Palma at the Weekend: Closures, Detours and What Residents Should Know

Where the traffic cones are and why Palma briefly goes quiet

Over the weekend Plaça Pere Garau will once again become a scene of fairground smells, cotton candy and honking: the small fair Fira del Variat takes place on the square and in the evening the Cursa Nocturna Sa Murada runs through parts of the old town. The result is temporarily closed streets, detours and full car parks – a pattern well known in Palma by now.

Key times at a glance

Pere Garau: From Saturday 3:00 PM the Plaça is completely closed to motorised traffic. The closure remains in place until Monday morning at around 3:00 AM. If you need to leave early on Sunday, you should park elsewhere in good time.

Night run (Cursa Nocturna): Between 7:30 PM and 10:30 PM parts of the city centre are affected. Specifically: Carrer Antoni Maura (between the customs building and Plaça de la Reina) as well as sections of Conquistador and Palau Reial towards the Mirador. The exit from the car park at Parc de la Mar via Antoni Maura also remains closed during this time.

Which bus lines are running differently

The EMT has rerouted several lines or announced suspended stops. Affected are among others L5, L27, L28, L39, L40, Nit Bus 3 and line 25 (especially on the evening of the run). Important for commuters: the stops 210, 211, 209 and 1319 in the Pere Garau area are temporarily cancelled. Line 25 detours during the run via Avinguda Argentina – Jaume III – Plaça de la Reina.

What residents, delivery services and visitors should pay attention to

My tip from the neighbourhood: if you can manage, leave the car at home. On foot or by bike many inner-city blocks are often quicker to reach on Saturday than by taxi — everyone here knows the frantic honking and the long queue at the car park entrance.

Delivery companies and service providers should take the EMT notices seriously and move their rounds forward. People with reduced mobility in particular must plan ahead: ask event organisers about access routes or reserved parking spaces, because improvised solutions are rarely tolerated here.

Key question: Do such closures have a place in a lively city — and how can they be made more compatible?

It's common sense: city festivals and runs enliven Palma, they bring people onto the streets and create atmosphere. At the same time, the short, recurring closures cause stress for commuters, supply chains and residents. The more central question therefore is: how can we better combine celebration and everyday life without constantly slowing down one group?

Less noticed problems — and concrete proposals

1) Information gaps: Many annoyances are not caused by the closure itself, but by a lack of targeted communication. Solution: simple, early notifications by SMS for registered residents, clearer signage at access roads and an online map with the temporary stops.

2) Delivery logistics: Package delivery often collapses because no temporary loading zones are provided. Solution: short-term loading zones at the edges of the restricted area with clear time windows and a registration option for delivery services.

3) Accessible access: People with mobility impairments are easily overlooked. Solution: pre-registration for access permits and a small, signposted management team at the barriers to assist with crossing.

4) Public transport prioritisation: buses make detours and lose travel time. Solution: temporary bus lanes and coordinated traffic lights during major events – this eases traffic and makes public transport more attractive.

Practical tips that can be implemented immediately

- Check traffic reports and the EMT app on Friday evening. A quick look will save you nerves tomorrow.
- Park a little further out (e.g. in car parks along the Passeig) and allow time for the last mile.
- If you are a resident: inform neighbours about vehicle movements so that no one suddenly faces a barrier.
- A short walk through the Fira can be pleasant — but plan that you won't be able to just drive back to your parking spot.

In the end, on these days Palma is at once louder and warmer, with the smell of toasted almonds in the air and the clatter of barrier chains. With some planning and the right organisational changes, however, these events could become less of a burden and more of a relaxed urban pleasure.