Parkchaos in Cologne: climb prices, elevator broken, toilets are missing!

Kölns Parkgebühren steigen ab 2025. Leserberichte zeigen Unzufriedenheit über hohe Kosten und mangelnde Infrastruktur.
Cologne's parking fees increase from 2025. Reader reports show dissatisfaction with high costs and lack of infrastructure. (Symbolbild/MK)

Parkchaos in Cologne: climb prices, elevator broken, toilets are missing!

Parking in downtown Cologne has developed into a real challenge that not only strains the wallet, but also puts the nerves of drivers to the test. The price structure for parking garages in Cologne is currently anything but a bargain. This is how reader reporter Stefano Straberg, after parking in the Marsportengasse car park, is the question: Why does the elevator stay out of service and are there no toilets? Such grievances, combined with high prices, lead to growing dissatisfaction among the parked in the cathedral city. At the moment, the parking fees are not only high, but should increase to 5 euros per hour from 2025, such as Longtiebtinkoeln.com.

The price increase will affect twelve parking facilities, mainly in the city center, where parking is already considered expensive. The fact is: The last tariff change took place in 2016, and this means that the fees are stagnating at a high level, while supply and demand continue to increase. In addition to the constantly increasing costs, many complain that the possibilities for payment in the parking garages are poor - an annoying fact if you consider the inconvenience, such as the defective elevator. In the parking garage Marspfortengasse, paying was only possible in cash, which is an unexpected problem for many drivers.

parking garage utilization and alternatives

Current information can be found on the overview of koeln.de, where the utilization of the parking garages is displayed live. There are numerous large parking garages and underground garages near Cologne Cathedral, but the search for a free space is becoming increasingly difficult. Visitors can keep an eye on the utilization, but the offer is becoming increasingly narrower.

The parking fees vary greatly, and so it is definitely worth comparing the different options. A look at the city shows that you can also save money: instead of parking for 4 euros per hour, there are cheaper alternatives that often not only protect the wallet, but also delight the heart. One example is the underground car park at the cathedral, which costs 80 cents for 20 minutes during the day, while you can park in the evening for 1 euro per hour.

conclusion: plan well and compare

But what options are there really? Cheap parking spaces can be found in the evening - be it in the underground car park at the cathedral or in the Galeria Kaufhof Parkhaus, where from the third hour the price drops to 2.50 euros. In addition, there is the "bun key", with which you can park for 15 minutes free of charge, which at least enables a short stop. If you are traveling at night, you have the opportunity to park free of charge from 8 p.m. Fortunately, there are also solutions to reduce the costs. With the free P-Card from Contipark, drivers get discounts on many parking garages, which can be added quite a bit in the long run. Therefore, the motto remains: plan well and compare prices. Especially when the next parking strip is on the agenda, all drivers from Cologne should keep their eyes open and not forget that money can also be saved with a good hand when parking!

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OrtMarspfortengasse, 50667 Köln, Deutschland
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