Cadaqués closes its historic centre to non-resident vehicles from 1 July to 30 September 2026, so the only way in is to park at one of the perimeter lots — Riba Pitxot, Saba La Riera or Sa Conca — and walk the rest. Expect rates of EUR 3 to 3.50 per hour (USD 3.25 to 3.80) and EUR 14 to 25 per day (USD 15 to 27) at paid lots, while free dirt parking near the cemetery on Avinguda Salvador Dalí and the upper Riera dry stream stay open year-round. From 8 June through 30 September, Cap de Creus also restricts private cars between 09:30 and 21:30, with a free 120-space lot at Corral d'en Morell feeding a EUR 7 (USD 7.60) round-trip Sarfa shuttle to the lighthouse. Bring coins, an EasyPark or Telpark account, and never tip the unofficial “attendants” who roam Riba Pitxot in August.
Cadaqués uses Catalonia's standard “zona blava” (blue zone) system in its centre, plus several large paid lots on the perimeter and a handful of free dirt areas. The single most important rule for visitors: the historic centre is closed to non-resident vehicles in July, August, and September.
| Zone | Rate (2026) | Max stay | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre Blue Zone (zona blava) | EUR 1.20/h (USD 1.30) min 15 min | 2 h | Mon-Fri 09:00-14:00 + 16:00-20:00; Sat 09:00-14:00 | Free Sun + holidays |
| Riba Pitxot lot | EUR 3/h (USD 3.25) or EUR 18/day (USD 19.50) | None | 24/7 | 850 spaces, gravel |
| Saba La Riera (covered) | EUR 3.15/h (USD 3.40) or EUR 25.25/day (USD 27.50) | None | 24/7 | Indoor, security cameras |
| Sa Conca lot | EUR 2.50/h (USD 2.70) or EUR 14/day (USD 15) | None | 08:00-22:00 (Jul-Sep) | Cheapest paid option |
| Free white zone | Free | None | 24/7 | Cemetery + upper Riera + Corral d'en Morell |
Outside the closure window, the centre is technically drivable but functionally pointless: streets are 1.5 m wide, one-way, and parking spaces inside the old town do not exist for visitors. Park at a perimeter lot at any time of year.
Five practical options for visitors, ranked by purpose: large capacity, covered shelter, cheapest paid, closest to Dalí House, and free with shuttle. Pick by your day plan.
The largest perimeter lot, sitting right above the harbour and a 5 to 7 minute downhill walk to Plaça des Portitxó and Casa-Museu Dalí (1.4 km uphill to Port Lligat). Open-air gravel surface with capacity for around 850 cars. Fills by 10:30 in August. Pay at the booth on entry; cash or card accepted. Watch out for fake attendants asking for EUR 5 tips — ignore them.
Covered Saba garage with mixed indoor and outdoor bays, 24/7 security cameras and ViaT entry. Five minutes on foot from the tourist office and the seafront, making it the most convenient option in bad weather. Reservable on Parclick or saba.es. Suitable for vehicles up to 1.90 m height in the covered section.
Open-air municipal lot south of the centre, 700 m walk to Plaça de l'Església. Ideal if you plan a beach day at Es Llaner or Sa Conca and a stroll to the old town. No reservations — first-come basis. Active 8 am to 10 pm during peak season; outside July and August it is often free.
Municipal paid lot less than 400 m from the Salvador Dalí house-museum entrance. Fills from 09:00 since museum visits are timed-entry only. The only Cadaqués lot that legally allows motorhome overnighting in the high season — book your museum slot before driving up.
Free 120-space gravel lot run by the Generalitat. Designed as the launchpad for the Sarfa shuttle to Cap de Creus lighthouse during the 8 June to 30 September restriction. Walking back into Cadaqués takes 25 minutes downhill. Arrive before 10:00 in August or you will not get a space.
Three free options actually work, although availability tightens severely from late June to early September. Arrive before 10:00 or after 17:00 to find space.
White-line street parking along the wide stretch in front of the municipal cemetery. About 60 spaces, free 24/7, 8 to 10 minutes downhill walk to Plaça de l'Església. Closes Mondays for the weekly market. The single best free option for an early-morning arrival.
The dry rambla above the historic centre offers white-line bays for free along its banks. Fills early in summer. Useful base for a half-day visit; not safe in October-April when flash floods can fill the stream rapidly.
120 free spaces on a gravel pad run by the Generalitat de Catalunya, 4 km outside Cadaqués on the GIV-6121 toward Cap de Creus. Designed as the park-and-ride hub for the lighthouse during the summer access restriction. Walking back to Cadaqués takes 25 minutes downhill, mostly on the road shoulder.
Cadaqués has gradually digitalised since 2024. The two big apps both work, plus traditional coin meters in the blue zone.
EasyPark is the most reliable app for Cadaqués blue zones. Register card details once, then start and stop sessions on your phone. Service fee around 15 percent of ticket value with an EUR 0.35 minimum. Works seamlessly across most Catalonian tourist towns including Roses, L'Escala and Begur, so you do not need separate apps for day trips along the Costa Brava.
Telpark covers the centre blue zone and the Saba lots. Slightly cheaper service fees than EasyPark (around 9 percent). Good if you spend more time in Spain than other European countries. Card payment by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The municipal blue-zone meters accept EUR 0.10 to EUR 2 coins and contactless cards. Print the ticket and place it visibly on the dashboard. The 2-hour maximum is enforced — a second consecutive ticket is invalid and the local patrol writes EUR 30 fines on the spot.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blue zone hours | Mon-Fri 09:00-14:00 + 16:00-20:00; Sat 09:00-14:00 |
| Sunday and holidays | Free everywhere |
| Centre access (1 Jul-30 Sep) | Closed to non-residents; cameras enforce |
| Cap de Creus access (8 Jun-30 Sep) | 09:30-21:30 closed to private vehicles |
| Maximum stay (blue) | 2 hours |
| Blue lines | Paid blue zone |
| White lines | Free, no time limit unless signposted |
| Yellow lines | No parking — fine EUR 60 (USD 65) |
| Green lines | Resident-only; do not park here |
| Centre violation fine | EUR 200 (USD 217) automated camera |
| Tow + impound fee | Roughly EUR 90 (USD 98) plus EUR 15/day storage |
The classic Cadaqués postcard view. No parking on the promenade itself — it is fully pedestrianised. Park at Riba Pitxot (5 minutes) or Saba La Riera (5 minutes) and walk down. Avoid summer evenings 19:00-21:00; the promenade is solid foot traffic and even slow rolling cars create chaos.
The Dalí house is 1.4 km north of central Cadaqués over a small headland, accessed by a narrow paved road. Use Parking Port Lligat (5-minute walk to entrance) or park at Riba Pitxot and walk over the hill in 20 to 25 minutes. The road is one-way during the closure period and opens for residents and timed-museum-visit holders only.
From 8 June to 30 September, private cars are banned 09:30-21:30. Park at Corral d'en Morell (free) or Riba Pitxot and ride the Sarfa shuttle: EUR 4 single, EUR 7 return, runs every 20 to 30 minutes. Outside those dates and times the lighthouse car park is open and free.
Both beaches sit south of the centre. Park at Sa Conca lot (cheapest paid, 200 m to the beach) or Riba Pitxot (10-minute walk). Avoid the cul-de-sac roads above the beaches in summer — they fill within 30 minutes of opening and exiting becomes impossible until late afternoon.
For the popular hikes (Cap de Creus to S'Alqueria, Tudela to Cala Culip), use Corral d'en Morell or any of the small free pull-offs along the GIV-6121. The road is single-lane for long stretches and the speed limit is 30 km/h — drive slowly.
Cadaqués extended its summer access closure for 2026: the centre is now off-limits to non-resident vehicles from 1 July through 30 September, two weeks longer than 2025. Cap de Creus also expanded the no-private-vehicle window to 8 June through 30 September, with the Sarfa shuttle running every 20-30 minutes from Corral d'en Morell. Saba La Riera tariffs increased about 4 percent in January. EasyPark and Telpark continue to dominate digital payment, and the Generalitat is studying a future seasonal congestion charge for the GIV-6121 access road — not in force yet but expected by 2027.
Not as a non-resident. From 1 July through 30 September the centre is closed to private vehicles 24 hours a day, with automated camera enforcement and EUR 200 fines. Hotel guests get a one-time pass if their hotel registers the plate with the local police in advance — coordinate by email before travel. Outside July-September the centre is technically open but functionally pointless: the streets are too narrow and there is no visitor parking.
Use the dedicated Parking Port Lligat municipal lot 400 m from the museum entrance — EUR 2 per hour or EUR 12 per day. Capacity is limited because the road in is one-way and museum entries are timed. Book your museum slot first on salvador-dali.org and aim to arrive 30 minutes before. As a backup, park at Riba Pitxot in Cadaqués and walk over the headland (20-25 minutes uphill).
From 8 June to 30 September private cars are banned from the lighthouse access road between 09:30 and 21:30. Park free at Corral d'en Morell (4 km outside Cadaqués on the GIV-6121) and take the Sarfa shuttle: EUR 4 single or EUR 7 return, every 20 to 30 minutes. The shuttle stops at the lighthouse and the Tudela trailhead. Outside the closure window you can drive directly and park free at the lighthouse.
Yes — three options. Avinguda Salvador Dalí near the cemetery (about 60 white-line spaces, closes Mondays for the market), the upper Riera dry stream (small bays along the rambla), and Corral d'en Morell (120 free gravel spaces, 4 km north on the GIV-6121, designed as the Cap de Creus shuttle hub). All fill quickly in summer — arrive before 10:00 or after 17:00.
EasyPark and Telpark both work in the blue zone and at the Saba lots. EasyPark is more useful if you also drive elsewhere in Europe; Telpark has slightly cheaper service fees if you stay in Spain. Coin and card meters are still everywhere as a backup. The 2-hour blue-zone limit is enforced, so set a reminder to extend or move the car before it expires.
Plan for EUR 18 to 25 per day if you use Riba Pitxot or Saba La Riera. Sa Conca is the cheapest paid option at EUR 14 per day if you walk the 700 m. Free options exist (cemetery, Corral d'en Morell) but fill by 09:30. A 5-day August trip parking at Riba Pitxot costs about EUR 90 (USD 98) total — budget accordingly. Reserving on Parclick for the covered Saba La Riera saves 20-30 percent.
Disclosure: Some links (Parclick) are affiliate — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only choose partners with free cancellation policies.
Fact-check date: 9 May 2026. Primary sources: visitcadaques.org, ajuntament.cadaques.cat, parcsnaturals.gencat.cat (Cap de Creus), saba.es, parclick.com, easyparkgroup.com, telpark.com.
