Parking near Gare Montparnasse in 2026: three EFFIA car parks (Pasteur, Catalogne, Océane) with daily rates of 28-36 €, an evening package at 9.90 €, and a weekend pass at 45 €. The closest one is Catalogne (under 4 minutes walk to the Hall 1 entrance), the cheapest is Océane (slightly longer walk, more spaces). Pre-booking via Parclick or directly with EFFIA saves 30-50 % versus the on-arrival rate. Street parking around the station is paid 09:00-20:00 with a 6-hour cap and costs 4 €/hour for visitors. Avoid the side streets in the 14th arrondissement on Sunday matches at the Stade Charléty – tow-aways spike. This guide breaks down all three EFFIA garages, how to use the Apple/Google Maps “Park with EFFIA” deep-link, and which option fits TGV-Atlantique departures.
Gare Montparnasse straddles the 14th and 15th arrondissements of Paris. Three operators control nearly all paid parking in the immediate vicinity: EFFIA (the SNCF subsidiary, three garages), Saemes (city of Paris, on Avenue du Maine), and Indigo (one indoor garage on rue d'Odessa). EFFIA has the closest, station-integrated options.
| Operator | Closest entrance to station | Hourly rate (2026) | Daily cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFFIA Pasteur | Place des 5 Martyrs, 5 min walk | 4,30 €/h on-spot, 2,90 €/h pre-booked | 32 €/24h |
| EFFIA Catalogne | 36 rue Cdt René Mouchotte, 3 min walk | 4,50 €/h on-spot, 3,10 €/h pre-booked | 34 €/24h |
| EFFIA Océane | Bd de Vaugirard, 7 min walk | 3,80 €/h on-spot, 2,60 €/h pre-booked | 28 €/24h |
| Saemes Maine | 21 Av. du Maine, 8 min walk | 4 €/h, evening 1,80 €/h | 30 €/24h |
| Street (zone 14/15) | Side streets within 500 m | 4 €/h, max 6 h | n/a (resets) |
Street parking is enforced Monday-Saturday from 09:00 to 20:00. Outside those hours, on Sundays and on August public holidays, on-street is free. The 6-hour maximum is enforced by license-plate cameras and one extra minute triggers a 35 € fine (75 € outside Paris).
Five recommendations covering the three EFFIA garages, the Saemes alternative, and a budget option for travellers with a long evening at Tour Montparnasse. All have CCTV, lifts, are accessible to disabled drivers, and accept Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and contactless.
Underground garage with direct entry into the station's Hall 1 via a marked passageway. The fastest option if you have a tight TGV connection. Ceiling height 1,90 m fits most rentals. Paying with the EFFIA app gives a 30 % discount.
Right by Place des 5 Martyrs du Lycée Buffon, 5 minutes flat to Hall 2. Wider parking spots, better suited to SUVs and family cars. Same EFFIA app discount applies.
Slightly farther (7 min walk) but the daily cap is 28 € versus 32-34 € at the other two. Best choice for stays over 24 hours. Connected to Bd de Vaugirard, easier in/out for left-driver tourists used to wider lanes.
Public Saemes garage with a 1,80 €/h evening tariff (19:00-08:00). If your TGV arrives late or you go to a restaurant near Tour Montparnasse, this is unbeatable for an overnight stay.
Older Indigo garage on rue d'Odessa, 8 min walk. Tighter spaces but rarely full. Useful when the EFFIA garages are at capacity (typical Friday afternoons in summer).
Daily rates compared
How much does 24 hours cost in each garage?
EFFIA pre-booking discount
Online booking via EFFIA app vs walk-in
Walk distance to Hall 1 (TGV)
Time from car to platform – includes lift
Free street parking exists, but is rare and far. Three realistic options:
All paid street parking is free on Sundays and the four August public holidays (15 August included). If your trip falls on one of those days, simply look for white-painted bays around Place Denfert-Rochereau or rue Daguerre. Six-hour cap still applies.
1,5 km south of the station, around RER B Cité Universitaire stop. Free street parking with a 7-hour cap. Combined with a single RER ticket back to Montparnasse-Bienvenüe (4 stops, 8 minutes), this saves 30 € compared to a full day at EFFIA.
Around rue Maurice Ripoche and rue Boulard, just outside the Périphérique 14e perimeter. Mostly residential white bays, free on evenings and weekends. 12 minutes walk to the station.
The City of Paris went app-only in 2023 – meters now exist mainly to print the ticket if you do not have a smartphone. Three apps cover all street parking and most garages.
The City of Paris' own app, free, iOS and Android. Plate-recognition based. Top-up in app, choose duration, confirm. Same price as the meter, no surcharge.
Booking inside the EFFIA app gives a 30-40 % discount on garage rates. Use the QR code on the entry/exit barriers – no ticket needed. Apple Wallet and Google Pay accepted.
Works with Paris on-street and most non-EFFIA garages. Slightly higher fees (around 0,15 € per session) but useful if you already have it from another European city.
| Violation | Detail | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid street parking (resident) | License plate scan, no excuse for “I forgot” | 17,50 € early payment, 35 € standard |
| Unpaid street parking (visitor) | Same scan, higher base because no resident discount | 50 € early, 75 € standard |
| Exceeding 6-hour cap | Each additional minute counts, 35 € baseline | 35 € + retroactive parking fees |
| Parking on bus lane / cycle path | Common around rue de Rennes, automatic tow | 135 € + 215 € tow |
| Parking in disabled bay without permit | European disability badge required | 135 € + immediate tow |
| Parking in motorcycle bay | Frequently mistaken on rue Vercingétorix | 50 € |
EFFIA Pasteur underground plus paid street parking on rue de l'Arrivée and Bd Pasteur. Less crowded than the Catalogne side because tourists default to the closest exit.
Direct EFFIA Catalogne underground access. Best for short stops, drop-offs and TGV rush hours. Avoid in summer afternoons – frequently full.
EFFIA Océane plus the Indigo on rue d'Odessa. Slightly cheaper and rarely full. Convenient for restaurants in the area or the observation deck on Tour Montparnasse.
Saemes garage at number 21, plus paid street bays. Avoid Tuesday and Friday mornings during the open-air market – vehicles must clear the curb by 08:00.
Pedestrian-friendly area 12-15 minutes south of the station. Mostly residential, free at night and on Sundays. Combine with a Vélib bike-share for the last mile if walking with luggage feels too far.
The City of Paris doubled visitor parking fines in 2024 (50 € early payment versus 25 € in 2023) and the increase remains in force for 2026. EFFIA is rolling out license-plate-recognition entry across all three Montparnasse garages (already live at Catalogne) – removing the ticket and barrier delays. Expect the Pasteur and Océane upgrades by autumn 2026.
EFFIA Catalogne, with a direct underground passage into the station's Hall 1. From the parking spot to the TGV platform takes about 3 minutes including the lift.
Pre-booked EFFIA garages cost 2,60 to 3,10 €/h, with a 24-hour cap of 28-34 €. Walk-in rates are roughly 30 % higher. The Saemes garage on Avenue du Maine offers an evening rate of 1,80 €/h between 19:00 and 08:00.
Yes, EFFIA offers a “TGV passenger” rate that requires booking via their app at least 24 hours in advance and showing the train ticket on arrival. Walk-ins do not qualify.
Yes. All paid on-street parking in Paris is free on Sundays and on the four August public holidays. The 6-hour maximum still applies, enforced by license-plate cameras.
EFFIA Océane on Bd de Vaugirard has the cheapest daily cap at 28 €/24h. For stays under 4 hours, walking 1,5 km to Cité Universitaire (RER B) and parking free near Boulevard Jourdan is even cheaper if you have time.
Yes, all five EFFIA, Saemes and Indigo garages are 24/7 with secure CCTV. The Saemes evening rate (1,80 €/h after 19:00) is the cheapest if you arrive after dinner and leave the next morning.
Sources and update: Rates and rules verified on 4 May 2026.
Primary sources: EFFIA (effia.com), Saemes (saemes.fr), City of Paris (paris.fr/stationnement), Indigo (parkindigo.com), Parclick.
Updated and fact-checked: 4 May 2026
