The completion of the Central Greece Motorway (E65) reshapes mainland road travel in the Hellenic Republic, marking a significant upgrade in connectivity across the country, with implications for travel, tourism, and regional accessibility.
The E65 Motorway creates a modern north - south road corridor linking Athens and Central Greece with Thessaloniki, Thessaly, Western Macedonia and other inland areas that were previously less accessible, reshaping travel patterns across the country’s interior, reducing travel times and improving safety.
The development significantly upgrades connectivity via a modern dual carriageway with two lanes + emergency lane per directions, tunnels, viaducts, and service stations, drastically cutting travel times such as from Lamia to Egnatia Odos from 2.5 hours to 1.5 hours as well as improving safety for people, goods and tourism.
Improved accessibility is expected to benefit a range of destinations with growing tourism appeal, including Meteora, Lake Plastira, Mount Pelion, mountainous Evrytania, as well as cities like Trikala and Grevena, fostering regional development.
Easier road access supports domestic travel, short leisure trips, and road tourism, while also facilitating alternative tourism segments linked to cultural sites, religious heritage gastronomy, and nature.
At the local level, improved connectivity is expected to support tourism and related activities, particularly for small accommodation providers, agrotourism units, and hospitality businesses.
By enabling easier movement between regions, the E65 Central Greece’s Motorway may contribute to a broader geographic distribution of visitors and help relieve pressure that face seasonal overcrowding.
The motorway is considered a key component of Greece’s wider transport infrastructure network, becoming a crucial axis with potential implications for regional development beyond tourism.
Its impact, owever, will depend on complimentary measures, including upgrades to local and vertical road connections, clear signage to nearby attractions, and coordinated destination promotion.
Combined with digital visitor information tools and sustainable infrastructure planning, the E65 motorway is expected to play an important role in supporting balanced tourism development across mainland Greece.
Key Features and Benefits:
• Modern Design: A dual carriageway with two lanes and an emergency lane in each direction, built to high national and European standards for safety and comfort.
• New Route: Creates a completely new north - south corridor through Central Greece, connecting the A.th. E. motorway near Lamia to the Egnatia Odos near Grevena.
• Reduced Travel Time: Significantly cuts journey times, such as Lamia to Egnatia Odos in northern Greece from 2.5 hours to 1.5 hours, and makes destinations like Meteora and Trikala much faster to reach from Athens.
• Enhanced Safety: Features like tunnels, viaducts and modern infrastructure improve road safety and reduce accidents, with projections of over 30% fewer accidents.
• Tourism Boost: Easier access supports domestic and international tourism, benefiting areas like Lake Plastira, Karpenisi, Meteora, and Pelion, encouraging visits to cultural, natural, and gastronomic sites.
• Economic Development: Supports economic activity in Central Greece, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia by facilitating movement of people, goods, and services.
Link
https://news.gtp.gr/2026/01/19/central-greeces-e65-motorway-reshapes-mainland-road-travel/
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