Do you love traveling by car and exploring the hidden gems of the countries you visit? Well, we love it, too. Traveling by car allows us flexibility and comfort, but finding an available parking spot can sometimes be a big challenge. We have prepared several parking lots for you that will save you time and make it easier to find a parking lot in Ferrara. If you often travel by car in Italy, you will notice that Ferrara parking is somewhat cheaper than car parks in other Italian cities.
Be sure to pay attention to the ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) areas of Ferrara, which are located in the historic center, in order to avoid unwanted expenses. Good to know is that this lovely city doesn’t have a parking problem like some other popular Italian cities like Venice, Rome, or Florence. Whenever you come to Ferrara, we guarantee that you will find your parking spot. However, in this article, we will show you where you can park your car for free, or what paid parking options are available for you.
Where to park in Ferrara?
Even though Ferrara is not too big city, there are numerous public parking lots on the streets. Parking lots on the streets of Ferrara can be identified by blue lines, where parking is charged from 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) to 8:00 PM (20:00 hours) every day of the week except for public holidays. It is recommended to park just outside the ZTL because it is easier to find a parking space there. The hourly rate in the streets near the historic center is around 1.20 euros per hour.
Free parking in Ferrara
Ferrara even has free parking spots for those who want to save a bit. These parkings are located outside the main tourist area, but still not too far from the center. Free parking is not so common in Italy, so if you don’t mind walking, we advise you to use this parking opportunity. Here are the free car parks in Ferrara:
Via del Lavoro parking (railway station area)
If you have to travel by train, your apartment or hotel is outside the city center, or you travel to Ferrara by bus, this is the perfect parking lot for you. Via del Lavoro parking is located behind the train station in Ferrara, and it offers 412 parking spaces. It is open 24 hours every day of the year, and best of all, completely free! Walking from the parking lot to the center of Ferrara will take you around 25 minutes which is not too much time. Also, walking from the train station will give you an opportunity to see real life in Ferrara.
Ferrara Parcheggio Darsena
Another free parking lot in Ferrara where you can park your car is in Via Darsena. It is even closer to the center of Ferrara, so you will have to walk only 10 to 15 minutes to reach it. This is the closest parking to the center, where you can park without paying. It has 463 parking spaces, so even on the busiest days, you can easily find parking on Parcheggio Darsena.
Furthermore, the parking lot is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, but it is not monitored, so we advise you to take all valuables with you. The good thing is that you can also park a camper here because there is no height limit for the vehicle.
Paid parking Ferrara
Those who want to park near the Ferrara center can choose between many paid parking lots. The price of parking in Ferrara is really low, so these parking lots are really popular even though there are free parking spaces in the city. Mostly locals park their cars on these lots when they go shopping or want to sip a coffee with their friends on the main square. Here are the best paid parking lots in Ferrara:
Parcheggio Centro Storico – Piazzale Kennedy
Historic Center Parking is the largest parking lot in Ferrara with almost a thousand parking spaces. There are lighted signs on the way to the parking lot that will show you how many free parking spaces are left. In this way, you can avoid going to the parking lot if there are no more available parking spaces. Parking is charged on weekdays from 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) to 8:00 PM (20:00 hours). Keep in mind that this parking is free on public holidays. The distance from the parking lot to the center is about 1 kilometer, so you will reach the center on foot in 8 minutes.
Parcheggio Diamanti
Parcheggio Diamanti (diamond parking) is a slightly more distant car park than the others we will mention. If you want to avoid the busiest streets in Ferrara, this is the choice for you! The closest tourist attraction is Palazzo Diamanti, only 6 minutes walking distance away. However, it will take you about 12 minutes to get to the city center and Este Castle. This parking lot offers 192 parking spaces and is located in Via Arianuova.
The parking lot is open 24 hours a day all year round, and you will have to pay 0.50 euros for an hour of parking during weekdays between 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) and 8:00 PM (20:00 hours), and 2 euros for the whole day. It is often full during the week because it is a favorite parking spot for workers in the area. Please note that the parking lot is not monitored and that campervan or caravan parking is not recommended due to height restrictions.
Borgoricco parking lot
Borgoricco parking lot is a multi-storey car park near the historic center in Contrada di Borgoricco street. It offers 101 parking spaces on 5 floors. It is definitely worth checking if there is a free parking space if you want to park your car in parking garage. The price of parking depends on the length of use of the parking space.
From 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) to 8:00 PM (20:00 hours), you will pay 1.20 euros for the first hour of using the parking lot, while every second hour you will pay 1.80 euros. During the night, the price is 0.60 euros per hour. This parking lot works 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It will take you only 4 minutes to walk to the center, which is approximately 300 meters.
Piazza Sacrati parking lot
Keep in mind that the Piazza Sacrati car park is located in the ZTL. Those are zones of restricted circulation, so only the local residents and registered vehicles are authorised to drive there. If you see the ZTL sign, immediately turn away your car if you don’t want to get fine. There are a lot of cameras in ZTL that will take a photo of your car’s license table. Under the sign, there will be a time written to show you when it is prohibited to drive around in that area.
Piazza Sacrati parking lot is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day, and is charged only on weekdays from 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) to 8:00 PM (20:00 hours). The first hour of parking costs 1.20 euros, and for each additional hour, you will have to pay 1.80 euros. Feel free to park your camper or caravan here, but please note that the parking lot is not monitored. From this parking lot to the Este Castle, you will only need 3 minutes on foot.
San Guglielmo car park
The San Guglielmo parking lot is located in the center and is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. On weekdays between 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) and 8:00 PM (20:00 hours) you will pay 1.20 euros per hour, and between 8:00 PM (20:00 hours) and 12:00 AM (00:00 hours) 0.60 euros per hour. During holidays from 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) to 12:00 AM (00:00 hours) the price is 0.60 euros per hour.
This car park has 169 spaces, it is pretty close to the center of Ferrara, but it is not guarded. Furthermore, it is equipped with places reserved for the disabled, which are easily accessible by a specially arranged path. The height limit is 2.1 meters, so access to campers or caravans is therefore not recommended.
Ferrara Historical Center Parking
This car park is located in the historic center of Ferrara, and it is very likely that you will see signs for this car park along the road. It is the cheapest parking lot in Ferrara. There are around 830 parking spaces where you can park your car 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can leave your vehicle here for a fee of 0.80 euros per hour on weekdays from 7:30 AM (7:30 hours) to 8:00 PM (20:00 hours), while the maximum daily rate is 3.20 euros.
From 8:00 PM (20:00 hours) until midnight, the price is only 0.25 euros per hour. There are few parking machines that accept coins and cards. On holidays, you can leave your car in the parking lot for free! It is only 10 minutes walking distance from the historic center of Ferrara.
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