All About Free Parking in Barcelona

If you have to move a lot in Barcelona, you should avoid doing it by car whenever possible. The problem is not only the traffic but the difficulty in finding a place to park, which can add several minutes to your driving experience in the city.

Most of the parking spaces in Barcelona are spaces you have to pay for and while it may not be that expensive to park somewhere paid for a couple of hours, it certainly is a bother to have to keep looking at your watch to make sure you leave before the time runs out.

Make no mistake – Barcelona is a city where you can get a ticket or be towed in the blink of an eye! But luckily there are some free parking spaces in the city and we are here to help you find them.

Free parking in Barcelona on the weekends

If you like to use your wheels to get around the city then the best time to do it is during the weekend. Why? Because you can take advantage of the fact that you can park almost everywhere for free on Saturdays and Sundays.

You should still bear in mind though, that many others will also be taking advantage of this, which makes it just as difficult to find free parking in Barcelone on Sundays or Saturdays as it is during the week.

Free parking in Barcelona during the week

IKEA – L’Hospitalet de Llobregat

You may think that this option is very limited and that it will only be of interest to those who actually need to go shopping in the massive Swedish store but the truth is that it can be quite handy for those who need to do things near IKEA. 

And what is there to do near IKEA? Shopping, going to the movies or having a meal at Gran Via 2 shopping center which is located a mere 15 minutes away by foot. IKEA‘s free parking is also very useful for those who want to take a train or bus to go to the center of Barcelona

Address: Avinguda de la Granvia, 115-134, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat

Spend a few years in Barcelona

La Maquinista

Another shopping center where you can find free parking is La Maquinista. This mall offers underground parking with a total of 4.800 places. La Maquinista closes at night and so does their parking garage.

But don’t fret – there is an outdoor car park in that very same area which is open 24 hours a day, so you don’t have to wonder that long how to find free parking near La Maquinista.

Address: Calle Potosí, 2

Related article: Where to Find Parking Spaces to Rent in Barcelona

Other options

For free parking in the more central areas of Barcelona, one option is to head towards Plaza de la Reina Maria Cristina on Avenida Diagonal.

There are lots of little streets around Plaça de Pius XII, where you can leave your car for free while you take the Metro (L3 Maria Cristina) to the center or shop in L’Illa, a very large mall with a variety of stores for every type of wallet.

Another option is to head towards the Ciutadella Park, one of the largest and loveliest green areas in the city, where you can find free parking on Carrer Ramon Turró.

Around the Montjuïc area and the upper parts of Poble Sec, you will also find a lot of free parking options. There are plenty of free spaces next to Fundación Miro, which is a great place from which to start exploring Montjuïc with all its museums and gardens.

Now that you know the main free parking options in the city, you can start planning your car trips better and start saving some money.

We remind you, though, to consider using public transportation when you can, as it not only helps you save on gas but also helps the environment.

Yearly rentals via ShBarcelona

Where to park in Barcelona for free? We hope you have some ideas now.
Share your tips on free parking as well!