We are doing a car tour starting and ending in Lisbon but including a stop in Madrid. Our preferred accommodations are near Plaza Mayor. There is no reason for us to have a car in Madrid, and I would like to park it for the four days we visit. Should I attempt to store it in a parking garage near the Plaza or would it make more sense to park it on the outskirts say near the airport and Uber in? Do I have to worry about restricted vehicle zones for a Portugese (non-local) rental vehicle if I attempt to park it near the Plaza? I appreciate any input. Thank you.
Posted by
new york
320 posts
The area near Plaza Mayor would not be ideal for parking; this is central Madrid and in a restricted driving zone.
But you can enter the zone if you select a hotel that offers parking, but that would incur an expensive daily parking rate, or if you park in a garage, also expensive.
This should be helpful, it includes info on free parking on the outskirts.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7552 posts
In addition to the restricted driving areas Madrid is also in an air quality zone that requires an environmental sticker a Portugal rented car won’t have. You’d need to check to see if you could even drive the vehicle into the city just to park it.
There is a parking garage across the street from Atocha station, beneath the plaza in front of the Reina Sofía museum (Parking APK2 Sánchez Bustillo). Its entrance is off of Calle de Atocha. It is a 15 walk (approximately) from the Plaza Mayor and can easily be reached from the M-30 and avoiding the restricted driving zones. No idea what the daily rate is or even if you can leave a vehicle there for four days.
While not optimal, a hotel with its own parking garage would be best. That unfortunately means your lodging would probably be distance from the Plaza Mayor.
Back in 2007, I stayed at the Melia Castilla out by Chamartín and soccer stadium and at that time parking was €20 a day. It was near the Cuzco metro stop and we took the metro to the historic center; about a 20 minutes ride.
Posted by
new york
320 posts
The hotel I stay in offers parking, but it is in Salamanca and I imagine the daily rate is very high.