Amsterdam is the most expensive city in the Netherlands to park in, but a P+R site on the edge of town gets you off for a fraction of the price.
Why you are better off leaving the car behind
The city is deliberately laid out to make driving unappealing, and you notice it before you even reach the centre.
A maze for drivers: one-way streets, narrow bridges, trams, thousands of cyclists and zones where parking is simply forbidden make driving in the old centre a test of patience.
The highest rates in the country: on-street in the Centrum district you pay around 8 euros an hour in 2026. By comparison, the outer districts charge a quarter of that or less.
Charged day and night: the whole centre now operates paid parking 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The old trick of parking free late in the evening or on a Sunday no longer works there.
Yet almost a million visitors a year: still come to Amsterdam by car. Take the time beforehand to work through the options and the rules.
P+R: the smartest and cheapest choice
The Park and Ride sites on the edge of the city are the best option for almost every visitor.
What it costs: arrive on a weekday after 10:00, or at the weekend, and you generally pay 6 euros per 24 hours. Arrive on a weekday before 10:00 and the first day is about 13 euros, with each subsequent day back at 6 euros.
Public transport included: the rate covers travel tickets into the centre and back for up to five people. Note that the card covers one journey each way; if you want to travel more, buy a day pass.
The condition most people miss: you must actually have travelled into the central zone by public transport. The machine checks when you pay whether your final tap-in on the return journey took place there. If not, you pay the far higher standard rate.
Four days maximum: after 96 hours the discounted rate lapses and the normal tariff applies.
Quickly into town: the sites sit next to a metro, tram or train stop, so you are usually in the centre within fifteen to twenty minutes. Signs on the motorways point the way.
Where the P+R sites are
There are several locations around the city, each with its own link into the centre.
P+R Johan Cruijff ArenA: in Zuidoost, beside the stadium, with the metro into town. Closed to P+R during matches and events.
P+R RAI: in Zuid, with metro line 52 running straight to Amsterdam Central Station. It sits outside the low-emission zone and closes during trade fairs.
P+R Sloterdijk and P+R Bos en Lommer: on the west side, with train or bus into the centre.
P+R Noord and P+R Zeeburg: in Amsterdam Noord and on the east side. Zeeburg I is the only site that takes campervans and coaches, though sleeping in your campervan is not allowed.
No reservations: you cannot book a space in advance or ring ahead to ask whether there is room. When it is busy, come early.
Car parks in the city centre
If you do want to be closer to the centre, a car park is nearly always the wiser choice over the street.
Car parks only: across virtually the whole area inside the A10 ring road, parking in a multi-storey car park is realistically the only practical option.
Expect steep rates: some central car parks charge over 13 euros an hour, but nearly all apply a daily maximum. For a full day a car park therefore often works out cheaper than the street.
Rule of thumb: short stays are usually cheaper on the street, a whole day cheaper in a car park. Compare the daily maximum against the street rate you would expect to pay.
Book online: at the P1 car park opposite Amsterdam Central Station you get a discount for booking a space in advance. Other operators also offer sharper rates through an app.
Practical matters
A few rules and habits worth knowing in Amsterdam.
Payment is by card: at the parking machines and at the P+R sites you pay by debit or credit card. Cash is no longer accepted.
Number plate instead of a ticket: at many barriers your number plate is registered and you receive no parking ticket. In that case, do not use a bank card on the way in either.
Do not forget to check out: if you park through an app, remember to end the session. A penalty notice in Amsterdam is an expensive lesson.
Check the signs: rates and charging hours vary by zone and change regularly, even within the same district.
Low-emission zone: the centre has a low-emission zone with restrictions on older diesels. Petrol and LPG cars may still enter in 2026.
Coaches over 7.5 tonnes may only enter Amsterdam city centre within the S100 ring road with an exemption; without one, passengers can get on and off on the edge of the centre, at De Ruijterkade Oost and at several stations.
Parking: coach parking is available on the edge of the city, often near a station, so you can continue by public transport.
More information: all stops, parking areas and rules are on amsterdam.nl.
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