Tempi Detour and E75 Closure Near Larissa (May 2026): New Driving Routes to Halkidiki

If you are getting ready to drive into Greece in the last week of May or early June 2026 — pack a few hours of buffer. From Monday, 18 May 2026, the Greek police is closing a key section of the Athens–Thessaloniki motorway (A1 PATHE / E75) near Larissa during daytime, because of remediation works following last year's earthquake in the Tempi valley. Traffic is rerouted via the old state road through Tempi gorge, which for travellers heading to Halkidiki, Thassos or the Olympic Riviera means 30 to 90 minutes of extra drive time — and considerably more during peak hours.

What is actually closed and when

The Greek police has announced closures of individual ramps and one toll station during the day (usually 07:00–19:00 local time), while at night traffic typically flows normally. Specifically:

• Evangelismos junction — northbound entry ramp toward Thessaloniki is closed.
• Leptokarya junction — southbound entry ramp toward Athens is closed.
• Rapsani junction — southbound entry ramp toward Athens is closed.
• Platamonas toll plaza — closed in both directions (Athens and Thessaloniki) during working hours.

⚠️ The plan is dynamic — the Greek police adjusts the regime daily. Before you set off, check status on the KEPELPA portal or Google Maps live traffic for the „Tempi – Larissa" section.

Three alternative routes to Halkidiki

Route 1 — Through the Tempi valley (the official detour)

This is the Greek police's official recommendation: you exit the motorway near Tempi, drive the old state road EO Volos–Larissa–Katerini through the narrow gorge above the Pinios river, and rejoin the E75 either near Katerini or further north.

Recommendation: only if you arrive before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Mid-day it turns into a kilometre-long convoy.

Route 2 — Through central Thessaloniki (Egnatia or Nikis)

If your destination is Halkidiki or Thassos, you can skip the northern Thessaloniki ring road (which has its own jams even without the works) and drive straight through the city — Egnatia boulevard or the seaside Nikis. Egnatia is faster off-peak; Nikis offers a sea view but more traffic lights.

• Egnatia: ~7 km through the city, 15–25 min off-peak, up to 50 min at peak (08:00–10:00, 17:00–19:00).
• Nikis: ~6 km along the waterfront, scenic but slower because of lights and pedestrians.
• Best choice if you reach Thessaloniki between 11:00 and 16:00.

Route 3 — Through Bulgaria (Dimitrovgrad → Sofia → Kavala)

If your primary destination is Thassos or the eastern arms of Halkidiki (Sithonia, Athos), going via Bulgaria avoids Tempi completely. Route: Niš → Dimitrovgrad → Sofia → Bansko → Ilinden/Exochi border crossing → Drama → Kavala → Halkidiki or the ferry to Thassos.

💡 Who should consider this route: travellers heading to Thassos, Sithonia and Athos. For Kassandra (Pefkohori, Hanioti, Polychrono), the standard E75 stays faster even with the Tempi detour — as long as you drive overnight.

When to leave: optimal departure times

Worst congestion in the Tempi valley happens between 11:00 and 15:00, when everyone who crossed the border in the morning hits the bottleneck at once. Three recommendations:

• Leave Belgrade 22:00–23:00 → cross Preševo around 03:00 → reach Tempi mid-morning, before peak congestion. This is the cheapest strategy.
• Leave at 04:00 a.m. → border around 09:00 → Tempi after 20:00, when the closure is often lifted. Good for those who don't want to drive overnight.
• Do not leave at 06:00–08:00 — that is the worst window for hitting Tempi (mid-day, peak convoy).

Practical tips before you go

• Install Google Maps offline for northern Greece — signal sometimes drops inside the Tempi gorge.
• Have a full fuel tank before Larissa — small petrol stations inside the canyon tend to be pricey and crowded.
• Keep one water bottle per person, fruit and snacks in the car — a jam can hold you for two hours without a chance to stop.
• Driving with kids, plan an extra stop in Lamia or Acharnes before Larissa — toilets and parking are fine.
• Don't try shortcuts through the villages around Tempi — narrow streets, local police is happy to ticket foreign plates that ignore „residents only" signs.

FAQ — the most common questions

Does the closure apply on weekends too?

The current schedule plans weekday closures (Monday–Friday), 07:00–19:00. Weekends are usually open, but the Greek police adjusts the regime as needed — check the day before.

Do trucks and motorhomes have a different regime?

Yes. Trucks and vehicles over 3.5 t face additional restrictions on certain days — announced by the Greek police and UNRA. Motorhomes in Greece count as light vehicles and follow the same rules as passenger cars.

Is it worth going via Bulgaria just to avoid Tempi?

For Thassos or Sithonia — yes, you gain the most. For Pefkohori, Hanioti, Polychrono or further west (Olympic Riviera, Paralia) — the standard E75 stays faster, even with congestion, especially when you drive overnight.

How long will the works last?

The official plan is through the end of September 2026, with possible shortening if the post-earthquake repairs progress on schedule. The worst months are July and August — when it overlaps with the Balkan peak season.

Conclusion

The Tempi detour and the closed ramps around Larissa are a tedious add-on to the trip, but they don't change the maths — driving to Greece remains the cheapest option for a family of four. The key is timing: leave overnight, hit Tempi early morning or after 20:00, build in a few hours of buffer. For Thassos and Sithonia, going via Bulgaria becomes a serious alternative.

For a detailed toll breakdown see our 2026 toll guide and three best driving routes. And for the rules on the beach itself once you arrive — check what the new beach law and the MyCoast app bring.