From early Monday morning, the mass return of Easter holidaymakers to urban centers had begun. Traffic police implemented heightened measures across the national road network to ensure the smooth and safe movement of citizens and to prevent traffic accidents.

The return of travelers to Attica is expected to continue through the Sunday after Easter (Thomas Sunday), with many having already returned since Easter Tuesday is a working day. Traffic on the roads—especially on the Athens–Corinth and Athens–Lamia highways—was extremely heavy, with vehicles moving at a crawl.

TikTok Videos Show the Traffic

The biggest problems were observed on the route from the Peloponnese to Athens, with travelers having to arm themselves with patience as long queues and extended waiting times plagued many parts of the national road network.

Specifically, on the Athens–Corinth highway, delays were reported from Vrahati to Megara.

Vehicles moved at very low speeds and were occasionally brought to a complete stop on the section from Ancient Corinth to Agioi Theodoroi.

Photos from the Athens–Corinth Highway

Traffic was also particularly heavy from Kineta to Nea Peramos, and delays were reported at the Elefsina toll station.

On the old Athens–Corinth national road heading toward Athens, many drivers attempted to avoid the traffic congestion by choosing this alternative route. However, this proved largely ineffective, as significant delays occurred there as well.

Traffic Jams Lasted Until After Midnight

The congestion continued until late into the night, with traffic finally beginning to ease in the early hours of Tuesday.

Heavy Traffic on the Athens–Lamia Highway Too

Vehicles on the Athens–Lamia highway were also moving at low speeds, with delays beginning from Avlonas and extending to Malakasa. Jams were also reported at the Afidnes toll station. Traffic remained heavy up to the area of Agios Stefanos and again at the Afidnes tolls.

Photos from Afidnes

The most severe pressure was observed on the lanes heading into Athens, with delays estimated at two or more hours compared to an average day.

By late Monday night, however, the situation on the Athens–Lamia highway had returned to normal.