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€8.05/hr. 24/7 enforcement. No free streets in the centre. But P+R lets you park for €1/day and ride public transport included. Here's exactly what you need to know.
Amsterdam charges for parking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in most of the city centre — including Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. The rate in the innermost zones is €8.05 per hour, which is higher than central London and nearly double Paris. A single day of on-street parking near the Rijksmuseum costs around €65–€80.
This is not an accident. Amsterdam has been deliberately pricing cars out of the centre for 20+ years. The good news: the P+R (Park and Ride) system is excellent, and most tourist attractions are within 20 minutes of any P+R location by public transport.
Amsterdam operates 8 official P+R (Park and Ride) locations on the outskirts. The price is €1 per 24 hours and this includes unlimited GVB public transport (metro, tram, bus) into the centre for all passengers in your vehicle. That means a family of four gets 4 GVB day passes plus parking for €1. It is by far the cheapest and most sensible tourist parking option.
The €1 rate is activated by checking in with your OV-chipkaart on arrival. If you don't have one, you can buy a disposable OV-chipkaart at the P+R machine. The rate is capped at €1 per 24-hour period.
All charge €1/24hr. Public transport to centre included.
| P+R Location | Direction | To Centre | Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P+R Arena | Southeast (A2) | Metro 54 — 15 min | 2,600 | Biggest, easiest from south/east |
| P+R Sloterdijk | West (A10) | Tram 19 — 12 min | 1,100 | From A4/A9 direction |
| P+R Zeeburg | East (A10) | Tram 26 — 10 min | 1,200 | Waterfront and East Amsterdam |
| P+R Boven 't Y | North (A10) | Ferry — 8 min | 400 | NDSM wharf visitors |
| P+R Olympisch Stadion | Southwest | Tram 24 — 14 min | 600 | Museum Quarter visitors |
| P+R Nieuwe Meer | Southwest (A10) | Bus 62 — 18 min | 550 | From Schiphol direction |
| P+R Transferium Kraaiennest | Southeast (A9) | Metro 54 — 20 min | 1,050 | From Utrecht/Almere direction |
| P+R Hendrikkade | East | Tram 7 — 12 min | 380 | Eastern harbour area |
All P+R locations: €1/24hr, includes GVB public transport for all passengers. OV-chipkaart needed at arrival machine.
If P+R isn't suitable (hotel luggage, disability, short visit), these are the best central garage options.
| Garage | Area | Per Hour | Per Day | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobihub Rembrandtpark | West | €1.25/hr | ~€10/day | 2.0m |
| Q-Park Centrum | Centre | €5.80/hr | €40/day | 1.9m |
| Europarking | Centre-West | €5.00/hr | €45/day | 2.0m |
| Parking De Bijenkorf | Dam Square | €6.00/hr | €50/day | 1.9m |
| Parking Waterlooplein | Centre-East | €4.50/hr | €38/day | 2.0m |
| Parking IJDock | Waterfront North | €3.50/hr | €28/day | 2.2m |
Pre-booking via Q-Park or Parkbee apps typically saves 15–25% on day rates.
Amsterdam's parking is divided into zones, each with different rates and hours. The closer to the centre, the higher the rate. Here's how it breaks down:
Rate: €8.05/hr. Paid hours: Mon–Sun 9:00–24:00. No free periods. This is the most expensive zone and covers the historic canal ring, the Jordaan neighbourhood, Leidseplein, and the Museumplein area. If you see a pay machine near the Rijksmuseum or Anne Frank House, you're in Zone A.
Rate: €6.50/hr. Paid hours vary: typically Mon–Sat 9:00–24:00, some areas also Sunday 12:00–24:00. Slightly cheaper but still expensive. Covers areas like the Vondelpark surroundings and Oosterpark neighbourhood.
Rate: €3.00–4.00/hr. Some areas free on Sundays and evenings. Further from the centre but potentially walkable to your destination if you're staying in outer neighbourhoods.
About 60% of Amsterdam street spaces are residents-only, marked with blue-bordered bays showing a permit code (like "E3" or "Centrum-West"). You cannot park here as a tourist even if you pay at the machine — the space is physically reserved for permit holders. Violation results in a €82.00 fine.
Many tourists arrive, see a space, pay what they think is enough time, and return to a fine. Why? Because they didn't realise that parking in Zone A costs €8.05/hr, not €2–3 like they expected from experience in other countries. Always check the rate on the nearby pay machine before leaving your car.
Amsterdam Sundays are NOT free. Central zones charge Mon–Sun 9:00–24:00. This is one of the most common tourist mistakes. See our free Sunday parking guide for which Dutch cities actually do have free Sundays.
Blue-bordered bays with a permit code are residents-only. Paying at the machine doesn't help — the machine may even accept your money but the bay still isn't for you. Look for bays without the permit code border.
Driving around Amsterdam looking for parking wastes time and fuel, and often ends in expensive on-street parking. Pre-book a garage spot via Q-Park or Parkbee before you arrive — you'll save 15–25% and avoid the stress.
Use P+R Arena. It's on the A2/A9 from the south, has 2,600 spaces, and Metro 54 takes 15 minutes to Centraal Station. Cost: €1. This is objectively the best option for day visitors.
Call your hotel before arrival and ask about parking arrangements. Many Amsterdam hotels have deals with nearby garages. Alternatively, leave your car at P+R Arena for the weekend and rely on public transport — Amsterdam has excellent GVB tram/metro coverage.
If you genuinely only need 2–3 hours near your destination, a central garage is acceptable. Pre-book via Parkbee or Q-Park. Avoid on-street parking in the centre — the garages are often cheaper per hour than the street rate and you avoid the fine risk.
Amsterdam has excellent EV charging infrastructure. Many P+R locations have charging points. Check our EV parking guide for locations and costs.
Parkmobile covers all Amsterdam zones. You can start a session from your phone and extend remotely — avoiding the risk of overstaying while you're in a museum.
Many Amsterdam garages have 1.9m or 2.0m height limits. SUVs, vans, and high-roof vehicles may not fit. Check the garage specs before driving in — you can't reverse out on a busy ramp.
Amsterdam streets look very similar. Take a photo of the street name sign and nearest landmark. You'll be glad you did after a full day of sightseeing.
Most Amsterdam parking machines accept credit and debit cards. A few older machines are cash-only. The Parkmobile app is the most reliable payment method.
P+R Arena and several other locations have EV charging points. Check the P+R website before arrival if you need to charge.
During Ajax home games, concerts at Ziggo Dome, or ADE (October), P+R Arena fills up fast. Arrive early or use P+R Sloterdijk as an alternative.
Centre street parking: €8.05/hr, 24/7. A full day costs ~€65–80. The cheapest tourist option is P+R at €1 per 24 hours including public transport for all passengers.
No. Amsterdam charges 9:00–24:00 on Sundays in the centre. Some outer zones are free on Sundays — always check the local sign. See our city-by-city Sunday parking guide.
Park and Ride (P+R): park on the outskirts for €1/24hr, which includes unlimited GVB public transport for all passengers. Check in with OV-chipkaart at the machine on arrival. 8 locations around the city.
Most Amsterdam pay machines accept contactless cards. Some older machines are cash-only. The Parkmobile app is the most reliable method and lets you extend sessions remotely.
The fine (€82.00 + unpaid parking fee) is sent to your registered address. EU vehicles are fully traceable. See our parking fines guide for how to pay or appeal.
This site is 100% free. No paywalls. If our tips helped you avoid an expensive mistake, a small tip keeps the rates updated.