That driving around Barcelona by car (or motorcycle) is a little bit of hell is something that any average car user will confirm, who will immediately tell you that parking in Barcelona is just as dramatic as driving. This feeling is now confirmed by a study by the Parclick application, which points out that Barcelona is the city where it is most difficult to find parking in the country.
According to this report , Barcelona is the city with the highest number of parking reservations through the app, reflecting the scarcity of available parking spaces on public roads.
Why is Barcelona one of the cities with the least parking spaces?
The study blames this situation on several factors (despite the fact that Barcelona is one of the most innovative cities in terms of parking). On the one hand, the high population density and traffic in the city. On the other hand, it also points to the expansion of low-emission zones, which have significantly reduced on-street parking spaces.
When it comes to parking, dates and times must also be taken into account. During July, August or Christmas, parking can be a drama in the city. Timetables are also important. According to Parclick, the most congested time slots are between 8 am and 10 am and between 6 pm and 8 pm, two periods of the day in which the parking process can be even more complicated, so they recommend avoiding parking in Barcelona at these times.
Other Spanish cities where parking is a nightmare
In Parclick’s ranking, Madrid ranks second, with similar restrictions due to the Madrid 360 initiative, which has limited private vehicle access to the center. Other cities where finding parking is complicated are Seville, Valencia, Granada, Bilbao, Cadiz, Malaga, Santiago de Compostela and Zaragoza.
After the city centers, airports are the most affected. Barcelona and Madrid lead the list of the most problematic airports for parking, followed by Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, Malaga, Valencia, Tenerife South, Gran Canaria and Girona-Costa Brava.