Λιμάνια Αττικής: ξεκίνησε η επιστροφή αδειούχων

The first major wave of return of August licensees was recorded in the ports of Attica on Monday, August 17, 2026. According to the data released, in the three main ports of the region — Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio — a total of more than 90,000 passengers moved. Of these, 43,764 departed for the islands and 48,790 arrived at the piers. The difference, while not large in absolute numbers, is significant because it captures the reversal of the flow: it is the first time this year that arrivals have significantly outnumbered departures, a sign that the summer holiday season is entering its return phase. The numbers refer to all passengers transported, i.e. both travelers to the islands and those who returned to Attica within the same day.

Image varies by port. In Lavrio the difference was almost zero: 2,865 passengers departed and 2,921 arrived, i.e. just 56 more. A smaller difference was also registered in Rafina, while most of the traffic was concentrated, as always, in Piraeus. Ships are still departing at near one hundred percent occupancy, as traffic to the islands hasn’t stopped — it’s just been balanced by the reverse flow. The phenomenon is typical of the second fortnight of August, when those returning from the August 15th holidays coexist with those starting theirs. This distribution also reflects the destinations served by each port: Rafina and Lavrio are mainly connected to the Cyclades, while Piraeus covers almost the entire Aegean.

For the ports of Attica, this period is the most demanding of the year at an organizational level. The Piraeus Port Authority and local port authorities are implementing increased measures to manage traffic within the port zones, while boarding controls are being intensified, especially in terms of the number of passengers and vehicles per ship. Attendance is concentrated at certain times, which creates queues on the access roads — in Rafina and Lavrio the burden is more intense due to the limited road network serving the two ports. Port authorities also apply checks on boarding vehicles, with an emphasis on trucks and caravans, where excess weight creates stability issues.

The peak of the return is expected next weekend, when the highest arrival numbers of the period will be recorded. Passengers are requested to arrive at the ports on time and confirm the itineraries, as a possible change in weather conditions may lead to modifications. On Monday there were already 47 ships in departure and no-sailing recorded for certain categories of boats, due to the winds. More of the city and port in the Piraeus section. The next bottleneck is expected at the beginning of September, with the return of those who have planned leave in the last ten days of August.