Parking in Amsterdam

The Best Places to Park in Amsterdam: Cheap and Central

Parking in Amsterdam

In a nutshell

  • If you are traveling to Amsterdam by car, be prepared for high parking fees. Amsterdam has the most expensive parking garages in Europe. But nothing is impossible. Not even cheap parking in Amsterdam.
  • Therefore, we show you hotels with cheap and free parking in Amsterdam.
  • We will also give you all the information you need about Park and Ride in Amsterdam.
  • Finally, we will tell you where you can park as cheaply as possible and which central parking garage in Amsterdam is worth the money.

Hotels in Amsterdam with Parking

If you are traveling to Amsterdam by car, and you want to park at the hotel, we recommend a hotel in the Amsterdam-Oost district. It is close to the city center and the parking fees are great by Amsterdam standards.

The best hotels with parking in Amsterdam:

Bob W Amsterdam Noord: We stayed there on our last city trip to Amsterdam. The hotel is located in Amsterdam Noord, which is a bit out of town, but still very well connected. The hotel has a private parking garage in the basement. You can book the parking space directly after your booking on booking.com. The price is super fair: 17 euros per day (up to 2.10 cm). 

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

Hotel Casa Amsterdam: 3-star superior hotel with rooftop terrace and in-house restaurant, 5 minutes’ walk from the S-Bahn. Private parking for 27.50 euros per day.

Read more about Where to Stay in Amsterdam
Read more about Boutique Hotels in Amsterdam

Volkshotel
The Volkshotel has its own underground parking garage (© Volkshotel)

Hotels in Amsterdam with Free Parking

You won’t find a hotel with free parking in the city center of Amsterdam.

If you have more than 3 days for Amsterdam, it’s worth finding accommodation outside the city center. There you will find a few hotels with free parking and good connections to the center.

The best hotels with free parking in Amsterdam:

Citiez Hotel Amsterdam: Free parking is available, and it just takes you 30 minutes with the tram into the heart of the city center. The hotel offers small, cheap rooms and is a real insider tip for Amsterdam.

Campanile Amsterdam: Cheap hotel in the southeast of Amsterdam. You find free parking around the hotel and need around 30 minutes with public transport to the city of Amsterdam.

Boutique Hotel Herbergh Amsterdam Airport: Nice Hotel with free parking close to the airport. Great when you arrive at Amsterdam Airport.

Read more about cheap hotels in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Campsites

Another good idea if you are looking for a cheap option for parking in Amsterdam is to camp. Amsterdam offers great campsites with good connections to the city center. These are our favorites:

Camping Zeeburg: Popular campsite close to the city center. Lots of pitches and the option to camp. Public transport from Flevopark takes you into the city.

Gaasper Camping Amsterdam: Great location at Gaasperpark with lake and beach. For caravans, campers and tents. You can be in the city center in 15 minutes by metro from Gaasperplas.

Camping Vliegenbos: Quiet, very well-kept campsite in the north of Amsterdam. For caravans, campers and tents. You can be in the city center in 15 minutes on metro line 52.

Park and Ride in Amsterdam

If you don’t like the selection of hotels with parking, we recommend Park and Ride in Amsterdam.

Park and Ride means parking your car and continuing your journey by public transport in Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, this is a really good way to arrive by car and park cheaply outside the city.

For the guarded Park and Ride parking lot, you only pay between 1 and 15 euros per day. Then there are the costs for local public transport – your GVB ticket. Great prices for 1 day in Amsterdam.

Read more about public transportation in Amsterdam

Park and Ride Amsterdam
Park and Ride in Amsterdam is comparatively cheap

How Park and Ride works in Amsterdam

With Park and Ride you can only park so cheaply if you meet certain requirements:

#1 At the parking garage or parking lot, use the marked P R barrier or press the P R button when you take your ticket.

#2 You buy the GVB ticket for the outward and return journey by public transport directly at the P R parking lot at the blue machine after you have scanned your parking ticket. The discounted P R-GVB tickets are available for up to five people.

#3 Very important: The ticket must be scanned on the train – both when getting on and off. If you do not check in and out, you will pay the normal fees.

#4 On the return journey from the center to the P R parking lot, the last check-in on the train must take place in the center. After checking out when exiting at the parking lot, you must pay your parking ticket within one hour.

#5 Pay your parking ticket at the machine. Scan your GVB ticket to do this. If you have done everything correctly, the discounted P R rate will be displayed and you can pay. However, payment is only possible by EC or credit card.

#6 Scan your paid parking ticket at the exit barrier. You’ve done it!

We can recommend these P R parking spaces

The Best Parking Garages in the Center of Amsterdam

If the Park and Ride is too complicated for you, you can use one of the parking garages spread throughout the city.

This is the best option, if you don’t have a lot of time in Amsterdam. The more central the parking facility, the more time you have for sightseeing in Amsterdam.

carpark amsterdam
The parking garage on Museumplein is underground

However, it is important that you reserve your parking space in advance. This way you avoid time-consuming searches for a parking space and don’t have to worry about hidden costs.

Unfortunately, this won’t make it any cheaper.

In the city center of Amsterdam, you have to be prepared for high parking fees. Parking spaces here easily cost 60 euros for 24 hours of parking.

If you want to park cheaply and centrally in Amsterdam, we recommend the Amsterdam parking garage Apcoa Parking Prins & Keizer. Here you only pay 20 euros per day at the weekend!

Apcoa Parking Prins & Keizer

  • Our personal favorite!
  • Directly on the Prinsen- and Kaisersgracht, near Anne Frank House
  • 55 Euro daily rate (24 h)
  • At the weekend only 20 €/day!
  • Open all day
  • Clearance height 1.70 m

Reserve your parking space online in advance

Find on Google Maps

Q-Park Nieuwendijk/De Bijenkorf

  • Directly on Dam Square
  • 60 Euro daily rate (24 h)
  • Open Mon-Sun 7am-0pm
  • Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve a parking space online in advance

Find on Google Maps

Q-Park Amsterdam Center

  • Directly at Dam Square
  • 60 Euro daily rate (24 h)
  • Mon-Sun 7am-0pm
  • Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve a parking space online in advance

Find on Google Maps

Q-Park Museumplein

  • Directly on Museum Square next to the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum
  • 60 Euro daily rate (24 h)
  • Mon-Sun 7am-0pm
  • Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve your parking space online in advance

Find on Google Maps

Important: If the parking garages are not open all the time, but have fixed opening hours, you can only drive in and out during these times. This means you can park your car overnight, but not move it.

By the way: You can cancel all parking reservations in the parking garages in Amsterdam up to 1 hour before your booked reservation.

The Best Outdoor Parking Lots in Amsterdam

Outdoor parking in Amsterdam has the advantage that the parking spaces are often cheaper than those in the parking garages.

Parking in Amsterdam
Outdoor parking is also possible in Amsterdam

The best parking lots with lower parking fees in Amsterdam can be found around the Central Station and the harbor. These are our two favorites:

Valet Parking B smart

  • Directly at the main station
  • 40 Euro daily rate
  • Mon-Sun 8-23 h
  • Headroom 4 m

Reserve your parking space online in advance

ParkBee Havengebouw Amsterdam

  • At the Amsterdam harbor – 15 minutes walk from the center
  • 33 Euro daily rate
  • Open all day
  • Clearance height 1.90 m

Reserve a parking space online in advance

FAQ about Parking in Amsterdam

#1 How much is parking in Amsterdam city centre?

The parking garages in Amsterdam are actually the most expensive parking garages in Europe. On average, you pay 40 to 80 euros per day.

The cheapest parking garage in the center of Amsterdam is the Apcoa Parking Prins & Keizer. At the weekend, you only pay 20 euros for 24 hours.

Another cheap alternative is outdoor parking or the Park and Ride service in Amsterdam.

#2 Can you drive a car in Amsterdam?

Driving to Amsterdam is usually relaxed. The stress starts in the city center around the canal belt.

The streets here are narrow and there are pedestrians and cyclists everywhere. It’s so chaotic that we don’t recommend it. It’s best to park your car safely as soon as possible and continue on foot or take public transport.

#3 How do you pay parking fees in Amsterdam?

You pay your parking fees in Amsterdam at the parking machines.

Important: Most machines in Amsterdam only accept payments by EC or credit card (Mastercard / Visa / Amex). Cash payment is not possible.

#4 How expensive is wrong parking in Amsterdam?

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

If you park in a disabled parking space without the necessary permit, you could even be fined 490 euros.

#5 Is parking in Amsterdam free?

There are hardly any free parking spaces in Amsterdam. You could try your luck in the residential areas outside the city center – for example in Amsterdam-Oost.

However, you run the risk of wasting time looking for a parking space and ending up somewhere you’re not allowed to park.

As an alternative to cheap parking, we recommend the Park and Ride service in Amsterdam.

#6 Is parking free in Amsterdam on sunday?

Not in the city center. You can try your luck outside the center. There are some zones where parking is free on Sunday.

#7 Is parking safe in Amsterdam?

Parking in Amsterdam is as safe as in any other major city in Europe. We recommend that you do not leave any valuables in your car to prevent burglary.

These were our tips for parking in Amsterdam!

Do you have any other tips or experiences with parking in Amsterdam? Then please write us a comment. We look forward to hearing from you!