​Free Parking in Stockholm: Your Ultimate Guide

Parking in Stockholm might seem complicated, but with a bit of know-how, it can actually be surprisingly simple. In this guide, we’ll cover the best ways to find free parking spots around the city, explain how Stockholm’s parking system works, and share tips for using the Parkopilot app to save both time and money.

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Shows the combination of two screenshots, one showing the map of Sweden with 42,000 parking locations and the other shows information that Parkopilot displays on each parking location.

Zoom-Out: A Citywide Overview

Before diving into the specifics, let’s take a step back and look at Stockholm’s parking landscape from a citywide perspective. The city features a mix of paid and free parking zones, with paid spots heavily concentrated in the inner city and more free or long-term parking available as you move outwards. As shown on the map, parking opportunities span the entire metropolitan area.

In central neighborhoods like Norrmalm, Östermalm and Södermalm, you’ll mostly encounter paid parking that during certain periods can become free. However, farther out, free parking becomes much more common. Outer districts such as Älvsjö, Hägersten, Bromma and Skärholmen offer significantly more free parking options.

Map of Stockholm, zoomed-out
The image shows a map of the parking zones (taxa) in Stockholm, where zones 3-5 offer free parking during certain parts of the day.

Understanding Stockholm’s Parking ‘Taxa’ System

Stockholm’s parking areas are divided into five different taxa (rate) zones. Each taxa sets its own parking fees and times, with areas closer to downtown generally costing more. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Taxa 1 and taxa 2: Usually cover central Stockholm, where parking always requires a fee.
Taxa 3, taxa 4, and taxa 5: offer cheaper parking than taxa 1 and taxa 2. Best of all, parking is free during certain days and hours, allowing more flexibility.

For a full map and details on each taxa, check out Stockholm’s official parking map.

Free Parking Outside Taxa Zones

Beyond the designated taxa zones, there are many free parking spots around Stockholm, especially in suburban areas. However, these spots don’t appear on standard parking or payment apps, making them tricky to find. For instance, none of the usual parking fee payment apps will show the free parking locations in the picture to the right.

This is where Parkopilot comes in—it helps you find all available free parking spaces in Stockholm. Whether you’re visiting or living in Stockholm, Parkopilot is your go-to tool for locating these hidden free parking spots and avoiding unnecessary parking fees.

The image shows many free parking locations in a single area that parking fee paying apps never show. Parkopilot allows you to reveal these locations.
Parkopilot shows full details on each parking spot including parking type, restrictions, and limitations.

How Parkopilot Improves Your Parking Experience

Parkopilot is designed to streamline the parking process by offering real-time information on free parking spots. Here’s what makes Parkopilot unique:

Accurate, up-to-date maps that show free parking options across the country.
Future time lookup features, so you can plan parking ahead and dodge fees.
You can see parking details such as whether the spots are free or not, as well as any limitations and prohibitions.

With Parkopilot, you can quickly check if there’s free parking near your destination, helping you save on parking costs and beat locals to the best spots.

Local Tips for Finding Free or Cheap Parking in Stockholm

Walkable distances between taxa zones: Paid and free zones (e.g. taxa 2 and taxa 3 areas) are often just a short walk apart. Don’t forget to check nearby streets or adjoining areas in a different taxa zone.
Timing your parking: Make the most of the free hours in taxa 3-5 zones. Parkopilot’s future time feature can help you determine when parking fees start or end, so you can plan accordingly.
Choosing the right payment app: Since the official Betala P app was discontinued in September 2024, it’s important to select a payment app that doesn’t tack on extra fees if you need to pay for parking. The name of the payment app I personally use rhymes with “Prankster”. You can view the full list of compatible payment apps here: https://parkering.stockholm/betala-parkering/

Are you ready to optimize your parking in Stockholm? Download Parkopilot today and take control of your parking experience easily.

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