Anyone travelling on Sunday 8 November from Artemida or Spata towards Rafina, Pallini or central Athens should take the 43rd Authentic Marathon into account. The Attica Traffic Police Directorate has issued a decision setting out temporary traffic arrangements, which will close the entire length of Marathon Avenue, Mesogeia Avenue and three exits on the Attica Motorway for most of the day.
Attiki Odos: which exits are closed
The motorway remains open, but not all of its exits:
- Exit lane towards Rafina: closed 07:00–15:00.
- Exit lane towards Pallini: closed 07:00–16:30.
- Exit 15 (Marathon Avenue): closed in both directions 08:00–17:00.
The decision does not include any road closures on the roads in Artemida, Spata or leading to the airport.
Marathon Avenue and Mesogeia
Marathon Avenue will be closed in both directions, in sections, as the runners pass by:
- from the starting point to Kato Souli (Agia Marina): 05:00–13:30
- from Kato Souli to Dionysou: 07:30–15:00
- from Dionysou to Stavros Agia Paraskevi: 08:00–16:45, i.e. the entire section passing through Rafina–Pikermi and Pallini
Mesogeia is closed from Stavros to Katechaki from 08:30 to 18:30 and from Katechaki to the Athens Tower from 06:00 to 18:30. In the city centre, Vasilissis Sofias, Vasileos Konstantinou, Amalias, Panepistimiou, Akademias, Stadiou and Kifissias from Panormou to Alexandras.
Where do you cross over?
Whilst the road is closed, motor vehicles are not permitted to cross it, except at controlled junctions. On our side of Attica, these are:
- Marathon Avenue & Fleming Street (Rafina–Pikermi)
- Marathon Avenue & Agios Dimitrios – Eleftherios Venizelos Street (Monaxia, Pallini)
- Marathon Avenue & Patriarch Gregorios – Ethnikis Antistaseos (Pallini)
- Marathon Avenue & Lavriou – Kleisthenous (Stavros Agia Paraskevi)
There, the traffic police let cars pass through the waves of runners, so expect a wait.
What does this mean in practice?
If you need to cross from one side of Marathon Avenue to the other, do so before 07:30 or after 17:00, or via the junctions mentioned above. For the centre of Athens, the quietest way to travel is by metro: Line 3, with stations at Pallini, Kantza, Koropi and the airport, is not affected by the Traffic Police’s decision, which regulates only vehicle traffic. The Traffic Police note that the times may be shortened or extended, depending on how the match progresses.
There will also be road closures on Saturday 7 November for the 5- and 10-kilometre races: Vasileos Konstantinou, Ardittou and Vasilissis Olgas streets will be closed from 14:00 to 22:30. For young runners in the area, see what applies to the children’s race.
Source: Attica Traffic Police Directorate, Decision 25815 (Ref. No. 1003/15/57-k’) of 2 November 2026, ADA 9FD546MTLB-ΩΗΠ, as published by the Municipality of Rafina–Pikermi on 4 November 2026.
