Malaga to shut down one of it’s busiest street this Sunday for Car Free Day, what you can expect

Fancy a Sunday stroll through this stunning city without dodging bumper-to-bumper cars? Malaga is about to close one of its busiest avenues back to pedestrians, cyclists and families for one morning only.

What’s happening and when

Paseo del Parque, one of the city’s busiest areas, will close completely to motor traffic between 8.30am and 2.30pm on Sunday, September 20 as part of the annual Car-Free Day. Drivers will need to reroute via parallel streets, though junctions at Plaza General Torrijos and Boquete del Muelle that will stay open throughout the closure.

Bus passengers should plan ahead too. EMT, the local transport operator, has confirmed temporary stops for several affected routes, with line A shifting to stop 32646, lines 1, 37 and C1 moving to stop 2168, and line 3 relocating to stop 888. A map of alternative stops has been published for anyone wanting to check their journey before setting off.

Why the avenue is closing

Car-Free Day forms part of European Mobility Week, which runs across the continent from September 16 to 22. This year’s campaign, “Mobility for Everyone – Intergenerational Fairness”, pushes councils to design transport that works for every generation, from schoolchildren to pensioners, regardless of income or ability. Cities across Europe, from Reykjavík to Rome, are marking the week with car-free zones, cycling schemes and free public transport initiatives.

Malaga’s town hall, working with Local Police, Civil Protection, EMT and several local departments, has built a full morning of activities designed to get residents thinking about how they move around their own city.

Local Police will display one of their vehicles and demonstrate the equipment used in everyday traffic checks, giving visitors a rare look behind the scenes of road safety enforcement. Civil Protection volunteers will run cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillator workshops, plus bicycle repair sessions and skill-based challenges for younger visitors. Also for the little ones, the Environmental Sustainability department will be setting up a tent packed with eco-awareness games and activities.

History buffs and transport enthusiasts should not miss EMT’s exhibition of vintage and current buses, tracing how public transport has evolved across the city over the decades. Skating fans can catch a display from local clubs Patinaje Al Andalus and CPV Malaga between 10am and 1pm, while a dedicated information point on the city’s Low Emission Zone will answer residents’ questions about the scheme.

Anyone planning to drive through the centre this weekend would do well to check those diversions first, and perhaps consider joining in the theme and leaving the car at home altogether.