Drivin' in Czechia
All you need to drive smart in the Czech Republic
Thousands of visitors head to Prague every day, whether for work, a trip, or shopping. Some opt for buses or trains, while others rely on cars. But where can you park in that case? Are there any options for free parking in Prague? You’ll find out in this article.
In this article, you’ll learn about:
- Free Park-and-Ride (P+R) car parks
- Short-term free parking near shopping centres
- Free parking near metro stations
- A map of parking zones in Prague
- Where to park for free in the city centre on weekends
- Parking near Prague Castle
- Parking near Karlovo náměstí
- Free parking near the Prague ZOO
- Apps that help with parking
Free Park-and-Ride (P+R) car parks
The most reliable way to park for free in Prague is to use one of the P+R car parks on the city’s outskirts. Some of these are free of charge, and you can then easily reach the city centre by public transport. Here are the P+R car parks where you don’t pay for parking:
| Name | Address | Total parking spaces |
|---|---|---|
| P+R Běchovice | Českobrodská, P21 – Běchovice | 98 |
| P+R Běchovice – střed | Mladých Běchovic, P21 – Běchovice | 64 |
| P+R Braník | Pikovická, P4 – Braník | 115 |
| P+R Nádraží Hostivař | Dolnoměcholupská, P15 – Hostivař | 78 |
| P+R Radotín | Prvomájová, P16 – Radotín | 58 |
| P+R Zahradní Město | Ždánická, P10 – Zahradní Město | 31 |
Also worth mentioning is the car park in Troja on Povltavská Street, which is free only outside the main season – from January 1 to March 22 and from November 1 to December 31. On weekdays, it’s also free during transitional periods (March 25 – June 28 and September 2 – October 31). During the summer holidays, it serves as a parking lot for Prague Zoo, and in that case, a parking fee of 100 CZK applies.
You don’t have to rely only on park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts. A good tip is to park near Strahov dormitories, for example on Jezdecká Street, where parking is free even on weekdays.
Free short-term parking near shopping centres
You can also use the car parks of certain shopping centres, which usually offer free parking for a limited time, such as one or three hours. If you’re coming to Prague to shop, that may be enough. Additionally, if you use services in the shopping centre (like a cinema), you may be eligible for an extension.
Near metro stations, you’ll find shopping centres like:
- OC Atrium Flora – Prague 3 – 1 hour free (3 hours on weekends)
- DBK Budějovická – Prague 4 – 1 hour free (3 hours on weekends)
- Arkády Pankrác – Prague 4 – 2 hours free (unlimited on weekends)
- Westfield Chodov – Prague 4 – 3 hours free
- OC Nový Smíchov – Prague 5 – 1 hour free (5 hours on weekends)
- Metropole Zličín – Prague 5 – 3 hours free (5 hours on weekends)
- Centrum Černý Most – Prague 9 – 4 hours free
- Galerie Harfa – Prague 9 – 2 hours free
- NC Fénix Vysočanská – Prague 9 – 3 hours free (5 hours on weekends)
Some shopping centres offer completely free parking, usually further from the centre or from metro stations. Examples include:
- OC Novodvorská Plaza, Novodvorská Street, Prague 4
- OC Šestka, Fajtlova Street, Prague 6
Free car parking near metro stations
Resident-only blue zones in Prague have been introduced mainly because of commuters who park near public transport and continue their journey by metro or tram. As a result, blue zones are common around metro stations, since the metro is the fastest mode of transport in Prague. However, you can still find places where you can park for free near metro stations and continue by public transport. This applies no matter which direction you’re coming from – whether from Plzeň, Liberec, Hradec Králové, or Brno.
On line A, there aren’t many options for free parking, as most of the line runs through areas with surface-level blue zones. However, you can park for free near the following station:
- Depo Hostivař – Polygrafická Street
On line B, you can park within walking distance of the following stations:
- Stodůlky – Jeremiášova Street
- Luka – U Jezera
- Lužiny – Píškova
- Hůrka – Volutová, Petržílkova
- Nové Butovice – Petržílkova
- Jinonice – U Kříže, Puchmajerova
- Kolbenova – Na Černé strouze
- Hloubětín – Chvalská
- Rajská zahrada – Bratří Venclíků
On line C, you can park for free near these stations:
- Háje – Anežky Malé parking lot
- Opatov – Starochodovská Street
- Chodov – Hráského Street
- Roztyly – Brehmova Street (by the curling hall)
In any case, keep in mind that spots fill up quickly. On a weekday, they might already be full by 9:00 AM. On the other hand, you can often park overnight without charge.
Map of parking zones in Prague
Where to park in the city centre for free on weekends
Parking near Prague Castle
If you want to park for free in Prague on a weekend, you’ll have many more options, including spots right in the city centre – for example, near Prague Castle. You can park your car near the Brusnice Gate, for example on the following streets:
- K Brusce
- Na Valech
- Mickiewiczova
Parking here is free on weekends, and you’re just a few dozen metres away from the Royal Garden, which is already part of the Prague Castle complex.
Alternatively, you can park near the Strahov dormitories, for example in Jezdecká Street.
Parking near Karlovo náměstí
On the other side of the Vltava River, a good option is to park on Pod Slovany Street, just a short walk from Karlovo náměstí, which is also free on weekends.
If you don’t mind parking further from the centre, you can park on Kutvirtova Street, near the Radlická metro station, or in Karlín, for example on Pobřežní Street.
Free parking near Prague Zoo
You can also park for free near the Prague Zoo on weekends, but you’ll need some luck. Directly opposite the entrance, on U Trojského zámku Street, there are several parking spots that are free of charge. However, they tend to fill up quickly, so you’ll usually find a spot only early in the morning or when someone is leaving.
An alternative is to park somewhere in Bohnice, for example on:
- Lodžská Street
- Mazurská Street
- K Pazderkám Street
From there, you can either walk about 1.5 km to the zoo or take public transport.
Apps that help with parking
If our tips aren’t enough, there are also several mobile apps that can help with parking in Prague.
A clear choice is the Mapy.com app, where you’ll find detailed information about blue zones, their locations and hours, and prices at paid car parks.
The PID Lítačka app allows you to pay for parking right from your phone. It also offers recommendations for the best combination of public transport and shared bikes for the fastest journey.
