Blanes is the gateway to the Costa Brava — the first “gateway” beach town driving north from Barcelona — and the easiest place on this coast to park, as long as you avoid the central promenade in July and August. Blue-line zones cost €1-1.50/hour, three main car parks (Estació, Passeig, SaFa) charge €10-15/day, and there is reliable free parking at Cala Sant Francesc and the port. This guide covers every painted zone, the best covered options near the promenade, the Jardí Botànic Marimurtra parking, free parking for the beach, and how to avoid fines during the Festa Major Santa Anna (last week of July).
Blanes uses the Catalan AREA system with blue and green kerb lines. No camera-enforced ZTL, but the seafront promenade (Passeig de Mar) closes to cars at weekends in summer.
| Line colour | Meaning | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | AREA paid parking | €1-1.50/hr | Mon-Sat 09:00-14:00 & 16:00-20:00 |
| Green | Blanes residents only | — | Fine for tourists |
| White | Free, disc or time-limited | Free | Max 2 hr |
| Yellow | Loading / buses | — | 24/7 — tow |
Blue-line meters run Mon-Sat with a midday break. Sundays and public holidays are free on blue lines. The green lines remain residents-only all year round.
Blanes has three main central car parks plus the Jardí Botànic Marimurtra lot. All are a 5-10 minute walk from the Passeig de Mar.
Large surface car park next to Blanes RENFE station (R1 line from Barcelona, 1h10). Cheapest daily rate in town, 10 min walk to the Passeig de Mar. Free on Sundays.
Surface car park directly behind the Passeig de Mar, best for beach days. Fills by 10:00 in July-August. Outside summer, plenty of space.
Underground car park in the town centre, 5 min walk to the church of Santa Maria and the market. Best protection from summer heat and occasional thunderstorms.
Large free parking next to the famous Marimurtra botanical garden. Combines with the garden visit (the views over Cala Sant Francesc are the photo spot of Blanes).
Free parking at one of the most beautiful coves in Blanes. Fills by 10:30 in summer; easy access outside July-August. Short steep walk to the beach.
Estació 4.2★ · Passeig Pau Casals 4.0★ · SaFa 4.1★ · Marimurtra 4.6★ · Cala Sant Francesc 4.5★. Based on 400+ reviews each (April 2026).
Cheapest paid: Estació (€10/day, free Sundays). Best for beach day: Passeig Pau Casals (€12/day). Best free: Marimurtra (free all year, 7 min walk to town).
Only SaFa is covered. The summer heat (30-35°C in August) and salt air make covered parking worth the €2/day premium for rental cars.
Blanes has better free-parking options than most Costa Brava towns, thanks to the Marimurtra gardens and the residential northeast.
Free all year. 10 min walk down to the Passeig de Mar. First choice for a day trip.
Free parking at the quietest cove in Blanes. Arrive before 10:30 in July-August.
Streets north of the Carretera de Lloret have free white-line parking with 2-hour disc limit. 15 min walk to the beach.
Blanes uses the Catalan AREA system run by Dornier. Two apps dominate.
Official app of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Covers every AREA zone in Catalonia including Blanes. Free to use, pay by the minute, extend remotely.
Private alternative, also accepted on Blanes meters. Slightly less reliable on real-time rate updates but works everywhere in Spain.
Blanes meters accept coins and contactless cards. Keep €5 in €1/€2 coins as a backup.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blue-line hours | Mon-Sat 09:00-14:00 & 16:00-20:00 |
| Max stay (white) | 2 hr with disc |
| Sundays / holidays | Blue free, disc still on white |
| Passeig de Mar weekend closure | Fri 20:00 to Mon 08:00 in July-Aug |
| Green-line fine | €60-80 + tow risk |
| Yellow-line fine | €42 + tow (€110) |
Park at Passeig Pau Casals (directly behind) or Estació. Never leave a car on the promenade itself during summer weekends — towing begins at 06:00 Saturday.
Parking de Cala Bona free lot at the west end of the port. Good for visiting the castle ruins and the port restaurants. 5 min walk to the Passeig.
Parking Estació is the only serious option. Excellent if you combine car and train (Barcelona R1 direct in 1h10).
Free dedicated parking. Combine with the botanical garden (€8 entry) and the photo viewpoint over Cala Sant Francesc.
If Blanes is full, park in Lloret and take bus 690 back (15 min, €2.50). Lloret has huge paid car parks but higher rates (€18/day).
Blanes City Council is trialling a smart-parking sensor system in the central AREA zones from June 2026 onwards. The Parkunload app will show live availability on the Passeig. Blue-line rates stay stable, but hours may extend to 22:00 on summer weekends. The Passeig de Mar weekend pedestrianisation is being extended to start at 18:00 Friday from July 2026.
Parking Passeig Pau Casals (€12/day) is closest to the main beach. Arrive before 10:00 in July-August. Alternative: Parking Marimurtra (free) plus a 10-minute walk down.
Yes, all blue-line meters are free on Sundays and public holidays. Parking Estació is also free on Sundays. The Passeig de Mar is pedestrian-only on Sundays in July-August.
Parking Estació at €10/day is the cheapest paid option (and free on Sundays). Parking Marimurtra is free year-round — a 10-minute walk to the town centre. Cala Sant Francesc parking is also free.
Parkunload is the official Generalitat de Catalunya app and most reliable. ElParking also works. Both let you extend remotely, which prevents overstay fines during long lunches.
Not on summer weekends. The seafront promenade closes to all vehicles from Friday 20:00 to Monday 08:00 throughout July and August. Cars left overnight are towed at 06:00 Saturday — €110 release fee.
10-minute walk south down Carrer de la Força to the Passeig de Mar. Or take bus L1 (runs every 20 minutes). The RENFE R1 line connects Blanes to Barcelona Sants in 1h10.
