Parking Garages in Budapest
Street parking in Budapest is stressful. You watch the meter, hunt for a space in narrow one-way streets and risk a fine if you stay one minute too long. A parking garage solves all of that. You pay on exit, you can come and go as you please and your car stays safe. Here is what you need to know.
Hourly garage rate
600 to 1,100 HUF/hr Depends on location in the cityDaily ticket
From 4,000 HUF Much cheaper than paying hourly all dayWhy choose a parking garage in Budapest
Street parking in central Budapest has a time limit of three hours in most zones. If you plan to spend a full day in the city, that means moving your car mid-visit or risking a fine. A parking garage removes that problem completely.
Most garages in Budapest are underground, which keeps your car out of the sun in summer and protected from weather year round. You take a ticket at the entrance, pay at a machine before you leave and drive out. No receipts on the dashboard, no meter top-ups, no stress.
For stays of four hours or longer, a garage is often cheaper than Zone A street parking once you factor in the time limits. And a daily ticket, where available, makes the price even more predictable.
Check your car height before you go
Most underground garages in Budapest allow vehicles up to 2.0 to 2.2 metres tall. If you have a roof rack, a campervan or a tall SUV, check the height limit before you drive in.
Best parking garages in Budapest city centre
These are the most practical options for visitors. All are underground or covered, open 24 hours and located within walking distance of the main tourist areas.
Erzsébet Parkoló
The closest underground garage to the very centre of Budapest. It sits beneath Erzsébet tér, a few minutes walk from Deák Ferenc metro station, Váci Street, the Basilica and the Chain Bridge. Rate is around 1,100 HUF per hour. Bring cash or check payment options before you arrive, as card payments are not always guaranteed at the machines.
Aranykéz Parkolóház
Located on Aranykéz utca in the 5th district, right in the inner city. Around 630 HUF per hour including VAT. Good option if you are visiting the area around Ferenciek tere, the Jewish Quarter or the Great Synagogue. Discounted rates available for event attendees in the area.
Áréna Mall Garage
The Áréna Mall garage near Keleti railway station is one of the better value options in Pest. The first few hours are free if you shop in the mall. After that an hourly rate applies. Useful if you are arriving or departing by train and need somewhere to leave your car for the day.
WestEnd City Center
The underground garage at WestEnd sits just behind Nyugati railway station. Open daily from 7:00 to 23:00. Parking is free for the first two to three hours with a shopping receipt. Affordable daily rate after that. Good starting point if you want to explore the 6th and 7th districts on foot.
Mammut Shopping Centre
One of the largest parking options on the Buda side of the city. Located near Moszkva tér (Széll Kálmán tér), which connects to trams, buses and the metro. Good choice if you are staying in Buda or want to visit the Castle district without driving up the hill.
Europeum Garage
A solid central option near the inner ring road. The Europeum garage is convenient for the 7th and 8th districts, the ruin bars around Kazinczy utca and the Great Market Hall. Accepts the Parkl app for contactless payment. Note: multi-day passes were phased out from October 2025, so you pay per hour or per day.
How parking garages in Budapest work
The process is the same in almost every garage. You drive in, take a paper ticket from the machine at the barrier and keep it with you. Before you return to your car, find a payment machine inside the garage and insert your ticket. Pay there by card or cash. Then you have a short window, usually around 15 minutes, to drive out before the barrier charges you again.
If you plan to stay a full day, check whether the garage offers a daily ticket. At many garages, a 24 hour daily ticket costs around 15,500 HUF and lets you enter and exit as many times as you like during that period. That works out to a predictable flat fee instead of paying for each hour individually.
Use the Parkl app
The Parkl app works in many Budapest garages and street parking zones. You can find available spaces, start and stop parking sessions and pay by card through the app. It saves you from needing exact change at a meter or a payment machine.
Shopping mall garages: the cheap option
Several of Budapest's major shopping malls offer parking that is noticeably cheaper than central underground garages. The WestEnd open air lot near Váci út costs around 900 HUF for a full day, and the Áréna Mall near Keleti offers free parking for the first few hours.
The trade-off is that mall garages tend to fill up on weekends and during busy shopping periods. If you arrive after midday on a Saturday, expect it to be busier. Arrive early and you will almost always find a space.
These garages are also well placed for public transport. Most major malls in Budapest sit next to a metro station or a tram stop, so you can park there and travel the last stretch into the centre without the car.
When parking garages in Budapest are free
A handful of options give you free or very cheap parking at certain times. The Áréna Mall garage offers free parking on most days, subject to availability. On weekends and public holidays, street parking in most of Budapest is free, which can make a nearby Zone B or Zone C street space just as practical as a paid garage.
Hungarian public holidays with free street parking include 1 January, 15 March, 1 May, 20 August, 23 October, 1 November and 25 and 26 December. Easter Monday and Good Friday are moveable. Always check the signs on the day.
Book ahead for the best price
Platforms like Parkopedia and local booking services let you reserve a space in advance at several central garages. Pre-booking often brings the daily rate down and guarantees you a space during busy periods. Worth doing if you plan to arrive on a weekend or during a public event.
Our Advice
A parking garage in Budapest is worth it the moment you plan to stay longer than three hours. You avoid the zone time limits, you skip the meter and you park in a safe covered space. For a full day visit, a daily ticket makes the cost predictable and often cheaper than hourly street rates.
If budget is the main concern, combine a cheap mall garage with the metro and you get central access without central parking prices.
Based on garage operator information and visitor data. Rates may change. Always verify on arrival.
Car parks Budapest
Unlimited parking is set to car parks in the city centre.P1 - Parkolóház Aradi utca - Aradi utca 8 - 1064 Budapest
P2 - Parkolóház Ó utca - Ó utca 11 - 1067 Budapest
P3 - Opera Parkolóház - Zichy Jenő utca 9 - 1067 Budapest
P4 - Parkolóház Szabadság tér - Szabadság tér 17 - 1051 Budapest
P5 - WiPark Hungaria Garázs Kft. - Sas utca 27 - 1051 Budapest
P6 - Szent István téri Mélygarázs - Sas utca 6 - 1055 Budapest
P7 - Szervita téri parkolóház - Fehér Hajó utca 1 - 1053 Budapest
P8 - Reáltanoda street Car Park - Reáltanoda u. 5. szám - Budapest