility in the morning and evening hours on the mainland will be limited in places and local fog is possible.

Winds will blow west northwest 3 to 5 and occasionally in the area of Crete – southern Peloponnese up to 6 Beaufort. The temperature will not change significantly.

The weather on Easter Sunday

Generally clear with sparse clouds at times and occasionally more dense. There is a chance of light localized showers in the noon and afternoon in the northeastern mainland mountains.

Winds will be variable light 2 to 4 and only in the Dodecanese region will blow northwest winds of 4 to 5 Beaufort. The temperature will not change significantly.

Slight rise in temperature on Easter Monday

Nearly clear weather in most parts of the country. Only a few clouds are forecast in the northern mainland, where there is a possibility of local rain in the midday and afternoon hours.

The winds will be variable, light 3 to 4 and only in the southern Ionian and southern Aegean will blow east southeast 5 and locally up to 6 Beaufort. The temperature will rise slightly.