Greek Ferry Companies Expect Easter Passenger Traffic to Rise

Safety measures at the port of Piraeus and across Greece will be boosted next week ahead of Orthodox Easter, which is on Sunday, May 1.

Outgoing traffic is set to peak on Holy Friday with ferry companies expecting an increase in passenger traffic by about 5 percent compared to last year for the Easter holidays, which this year coincide with May Day.

Ferry ticket providers say that though routes for many Aegean island destinations have been booked, tickets are still available and all travelers will be served.

Leading destinations for Orthodox Easter this year are: Paros, Syros, Mykonos, Patmos and Santorini, with morning routes to the Dodecanese isles completely booked for Holy Wednesday.

Reservations, meanwhile, for the islands of Chios and Lesvos are expected to reach 60 percent by Holy Thursday, as are the morning routes to Chania on Crete.

In the meantime, as of Holy Thursday (April 28) across mainland Greece and at all major highways, vehicles exceeding 1.5 tons will be prohibited in efforts to ensure safe travel and smooth traffic flows.