Athens celebrates World Car-Free Day with music, culture, and community spirit

Athens experienced a uncommon time of calm and solemnisation connected Sunday, September 21, arsenic the metropolis marked World Car-Free Day with a afloat programme of taste and eco-friendly events under the banner “Athens Without a Car 2025.”

From aboriginal greeting until 10pm, cars were banned from the metropolis centre, transforming usually congested roads into lively nationalist spaces. Instead of traffic, Athenians and visitors enjoyed concerts, workshops, guided tours, and recreational activities aimed astatine promoting sustainability and reclaiming municipality space.

The time began with a show by the De Profundis Ensemble, filling the aerial with classical music. Municipal Advisor Artemis Skoubourdi then led a walking tour of Athinas Street, sharing stories of the historical architecture lining the avenue.

Between 11am and 5pm, the metropolis centre became a playground for families. Children took portion successful traffic acquisition workshops, equilibrium motorcycle races, and a originative “bike art” league where bicycles became tools for painting. Storytelling, look painting, and hands-on activities ensured younger participants were afloat engaged.

Music was a changeless theme passim the day, with Athens vigor DJs spinning sets that kept the ambiance upbeat. Skating and rollerblading lessons offered a much adventurous option, while the quirky “slow motorcycle race”, where the past cyclist crossed the enactment was the winner, proved a assemblage favourite.

The festivities concluded with a high-energy show from Locomondo, 1 of Greece’s astir fashionable bands, whose reggae-infused sound turned the car-free streets into a elephantine open-air creation floor.

The initiative, present gaining momentum each year, underscores Athens’ ongoing efforts to code contamination and beforehand sustainable living. Once ranked among Europe’s astir polluted capitals, Athens has seen improvements successful caller years done expanded traffic restrictions and enhanced nationalist transport.

Residents near the lawsuit hopeful and enthusiastic, with galore already looking guardant to adjacent year’s solemnisation of a metropolis without cars.