How much does it cost to park in the city centre? A comparison of cities and 'souvenir' fines

In Palermo, parking costs an average of 1 euro per hour. In Catania there are two rates, ranging from 0.90 euro for the first hour to 1 euro for the second. In the historic city centre, the Movida Park is in force every day (timed and paid night parking from 9pm to 2am on both weekdays and public holidays) with a single charge of 1 euro.

In Cagliari, the ordinary tariff is 0.50 euro for the first hour and 1 euro for the second, and then special tariffs for certain zones. In this case the costs go from 0.30 euro for the first quarter of an hour to 0.50 euro for the first half hour, 1 euro for the first hour and 2 euro for the following hours.

In Campobasso, the rates for blue stripes vary per zone. In each case they range from 0.50 euro for the first hour to a maximum of 10 euro for the whole day.

Fines for illegal parking in European cities have become a sort of 'tourist souvenir', mainly due to complex rules and unclear signposting. This is said by Mario Arnaldo, president of the European Associated Motorists (AEA), who points the finger at the situation in Spain - but also in Italy - as well as cities such as London and Paris. For those visiting a city, finding their way between restricted traffic zones and low-emission areas is often almost impossible.

In Spain, each municipality applies different criteria for parking regulation. A system created to guarantee parking rotation, with traditional 'blue zones' and 'green zones', has progressively turned into a tax lever for local administrations, according to AEA. In addition to the hourly rate, there have been environmental restrictions and, more recently, the new mobility law passed in December.

According to Arnaldo, the real income comes not so much from parking fees as from fines. In Madrid, fines increased by only 1.4 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year, but revenue from fines grew by 11.9 per cent, exceeding EUR 1 million per day, partly due to the extension of low-emission zones to the whole municipal area.

The complexity of the rules is such that, notes the AEA president, in order not to risk a fine, one would need digital applications capable of indicating in real time where one can park. Alternatively, a motorist would have to study municipal ordinances hundreds of pages long just to know whether he or she could park or drive.

In Sofia, a sharp increase in parking costs, the extension of pay zones and longer parking hours was planned as part of a reform approved by the City Council in November 2025. The plan included charges of up to EUR 2 per hour in central areas and new annual charges for residents, with the aim of reducing car use and increasing revenue for public investments.

The Bulgarian capital is among the most congested cities in Europe, with more than 760 cars per 1,000 inhabitants and around one million vehicles circulating every day, including those from other regions. According to estimates, the space needed to accommodate them is equivalent to around 1,750 football pitches, an unbearable pressure on streets and residential neighbourhoods.

However, the reform has been blocked: dozens of citizens and organisations have appealed and the courts have suspended the application of the new rules pending a final decision on their legality.