The new municipal parking system now makes finding a parking space in the city centre hassle-free. It has been implemented throughout the historic centre and areas of Kolonaki, Exarchia, Plaka and Psyrri. It will be expanded to include other parts of Athens in the future.

City of Athens Municipal Parking System - First Phase - Areas of implementation

The areas where the system has been implemented are divided into the following seven zones:

• Zone 1

It includes Rigillis St and the Hilton hotel. It is bounded by: Vasilissis Sofias Ave, Hatziyianni Mexi St, Michalakopoulou St, Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, P. Aravantinou St, Meleagrou St, Stisichorou St, Lykiou St, Irodou Attikou St.

• Zone 2

It covers the eastern section of Kolonaki with Dexameni Square (located in Zone 3) and Filikis Eterias Square (located in Zone 2) serving as a natural border. It is bounded by: Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Ioannou Gennadiou St, Souidias St, Aristodimou St, Hoyda St, Doras Distria St, Aristippou St, Mantzavelaki, Xanthippou St, Glykonos St, Dexameni Square, Xanthou St, Anagnostopoulou St, Filikis Eterias Square, Koumbari St.

• Zone 3

It covers the remaining (western) area of Kolonaki and the southern section of the city centre. It is bounded by: Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Koumbari St, Filikis Eterias Square, Anagnostopoulou St, Xanthou St, Dexameni Square, Glykonos St, Xanthippou St, Mantzavelaki St, Evelpidos Ilia Rogakou St, Itis St, Sina St, Panepistimiou Ave.

• Zone 4

It covers the northern section of the city centre and Exarchia. It is bounded by: Sina St, Panepistimiou Ave, Patission St, Stournari St, Soultani St, Themistokleous St, Solonos St, Ippokratous St, Oktaviou Merlie St.

• Zone 5

It covers the city's commercial triangle, extending along the length of the area as far as Panepistimiou Ave. It is bounded by: Panepistimiou Ave, Vasilissis Amalias Ave, Othonos St, Syntagma Square, Ermou St, Athinas St, Omonia Square, Eolou St.

• Zone 6

It covers Psyrri and the Geraniou St area. It is bounded by: Athinas St, Monastiraki Square, Areos St, Adrianou St, Ermou St, Melidoni St, Agion Asomaton St, Psaromiligou St, Salaminos St, Pireos St, Omonia Square.

• Zone 7

It covers the Plaka area. It is bounded by: Ermou St, Syntagma Square, Vasilissis Amalias Ave, Dionysiou Areopagitou St, Thrasyllou, Stratonos St, Theorias St, Aretousas St, Vrysakiou St, Adrianou St, Areos St, Monastiraki Square.

The central Athens municipal parking system comprises 2,538 parking spaces reserved exclusively for permanent residents (blue lineation), 1,956 spaces for short-term visitors (white lineation) and 1,000 spaces for special use and commercial use (yellow lineation).

The municipal parking system - as regards short-term visitors - is in effect Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturday from 9:00 to 16:00.

Time and day limitations do not apply to parking spaces designated for permanent residents and special use. Vehicles bearing a permit for persons with disabilities are free to park anywhere and anytime, at no cost.

Permanent residents can apply to the City of Athens for a special parking permit that should be affixed to the windscreen of their vehicle.

For visitors, the maximum time permissible for short-term parking is three hours. The parking fee for a 30-minute period is 50 cents. The rate for every additional 30 minutes is 50 cents, up until the second hour. The fee for a two-hour period is €2. The flat rate for a 2.5-hour period is €4, while the rate for three hours is €6.

Parking fees are paid:

• with a pre-paid voucher (50 cents, €1 and €2) or
• with a pre-paid cash card (€5, €10, €20 and €50), which involves using a mobile phone to call the provider's automated service system on telephone 1577.

Pre-paid vouchers and pre-paid cash cards can be purchased from kiosks and staff of parking management service provider Parkmobile Hellas SA.

Special-use parking spaces, whose rate in the initial phase of the system's implementation stands at €1,800, are managed by the municipal authority and designated in accordance with Athens City Council decisions to facilitate specific professional needs (eg, ministries, public benefit organisations, hospitals, hotels) and occupational groups as deemed necessary.

Individuals who occupy short-term parking spaces, which are signposted and marked in white, without paying the required parking fee, or exceed the time limit are subject to a fine equal to two-thirds of the relevant penalty as foreseen by the Traffic Code.

For further information contact the Citizens Helpline on telephone 1595.