Parking in the City: How to Not Pay €40/Day and Vow Never to Drive Again

Save up to 60% on parking with these proven tools and strategies — and preserve what remains of your sanity in the process

Always book in advance

Parking through digital platforms can be 50–60% cheaper when booked 24–48 hours in advance. Real-time pricing (without prior reservation) is always the highest — it's the parking equivalent of buying a flight at the airport on the day. If you know when you'll be parking, book ahead and save enough for a decent coffee.

Parkimeter — leader in Spanish cities

Parkimeter is the leading platform in Spain with over 1,500 parking facilities in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Bilbao. It specialises in certified covered car parks with good security ratings. Offers reservations with free cancellation and prices from €2/hour — which, in central Madrid, is still something of a statistical miracle.

Easypark — pay only for what you use

Easypark (formerly ElParking) works differently: instead of booking a fixed space, you pay for regulated on-street parking (blue/green zones) directly from the app and stop the timer when you return to your car. No paper ticket, no paying for ten minutes you didn't use. Available in 20+ European countries.

Parclick — airport parking specialist

Parclick excels at airport parking (MAD, BCN, SVQ, AGP, VLC) with included shuttle service. Prices are typically 40–50% cheaper than official airport parking — which appears to be priced on the principle that by the time you've arrived, you have no alternatives. Also operates in Spanish and Italian cities with good coverage.

JustPark — private resident spaces

JustPark includes a unique network of private spaces: residents and businesses rent out their garages when not in use. These are often the cheapest and best-located spots — with the added advantage that the owner has a personal stake in the experience going well. Very popular in the UK with growing presence in Spain and Western Europe.

Use Park & Ride (P+R) facilities

In Barcelona (Fira, Zona Franca), Madrid (Hortaleza, Valdecarros), Amsterdam (P+R Noord) and other cities, peripheral car parks with included public transport cost €3–6/day compared to €30–40/day in the centre. Leave the car on the outskirts and take the metro — and use the journey to remind yourself why you don't normally drive into city centres.