Looking for a new city in Spain to explore? Discover the beautiful Valencia, capital of oranges, parties and paella. And thanks to our advice, no more worries about finding a parking space to park in Valencia, this city of a thousand and one surprises.
The third largest city in Spain, Valencia is not taken by storm like its cousins Madrid and Barcelona, and at For Travel Lovers we wonder why. Between its fallas - very festive popular festivals - its sweet oranges, its tasty tapas, its white sandy beaches, its sunshine ten months out of twelve of the year and its paella, Valencia has something to make you succumb.
But as in any large European city, once you have booked your accommodation and activities, one question remains: where to park without breaking your piggy bank? Parking in Valencia is no exception to the rule and can quickly become a headache. Luckily, we have found some tips on how to find cheap parking in Valencia and enjoy the wonders of the city without any stress.
Parking in Valencia: parking rules
One of the advantages of Valencia is that parking is very codified and once you get there, it's hard to make a mistake, especially since there is a site, Ora Valencia, which shows you all the streets where you can park in the city without risking fines. There are four types of parking zones in Valencia: the orange zone for residents, the orange zone for non-residents, the blue zone in the city centre and the blue zone.
As its name suggests, the orange zone for residents makes it easier for locals to find spaces and offers significant advantages such as reduced rates and the possibility of parking for several days in a row, up to 7 working days. As a non-resident, you can park in the orange zone, but the prices are higher and the parking limit is 2 hours: count 1.10€ for 25 minutes, 2.10€ for 1 hour and 3.30€ for 2 hours. And there's no point in tempting the devil by not taking your ticket: the Spanish controllers are careful to make sure that the rules are respected and are very strict about fines.
As for the blue zone, it is also accessible for up to 2 hours maximum and the closer you get to the city centre, the higher the prices. As an example, the 25 minutes in the classic blue zone are charged €0.30 while in the city centre they are charged €0.55. For 1 hour, charge €0.80 in the classic blue zone and €1 in the city centre and for 2 hours, €1.50 in the classic blue zone and €1.70 in the city centre.
Free parking in Valencia
It is quite possible to park for free in Valencia and for good reason: parking in Valencia is paid from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8pm, which leaves you all night and Sunday to park for free. Some streets are even charged only on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm, such as Plaza Pintor Segrelles, Plaza Obispo Amigo, Calle San Francisco de Borja, Plaza Vannes, Calle Juan de Mena, Avenida Aragon, Calle Lorca, Calle Emilia Baro, Avenida del Cid or Avenida Blasco.
For those who prefer covered car parks, you should know that there are few of them and that they are usually overcrowded. Ideally located opposite the City of Arts and Sciences, the El Saler Shopping Centre car park offers 3,000 spaces and is free of charge after 2pm on weekdays, weekends and public holidays. You can also try your luck at the Marina Real Juan Carlos I car park where the first two hours are free.
Another good place to park for free in Valencia are the metro car parks. Next to the stations outside the city, many offer free parking. Convenient for getting to the city centre by public transport.
Cheap parking in Valencia
There are several covered car parks in Valencia: on average, the price varies between 15 and 30€ per day but there are some cheaper exceptions.
Located near the Botanical Gardens, the Garaje Aspas offers a very advantageous rate: 8€ per day. At this price, we advise you to book your cheap car park in Valencia beforehand, so that you are sure to have a space when you arrive.
For a cheap car park just a stone's throw from the centre of Valencia, the Abastos car park is 13€ per day, while the Avenida del Oeste car park, close to the Mercado Central, a beautiful market in the city, is 15€ per day.
There are also car parks at the airport, including Hortalegre, which is 12€ per day and the Low Cost Parking at 10.95€ per day.
