Best Cheap Parking in Paris – Garages, Rates & Hacks

Driving in Paris is less like a commute and more like a combat sport. The lanes are narrow, the scooters are aggressive, and finding a street spot feels like winning the lottery—until you see the price. If you are bringing a car into the Périphérique, you need a strategy, not just luck.

The Paris Parking Survival Guide: How to Keep Your Bumper (and Wallet) Intact

This guide isn’t about “finding parking.” It’s about avoiding the €75 fines, the €50 daily rates, and the panic of realizing your SUV is 5cm too tall for the underground entrance. Here is the operational intelligence you need to navigate the streets of Paris comfortably.

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1. The “Street Trap”: Why You Should Go Underground

Do not park on the street if you value your sanity. Paris has aggressively reduced on-street spots to discourage driving.

The Pricing Shock

Street parking is divided into two brutal zones. As of current regulations, you cannot feed the meter for more than 6 hours, and the price scales exponentially.

Zone	Locations (Arrondissements)	Cost (1st Hour)	Cost (6 Hours)
Zone 1 (Central)	1st to 11th	€6.00	€75.00
Zone 2 (Outer)	12th to 20th	€4.00	€50.00

Expert Insight: “Free parking in August” is a dead myth. Most streets are paid year-round. However, street parking is free at night (8:00 PM – 9:00 AM) and all day Sundays. Look for the yellow sticker on the parking meter that says Gratuit les jours fériés.

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2. The Heavyweights: Garage Wars

When you go underground, you are usually dealing with three main operators. Knowing the difference can save you €20 a day.

Indigo: The Premium Giant

• Vibe: Bright lighting, wide ramps, clean elevators. They are everywhere (100+ locations).

• Cost: High. Expect €40–€50 per 24h in central spots like Place Vendôme or Louvre.

• Best For: Luxury cars, tight schedules, and people who hate dark basements.

• Tech: Their app Indigo Neo allows you to enter/exit via license plate recognition.

Saemes: The Public Option

• Vibe: A bit more utilitarian, often government-linked.

• Cost: Mid-range. The Quai Branly – Tour Eiffel garage is theirs (expensive but unbeatable location).

• Hidden Gem: Their Parkings Relais (P+R) near the Périphérique (like Porte d’Orléans) are significantly cheaper than central lots.

Interparking: The Budget King

• Vibe: Functional.

• The Hack: Interparking aggressively discounts specific garages to compete.

• Must-Know Spot: Interparking Wagram (near Champs-Élysées) and Interparking Pitié-Salpêtrière often have “crazy” rates like €16–€20 per day if you pre-book online. This is half the price of competitors two streets away.

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3. The Digital Strategy: Apps You Need

Don’t drive up to the gate and push the button. You will pay the “walk-up rate,” which is 30-50% higher. Use these apps to pre-book.

App	Best For	The “Edge”
Parclick	Tourists	The Expedia of parking. Compares all major garages (Indigo, Saemes, private). Great cancellation policies.
Zenpark	Budget	“Shared parking.” Lets you park in private hotel or office garages that are empty. Warning: You often need your phone to open the gate.
Indigo Neo	Convenience	Works for both on-street payment (no meter needed) and Indigo garages. Frictionless entry.
Yespark	Long-Term	Monthly rentals. If you’re staying for 2+ weeks, renting a month here is often cheaper than 10 days of daily parking.

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4. The “Park & Ride” (P+R) Hack

If you are staying in the center but don’t need your car daily, do not park it near your hotel. Park on the edge and take the Metro/RER in.

• Val d’Europe (East): Near Disneyland. Insanely cheap (~€8-10/day). Take RER A into Paris (35 mins).

• Porte d’Orléans (South): Right off the highway. Direct Metro line 4 to the center. Secure and massive.

• Bercy Seine (Southeast): Good for those coming from Lyon/South. Cheaper than the center, walkable to the hipster 12th arrondissement.

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5. Technical Criticalities: Height & Stickers

This is where foreign drivers get into trouble.

The 1.90m Ceiling

Most Paris underground garages have a hard height limit of 1.90 meters (6’2″).

• The Risk: If you have a large SUV (Land Rover Defender, etc.) or a roof box, you will not fit.

• The Fix: Use Parclick’s filter for “Vans/Trucks.” Garages like Parking Pyrénées du Clos (20th arr.) accept vehicles up to 2.80m.

Crit’Air: The Anti-Pollution Sticker

Paris is a Low Emission Zone (ZFE).

• The Rule: All cars (foreign included) MUST display a Crit’Air sticker inside the A86 ring road.

• The Fine: €68 to €135. Cameras are active.

• Action: Order it at the official government site. It costs €4.61. Do not use third-party scam sites charging €30. If it hasn’t arrived, print your receipt and put it on the dash.

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6. Neighborhood Specifics

Montmartre

• Challenge: Narrow, steep, cobbled streets. Nightmare for clutch control.

• Recommendation: Parking Saemes Anvers. It’s at the bottom of the hill. Walk or take the funicular up. Do not try to drive to Place du Tertre.

The Marais

• Challenge: Tiny one-way streets and pedestrians everywhere.

• Recommendation: Indigo Pont Marie. It’s slightly on the edge (by the river), making it easier to enter/exit without hitting a pedestrian.

Eiffel Tower

• Challenge: Scammers and high prices.

• Recommendation: Parking Quai Branly. Expensive (~€40/6h), but it’s literally under the museum. For a cheaper option, park at Joffre École Militaire and walk 10 minutes across the Champ de Mars.

The Expert FAQ (People Also Ask)

1. Is parking free in Paris in August?

No. This rule changed years ago. Parking is paid year-round on the vast majority of streets. It is only free on Sundays and at night (8 PM – 9 AM).

2. Which app is best for parking in Paris?

Parclick is best for pre-booking tourist spots at a discount. Indigo Neo is best for on-street payment and seamless entry into Indigo garages. Zenpark is the cheapest but requires a smartphone to open gates.

3. Do I need a Crit’Air sticker if I just park in a garage?

Yes. You need the sticker just to drive to the garage. The Low Emission Zone (ZFE) covers the entire city within the A86 ring road.

4. What is the cheapest parking near the Eiffel Tower?

Parking Saemes Quai Branly is the most convenient but expensive. For cheaper rates, book Interparking Castorama Bir-Hakeim via an app like Parclick; it’s a bit further but significantly cheaper.

5. Can I park an SUV or van in Paris garages?

Standard garages have a 1.90m height limit. If your SUV is taller or has a roof box, you must find “High Height” garages like Pyrénées du Clos or specific van spots listed on Parclick.

6. How do I pay for street parking?

Do not use cash. Use the PayByPhone, Indigo Neo, or Flowbird apps. You enter the zone code (sticker on the meter) and your license plate. You can extend time remotely.

7. Is it safe to park in Paris underground garages?

Generally, yes. Major operators (Indigo, Saemes) have CCTV and security. However, never leave luggage visible in the car. “Smash and grab” is rare in paid garages but possible.

8. What happens if I lose my parking ticket?

You will be charged the “Lost Ticket” fee, which is usually the equivalent of a full 24-hour cycle (approx €40–€60).

9. Where is the best Park and Ride (P+R) for Paris?

Porte d’Orléans is excellent for the south (Metro 4). Val d’Europe is great for the east (RER A). Bercy Seine is good for the southeast.

10. Can I drive a diesel car in Paris?

Currently, Crit’Air 3 vehicles (older diesels pre-2011) are still allowed due to delays in the ban implementation. However, you strictly need the sticker. Check the official ZFE schedule as rules tighten annually.