Free parking in Kraków – where to park for free and how much the parking zone will cost in 2026
You can park for free in Kraków at Park&Ride (P+R) car parks if you have a valid public transport ticket, outside the paid parking zone and within the zone outside its operating hours. From 31 January 2026, the zone will operate from 9.00 am to 10.00 pm: in sub-zone A also on Sundays, and in sub-zones B and C from Monday to Saturday. The easiest way is to travel to a P+R car park on the outskirts and then take a tram into the city centre.
Where to park for free in Kraków
- Park-and-ride car parks – free for holders of a valid KMK ticket on a card (e.g. Krakow City Card, Krakow Card, MKA). Without such a ticket, you must purchase a P+R ticket for 10 zł, which also covers travel on public transport within fare zone 1.
- Paid parking zone outside peak hours – Before 9.00 am and after 10.00 pm, parking is free in all sub-zones.
- Sundays in sub-zones B and C – free parking for everyone.
- Selected public holidays – Free of charge throughout the zone on: 1 January, both days of Easter, 1 November and 24–26 December.
- Streets outside the zone – In residential areas outside the paid parking zone, parking is free unless otherwise indicated by road signs.
- Shopping centre car parks – They have their own rules and a short period of free parking. For example: at Galeria Kazimierz, the first hour is free for everyone; each subsequent hour costs 5 zł. Check the noticeboard at the entrance for the rules at other shopping centres.
Free parking near the Market Square – is that possible?
Not during the day, probably. The Old Town and Kazimierz are located in subzone A, where parking is subject to a charge daily from 9.00 am to 10.00 pm (except on shopping Sundays). You can park here free of charge only before 9.00 am, after 10.00 pm and on the aforementioned public holidays. From the end of April 2026, residents with a Kraków Card will not have to pay in subzone A on Sundays – tourists and visitors will still have to pay. If you’re visiting during the day, it will work out cheaper to use a Park & Ride facility with a tram ticket than to park for a few hours in subzone A.
Park&Ride (P+R) car parks in Kraków
P+R car parks are operated by the Public Transport Authority. They are located at tram termini and transport hubs. Each car park has its own allocation of tickets and a set of rules displayed on site, and parking is valid for one calendar day.
| P+R car park | Single-person P+R ticket (10 zł) | Group P+R ticket (25 zł) |
|---|---|---|
| Red Poppies | yes | no |
| Kurdwanów | yes | yes |
| Bieżanów | yes | yes |
| Little Płaszów | yes | yes |
| Górka Narodowa | yes | yes |
| Krowodrza Górka | yes | yes |
| Pachoński’s | yes | yes |
A group ticket costing 25 zł is valid for up to 5 adults or a parent with a child under 16. The scheme also includes, amongst others, the Mydlniki Wapiennik, Swoszowice and Prądnik Czerwony car parks (with charging points for electric cars). The number of available spaces at selected P+R car parks is shown in real time on the ZTP website.
Be aware of two charges: 150 zł if you park without a valid public transport ticket, and 250 zł for each 24-hour period if you leave your car there after the end of the parking day. At car parks with barriers, you can only pay by card, and leaving within 10 minutes of entering is free of charge.
Paid parking zone in Kraków 2026 – hours
The Pay-and-Park area is divided into three sub-zones: A (Old Town, Kazimierz), B (the ring around the city centre) and C (outer areas). Entry is indicated by sign D-44, exit by sign D-45. Rules from 31 January 2026:
| Subzone | Paid days | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| A | Monday–Sunday (excluding Sundays when shops are open) | 9:00-22:00 |
| B | Monday–Saturday | 9:00-22:00 |
| C | Monday–Saturday | 9:00-22:00 |
From 10 August 2026, the zone has been extended to include new areas: the vicinity of Podgórski Cemetery (between Wielicka and Powstańców Śląskich) and Matecznego Roundabout (Tischnera, Wadowicka, Kamieńskiego) – sub-zone C, and the Błonia area, including 3 Maja Street, the AGH Student Village and Reymonta Street. The boundaries change every few months, so always check the signs.
How much does it cost to park in Kraków?
The rates have been in force since 4 August 2025 and remained unchanged following the January reform. Holders of the Kraków Card (residents and those filing their PIT tax returns in Kraków) benefit from lower rates. The fourth hour and every subsequent hour cost the same as the first.
| Subzone | 1. hour | 2 o’clock | 3 o’clock | 4. and subsequent | With the Kraków Card (1st/2nd/3rd period) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 9 zł | 10 zł | 11 zł | 9 zł | 6 / 7 / 8 zł |
| B | 8 zł | 9 zł | 10 zł | 8 zł | 5 / 6 / 7 zł |
| C | 7 zł | 8 zł | 9 zł | 7 zł | 4 zł per hour |
Example: 4 hours in subzone A without a Kraków Card costs 39 zł. For the same duration at a P+R car park, a 10 zł ticket covers both parking and tram journeys.
How to pay
You can pay for your parking at a pay-on-arrival machine or via the mobile app. The app allows you to end your parking session as soon as you drive off and to extend it remotely, so you don’t end up paying for time you haven’t used. You pay the charge immediately after parking.
Additional charges and fines
From 31 January 2026, the additional charge for not having a ticket in the zone is 400 zł. If you pay within 7 days of receiving the notice, you will pay 200 zł – the date the money is credited to the account counts, not the date the transfer was sent. This is a charge for unpaid parking, not a fine. A fine and penalty points may be imposed separately for parking in a prohibited area (e.g. in a no-parking zone, on a pedestrian crossing or in a disabled parking space), and such a vehicle may be towed away. You can read more about the manoeuvre itself in the guide reverse parallel parking.
How to park in Kraków without paying too much
- For a full day of sightseeing, leave your car at a P+R car park and take the tram – 10 zł for parking and travel within Zone I.
- Drive into the city centre in the evening: after 10.00 pm, parking in the zone is free.
- On Sundays, look for spaces in sub-zones B and C – they’re free.
- Pay via the app, rather than in advance at the parking meter.
- Keep an eye out for the signs – the zone has already been extended several times since 2026.
If you’re flying into Balice or arriving by train and need a car for the duration of your stay, take a look at car hire in Kraków or car with collection at Balice Airport. Slawa Rent has an office in Wadowice, and you arrange for the car to be delivered to an address in Kraków when you make your booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you park for free near the city centre in Kraków?
During the day, the closest free parking to the city centre is available at P+R car parks (with a valid KMK ticket), from where you can travel by tram. In the city centre itself, parking is free before 9.00 am, after 10.00 pm and on selected public holidays.
Is there a charge for parking in Kraków on Sundays?
Not in sub-zones B and C. In sub-zone A (the Old Town, Kazimierz), visitors must pay on Sundays as well, except on shopping Sundays. Residents with a Krakow Card are exempt on Sundays.
How much does an hour’s parking cost in the centre of Kraków?
In subzone A, the first hour costs 9 zł, the second 10 zł, the third 11 zł, and each subsequent hour 9 zł. With the Krakow Card: 6, 7 and 8 zł.
How much is the fine for travelling without a ticket in the zone?
The additional charge is 400 zł, or 200 zł if you pay it within 7 days of receiving the demand.
Is the P+R car park in Kraków free?
Yes, provided you have a valid public transport ticket on your card. Without one, you’ll need to buy a P+R ticket for 10 zł, which also covers journeys within Zone 1.
