Parking in Munich: Car Parks, P+R, Low Emission Zone and Parking Fees

By Daniel Schulz, residir GmbH · Last updated: 13 October 2026

Parking in Munich city centre is scarce and costs €2 to €2.50 per hour on the street, and many streets are reserved for residents. For a visit to the old town it is therefore best to use a multi-storey car park or leave your car at a Park & Ride (P+R) site and continue by U-Bahn or S-Bahn. Inside the Mittlerer Ring ring road you also need a green emissions sticker.

Many guests staying with us in Lehel ask where they can park in Munich before they even arrive. This guide sums up how parking management works, what parking tickets and P+R cost, what applies in the low emission zone and how tradespeople with vans can park at their job site. All information is as of October 2026 and, unless stated otherwise, comes from the City of Munich’s official pages.

In this article:

• Parking in Munich city centre
• Car parks in Munich city centre
• Park and Ride in Munich
• Munich low emission zone
• Parking for tradespeople and fitters
• Motorhomes and trailers
• Parking in Lehel and the old town
• Parking for events and days out
• Central station and airport
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

Topic	Quick answer
Parking ticket, old town (inside the Altstadtring)	8 am to 11 pm €2.50 per hour, at night €2 per hour
Parking ticket, rest of the city	€2 per hour
Central station parking zone	€2.50 per hour round the clock
P+R day ticket (P+R Park & Ride GmbH)	usually €1, €1.50 or €2 for up to 24 hours, only with a public transport ticket
Low emission zone	Mittlerer Ring and everything inside it, green sticker required
Diesel Euro 4 and below	access restrictions with exemptions, Euro 5 and above unaffected
Residents’ parking permit	€30 for 12 months, only with a registered address in the permit zone
Parking permit for trade businesses	from €90 for 3 months, €360 for 12 months

Parking in Munich city centre: permit zones and parking fees

Drive into the city centre and you will soon notice: free spaces on the street are rare, and the closer you get to Marienplatz, the more signs there are telling you who may park and for how long. The city itself says that parking spaces towards the centre are hard to find and recommends buses and trains for getting into town.

Parking management and permit zones

Where parking space is particularly tight, the city sets up Parklizenzgebiete (parking permit zones). These have three types of space: residents-only parking for permit holders, mixed parking, where residents with a permit park free and everyone else buys a ticket, and short-stay parking, where everyone pays. The roadside signs show which rule applies and during which hours charges are in force.

There is no multi-day parking ticket for visitors. The city considers it reasonable for you to buy a new ticket within each 24-hour period. You can get a ticket from the machine or by mobile phone parking via an app; the fees are the same.

Parking fees in Munich: what a ticket costs

Parking fees in Munich are set by the city’s parking fee regulations (Parkgebührenordnung). They divide the city into three zones: the old town inside the Altstadtring, the central station zone and the rest of the city. This gives the following rates (version as amended on 15 August 2023, as of October 2026):

• Old town: from 8 am to 11 pm €0.50 per 12 minutes or part thereof, i.e. €2.50 per hour; at night €0.10 per 3 minutes or part thereof.
• Central station: €2.50 per hour round the clock.
• Rest of the city: €0.10 per 3 minutes or part thereof, i.e. €2 per hour.
• Daily maximum: €11 on stretches of road without a signposted parking time limit.

The regulations do not specify a fixed maximum parking time. It is set street by street and shown on the sign or the machine; in the old town it is often short. Parking fees in Munich city centre add up quickly: four hours on the street in the old town cost €10 during the day, while a P+R day ticket costs €1 to €2.

Free parking in Munich: where it is still possible

If you want to park for free in Munich city centre, you have virtually no chance. Inside the Mittlerer Ring almost all streets are either pay-and-display or part of a permit zone. Parking is only free where there is neither a ticket machine nor a residents’ sign, usually in residential streets on the edge of the city. According to the city, electric cars are partly exempt from parking fees; the sign on site tells you whether this applies to your space.

Residents’ parking in Munich and permits for longer-stay guests

A parking permit in Munich, officially a Bewohnerparkausweis (residents’ parking permit), is only issued to people who are registered in the permit zone with a main or secondary residence, have a vehicle registered in their name or can prove they use it permanently, and have no private parking space. The permit costs €30 for twelve months, €60 for 24 and €90 for 36 months. Foreign number plates are generally not accepted.

For holidaymakers, residents’ parking in Munich is therefore not an option. It is different if you move into one of our furnished apartments in Munich for a project or a relocation and register your address there. You can then apply for the permit, but it is only valid for the permit zone in which you are registered. If you move to another zone, it lapses without replacement.

Car parks in Munich city centre: multi-storey and underground car parks in the old town

For a day in town, a car park in Munich is usually the more relaxed option. Around the Altstadtring there are several large multi-storey and underground car parks, many of them open 24 hours. Each operator sets its own prices, so we deliberately do not quote any figures here. Check the tariff on the operator’s website or on the sign at the entrance before you drive in.

One example on our side of the old town is the Parkhaus am Hofbräuhaus, Thomas-Wimmer-Ring 9a, right on the Altstadtring between the Isartor and Maximilianstraße. According to muenchen.de it has 521 spaces, a height limit of 2.10 metres and charging points for electric cars. From the car park it is only a few minutes’ walk to the Platzl and the Isartor.

What to look out for in a car park

• Height limit: many underground car parks in the old town have a clearance of around 2 metres. If you have a roof box or a van, check beforehand.
• Daily rate: if you are looking for a cheap car park in central Munich, compare the day and night rates. The hourly price alone tells you little.
• Several days: not every car park allows longer stays. Ask the operator about weekly or long-term rates.
• Occupancy: before major events and on Saturdays in Advent, car parks in the old town are often full by midday.

A car park in Munich city centre is convenient but expensive over several days. If you are staying longer, do the maths: it is often cheaper to leave the car at a P+R site and get around the city by U-Bahn.

Park and Ride in Munich: P+R sites, fares and onward travel with the MVV

Park and Ride in Munich means parking at a U-Bahn or S-Bahn station on the edge of the city and taking the train into the centre. Most sites in the city are run by P+R Park & Ride GmbH, a subsidiary of the City of Munich. According to muenchen.de there are 38 sites with more than 14,000 car parking spaces in Munich and the surrounding area (as of August 2026).

What P+R costs in Munich

The day ticket for up to 24 hours usually costs €1, €1.50 or €2 depending on the site. Depending on the site, there are also ten-trip or credit cards, monthly passes and a subscription card with a minimum term of three months that can be cancelled monthly. You cannot reserve a space at P+R GmbH sites, but you can check current occupancy online.

The important condition: the P+R rate only applies if you continue your journey by bus or train. You must keep your ticket until you exit, and the Deutschlandticket also counts. If you do not travel on, you pay the standard rate at sites with two tariffs. So Park and Ride in Munich is not free at P+R GmbH sites, and other operators in the MVV area have their own prices and rules.

Maximum stay and well-known sites

At most P+R sites you may park for a maximum of 24 hours, even with a monthly pass. According to muenchen.de, longer parking is only permitted at Messestadt Ost, Neuperlach Süd, Fröttmaning, Daglfing, Freiham and Grafing Bahnhof. If you overstay, a contractual penalty may be charged.

Well-connected sites include Fröttmaning on the U6, Messestadt Ost on the U2, Neuperlach Süd, Moosach, Olympiazentrum, Westfriedhof, Heimeranplatz and Fürstenried West. If you are going to the trade fair, you can park at Messestadt Ost, but without a bus or train journey the standard rate applies there too. If you are coming for several days of a trade fair, you will find accommodation for Messe Munich with a U-Bahn connection with us.

Payment varies from site to site. At sites with a barrier, your number plate is recorded on entry and you pay at the pay station before leaving or with a digital parking card. At sites without a barrier, you buy a ticket from the machine when you start parking or via the EasyPark app, which adds a service fee. So P&R in Munich works much like a car park, only considerably cheaper.

Munich low emission zone: green sticker and diesel rules (as of October 2026)

The Munich Umweltzone (low emission zone) covers the Mittlerer Ring itself and everything inside it. If you want to drive or park there, you need a green emissions sticker (Umweltplakette) on the inside of your windscreen. The sticker is valid in all low emission zones throughout Germany, but only for the vehicle with the registered number plate. A map of the Munich low emission zone is available on the city’s geoportal.

What changed in 2026

According to the city, vehicles with an E number plate (for electric vehicles) no longer need an emissions sticker since 1 October 2026. The green sticker remains mandatory for all other cars. Since 20 October 2025, the ninth update of the clean air plan has also been in force, which includes a 30 km/h speed limit on Landshuter Allee.

Diesel cars in the Munich low emission zone

Since 1 February 2023, access restrictions have applied to Euro 4 diesel cars and below in the low emission zone, including the Mittlerer Ring. According to the city, Euro 5 diesels and above are not affected for the time being. Exemptions apply to, among others, residents of the zone with a green sticker, delivery traffic, tradespeople with a Munich trade parking permit, severely disabled people with certain endorsements and Euro 6 diesels.

There is no specific exemption for guests and tourists. Breaching the diesel rule costs €100, or €128.50 including fees and expenses. Individual exemptions can be requested from the Kreisverwaltungsreferat (district administration department); there are none for simply driving through.

Emissions sticker for Munich: where to get one

You can get the emissions sticker for Munich from TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS and from garages authorised to carry out emissions tests; at the vehicle registration office only as part of a registration. How is the low emission zone in Munich enforced? Not with barriers, but during traffic checks and when parked: if a car without a valid sticker is parked in the zone, traffic wardens can issue a fine. If you are coming from abroad, get your sticker before you travel.

Parking for tradespeople and fitters with vans

If you need to bring tools and materials into the city, you cannot take the U-Bahn. For trade businesses there is therefore the Parkausweis für Handwerksbetriebe, known as the Handwerkerparkausweis München (Munich trade parking permit). It is available to businesses listed in the German Crafts Code (Annex A or B) or doing comparable work, such as maintenance services. The vehicle must be needed as a workshop vehicle or for transporting tools and materials.

What the permit allows

• Free parking in short-stay zones, in restricted no-stopping zones and in residents’ parking spaces.
• Only at the job site during working hours, not at the company’s premises and not overnight.
• Only if no other parking space is available within a reasonable distance; the job site record must be clearly displayed in the vehicle.
• Not allowed: disabled parking bays, fire service access routes and absolute no-stopping zones.

The permit costs €90 for three months, €180 for six, €360 for twelve and €720 for 24 months. For purely battery-electric vehicles it is €30 for twelve months. Up to three vehicles can be registered per permit, and processing usually takes three working days if your documents are complete.

And after work?

The permit is not valid overnight. Fitters working in the city for several weeks therefore need a space for their van near their accommodation. In Lehel and the old town, parking spaces are scarce and many streets are reserved for residents. If you are looking for workers accommodation in Munich, it is best to sort out van parking before you book.

Parking a motorhome in Munich: rules for motorhomes and trailers

Driving a motorhome into the city centre is rarely worth it. Most car parks are too low for you, and there is hardly any room for long vehicles on the street. If you want to park a motorhome in Munich, head for a campsite or designated pitch on the edge of the city instead, such as the Campingplatz Thalkirchen by the Isar, and continue by bus and train.

According to the city, trailers are subject to the German road traffic regulations: without a towing vehicle they may stand at the roadside for a maximum of two weeks. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and trailers over 2 tonnes may not park regularly in residential areas at night from 10 pm to 6 am or on Sundays and public holidays.

Parking in Lehel and the old town

Lehel is one of Munich’s parking permit zones, and many streets are reserved for residents. Where mixed parking applies, visitors buy a ticket or go straight to a car park. If you are looking for parking in Lehel, there is the Parkhaus am Hofbräuhaus on the Altstadtring, a few minutes’ walk from Ländstraße.

Parking in Munich’s old town is even harder: large areas around Marienplatz and Kaufingerstraße are pedestrianised, and the higher old town rate applies on the street. For a day in the old town, a car park on the edge or leaving the car behind altogether is the better choice. From Lehel you can walk to Marienplatz in around twelve minutes.

And at our building on Ländstraße?

We will discuss whether and where you can park with us when you enquire. Guests travelling with a dog often arrive in their own car. Whether your four-legged friend can come along depends on the apartment category; details are on our page about dog-friendly apartments in Munich.

Parking for events and days out: Allianz Arena, Olympiapark, zoo and Deutsches Museum

On match days and for concerts, special rules apply around the stadiums. For parking at the Allianz Arena there are car parks under the esplanade, but getting out after the match often takes a long time. Many visitors prefer to park at the Fröttmaning P+R site or further out and take the U6 for the last few stops. Prices, directions and match-day tips are in our guide to the Allianz Arena.

If you want to park for a concert at the Olympiahalle in Munich, it is just as tricky. The U3 stops at Olympiazentrum station, which also has a P+R site. On concert evenings the streets around the Olympiapark fill up fast, and you will usually get away more quickly by bus and train.

The zoo has two car parks at its two entrances, which are often full early on sunny weekends. If you want to park at Tierpark Hellabrunn and cannot find a space, use a P+R site on the U3 instead. Parking fees and directions are described in our guide to Hellabrunn Zoo.

Parking at the Deutsches Museum in Munich is difficult, as there are hardly any spaces right by the Museumsinsel. Use the car parks in the surrounding area instead. From Lehel it is around a twelve-minute walk across the Ludwigsbrücke bridge. Opening hours and exhibitions are in our guide to the Deutsches Museum.

Parking at Munich central station and Munich Airport

If you want to park at Munich central station (Hauptbahnhof), on-street parking in the dedicated central station zone costs €2.50 per hour round the clock. There are several car parks around the station, but access routes keep changing because of the major building works. If you are picking someone up, the S-Bahn is often quicker than the car.

For parking at Munich Airport, the airport runs its own car parks right by the terminals as well as more remote parking areas; prices and reservations are on the airport’s official website. You do not need the car to get into the city: the S8 runs to the Isartor in around 40 minutes without changing.

Conclusion: parking in Munich usually means P+R or a car park

Parking in Munich is most relaxed with a green sticker, a P+R ticket on the edge of the city or a car park on the Altstadtring, because on-street spaces in the city centre are scarce and geared towards residents; if you book accommodation in Munich city centre, it is best to clarify parking when you enquire.

Frequently asked questions about parking in Munich

Where can you park for free in Munich?

You can only park for free in Munich where there is neither a parking ticket machine nor a residents’ parking sign. These are mainly residential streets outside the Mittlerer Ring. In the city centre and in the permit zones, on-street parking almost everywhere is either chargeable or reserved for residents.

How much does parking cost in Munich city centre?

In the old town inside the Altstadtring, a parking ticket costs €0.50 per 12 minutes or part thereof from 8 am to 11 pm according to the parking fee regulations, i.e. €2.50 per hour. In the rest of the city it is €0.10 per 3 minutes or part thereof, i.e. €2 per hour (as of October 2026). The tariff board on the machine is authoritative.

How much does Park and Ride cost in Munich?

At the sites run by the municipal P+R GmbH, a day ticket for up to 24 hours usually costs €1, €1.50 or €2 depending on the site (as of August 2026). For the P+R rate you need a valid bus or train ticket; otherwise the more expensive standard rate applies.

Do I need an emissions sticker in Munich?

Yes, you need a green sticker for the Munich low emission zone. The zone covers the Mittlerer Ring and everything inside it. According to the city, vehicles with an E number plate no longer need a sticker since 1 October 2026.

Can diesel cars drive into Munich city centre?

Euro 5 diesels and above with a green sticker may drive into the low emission zone. Since 1 February 2023, access restrictions have applied to Euro 4 diesels and below, with exemptions for residents, delivery traffic and tradespeople, among others (as of October 2026).

Can guests get a residents’ parking permit in Munich?

No, not as a short-stay guest. A residents’ parking permit is only issued to people registered in the permit zone with a main or secondary residence, who have a vehicle registered in their name and no private parking space. It costs €30 for twelve months.

Where can I park as a tradesperson in Munich?

With the parking permit for trade businesses, you may park free of charge at the job site during working hours in short-stay zones, restricted no-stopping zones and residents’ parking spaces. The permit costs €90 for three months or €360 for twelve months, and it is not valid overnight.

Where is the best place to park for matches at the Allianz Arena?

Ideally further out at a P+R site, continuing by U-Bahn or S-Bahn. Fröttmaning is a good choice for the Allianz Arena, but without a bus or train journey the standard rate applies there.