Park for free in Madrid
Parking for free in Madrid can seem like an odyssey. Some would even say it’s impossible. But driving through the city and parking without having to spend a single euro is completely achievable. As long as you know where to go. We're letting you in on the best-kept secret to navigate Madrid by car and not die trying.
Although the city has a great public transport service, exploring Madrid with a rental car, can give you a much greater freedom and mobility to enjoy your time in the metropolis. The immense size of the capital means that having a vehicle will greatly enhance your experience.
Surely you've heard that getting around the city on four wheels is crazy? Don't panic! You just need to learn a few tips so your road trip through Madrid will be a success.
Parking areas in Madrid
Madrid has different regulated parking zones: blue, green, white and orange throughout the different neighborhoods and districts.
The green zone is designated as free parking for residents. As a non-resident, you must pay the rate and can only park for a maximum of two hours. After two hours, you will have to move your car. Each district has a limited number of such spaces.
Everyone must pay in the blue zone, but you can leave your car for a maximum of 4 hours, which gives you a good amount of flexibility. You can find blue zone parking spaces in all of Madrid’s neighborhoods.
The orange zone costs a maximum of 6 € and you can leave your car there for up to 12 hours at a time. This long-term parking is at a more than reasonable price if you plan to tour Madrid by car. It is possible to find orange parking near the capital’s downtown, although spaces are in high demand.
The white zone is the most sought-after, as it is a free parking within the city. We can find them in the areas of Paseo de Extremadura, Legazpi, Ciudad Universitaria, Usera or in the Barrio del Pilar. As a general rule, there’s white zone parking in all neighborhoods and districts outside the M-30 ring road.
Discounted parking in Madrid
Madrid rewards low emissions. Therefore, if your vehicle has the type C emissions badge, you can benefit from a 10% discount on parking meter rates.
If your car is eco-friendly and has the green ECO label, parking will be 50% cheaper, while if you have a zero-emissions vehicle, you will enjoy free parking in Madrid, as the parking meter will give you a 100% discount.
Additionally, you can park for free during the hours when the Regulated Parking Service (SER) is not in operation. They are as follows:
- Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays: from 9 p.m. until the start of service the following day at 9 a.m.
- Saturdays: from 3 p.m. onwards
- Sundays and holidays
Park and Ride lots
Touring Madrid with your rental car is one of the great options that lets you explore the capital. Another is leaving the car farther from the center and using public transport to access Barcelona’s downtown area. You can find different Park and Ride options in almost all of the city’s suburbs, making it easy to park your car for free and venture around the city. This also helps minimize pollution and traffic jams.
As you can see, you have numerous possibilities to travel around the capital with your car. Centauro Rent a Car has offices at the Adolfo Suarez airport, the Atocha and Chamartín train stations, as well as in the towns of Alcobendas, Majadahonda, Leganés and Alcalá de Henares. We invite you to explore the capital’s historical areas, as well as its most sought-after secret spots, sailing through the city like an expert.
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