Groningen would rather you didn't drive in at all – and pays you to agree: at P+R Euroborg (P3) parking is free when you continue by public transport, with a return bus into the centre at €6 covering up to five people. The compact centre itself is bike kingdom: paid plate-registered streets, strict loops, and garages that beat kerbs on price. Here's 2026 in the Netherlands' cycling capital.
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| P+R Euroborg P3 | FREE with public transport; else €1.50/h, max €20/day | City days, match days |
| Bus return (P+R deal) | €6 for up to 5 people | Groups & families |
| Centre garages | Hourly with day caps | Shopping, rain |
| Street (centre) | High hourly, plate-registered | Short errands only |
The P3 lot sits by the Euroborg stadium and Europapark station on the city's southeast edge, straight off the A7/A28 approaches. Park, ride the bus or train one hop into the centre, and the parking itself costs nothing – the €6 group bus return is the whole bill. Driving on match days? FC Groningen home games flip the area into event mode; arrive early or pick another P+R (Hoogkerk, Kardinge, Reitdiep ring the city the same way).
Inside the diepenring canal loop, one-ways and bike priority make driving slow theatre; street parking is paid against your plate (Parkmobile/EasyPark zone codes) and scan-enforced. The garages – Forum (under the landmark library), Westerhaven, Ossenmarkt – are the rational choice, with caps that undercut all-day kerb feeding.
Yes – free when you travel onward by public transport. Without that, it's €1.50/h capped at €20/day. The group bus return is €6 for up to five.
Around 10 minutes by bus, or one stop by train from Europapark to the main station.
Forum, under the library by the Grote Markt – with Westerhaven and Ossenmarkt covering the west and north flanks.
P3 allows longer stays at the capped day rate – for multi-day trips confirm current rules on the municipality's parking pages.
Slow and bike-dominated by design – the city's traffic plan routes cars around, not through. Park at the ring and walk or bus the last kilometre.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. We only recommend services we would use ourselves.
Last updated: June 2026. P+R terms are municipal and adjust – verify at gemeente.groningen.nl.
