The Ins and Outs of Proper Parking in Paris

The Ins and Outs of Proper Parking in Paris

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If you’re one of many tourists, traveling businessmen, or expatriates in the French capital, you should be aware that Parking in Paris isn’t for the faint of heart. 

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First off, Paris is an ancient city with ancient roads built by people who had no foresight for the horseless metal carriages of the future, much less how to park them.

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Secondly, it’s also a hollow city from below because of its huge underground catacombs housing the bones of Parisian ancestors and their just-as-extensive Metro system, so traffic congestion is a no-no.

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As a result, parking in Paris is significantly different from parking in New York or London as well as the rest of the world outside of Paris.

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Cultural Context in Parisian Parking

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In a nutshell, Paris is an overcrowded place with barely any parking, so the locals just walk, take the bus, or ride the Metro when moving from place to place. 

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Most English-speaking tourists are unaware of this context and will rent out cars without a second thought, leaving them puzzled when they arrive in Paris and there are barely any cars or traffic around.

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Because they don’t speak French, tourists either have to figure things out by context clues and their willingness to blend in with the Parisians or they don’t do that and no one’s there to bother correcting them because everything will be lost in translation!

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With that said, the nuanced truth is that you can park anywhere in Paris if you’d like, but even the citizenry is discouraged to bother using cars or else the whole city will crumble unto itself like a sinkhole.

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It’s best to just walk, bicycle, and ride public transit. However, many tourists visiting Paris will have this info go over their heads (it’s not their fault, though). 

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Now we can talk about what you specifically need to know in terms of finding parking space in Paris.

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Types of Parking Options in Paris

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To park in Paris, you need payment for on-street spaces. You should also watch out for illegal parking, because the fines there are strictly enforced, to say the least. 

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We haven’t even covered the extensiveness of underground parking or the point behind paid parking near public transit. That’s just a glimpse of what to expect. 

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With that said, here’s a closer, more in-depth look at the different options you have to park your car in the French capital. 

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Street Parking

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On-street parking in Paris isn’t the same in the U.S. or Europe as it is in France. It can get tricky and expensive if you don’t know your way around it. Let this quick guide give you a better idea of what to expect when it comes to street parking in Paris: 

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• Daily Payment: Street parking is payable every day from Monday to Friday, specifically from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. It’s also free every Sunday. 

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• Where to Pay: In Paris, you can pay for street parking primarily using a smartphone app or by purchasing a prepaid parking card at newsagents. 

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Coin-operated parking machines are no longer widely available (much to the dismay of tourists everywhere).

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• Modes of Payment: Parking has two modes of payment. You’ll get a €6 hourly rate if you’re located anywhere in the center of Paris (central districts). Meanwhile, outside central districts, you only have to pay €4 instead. 

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• District (“Arrondissement”): To clarify, if you’re located anywhere from the 1^st to 11^th districts (“arrondissement”), that means you’re at the center of Paris or a central district. Also, if you’re anywhere from the 12^th to 20^th arrondissement, you’re outside that area.

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• Public Holidays: During public holidays, it’s possible to park with no payment. Look for the yellow sticker placed on the parking meter—these indicate where you can park with no payment during the holidays.

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• More info on Holiday Parking Meters: The holiday parking meters will give you a ticket indicating you’re using a free parking space. 

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You should place this ticket behind your windshield where it’s visible to the outside to show your car is using said space.

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• Payment Apps Available: You can pay via credit card or through some sort of app, such as PaybyPhone, EasyPark, Flowbird, and so forth. 

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Public Parking Garages

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Let’s talk about public parking garages. Many foreigners are so used to street parking that they overlook how locals prefer underground “garage” parking instead (or simply not driving at all).

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These public parking garages are underground and enclosed parking facilities found all over Paris. They offer parking spaces for vehicles for a nominal fee. It offers the following benefits:

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• Pay Rates: Underground parking lots commonly charge around €2.50 per hour, with 12-24 hour permits costing between €20 and €50. 

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• Various Payment Options: Many of these garages accept credit cards, cash, and even mobile payment options. 

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• Advanced Booking: Some garages allow for booking parking spaces in advance. 

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• Underground Location: Many of these public garages are located in surrounding areas and streets with underground access.

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• Near Tourist Attractions: They are often located near major landmarks, museums like the Louvre, and transportation hubs.

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Companies like Parcilck, Q-Park, and Saemes are responsible for managing these underground garages. They can also be found all over the French capital, including transportation hubs and the nearest tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower or the Notre Dame Cathedral.

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Hotel Parking

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Even foreign hotel goers have to deal with the unique way the French go about parking, especially if they’re travelers who are stuck in a central district in Paris. In such a situation, here’s what you need to do:

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• In-House Hotel Parking: Some hotels offer their own on-site or nearby parking space. Ask your hotel directly if that’s an available option (while booking them). 

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Also, inquire about the possibility of reserving a spot in advance. You can also use booking services like Q-Park or Parclick to help you out when push comes to shove.

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• Street Parking Near the Hotel: As mentioned above, the hourly rate for street parking in a central district is €6 and €4 for a non-central district. Therefore, if you want cheaper street parking, book a hotel within any of the non-central districts (12^th to 20^th arrondissement).

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• Underground Parking Near the Hotel: Parking costs for hotel parking specifically range from around €40 to €60 per day, depending on the location and facilities. 

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• Consider Not Parking: Consider not renting a car to park at hotels because most of the locals use public transportation anyway. “Not parking” is the more cost-effective way to get around Paris, especially in the city center.

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The concept may seem “foreign” to foreigners from places like the United States, but sometimes when in Rome you should do what the Romans do. 

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Park & Ride (“Parc Relais”)

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A Park & Ride (“Parc Relais”) is a type of French car park located near public transportation stations. It’s there to encourage the local car drivers to switch to public transit. It’s a gateway to Paris’s public transport network. 

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Anyway, here’s the deal with Parc Relais:

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• Car Parks Near Stations: If you’re wondering why there’s more parking near stations than on the streets and underground, it’s a strong hint to park your car there to use the Metro or bus. 

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• Also Requires Payment: Yes, they also require payment like underground or street parking. If you’re a Navigo Annual Pass user, there are some exceptions. That’s not the case for most tourists.

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• Strategic Location: Many a Park & Ride parking space is found near major metro lines, bus stops, and train stations to facilitate easy transfers to public transport. 

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• Congestion Reduction: These car parks near stations offer a convenient parking option near transit hubs, thus reducing traffic congestion in urban areas. It’s also a strong hint to not add to the congestion.

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Tourists don’t have to follow suit and learn Parisian public transit, but if you’re interested in saving yourself money, time, hassle, and so forth, you might as well do as the locals do by taking the Metro and the like.

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Best Parking Apps & Services

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You’re probably asking yourself, “What are the best apps and services to use when you need to park in Paris?” If so, we recommend the following parking apps and services.

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The apps below provide features like competitive pricing, pre-booking, and real-time availability. In any case, let’s take a closer look at them.

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• PaybyPhone: This car park payment app offers convenient and secure parking payment, the ability to extend parking sessions remotely, and the convenience of not needing to carry cash.

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• EasyPark: EasyPark simplifies how you park in Paris by offering a wide range of benefits like locating available parking bays, paying for parking without coins, and avoiding unnecessary parking fees.

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• Flowbird: As for this specific app, it uses GPS tech to identify your current location and allows you to pay only for the exact amount of time you've parked in your parking space.

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• BestParking: This Parisian car park app provides access to various city parking lots digitally, has multiple payment options, and even offers insurance deals for good measure. 

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• ParkWhiz: This particular app allows you to pre-pay, reserve, or even shop for parking spots all across Paris and elsewhere in France, including finding the nearest on-street or underground parking.

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Tips on Choosing the Best App for You

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When using an app to find a parking space, you should first consider your needs. Do you mostly require street parking or are you more of a person whose circumstances dictate that it’s safer to park at the porte de garage?

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You want to find a parking app that lets you park, pay, and extend your parking session via your smartphone whenever you have to park in Paris.

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Compare before committing first, because some parking space apps offer unique benefits (such as pre-booking) or better prices than others. Finally, check their availability in your area.

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Parking Tips and Regulations

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Now let’s talk about parking regulations and tips on how to better park your car in Paris.  

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First off, it’s best to go small with your rental car of choice instead of getting an SUV like most foreigners would. The smaller the better. Secondly, there are also several zones reserved for residents, their bicycle parking, the car park, or deliveries. 

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Free vs. Paid Parking Zones

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Should you go for free parking or go to paid parking zones? Actually, the best course of action is to avail of public transit or just walk, but if you insist, here’s the lowdown.

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Street parking and underground parking are part of the paid parking zones in Paris. Again, the rate for paid street parking is €6 per hour in central areas and €4 in non-central areas. You have to pay €40 to €60 per day for public parking garages. 

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If you’re interested in free parking, keep in mind that parking is generally free at night, on Sundays, and certain public holidays (ask an English-speaking local you’re friendly with about these holidays). 

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Check the parking meter for specific details. Therefore, from a certain point of view, all the streets of Paris offer free parking every Sunday night. There’s more nuance to that, but that’s a good rule of thumb.

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With that said it can be challenging to find parking in popular areas during holidays. 

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The best “free parking zone” or place to find free parking spaces is in the Bois de Vincennes district, particularly around the Daumesnil Lake, Route de la Pleine and L'avenue du Bel Air.

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Parking Restrictions and Fines

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Again, like with the existence of Park & Rides, parking restrictions and fines exist to manage traffic and encourage the use of public transport.

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They’re also strictly enforced with no leeway given to even tourists who might expect some flexibility or mercy on their behalf. Keep in mind the following:

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• Parking Fines: Parking violations have a flat-rate fine that can range from €35 to €135, depending on the violation and its severity.

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• Overstaying Your Parking Time:  If you overstay your parking time in paid zones, you will have to pay a fine ranging from €35 to €75 depending on your location in France. 

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• Hazardous or Inconvenient Parking: Parking in a way that is dangerous or obstructs traffic can lead to a €135 fine, with potential loss of license points and possible suspension.

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• Lack of Proof of Payment: Not displaying a valid parking ticket or proof of payment can lead to a fine of €50 in the central districts (1^st to 11^th) and €35 in the outer districts (12^th to 20^th).

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• Appealing Fines: Drivers have the right to appeal parking fines, and the authorities must provide proper photographic proof and documentation before fining a driver (according to The Connexion).

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Alternative Parking Strategies

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Here are the alternative parking strategies to keep in mind that Paris is considering implementing not to convenience tourists but to save the touristy city from traffic congestion and car dominance in its ancient streets.

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• Implementing Parking Regulations: Paris is seeking to reduce on-street parking, making free parking options paid as well, and prioritizing parking for low-emission vehicles et al.

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• Promoting Sustainable Transportation: Aside from Parc Relais, the city is promoting public transportation by advertising how sustainable cycling, walking, and public transit are compared to driving a car.

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• Reducing Street Parking with Trees: Paris officials wish to remove 60,000 parking spaces and replace them with green spaces and trees instead 

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• Parking Space Conversion: Some parking spaces in Paris have been converted into bicycle parking, disabled parking, and tramway access lanes to reduce the dominance of cars in the city.

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• Increasing Accessibility: People with reduced mobility rejoice! Paris is introducing parking spaces for them and their ride-sharing services.

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To park in these spaces, you'll need either the Carte Mobilité Inclusion (CMI) or the European Parking Card for people with disabilities.

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The presence of these strategies in Paris is all due to the balancing act of being a tourism center and discouraging tourists from driving without outright banning cars altogether (and causing a misunderstanding in today’s Internet-powered world). 

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Alternatives to Driving in Paris

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Paris has quite a number of walkable streets that prioritize pedestrians over vehicles (the opposite is true with U.S. roads and highways). Therefore, driving is not recommended there. It’s also a logistical nightmare to drive in Paris due to the city’s traffic congestion and parking difficulties.

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It’s better to just know your stop and use Paris’s extensive Metro system—a rapid transit system—instead. Alternatively, you can also take the bus or tram, go cycling, or simply walk from place to place. You can even avail of ride-sharing services like Bolt and Uber for good measure.

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