Marathon on October 19: Major street closures in Palma – what residents and commuters need to know

Extensive closures on Sunday, October 19

If you are in Palma this Sunday, allow extra time. The TUI Palma Marathon will bring large parts of the city center to a standstill. Affected are, among others, Passeig del Born, Sant Miquel Street, Passeig Mallorca, and well-known shopping streets like Jaume III and Sindicat. Those traveling early will already encounter signs and police barriers from around 6:00 a.m.

Paseo Marítimo and start/finish area

A large section of Paseo Marítimo between Porto Pi and Portitxol is also closed. For this area, different times apply: residents and drivers should expect restrictions from around 6:30 a.m.; many closures remain until early afternoon. In the start and finish area (section between Antoni Maura and Avenida Gabriel Alomar) there are additional restrictions in certain directions — some closures even apply from 1:00 a.m. until the afternoon.

What happens to the city buses

The municipal transport company EMT has announced schedule changes. Some lines are completely canceled, others are rerouted. Most affected are lines 1 and 30, which do not run that day. Other lines (including 3, 4, 7, 18, 20, 23, 25, 31, 35 and A1) follow detours. On parts of the route, bus lanes are used by the marathon, causing stops along Passeig Mallorca and in the old town ring to be temporarily removed — including well-known stops like Passeig Mallorca, Instituts, or Porta des Camp.

Overland buses (TIB) also affected

Long-distance connections (TIB) to and from Palma are also changing routes; several lines are affected (including 101–106 as well as 501 and 504). Commuters from the surrounding area should check their departure and arrival points carefully that day; the TIB website provides official notices and maps with the detours.

Practical tip: If you don't absolutely need to go to the city center, avoid the area completely on Sunday morning. For drivers, this means: leave early or use a park-and-ride alternative. Pedestrians and cyclists should follow the signs — behind the barriers, volunteers and police are working to keep the race safe. And yes: in many cafes along the route there is fresh coffee and applause for the runners after the start, if you happen to watch.

In short: The marathon is a major sporting event, but it costs time and flexibility on Sunday. Plan your routes, check EMT and TIB information the night before, and expect detours — then your Sunday outing should go smoothly.