If you have decided to hire a car or bring your own vehicle to Krakow, you will find that parking in the city can be a bit of a challenge. In this post, we will help you navigate the city’s paid parking zones and give you practical tips for a hassle-free experience. 

Paid Parking Zones – Where, when, how much

The city centre has designated paid parking zones, marked by blue “P” road signs. Parking fees vary depending on the zone. At the time of writing, paid parking is enforced from 10am to 8pm on weekdays and Saturdays.  Currently the parking rates are as follows:

• subzones A – 6 PLN for the first and each subsequent hour of parking
• subzones B – 5 PLN for the first and each subsequent hour of parking
• subzones C – 4 PLN for the first and each subsequent hour of parking

It’s also important to note that driving in the Old Town centre itself (i.e. inside the “Planty” park that encircles the area) is restricted to those who live there or own a business in the zone, as well as taxis.

How to pay

Parking tickets can be bought at the numerous parking meters present on almost every street.

However, a much more convenient option, if you have a Polish mobile number, is to use a mobile app such as the Skycash app. After you have successfully installed the app, set up an account and registered your vehicle, you will need to write “Mobi parking” on a piece of paper and leave it in a visible place on your car’s dashboard so that passing inspectors can see you’re using the service. Then, with “Krakow” selected in the app, press “Start/Stop” as soon as you park in a public paid parking spot. The app should automatically geolocate your car to the correct parking zone and deduct the appropriate hourly rate from your account. Remember to press “ZATRZYMAJ” (STOP) when you drive off.

If you leave your car in the centre overnight and don’t want to wake up in time to pick it up before 10am, you can press the “Start/Stop” button. The app will only deduct the appropriate parking fee from your account from 10am the next day. 

Park-and-Ride

Many visitors use park-and-ride (P+R) facilities on the outskirts of the city and take public transport into the centre. This can save you the hassle of finding parking in the centre. These P+R car parks are located around major tram loops and transfer points, with the simple idea that you park your car and hop on the public transport for the rest of your journey to the city centre. 

Each P+R facility has its own fees, which are significantly cheaper than using paid parking in the centre. For a current list of P+R car parks see Krakow’s official public transport website or simply search for P+R in Google maps. 

Private parking

If you’re staying in a hotel or other accommodation, enquire about their parking facilities. Many hotels offer parking for guests, but it may come at an additional cost.