Scores of cars stand in line to embark at the port of Piraeus, from where an estimated 35,000 passengers departed for island destinations yesterday, in perhaps the largest wave of holidaymakers to have left the capital so far this summer. Droves of Athenians are expected to crowd the highways leading out of town today.

Crammed into buses, ships, planes and trains or driving heavily burdened cars, tens of thousands of Athenians left the capital yesterday in what is traditionally the largest summer holiday exodus.

Most means of public transport were full to capacity, while large crowds of holidaymakers heading for island destinations flooded the port of Piraeus. Thirty-eight ferries carrying an estimated 35,000 passengers left Greece’s busiest harbor yesterday for the Aegean archipelago and Crete, while a further 33 sailings are scheduled for today — and as many again tomorrow. Another 30 ferries sailed from Rafina, on the eastern coast of Attica.

Over 400 long-distance buses left the Kifissos terminal for southern Greece yesterday, and another 350 are to depart today. Bus company officials said that, if demand dictated it, extra buses would be laid on to serve holidaymakers.

A further flood of travellers is expected to leave the capital for the August 15 holiday of the Dormition of the Virgin, the traditional climax of the summer season.