Want to discover Bari by car without having to worry about where to park? Here are our tips for finding parking in Bari easily and cheaply.
With its feet in the Adriatic Sea, Bari is a charming port and tourist town. However, it is often seen as a springboard for ferries to Greece, Albania or Croatia. But with its grand Basilica of St. Nicholas, its medieval quarter, its Italian way of life and its tasty local specialties, Bari is well worth a visit.
However, one question remains: how can you enjoy the delights of southern Italy without having to worry about parking? To help you make the most of your vacation, here are our tips for parking in Bari and finding cheap parking that won’t ruin your entire vacation budget.
Parking in Bari: parking rules
Photo credit: Flickr – CucombreLibre
As everywhere else in Italy, Bari is no exception to the rule, and street parking is color-coded. If you come across a space with white stripes, park immediately, as these spaces are free and all the more rare in Bari. On the other hand, if the markings are blue, you’ll have to pay for parking from 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., with a rate corresponding to the zone: €1/hour in the Liberta Quarter, Madonnella and the Old Town, and €2/hour in Murat. Yellow spaces are reserved exclusively for residents.
Another not inconsiderable detail: in Bari, as in many Italian cities, there is a ZTL, a limited traffic zone. This restriction regulates car traffic in the city center, thus limiting pollution and preserving the old town’s streets. The ZTL is active from 12pm to midnight. And don’t tempt the devil by trying to sneak into the streets with your car at these times to park: the whole area is monitored by surveillance cameras and you’ll soon be fined on your return.
Cheap parking in Bari: the best deals in Bari
Unlike other major Italian cities, Bari offers a wide range of low-cost parking lots.
The Saba Bari Guadagni parking lot is a real bargain when it comes to cheap parking in Bari: just 6 minutes from Bari-Centrale station, this parking lot is the ideal starting point for discovering the city’s main attractions, such as the Pinacoteca Provinciale di Bari Corrado Giaquinto, Piazza Umberto I and the Teatro Petruzelli. Prices: €12 for a day, €19 for two days and €49 for a week if booked in advance.
Another good idea for cheap parking is to park close to Bari airport. The Quick Aeropuerto di Bari charges €5 a day and €10 for two days, while the airport and Passport Park charge €7 a day and €14 for two days. Affordable rates that will get you quickly to the city center.
Parking in Bari: covered parking lots
Photo credit: Flickr – kristobalite
No matter where you drive in the city, you’ll find a multitude of parking lots in Bari, charging €2 per hour. Rather practical for those who need to park in a specific part of the city without having to search for hours for a vacant space. These include Saba Bari Porto, a stone’s throw from the port (€3.90 a day), Gestipark Battisti near the university and the Dante di Ceglie Giuseppe garage.
And last but not least, the La Perla del Sur parking lot at 91 Strada Provinciale offers a free shuttle bus to take you into the city center, as well as low rates – €8 for a day, €8 for two days and €28 for a week. In just 20 minutes, you can be strolling along the little port, enjoying a delicious gelato. Isn’t la dolce vita beautiful?
Main photo credit: Flickr – Simon Cozens