Short answer
Street parking in the paid zones is free once the paid hours end: 16:00 in P4, 18:00 in P3, 21:00 in P1 and P2. P3 and P4 are free all weekend. City garages are never free — they charge for every hour.
When each zone becomes free
| Zone | Free on weekdays | Saturday & Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | 21:00 → 9:00 | Free 21:00 → 10:00 |
| P2 | 21:00 → 9:00 | Free 21:00 → 10:00 |
| P3 | 18:00 → 9:00 | Free all day |
| P4 | 16:00 → 8:00 | Free all day |
| City garages | Never free — open 7:00–24:00 | |
Source: Reykjavík Parking Service, last published hours. Changes to evening and Sunday charging are under review in 2026 — see what's changing.
Three real examples
Dinner downtown, 19:00–22:00 on a Tuesday
P3 street: free. P1 or P2 street: you pay for 19:00–21:00 only (1,320 kr in P1, 480 kr in P2). Garage: 470–580 kr for three hours.
Overnight, arrive 20:00, leave 10:00 on a weekday
P3 street: free until 9:00, then 240 kr for the last hour. A garage would charge for all fourteen hours — and you can't drive out before 7:00. Full overnight guide.
A Sunday in town
P3 and P4 are free all day. P1 and P2 charge from 10:00 to 21:00, as on Saturdays.
Three checks before you assume it's free
- Read the sign on your block. It shows the zone and the paid hours. Some spaces have other limits (loading zones, residents only, time limits).
- Street or garage? Free night parking only applies to street zones. A garage keeps charging.
- When will you leave? If you leave after 9:00, pay for the morning hours — a forgotten hour costs a 4,500 kr fine. How fines work.
Related guides
Overnight parking
Street vs garage, with costs.
Read →Hotel has no parking?
What to do on arrival.
Read →Zones P1–P4
Prices and hours.
Read →Independent guide, not affiliated with the City of Reykjavík. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.