In Celebration of World Car-Free Day | 20–21 September 2025 | Part of the This is Athens City Festival 

The City of Athens invites residents and visitors alike to experience the capital in a new light during Car-Free Athinas Street, a 24-hour urban celebration of sustainability, culture, and community, taking place from Saturday, September 20  to Sunday, September 21 2025.

In honour of World Car-Free Day and as part of the annual This is Athens City Festival, the bustling Athinas Street, from Evripidou Street to Monastiraki, will be closed to motor vehicles and opened to the public for a full day of music, workshops, performances, fitness activities, and family-friendly creative experiences that highlight the sustainable character of the destination. 

Please be advised of the temporary traffic measures in the center of Athens at the end of this press release. Road Closures and Bus Route Modifications follow.

The Car-Free Athinas Street event, now in its second year, is organised by the City of Athens Festival through Develop Athens S.A. It offers residents and visitors the chance to see the heart of the capital from a new perspective: as a space for gathering, play, music, and free movement — a space that breathes differently and points the way towards a more liveable and sustainable city. At the same time, it positions Athens as a destination for visitors, promoting innovative experiences and showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage.

In a statement, the Deputy Mayor for Urban Regeneration and Resilience, Maro Evangelidou, notes:

"As Deputy Mayor also responsible for Sustainable Mobility, I warmly support the initiative of Develop Athens, which responds to today’s pressing need for more human-centred cities — with less car-related disruption and more green and cultural routes. Athens has all the potential to promote walking and gentle mobility by reducing the excessive use of cars and strengthening public transport. Just like with the '15-Minute Open Neighbourhood' programme and the new micromobility regulations, where we are working towards the revival of our neighbourhoods, the initiative ‘Car-Free Athinas Street’ aims to demonstrate that sustainable mobility is indeed achievable in our city — provided we all embrace it.”

From his side, the CEO of Develop Athens S.A., Ioannis Georgizas, states:

“‘Athinas Without Cars’ is both a symbolic and a meaningful reminder that sustainable mobility and quality of life can — and must — go hand in hand. For a full 24 hours, a historic street usually filled with traffic and bustle transforms into a space of coexistence, creativity, and play for residents and visitors alike. Through this event, we are offered the chance to experience a different way of living and moving in the city, a way that respects the environment and puts people at the centre.”

Events and Activities for All

For 24 hours, the event will host a wide range of engaging activities for everyone — from creative workshops and children’s activities to bicycles and scooter tracks, live music performances, storytelling sessions, late-night film screenings, and many more surprises.

For one weekend, Athens celebrates sustainable mobility, offering hands-on experiences that encourage interaction between residents and visitors — a shared effort towards sustainability in tourism, centred around quality and inclusivity.

Car-Free Athinas Street offers a glimpse of a more sustainable and inclusive future — where public space belongs to people, and the city breathes more freely. It’s a celebration of connection, creativity, and greener ways to experience the city as a visitor. Learn more about the initiative and line-up. 

Road Closures
The duration of these closures may be shortened or extended based on real-time traffic conditions. During the effective period, traffic will be suspended for all vehicles on the following streets:

• Athinas Street: The section between Evripidou and Ermou streets, in both directions. The closure also affects perpendicular streets up to the first parallel road.
• Ermou Street: The section between Agion Asomaton and Athinas streets, in both directions. The closure also affects perpendicular streets up to the first parallel road.
• Agion Asomaton Square: The section between Sarri and Ermou streets, in both directions.
• Karageorgi Servias Street: Along its entire length.
• Perikleous Street: Along its entire length.
• Athinaidos Street: Along its entire length.
• Agias Eirinis Street: Along its entire length.

Bus Route Modifications
Along these modified routes, buses will use existing bus stops. The routes for the following bus lines will be temporarily modified:

• Line 227 (Ag. Artemios - Petralona) 
  Towards Ag. Artemios: From Pireos St., the bus will continue straight on Pireos St. to Omonia Square and then resume its regular route.
  Towards Petralona: From Sokratous St., the bus will turn right onto Pireos St. and then resume its regular route.
   
• Lines 025 and 026 
  From Ippokratous: The route will be diverted from Omirou St. via Panepistimiou St., Omonia Square, Sokratous St., Pireos St., and Millerou St. before resuming its regular path.
  Towards Ippokratous: The route will be diverted from Thermopylon St. via Pireos St., Omonia Square, and Stadiou St. before resuming its regular path.
   
• Line 035 (Tavros - Kypseli) 
  Towards Tavros: From Sokratous St., the bus will turn right onto Pireos St. and then resume its regular route.
  Towards Kypseli: From Pireos St., the bus will continue straight on Pireos St. to Omonia Square and then resume its regular route.

For Press Enquiries contact the Press Office of Develop Athens: [email protected]