Car-Free Athinas Street: A 24-Hour Celebration of Sustainable Mobility in the Heart of Athens

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.

The Car-Free Athinas Street event, now in its second year, is organised by the This is Athens City 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, scooters, 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.

Programme Highlights

SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

20:30–23:00 | Disco Roller Party – DJ Nicola Lavacca
A nostalgic throwback to the golden age of disco, with iconic tracks from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Lace up your skates and join the party under the stars.

23:30–05:30 | Midnight Express: Outdoor Film Marathon
A late-night open-air cinema experience with three cult classics, curated by film critic Akis Kapranos, featuring:

• The Love Bug (1968)
• Christine (1983)
• Blade Runner (1982)

SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

08:00–10:00 | Morning Yoga
Start the day with a calming yoga session in the heart of the city.

11:00–14:00 | Fitness Fun
A series of guided workouts for all ages and abilities.

Family & Creative Activities (at various times throughout Sunday)

• Mission: No Car – Children’s Workshop
  Children explore a car-free city and discover fun, sustainable ways to get around after a solar storm disables all vehicles.
• No Car Adventure – Theatrical Game
  A playful journey through themed stations on Athinas Street promoting safe, green city living.
• Dinoverse: Thought They Went Extinct?
  Meet and play with Ross, a life-sized teen T-Rex roaming the city in this interactive dino experience.
• Bicycle Workshop: How I Imagine the City
  Children use art to reimagine their dream city on a transformed, turf-covered street canvas.
• The Breathing City – Kids Workshop
  Young children learn about clean transport and city living through movement and imaginative play.
• Recycle to the Beat – Paint for a Cause
  Families paint recycling bins to raise awareness and bring eco-art into schools and neighbourhoods.
• Tracing the New Bike Lane
  A guided ride previews Athens’ upcoming Bike Lane Network with support from police and cycling groups.
• Pedal Power Workshop – Cycling Track with Signs
  Children learn road safety by cycling through a fun track with real traffic signs.
• Spin Art Bicycle Workshop – Paint with My Bike
  Create unique artwork by pedalling a spinning paint bike and take home your colourful creation.

11:00–17:00 | Get Skated & Educated
Skateboarding and rollerblading sessions with expert instructors from the Ministry of Concrete.

12:00–15:00 | Comic & Caricature Workshops
Live drawing and creative sessions with award-winning illustrators Dimitra Adamopoulou, Nikolas Stefadouros, and Thanasis Petropoulos.

12:00–15:00 | Not Even A Quiz
Antonis Vavagiannis, the mind behind a beloved comic strip, hosts a Q&A that’s anything but ordinary.

13:00–17:00 | Cool Crips – Rethinking Disability
An immersive workshop exploring accessibility and social inclusion.

15:00–18:30 | DJ Sets by Athens’ Top Radio Producers
An eclectic afternoon of music from leading local DJs.

18:30–20:00 | Panos Vlahos Live
An energetic live performance by actor and singer-songwriter Panos Vlahos, blending music, humour, and spontaneity.

For one weekend, 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.

The action is implemented within the framework of the Act "Actions to promote, enhance and promote tourism in the Municipality of Athens" / Sub-project 1, which is included in the "Attica 2021-2027" Programme, MIS 6018475, and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).