Amsterdam is a historic city with many small streets and a lot of traffic. In an effort to keep out cars, parking rates have gotten sky high. You have to pay practically everywhere within the city borders for parking. Within the center, you’ll pay a parking rate between €3-5 per hour. Besides the high parking rates, finding a free parking spot can be challenging. This is why locals mainly rely on their bicycles and public transport in Amsterdam.

So if you plan on visiting Amsterdam by car, parking is really something to take into account. You might want to select a hotel that has parking facilities, or park elsewhere during your stay. Apart from the parking difficulties in the capital, the Netherlands has one of the best road infrastructures in the world. So don’t be afraid to visit Amsterdam by car, but make sure to come prepared! As Amsterdam is a relatively small city compared to other European capitals, chances that you need your car are scarce.

Parking options & tips

As stated before, parking in Amsterdam is practically never free. However, for the parking rates, it does matter a lot where exactly you park. So we’ve gathered the following tips, so you can keep your parking expenses as low as possible. When visiting Amsterdam by car, please note that;

• There are several P+R zones in Amsterdam. These parking lots are designated areas where visitors can park their car. Usage of these parking facilities isn’t free, but prices are just a fraction of what you’d pay for parking on the streets.
• Amsterdam is divided into the different parking zones with its own rates. Naturally, the city centre is the most expensive parking zone. Depending on your destination, it might be worth walking a bit from one zone to another.
• There are companies, such as Mobypark parking specialized in renting out parking spots in the city centre for reasonable rates. By booking a parking spot online, you ensure yourself of a convenient parking spot near your destination in a safe environment for your car. Besides, it’s also cheaper than parking on the streets.
• If you need a car for transportation within the city, you can also use the shared Car2go’s. These electric cars can easily be picked up and dropped off anywhere in Amsterdam, without having to worry about parking costs. If you signup with car2go, you can leave your car elsewhere.
• Pick a hotel that suits your parking needs. If you need your car near your hotel, you might want to pick a hotel in the South Eastern or Northern part of Amsterdam or a hotel that has parking facilities.

Park plus ride (P+R) in Amsterdam

Making use of the Park + Ride (P+R) facilities is the best way to save money on your parking expenses. In our opinion, this is the best option when you plan to be for half a day or more in Amsterdam’s city centre by car. The Park plus Ride spots are located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, nearby motorways and have an outstanding public transport connection to the city centre. Do keep in mind that there are certain requirements for parking at discounted Park + Ride rates, which we’ll discuss later.

How much does P+R parking cost in Amsterdam?

Parking at a Park and Ride zone will only cost you either €1,– or €8,– per 24 hours of parking, depending on your time of arrival. A major saving compared to street parking, which costs up to €45,- per 24 hours. At the P+R zones, you are allowed to par up to 96 hours. The parking rates at the P+R work as follows;

• Arrival during weekdays before 10:00 a.m. will cost you €8,- the first 24 hours. The next 24 hours will cost you only €1,-
• Arrival during the weekend or on weekdays after 10:00 a.m. will cost you €1,- per 24 hours.

What are the requirements for the discounted P+R parking?

The parking rates mentioned above are discounted rates, regular price for parking in these areas is €1.40 or 3.50 per hour. In order to get the discounted rates, you have to travel into the city centre zone by public transport. Make sure to keep your public transport ticket, as it will be checked by the P+R vending machine. Please note that you have to purchase your public transport ticket within an hour after parking your car.

Summary of P+R conditions

1. Make sure you only travel in the city centre zones by public transport. Take a look at the P+R map above.
2. Don’t forget to check in and out with your public transport card.
3. Use public transport on your return to the P+R where you parked your car./li>
4. To pay the P+R is mandatory to get your P+R discount.

As we mentioned earlier, our mission is to help you get the best out of your stay in Amsterdam. If you doubt whether you will be able to meet the conditions above, then you should consider other options, such as Mobypark, or simply paying the regular parking rates.

Thingstodoinamsterdam.com tip:: Take a screenshot of the infographic below to make sure you carry the right information with you:

Rates for street parking

You have to pay parking expenses practically everywhere within the A10 city ring. Naturally the further away you get from the centre, the cheaper the rates. Outside of the city ring, parking rates are usually a lot cheaper but still apply. These area’s include; Slotervaart, Buitenveldert, Plein 40-45, IJburg, Osdoper-plein, Noord, Amsterdamse Poort and the area of the Arena station. The map below provides an overview of the parking prices. Please note: these are average prices to provide you with a quick overview. In the table below the image, you can find the accurate prices.

The schedule below shows you the parking rates in and around Amsterdam. Just look at the prices and use Google maps to show the locations of the parking spaces.

Location in Amsterdam	Day and time	Parking rate
Amsterdam center, Oude Stadshart	Monday until Saturday from 09:00 a.m. up to 02:00 a.m. – Sunday from 12.00 in the afternoon up to 02:00 a.m.	€5,- per hour
Amsterdam center, Grachtengordel around Stadshart – Also includes: Amsterdam East (Oosterparkbuurt and Weesperzijdestrook) and Amsterdam South (Pijp-Noord, Museumkwartier and Concertgebouwbuurt)	Monday until Saturday from 09:00 up to 24.00 at night. – Sunday from 12.00 in the afternoon up to 24:00 at night.	€4,- per hour
Amsterdam center,  – Oostelijke Eilanden – Also includes: Amsterdam West (Oud-West and Westerpark), Amsterdam East – (Oostelijk havengebied), Amsterdam South (De Pijp-Zuid, Stationbuurt, and Hoofddorppleinbuurt)	Monday until Saturday from 09:00 until 21:00 in the evening.	€3, – per hour
Amsterdam West – (De Baarsjes, and Bos en Lommer), Amsterdam East (Indische buurt en Watergraafsmeer, IJburg en bedrijventerrein Overamstel), and Amsterdam South (Rivierenbuurt)	Monday until Saturday from 09:00 until 21:00 in the evening. Note: In the Baarsjes and Bos en Lommer it is up to 24:00	€2,40 – per hour
Amsterdam West – (Bos en Lommer in the area outside of the boarders of freeway A10)	Monday until Saturday from 09:00 up to 19:00	€1,40 – per hour
Amsterdam North – (NDSM, Bezaanjachtplein, Buikslotermeer and Waterlandplein)	Monday until Friday from 09:00 up to 19:00 – Saturday from 12:00 up to 19.00 – NDSM-area Monday until Sunday from 09:00 up to 23.00 hour	€1,30 – per hour

Source: parken-Amsterdam.com