Car Parking in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, the big parking decision is usually not where you can park, but how far into the city you really want to drive. The centre is expensive, street parking adds up fast and for many visitors the smartest move is to leave the car at a P+R location and continue by metro, tram or bus. If you understand that before you arrive, Amsterdam becomes much easier by car.
Street parking in Amsterdam
Street parking in Amsterdam is possible in most parts of the city, but it is rarely the best-value option for a longer visit. The city itself makes clear that parking costs vary a lot by area and that the centre is the most expensive part of Amsterdam.
In practice, that means central street parking is mainly useful for short practical stops. If you want to spend several hours in the city centre, around the canals, museums or shopping streets, the price of parking on the street quickly becomes hard to justify.
| Parking type | What to expect | What we say |
|---|---|---|
| Street parking in the centre | Most expensive option | Useful mainly for short stops |
| Street parking outside the centre | Can be cheaper than the centre | Still often less attractive than P+R for a city visit |
| P+R parking | Best-value visitor option | Works well if you continue by public transport |
Street parking in Amsterdam is mainly useful for shorter visits
If you are staying in the city for a few hours, a P+R location or a garage is usually much easier than paying by the hour on the street.
Cheap car parking in Amsterdam: how to do it
The easiest way to keep parking costs down in Amsterdam is to use Park and Ride. The city’s official P+R system is designed for exactly this: leave the car outside the centre and continue into town by public transport.
The current P+R rate is simple. If you arrive on a weekday before 10:00, you pay €13 for the first 24 hours and then €6 per 24 hours after that. If you arrive on a weekday after 10:00, or at weekends or on public holidays, you pay €6 per 24 hours. For most city visitors, that is far more attractive than central street parking.
Looking for more detailed local tips? Visit Parkeren Amsterdam.
Street parking Amsterdam
Usually expensive Especially in the city centreBest-value option
P+R parking €6 or €13 per 24 hoursBest for convenience
Central garage Useful if you need to stay close to the centreBest cheap P+R parking spots in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has several official P+R locations around the city. These are usually the smartest places to start if you do not need the car once you are in the centre.
P+R Noord
This is one of the easiest all-round options for many visitors. It has a clear metro connection into the city and uses the normal official P+R parking rates. If you want a simple arrival without driving deeper into Amsterdam, this is often one of the first places worth checking.
P+R RAI
P+R RAI is one of the best-known Amsterdam P+R sites and works well for the southern side of the city. The main thing to remember is that this location has a shorter maximum P+R stay than most others, so it is especially useful for day visits rather than longer stays.
P+R ArenA
This is a strong option if you are approaching Amsterdam from the southeast. It works well for people heading into the city by metro and is also practical if your plans are around Amsterdam Zuidoost.
P+R VUmc
P+R VUmc is mainly useful at the weekend. If your visit to Amsterdam falls on Friday evening through early Monday morning, this can be a practical and well-placed option.
Other official P+R locations
Amsterdam has several official P+R sites around the A10 and outer city ring. The best one for you usually depends on which direction you are coming from and which metro or tram connection you prefer.
Car parks in Amsterdam
If you want to stay close to the centre, a garage is usually the only sensible alternative to expensive street parking. This can make sense if you are travelling with luggage, staying at a hotel in the city centre or simply want the shortest possible walk to your destination.
That said, Amsterdam is rarely a city where central parking is the cheap option. Garages are mainly about convenience. For many visitors, they are worth paying for only when staying close to the centre matters more than price.
Central garage parking
If your plans are focused on the canals, shopping streets, museums or a hotel in the centre, a central garage is usually the easiest choice.
P+R instead of a central garage
If you are only visiting the centre for the day, P+R is usually the better-value option and often just as practical once you continue by metro.
Garage near your hotel or destination
If you really do need the car close by, it makes more sense to pick a garage based on your neighbourhood than to rely on street parking.
Tip: in Amsterdam, cheap and central rarely go together
If you want cheap parking, choose P+R. If you want central parking, expect to pay for the convenience.
Practical things to know before you park in Amsterdam
If you want to use the official P+R rate, you must continue into the city centre by public transport and follow the city’s P+R conditions. That is an important detail, because without meeting those conditions you may end up paying the standard parking rate instead.
Amsterdam is also a strong park-once city. Once you are in the centre, you usually do not need the car again. That is one of the biggest reasons why P+R works so well here.
If you are arriving on a weekday, your entry time matters. Before 10:00 on Monday to Friday, the first 24 hours at P+R cost €13. After 10:00 on weekdays, and throughout weekends and public holidays, the lower €6 rate applies.
Our advice for car parking in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is easiest by car if you do not aim straight for street parking in the centre. For a short practical stop, street parking can still work. For a proper city visit, that is usually not the smartest option.
If you want the best-value setup, start with an official P+R site such as Noord, RAI or ArenA. If you really need to stay close to the centre, choose a garage near your destination and treat the higher price as a convenience cost.