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Anyone who regularly drives into Murcia city centre will know that finding a space can test even the calmest of drivers, and you can pretty mush forget about it if there’s a fiesta happening. Circling busy streets, spotting yet another ‘full’ sign and joining a slow moving queue for a multi-storey has become part of the weekly routine for many.

 

Now there’s even more unwelcome news for motorists. Publicly operated car parks in Murcia have increased their prices by 3.85% in 2026, which works out at around 12 cents more per hour. That means parking in Murcia will now cost roughly the same as in Madrid, a comparison that is unlikely to go down well with locals.

 

With on-street spaces scarce and demand still high, plenty of residents rely on city centre car parks for work, shopping and appointments. The council has invested in park and ride facilities on the outskirts, linked by bus or tram, but unfortunately they haven’t eased the pressure as much as hoped.

 

Prices vary widely depending on where you leave your car. Among the cheapest options are Almudí at €0.03 per minute and José Barnés at €0.033 per minute for stays of up to three and a half hours. Santa Isabel, Campillo and Excelsior sit in the middle range, charging between €0.044 and €0.0475 per minute depending on length of stay.

 

At the top end are car parks such as La Vega, Libertad, La Glorieta, Centrofama and Plaza Europa, where rates reach €0.054 per minute. Over the course of an hour, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive works out at €1.44.

 

That difference quickly adds up. Someone parking for four hours a week in the city centre could save close to €300 a year simply by choosing a cheaper facility.

 

Even the free La Chimenea site has drawn complaints, with users raising concerns about thefts and poor conditions.

 

For drivers in Murcia, it seems the hunt for a space is only part of the problem. Paying for it is becoming just as painful.

 

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Image: Freepik