If you drive in Vienna, there is no way around the citywide short-stay parking zone (Kurzparkzone): since March 2022 it applies across all 23 districts, on weekdays from Monday to Friday. Without a valid parking ticket or mobile parking you risk a fine. For longer visits to the city center the many garages around Stephansplatz, the Opera and the City Hall are the most convenient option, while commuters travel cheaply using the Park & Ride sites at the metro terminals. This guide lists central garages with rates, explains the short-stay zone and the Parkpickerl, and shows where you can park for free on the city edge.
Key facts at a glance
- All of Vienna is a short-stay parking zone, valid Mon to Fri from 9 am to 10 pm, with a maximum stay of 2 hours.
- A paper parking ticket costs about 1.70 euros per half hour, or pay conveniently by mobile parking (app or SMS).
- The Parkpickerl is a long-term permit available only to residents registered in the relevant district.
- Central garages cost about 3.50 to 4.50 euros per hour, with day rates from around 25 euros.
- Park & Ride at the metro terminals is the cheapest option for commuters at about 4.60 euros per day.
- Free parking is mainly found on the city edge (districts 13, 21, 22, 23) outside the short-stay zone.
Central car parks in Vienna at a glance
The selection below shows central garages in Vienna with location, approximate number of spaces and rate. Prices can change, so check the operator's website if in doubt.
- Kärntnerstraße Garage – Kärntnerstraße 51, 1010 Vienna, right on the pedestrian zone near the Opera and Stephansplatz
Spaces: approx. 300 · Rate: approx. 4.50 EUR/h, day max approx. 39.90 EUR. Very central in the Inner City, ideal for shopping, but in the upper price range. - Kärntnerringgarage – Mahlerstraße 6-8, 1010 Vienna, near the State Opera and the Ringstraße
Spaces: approx. 600 · Rate: approx. 4.00 EUR/h, day max approx. 30.00 EUR. Large garage near the Opera, well suited for theater and opera visits. - Parkhaus City (Stephansplatz) – Schulerstraße 1-3, 1010 Vienna, a few steps from St. Stephen's Cathedral
Spaces: approx. 190 · Rate: approx. 4.50 EUR/h, day max approx. 40.00 EUR. Closest garage to Stephansplatz, compact and popular, so often full quickly. - Parkgarage Am Hof (WIPARK) – Am Hof, 1010 Vienna, under the historic Am Hof square
Spaces: approx. 470 · Rate: approx. 3.50 EUR/h, day max approx. 33.00 EUR. Central in the 1st district between Graben and Freyung, well connected to the center. - Garage Freyung (WIPARK) – Freyung, 1010 Vienna, near the cathedral and the Burgtheater
Spaces: approx. 400 · Rate: approx. 3.90 EUR/h, day max approx. 34.00 EUR. Handy for visits to the western Inner City and the Universitätsring. - Parkgarage Rathauspark (WIPARK) – Universitätsring, 1010 Vienna, right by the City Hall and Burgtheater
Spaces: approx. 500 · Rate: approx. 3.90 EUR/h, day max approx. 34.00 EUR. Ideal for events on Rathausplatz such as the Christmas market or film festival. - Garage Am Museumsquartier (WIPARK) – Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna, directly under the MuseumsQuartier
Spaces: approx. 600 · Rate: approx. 3.90 EUR/h, day max approx. 34.00 EUR. Perfect for the MQ, the art and natural history museums and Mariahilfer Straße. - Karlsplatz Garage – Mattiellistraße 2-4, 1040 Vienna, near Karlskirche and the Musikverein
Spaces: approx. 250 · Rate: approx. 3.50 EUR/h, day max approx. 25.00 EUR. Lower day maximum, good for concerts at the Musikverein and the south side of the center. - Garage Columbus Center – Columbusplatz 7, 1100 Vienna, U1 Keplerplatz, close to the Central Station
Spaces: approx. 400 · Rate: approx. 4.00 EUR/h, day max approx. 15.00 EUR. Very low day maximum, a few minutes by U1 into the center or to the Central Station. - Hauptbahnhof Wien Parkgarage (WIPARK) – At the Central Station, 1100 Vienna, inside the station building
Spaces: approx. 600 · Rate: approx. 3.90 EUR/h, day max approx. 29.00 EUR. First choice for rail travelers and pick-ups, covered and open around the clock.
Short-stay zone, parking ticket and Parkpickerl
Since March 2022 all of Vienna is a citywide short-stay parking zone (Kurzparkzone). It applies in all 23 districts on weekdays from Monday to Friday, usually from 9 am to 10 pm (times differ in some shopping streets, sometimes from 8 am and on Saturday mornings). If you park here you need a valid parking ticket: the paper ticket costs about 1.70 euros per half hour and the maximum stay is 2 hours. The completed ticket is placed clearly behind the windscreen. More convenient is mobile parking by app or SMS, which bills to the minute and reminds you in time. Residents with their main address in the district can apply for a Parkpickerl instead of individual tickets: this long-term permit is valid for their own district, exempts them from the 2-hour limit and the ticket fees there, and is paid annually. It is not available to visitors, who use a parking ticket or mobile parking.
Free parking in Vienna
Free parking in Vienna is mainly possible outside the enforced hours and on the city edge. Since the short-stay zone only applies on weekdays, you can usually park for free at night (roughly from 10 pm) and at the weekend (all day Saturday and Sunday) in most districts. During the day there are free spaces above all in the outer districts 13, 21, 22 and 23, where some sparsely populated fringe areas are excluded from the zone. You also find free spaces near larger shopping centers on the city edge and along the Danube Island. To run errands in the center, combine these free zones with the metro or tram.
Park and Ride in Vienna
Commuters are best off leaving the car at a Park & Ride site at the metro terminals and taking the Wiener Linien into the center:
- P+R Erdberg: U3 Erdberg, a direct link into the center (Stephansplatz in a few minutes). Large site in the east of Vienna, popular with commuters from the A4 motorway.
- P+R Hütteldorf: U4 Hütteldorf and S-Bahn, a quick ride towards the center and Schönbrunn. Day rate about 4.60 EUR, with cheaper weekly and monthly rates for regular commuters.
- P+R U6 Siebenhirten: U6 Siebenhirten, access from the south via the A2/A21. Discounts for holders of an annual pass, KlimaTicket or student ticket of the Wiener Linien.
- P+R Leopoldau: U1 Leopoldau, a direct north-south axis across the city. Ideal for arrivals from the north and the Weinviertel region.
- P+R Spittelau: U4 and U6 Spittelau plus S-Bahn, reachable without changing on several lines. Close to the center with very good connections to several lines.
Tips for parking in Vienna
- Use mobile parking by app: you pay to the minute, extend easily and get reminded before time runs out.
- For a full day visit a garage day maximum is often better value than several tickets in the short-stay zone.
- In shopping streets watch for different hours and the shorter maximum stay of 1.5 hours.
- Commuters travel cheapest with Park & Ride at the metro terminals and can use possible ticket discounts.
- At the weekend and at night parking is free in most districts, which saves money on evening and weekend visits.
- If you travel via Vienna Airport (VIE), compare airport parking online in advance rather than on the spot.
If you are not parking in the city but heading off on holiday, booking a spot at Vienna Airport (Schwechat) in advance saves you a lot compared with the terminal rate. Compare available spaces for your travel dates, fixed price, shuttle included. The discount is embedded in the link and applied automatically at checkout.
Check prices & availability →* Affiliate link. You pay the same price, we receive a small commission.
Frequently asked questions about parking in Vienna
How much does parking in Vienna cost?
In the short-stay zone a parking ticket costs about 1.70 euros per half hour, roughly 3.40 euros per hour. Central garages charge about 3.50 to 4.50 euros per hour, often with a day maximum from around 25 euros. Park & Ride is cheapest at about 4.60 euros per day.
Where can you park for free in Vienna?
You can park for free mainly outside the enforced hours, that is at night (roughly from 10 pm) and at the weekend, and during the day in the outer districts 13, 21, 22 and 23, where some fringe areas are excluded from the short-stay zone. Some shopping centers on the city edge also offer free spaces.
How does the short-stay zone and parking ticket work in Vienna?
All of Vienna is a citywide short-stay zone, valid Monday to Friday mostly from 9 am to 10 pm. You need a parking ticket (about 1.70 euros per half hour) clearly behind the windscreen, or you pay conveniently by mobile parking. The maximum stay is 2 hours.
How does Park & Ride work in Vienna?
At several metro terminals such as Erdberg, Hütteldorf, Siebenhirten, Leopoldau and Spittelau there are Park & Ride sites. You leave your car for about 4.60 euros per day and take the metro or S-Bahn into the center. With an annual pass or KlimaTicket some sites offer discounts.
What is the Parkpickerl and who can get it?
The Parkpickerl is the long-term parking permit for residents with their main address in the district. In their own district it exempts them from the 2-hour limit and the ticket fees, and it is paid annually. Visitors and tourists do not get a Parkpickerl and use a parking ticket or mobile parking instead.