Is there free parking in Amsterdam? Not in the city centre: there you pay 24/7, also on Sundays. Further out you can still park for free, on Sundays in many districts, in the evening in many outer zones and in most of the Amsterdamse Bos. And for a day in the centre, Park and Ride at € 6 per 24 hours is the best deal.
Coming by car? My honest advice: in Amsterdam “free” parking usually costs you time instead of money. Below you’ll find where free parking still exists, the parking rates for 2026 and how to pay.
Last updated: 11 November 2026
Parking in Amsterdam at a glance
- Free parking: never in the centre, but free on Sundays and evenings in many outer districts and in the Amsterdamse Bos
- Street parking: € 0,20 to € 8,05 per hour, the centre is paid 24/7, check the rate for your street
- Cheapest for the centre: Park and Ride (P+R), € 6 per 24 hours after 10:00 and at weekends
- Parking garages: about the same as street parking, pre-book a spot online
- Hotel garage: from € 27 a day at Leonardo Hotel Rembrandtpark
- Parking fine: € 79,10 plus the hourly rate, how to avoid it
Is there free parking in Amsterdam?
Yes, but not where most visitors want to be. Inside the canal belt and the rest of the city centre parking is paid 24/7, every day of the week. Amsterdam has also been turning its last free zones into paid ones (the last free zone in Noord became paid in November 2025, Gein in Zuidoost in April 2026), so free parking now means outer districts, Sundays, evenings or a few special spots.
| Where | When it’s free | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| City centre (canal belt, Jordaan) | Never | Paid 24/7, also on Sundays, up to € 8,05 per hour |
| Oost, Nieuw-West, West (west of the Kostverlorenkade), Zuid (south of the Amstelkanaal), all of Zuidoost | Sundays | Free street parking on Sundays in large parts of these districts, paid Monday to Saturday |
| Many zones outside the centre | Evenings and nights | Paid parking stops at 19:00, 21:00 or midnight depending on the zone, then it’s free until the morning |
| Amsterdamse Bos | Most car parks always free | The car park at the main entrance is paid; in the blue zones you can park for 2 hours with a parking disc |
| Some Q-Park garages outside the centre | First hour (Molukkenstraat, Spaklerweg, Gelderlandplein) or first 90 minutes (De Overkant in Noord, Geuzenpoort in Nieuw-West) | Fine for a short stop, not for a day in the city |
| Whole city | King’s Day, Tuesday 27 April 2027 | Free, but many streets are closed and packed with people |
Rules change from street to street, so always check the sign at the parking machine or enter the street name on the official Amsterdam parking map before you leave the car.
My tip: free Sunday parking in Oost or Zuid only works if you’re happy to take a tram into the centre anyway. In that case Park and Ride costs only € 6 per 24 hours, gives you a guarded car park and a cheap return ticket to the centre, and saves you the search for a free spot.
Do hotels in Amsterdam have free parking?
Almost never. Hotels in the centre of Amsterdam charge € 45 to € 100 a day for parking. One exception is Bastion Hotel Amsterdam Amstel, which offers free parking and is a 10-minute walk from Van der Madeweg metro station. You can also park cheaper at a garage outside the centre and travel in by public transport:
- Parking Centrum Oosterdok (near Amsterdam Centraal station): from € 10 to € 25 a day if you book in advance.
- Parking at Leonardo Hotel Rembrandtpark: from € 27 a day (tip: you can also book an affordable room at this hotel, it’s 15 minutes by tram from the city centre).
- Parking at Leonardo Royal Hotel Amstel: from € 29 a day.
Parking rates and prices in Amsterdam
Parking rates in Amsterdam differ a lot by area, and often also by day and time of day. You can check street parking rates and hours on the official Amsterdam municipality map: choose a location and see which parking rates apply there.
| Parking option | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Street parking, centre | up to € 8,05 per hour | paid 24/7 |
| Street parking, outer districts | from € 0,20 per hour | often free in the evening or on Sundays |
| Parking garage | similar to street parking | pre-book online |
| Hotel garage (Leonardo) | from € 27 a day | book a spot |
| P+R, off-peak | € 6 per 24 hours | weekdays after 10:00, weekends |
| P+R, peak | € 13 per 24 hours | weekday arrivals before 10:00 |
| Parking fine | € 79,10 plus the hourly rate | see parking fines |
Visiting the Netherlands? Make sure you also book tickets to the popular museums (the Anne Frank house, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum) and international train tickets from Amsterdam to Paris, Brussels or Bruges in advance.
Street parking in Amsterdam: parking zones
Amsterdam is divided into several parking zones. An hourly rate for street parking in 2026 ranges from € 0,20 to € 8,05. The closer to the city centre, the higher the price.
Enter the street name and you will see what parking rates apply in that parking zone.
How to pay for street parking in Amsterdam
Street parking works on pre-payment and is cashless: you pay by debit or credit card at a machine close to your spot, or with a parking app. At most machines you enter your number plate; at some you get a receipt that you put on a visible spot under the windscreen.
No car yet? Rent a car at Schiphol airport upon arrival. And for your days in the city, check out our list of things to do in Amsterdam and our 2-day itinerary for first-time visitors.
Parking fines
A parking fine in Amsterdam in 2026 is € 79,10 plus the hourly parking tariff. Cars are checked by scan cars that read number plates, so pay as soon as you park, even for a short stop.
Amsterdam parking garages
The prices in Amsterdam parking garages are generally similar to the tariffs for street parking. The advantage of garages is that you pay when you leave, so you can enjoy the city without worrying about being back within a pre-paid time limit.
Here you can find an overview of the biggest parking garages. Some of them let you reserve a spot online, which is often cheaper than the price at the gate.
Looking for cheaper parking options in Amsterdam? You can leave your car at one of Amsterdam’s P+R locations.
Park and Ride (P+R) in Amsterdam
Park & Ride (P+R) is the cheapest way to park for a visit to the centre of Amsterdam. You park at one of Amsterdam’s P+R car parks on the outskirts of the city and travel to the centre by public transport.
Park and Ride prices in Amsterdam
P+R parking costs € 6 or € 13 per 24 hours. The P+R rates are calculated as follows:
- off-peak parking rate: € 6 per day (Monday to Friday for arrivals after 10:00, and all day at weekends and on public holidays).
- peak parking rate: € 13 per day (Monday to Friday for arrivals before 10:00).
- you are allowed to park for a maximum of 4 days (one exception: at P+R RAI the maximum is 24 hours).
Please note: after you’ve parked your car, you must travel into the city centre by public transport, using your OV-chipkaart, a debit or credit card (OVpay) or a P+R GVB ticket. You can buy discounted P+R GVB tickets from the machine at each site (up to 5 people per car, for the trip there and back).
| People | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | € 6 | € 6 | € 7 | € 8,50 | € 9,50 |
Good to know: how to use public transport in Amsterdam. Check the more detailed instructions on how to use Park and Ride in Amsterdam and the list of all P+R locations.
FAQ: parking in Amsterdam
Is there free parking in Amsterdam?
Not in the city centre: street parking there is paid 24/7, also on Sundays. Outside the centre parking is free on Sundays in large parts of Oost, Nieuw-West, West, Zuid and all of Zuidoost, and in the evening in many outer zones once paid hours end. Most car parks in the Amsterdamse Bos and the whole city on King’s Day are free too. Check the free parking table above.
Is parking free on Sundays in Amsterdam?
Not in the city centre, where you pay 24/7. Street parking is free on Sundays in large parts of Oost, Nieuw-West, West (west of the Kostverlorenkade), Zuid (south of the Amstelkanaal) and all of Zuidoost. It depends on the zone, so check the official parking map or the sign on the parking machine.
Is parking free at night in Amsterdam?
In many zones outside the centre, yes: paid parking ends at 19:00, 21:00 or midnight depending on the zone, and starts again the next morning. In the city centre parking is paid 24/7, so there is no free night parking there.
Is parking free on King’s Day?
Yes, street parking is free citywide on King’s Day (Tuesday 27 April 2027). In practice, though, this isn’t very useful: large parts of the city are closed to traffic, streets are packed with crowds, and finding an actual spot can take far longer than it’s worth. Park and Ride combined with public transport is a much more realistic option that day.
Do hotels in Amsterdam have free parking?
Very rarely. Hotels in the centre charge € 45 to € 100 a day for parking. Bastion Hotel Amsterdam Amstel is an exception with free parking, a 10-minute walk from Van der Madeweg metro station.
What’s the cheapest way to park in Amsterdam?
Park and Ride (P+R) at one of the official locations on the edge of the city, then travel in by public transport with a P+R GVB ticket. It costs € 6 per 24 hours off-peak (weekdays after 10:00, all weekend, and holidays) or € 13 for peak arrivals before 10:00 on weekdays, far cheaper than street parking or a garage in the centre.
How much does street parking cost in Amsterdam?
Rates vary by zone, roughly € 0,20 to € 8,05 per hour. The closer you are to the city centre, the more expensive it gets: the highest rate applies in the centre, 24/7. Always check the official Amsterdam parking map for the exact rate on your specific street, since it can change from block to block.
How much is a parking fine in Amsterdam?
A parking fine (naheffingsaanslag) costs € 79,10, on top of at least one hour of the parking fee for that spot. If your car is scanned more than once at the same location, you’ll also owe the parking fee for the whole period between scans, so a missed payment can add up fast.
Can I pay for street parking with cash or coins?
No. Street parking in Amsterdam is cashless: you pay by card, contactless, or a parking app. Most machines ask you to enter your licence plate; others print a receipt that you need to leave visibly on your dashboard.
Enjoy your stay in Amsterdam!
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- There are hundreds of nice hotels in Amsterdam for every taste and budget, and you can filter for hotels with parking. We recommend Ambassade hotel, Andaz Prinsengracht and other hotels in the Nine Streets area on the canal belt of Amsterdam.
- Travel by public transport in Amsterdam with an unlimited pass for 1-7 days. With the Amsterdam Travel Ticket you can also travel from and to the airport by train or bus.
- Alternatively buy the I amsterdam city card, which includes city public transport, museums entrance, a canal cruise and 24 hours bike rental.
- Check out our list of best things to do in Amsterdam.
Related articles:
- Keukenhof parking: from € 10 a day
- Amsterdam itinerary: best of the city in 2 days
- Top-rated museums in Amsterdam in 2026
- Canal cruises in Amsterdam
- Things to do in Amsterdam with kids
- I amsterdam card: what is free and how to use it?
- De 9 Straatjes: Amsterdam’s Nine little streets
About the author
Written by a local
Anastasia Dudina
I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2013 and exploring it ever since. I write and update all articles on Amsterdam Explorer and Holland Explorer myself: real tips, not tourist traps.