Parking in Amsterdam: Our Tips for Central & Affordable Options

The Best Parking Garages in Central Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a huge number of parking garages spread throughout the city. But the more centrally located the parking option, the more time you’ll have for sightseeing.

One important thing to keep in mind: always reserve your parking spot in advance. This saves you from wasting time hunting for a spot and means no surprises with hidden costs.

Unfortunately, it won’t make parking any cheaper.

In central Amsterdam, you should be prepared for high parking fees. Parking easily runs 60 euros for 24 hours in the city center.

If you want affordable, central parking in Amsterdam, we recommend the Apcoa Parking Prins & Keizer garage. On weekends, you pay just 20 euros per day!

Apcoa Parking Prins & Keizer

• Our personal favorite!
• Right on the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, near the Anne Frank House
• 55 euros daily rate (24 h)
• On weekends only 20 €/day!!
• Open 24/7
• Clearance height 1.70 m

Reserve your spot online in advance
Find it on Google Maps

Q-Park Nieuwendijk/De Bijenkorf

• Right on Dam Square
• 60 euros daily rate (24 h)
• Open Mon–Sun 7 AM–midnight
• Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve your spot online in advance
Find it on Google Maps

Q-Park Amsterdam Center

• Right on Dam Square
• 60 euros daily rate (24 h)
• Mon–Sun 7 AM–midnight
• Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve your spot online in advance
Find it on Google Maps

Q-Park Museumplein

• Right at Museumplein, steps from the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum
• 60 euros daily rate (24 h)
• Mon–Sun 7 AM–midnight
• Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve your spot online in advance
Find it on Google Maps
Important: If a parking garage has set opening hours rather than being open 24/7, you can only enter and exit during those hours. You can leave your car there overnight, but you won’t be able to move it.

Good to know: All parking reservations at Amsterdam parking garages can be canceled up to 1 hour before your booked reservation time.

The Best Outdoor Parking Lots in Amsterdam

Parking outdoors in Amsterdam has the advantage that these spots are often cheaper than spaces in parking garages.

The best parking lots with lower fees in Amsterdam are found around the central train station and the harbor. These are our two favorites:

Valet Parking B smart

• Right at the central train station
• 40 euros daily rate
• Mon–Sun 8 AM–11 PM
• Clearance height 4 m

Reserve your spot on Mobypark in advance

ParkBee Havengebouw Amsterdam

• At the Amsterdam harbor – 15 minutes’ walk from the center
• 33 euros daily rate
• Open 24/7
• Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve your spot online in advance

Park and Ride in Amsterdam

Park and Ride means parking your car and continuing by public transportation in Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, this is a really great option — drive in, park affordably just outside the center, and then take various modes of transit straight into the city.

For one day, you’ll pay between €6 (after 10 AM) and €13 (before 10 AM) at the official P+R lots — a real bargain for Amsterdam. Public transit costs are on top of that. Great prices for 1 day in Amsterdam.

How Park and Ride Works in Amsterdam

To get the discounted P+R rate, there are a few things to keep in mind:

#1 When entering, use the designated P+R barrier or press the P+R button when taking your ticket.

#2 You need to travel into the city center by public transit (GVB). For this you’ll need either an OV-Chipkaart or a GVB paper ticket.
Important: The old blue P+R GVB ticket machines are no longer available everywhere. Check the official P+R pages of the City of Amsterdam to see whether your parking lot still has them.

#3 Scan your ticket on the train or tram when boarding and exiting — otherwise the system won’t recognize your trip and you’ll lose the discount.

#4 On the way back, your last check-in must be in the city center. After that, you have 1 hour to pay for your parking ticket.

#5 Pay at the machine by scanning your parking ticket and your transit ticket. The discounted rate will only appear if everything is correct. Payment by card only.

#6 Scan your ticket at the exit — done!

Our Recommended P+R Parking Lots

• P+R Bos & Lommer (13 euros/day)
• P+R Zeeburg II (1 – 8 euros/day)
• P+R Olympic Stadium (8 euros/day)

Frequently Asked Questions About Parking in Amsterdam

How expensive is parking in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam’s parking garages are among the most expensive in Europe. Expect to pay an average of 40 to 80 euros per day.

The most affordable option in the city center is Apcoa Parking Prins & Keizer, where weekends cost just 20 euros for 24 hours.

For a cheaper alternative, consider outdoor parking lots or the Park and Ride service in Amsterdam.

Can you drive a car in Amsterdam?

Getting to Amsterdam by car is usually fine. The stress kicks in once you hit the city center around the canal belt.

The streets are narrow and shared with pedestrians and cyclists everywhere — it’s so chaotic that we’d honestly advise against it. Your best bet is to park as quickly as possible and continue on foot or by public transit.

How do you pay for parking in Amsterdam?

You pay for parking at the parking meters, just like in most major cities.

Important: Most meters in Amsterdam only accept payments by debit or credit card (Mastercard / Visa / Amex). Cash is not accepted.

How expensive is illegal parking in Amsterdam?

Parking illegally in Amsterdam can get really expensive. The fine is at least 110 euros for parking in a no-parking zone.

Park without the required permit in a disabled parking spot, and it can cost you up to 490 euros.

Is free parking in Amsterdam possible?

Free parking spots in Amsterdam are virtually nonexistent. You could try your luck in residential neighborhoods outside the city center — for example, in Amsterdam-Oost.

But you risk wasting a lot of time searching and potentially parking somewhere you’re not allowed to be anyway.

For an affordable alternative, we really recommend the Park and Ride service in Amsterdam.

Is parking in Amsterdam safe?

Parking in Amsterdam is as safe as in any other major city. We’d recommend not leaving any valuables in your car to avoid the risk of break-ins.

Amsterdam Hotels with Parking and Good Transit Access

If you’re traveling to Amsterdam by car, we recommend a hotel in the Amsterdam-Oost district. You’ll avoid the stress of driving through the city center, and the connections to the center are excellent.

Our hotel picks for drivers:
Bob W Amsterdam Noord: This is where we stayed on our last city trip to Amsterdam. The hotel is located in Amsterdam Noord — a little outside the center, but still very well connected. The hotel has a private parking garage in the basement. After booking on booking.com, you can add a parking spot directly. The price is very fair: 17 euros per day (up to 2.10 m). In our article Amsterdam with Kids, you’ll find a section dedicated to the Bob W Hotel.

Volkshotel: Great value for money, a wonderful family hotel in Amsterdam, minimalist rooms, and a rooftop terrace with a restaurant and bar. Private parking for 25 euros per day.

Hotel Casa Amsterdam: A 3-star superior hotel with a rooftop terrace and its own restaurant, a 5-minute walk from the train station. Private parking for 27.50 euros per day.
Also read:

Amsterdam Campgrounds with Good Transit Access

Amsterdam has great campgrounds with excellent connections to the city center. Perfect if you’re doing an Amsterdam weekend trip. These are our favorites:
Camping Zeeburg: A popular campground close to the center. Lots of pitches and tent camping available too. Public transit from Flevopark takes you right into the city.

Gaasper Camping Amsterdam: Great location at Gaasperpark with a lake and beach. For RVs, campervans, and tents. The metro from Gaasperplas gets you to the center in 15 minutes.

Camping Vliegenbos: A quiet, well-maintained campground in northern Amsterdam. For RVs, campervans, and tents. Metro line 52 gets you to the center in 15 minutes.