Parking in Utrecht: rates, zones and hours
On-street parking in Utrecht costs €5.34 to €8.01 per hour, depending on the area. In Zone A2 a limit of day ticket € 48.64; evening ticket € 16.66 from 19:00 applies. Paid parking applies zone A1 Mon–Sat 7:00–1:00 and Sunday 12:00–18:00, zone A2 Mon–Sat 9:00–23:00. SimplePark knows all 68 parking zones of Utrecht: start your session in the app, stop it when you leave and pay only for the time you parked. Free parking is available at P+R Westraven. Covered parking is available at Berlijnplein car park. The municipality checks with a scan car, so your number plate has to be right. The rates come from the municipality and were checked on September 7, 2026. With SimplePark you start and stop the parking session in the app and pay by the minute, plus €0.29 in service costs per parking action.
Three zones, three rates
Utrecht charges per zone, and the difference is large. In zone A1, the city centre, you pay € 8.01 per hour; in zone A2 that is € 6.94 and in zone BC, the ring of neighbourhoods around it, € 5.34. The hours also differ. In A1 paid parking runs from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 1:00 and on Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00; in A2 from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 and 23:00. In zone BC it differs per parking area, so there the meter or the app is leading.
If you stay longer, a day ticket is quickly cheaper: € 56.13 in A1, € 48.64 in A2 and € 37.54 in BC. Do mind the restriction: such a ticket applies only on the day you buy it and only in the parking area where you buy it. For an evening in the city the evening ticket from 19:00 is usually the smartest choice.
Car parks and P+R
The municipal car parks vary just as widely as the zones. Paardenveld and Springweg, in the middle of the centre, cost € 7.12 per hour with a daily maximum of € 71.23. On the edges it is much gentler: De Grifthoek € 2.85 per hour, Berlijnplein € 3.00, Kop van Lombok and Vaartsche Rijn € 3.58. In every car park a maximum per day applies, so a long day never costs more than that amount.
If you are going into the city and do not necessarily need to stand at the door, you park cheapest at a P+R: Westraven, Papendorp, Utrecht Science Park or Berlijnplein. With the combination ticket you park there all day and travel with up to five people there and back on public transport.
Enforcement and paying
Utrecht checks on-street with a scan car that reads licence plates. There is therefore no longer a ticket behind your windscreen: your payment must be known against your licence plate. That can be done at the meter, and on your phone too. With SimplePark you start the session as soon as you stand still and stop it when you drive off; you pay per minute. In a city where the hourly rate in the centre is over eight euro, every unused minute really saves money.
Rates and paid hours in Utrecht
Zone A1, the city centre
€8.01 per hour
Paid hours
Maximum
Zone A2
€6.94 per hour
Paid hours
Maximum
Zone BC
€5.34 per hour
Paid hours
Maximum
Rates as of September 7, 2026, source: Utrecht municipality.
Free parking and P+R in Utrecht
P+R Westraven
P+R Papendorp
P+R Utrecht Science Park
P+R Berlijnplein
Car parks in Utrecht
Berlijnplein car park
De Grifthoek car park
Kop van Lombok car park
Vaartsche Rijn car park
Kruisstraat car park
Croeselaan car park
Paardenveld car park
Springweg car park
How to pay with SimplePark in Utrecht
- Open the app: it finds the zone you are in, or you enter the zone code from the meter.
- Pick your plate and start your session. You see the Utrecht rate right away.
- Stop the session when you leave. You pay only for the time you parked.
Utrecht checks with a scan car. Enter your plate correctly and start your session before you walk away.
FAQ about parking in Utrecht
What does parking in Utrecht cost?
Zone A1, the city centre: €8.01 per hour, day ticket € 56.13; evening ticket € 28.07 from 19:00; Zone A2: €6.94 per hour, day ticket € 48.64; evening ticket € 16.66 from 19:00; Zone BC: €5.34 per hour, day ticket € 37.54, valid 9:00–21:00; evening ticket € 16.00
On top of that SimplePark charges a €0.29 service fee per session.
Until what time is parking paid in Utrecht?
Paid parking in Utrecht applies zone A1 Mon–Sat 7:00–1:00 and Sunday 12:00–18:00, zone A2 Mon–Sat 9:00–23:00.
Which zone am I in in Utrecht?
The city is divided into zone A1 (the city centre), zone A2 around it and zone BC in the neighbourhoods. On the municipality's parking map you see per area which zone applies and on which days and times you have to pay.
What is the cheapest way to park a full day in Utrecht?
A P+R. At Westraven, Papendorp, Utrecht Science Park and Berlijnplein you buy a combination ticket with which you park all day and travel with up to five people on a public-transport return into the city. That is cheaper than a car park.