To find a free parking space in San Pedro is gradually proving to be more and more difficult, as many of the areas in the centre have now been marked as Zona Azul (blue zones) where parking must be paid for from 9:00hrs to 14:00hrs and from 16:30hrs until 20:00hrs, Monday to Friday (and from 9:00hrs to 14:00hrs on Saturdays). The maximum stay is usually two hours, and you have to buy a ticket for the period required and place it behind your windscreen where it can be clearly seen by the parking attendants.
There is a free App available with a simple operating system that allows you to pay for parking in the Zona Azul on your mobile. Called e-park Marbella, it allows you to extend the time from wherever you are.
You can also find ample parking on both sides of San Pedro’s new boulevard, also in the Nueva Alcántara area, which is only a 5-10 min walk to the town centre, with wide new roads and plenty of parking spaces along the roads that run down towards the sea.
Another parking area, unknown to many, is right next to the children’s park and San Pedro’s second church in Avenida Virgen del Rocío. This street to the side of McDonalds in La Colonia offers ample parking and is only a ten-minute walk into town. Or on the opposite side of town, where the skate park and Mª Teresa de León public school is located, just at the entrance of town is good if you are coming from the direction of Marbella.
Otherwise, you can always use the paid underground car parks situated around town. Here are the main ones:
Parking Plaza de Istán
Just a few minutes from San Pedro’s main square, the latest car park to be built in the town offers 275 parking spaces with six reserved for disabled people lift access. It also has storage rooms and monthly parking rates available.
Parking Plaza de la Iglesia
A smaller car park but conveniently located just under the main square with the town hall above, it generally has spaces available and is perfect for quick visits to the town hall, post office etc. They also have a car valeting service.
Parking in Av. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, nº 12
Also close to shops and the town centre this parking is open 24-hours and video controlled, with over 200 parking spaces, car wash and storage rental available.
Parking Occidental Costa del Sol
This car park is situated just off the boulevard, under the main shopping street, Calle Marques de Duero. It includes a lift and monthly rentals, with the 24-hour chemist just above it as well as many restaurants, the tourist office and shops in general.