Finding a parking spot in Norway is usually straightforward, but figuring out how to pay can be confusing the first time. Norwegian parking is highly digital, signage is precise, and rules can change from one side of a street to the other. In this guide I will walk you through the apps, machines, zones, and small quirks that locals take for granted.
If you only need the short version: the easiest way to pay for parking in Norway is with a smartphone app linked to your license plate and a payment card. Machines are still common, but many areas are fully app based. Always read the blue parking sign, check the hours, and confirm the zone code before you start your session.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of parking in Norway so you can park like a local, avoid fines, and save a bit of money along the way.
How Norwegian Parking Works
Public parking is controlled with blue signs marked with a white “P.” Under the big P you will see one or more plates with details. These plates tell you when you must pay, any time limits, whether special rules apply on certain days, and what types of vehicles are allowed. Everything you need is on the sign, which is why locals spend the first minute at a new spot simply reading.
You typically pay for the exact time you stay. In app areas you start a session when you park and stop it when you leave, then you are charged for the minutes used. In machine areas you either pay for a fixed period in advance or enter your plate number and choose a period. In garages and some off-street facilities you get automatic plate recognition at entry and pay when leaving.
The Main Parking Apps You Will See
Norway uses several parking apps. You do not need all of them, but installing one or two before your trip makes life easier.
- EasyPark: The most widely used app across Norwegian cities and towns. Works for many municipal zones and private operators. Good for visitors because it is available in English and supports multiple payment cards.
- APCOA Flow: Used in APCOA garages and many street zones they manage. Especially common near shopping centers, hospitals, and larger facilities.
- ParkLink: Covers areas managed by companies like ONEPARK and some residential or mixed-use facilities. Useful in cities with private garages linked to offices or hotels.
- Aimo Park app: For Aimo Park facilities, often central city garages and some outdoor lots.
You will see the app logo on the meter or the lower plate of the sign. The zone code printed there is what you enter in the app. If you are unsure which app to use, check the sign closely, there will be a name or QR code pointing you in the right direction.
Local tip: Create an account and add your license plate before you arrive. Apps in Norway are plate based, not paper-ticket based. If you are renting a car, update the plate in the app as soon as you pick it up.
Paying at Machines
Machines are still common, especially in smaller towns and mixed zones. Most machines accept Visa and Mastercard with chip or contactless. Cash is rare. You either:
- Enter your plate and select how long you want to stay, then pay. The system stores your plate, so you do not need to display a ticket.
- Pay and display a paper ticket on your dashboard, usually in older machines. Keep the ticket visible and remember it is valid only for the specified zone and time.
If you find a machine that looks asleep, press the big green button to wake it. Machines can be finicky in heavy snow or wind, so give yourself an extra minute in winter.
Camera Parking and Pay-on-Exit Garages
Many garages and larger surface lots use automatic license plate recognition. Cameras read your plate at entry and exit, and the system calculates your stay. You then:
- Pay at a kiosk by entering your plate before you drive out, or
- Pay in the operator’s app if you have linked your plate and a payment method, or
- Pay online within a short window if you forgot at the barrier.
Look for signs explaining the operator’s process. If the barrier lifts automatically when you leave, it usually means your payment method is recognized or there is a pay-later option. Do not assume it is free unless the sign clearly says so.
Reading the Sign: Hours, Days, and Exceptions
The small text under the P sign matters. You may see:
- 07–20 or 09–17: Paid hours on weekdays.
- 09–15: Paid hours on Saturdays.
- (10–18) in brackets: Often indicates different hours on Sundays or public holidays, depending on the municipality.
- Maks 2 timer: Maximum stay two hours during listed times.
- Kun beboere med tillatelse: Residents with permits only, often marked with a letter code.
- Kun elbil or Lading kun for elbil: Spaces reserved for charging, typically pay both parking and charging unless otherwise stated.
Rules can switch by day and hour. For example, an area might be free at night and on Sundays, but paid at other times. Always trust the specific sign next to your car, not a general guide online.
What Does It Cost to Park in Norway
Prices vary by city, zone, and demand. Central Oslo and Bergen are more expensive than small towns. Expect roughly these ballpark figures for on-street city parking:
- Central high-demand zones: expensive by the hour, typically more than outlying zones.
- Residential edges and outer districts: cheaper.
- Night and Sunday rates: often reduced or free in some towns, but many central areas now charge every day.
Garages can be good value for longer stays and are often simpler for visitors because the rules are clearer and your car is out of the weather.
Electric Cars, Hybrids, and Charging
Norway used to give big parking discounts to electric cars. Those days are mostly gone. Do not assume free parking for EVs. In many places EVs pay the standard rate, though you may still find reduced prices or specific perks outside the largest cities. At charging bays, you typically pay for both parking time and electricity, which are billed separately. Move your car when charging is finished if the sign requires it.
Disabled Parking and Blue Badge
Holders of a valid European Disabled Parking Card can use HC spaces marked with the wheelchair symbol. The rules and free periods vary by municipality. In many places, badge holders can park for free or longer in marked spaces, but you must display the badge clearly and follow any time limit shown on the sign. Where time-restricted, use a parking disc or the clock function in the app if required.
Motorcycles and Scooters
Many Norwegian cities allow motorcycles to park in car spaces and in some designated two-wheel areas. Payment rules differ. Some municipalities charge the same rate as cars, others have dedicated free zones. If the sign does not specify motorcycles, assume standard rules apply and pay with the app using your plate. In garages, camera systems read plates on motorcycles too, so do not tailgate through the barrier.
Campervans and Motorhomes
You can often park a campervan in standard car spaces if it fits within the markings, but overnight rules vary. In tourist areas, you will find dedicated motorhome parking with payment either by app, machine, or ANPR. Wild parking is sensitive near fjords and beaches, especially in summer. If a sign says no overnight parking or no motorhomes, do not chance it. In winter, snow clearing schedules can make roadside overnighting risky.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Fines
Parking fines in Norway are called kontrollsanksjon, and they are expensive. Here are mistakes I see from visitors:
- Starting the app session in the wrong zone code. Always match the exact number on the sign.
- Forgetting to stop the app session when leaving. You pay until you tap stop.
- Assuming Sundays are always free. In central Oslo, Bergen, and several other cities, many zones are paid every day.
- Ignoring time limits. Even if you pay, you cannot exceed a posted maximum stay.
- Parking slightly outside the bay markings. Wardens in cities are strict about lines.
If you get a ticket, the instructions on the notice explain how to pay or appeal. Pay promptly if you do not plan to contest.
How To Choose Quickly Between App, Machine, or Garage
When I arrive somewhere new, my routine is simple:
- Read the sign. Note hours, maximum time, and zone code.
- If the plate shows an app logo I already have, I use that app. If not, I check the machine. If there is no machine, I download the app on the spot, it takes two minutes.
- If I plan to stay more than three or four hours, I compare price to a nearby garage. Garages are often cheaper for long stays, especially in winter when you want the car under a roof.
Parking in Major Cities
A few local pointers help in the biggest cities.
Oslo
Central zones are expensive and often time limited. Residential streets fill early on weekdays. Garages like those near Oslo City, Aker Brygge, and Vika are reliable choices for longer visits. On the Bygdøy museum peninsula, seasonal demand is high, so expect paid parking most days and use the app listed on the signs. In winter, watch for temporary no-parking signs for snow clearing.
Bergen
The historic center has narrow streets and strict enforcement. Consider parking in a garage at the edge of the center and walking. Street spaces turn over quickly, and rain drives everyone into garages anyway. The apps listed on the meters are your best guide.
Trondheim
Street parking is organized by zones with clear machines and app options. For longer stays, go straight to a garage around Solsiden or the central mall areas.
Stavanger
Plenty of mixed municipal and private parking. Garages around the center are convenient, especially if you plan to visit the oil museum or dine along the harbor.
Tromsø
Winter parking comes with snowbanks and plowing schedules. Garages remove the worry of snow clearing. If you park on street, check for overnight restrictions and allow extra space for plows.
Airports, Ferries, and Tourist Hotspots
At airports, camera-based entry and pay-on-exit are standard. Book online if you need multi-day parking, prices are better. For ferry quays in the fjord regions, small lots often rely on simple machines or app zones, and many are patrolled frequently. In summer at trailheads like popular waterfalls or viewpoints, lots can be privately operated with their own app or QR payment, so read signs carefully.
Paying Without a Norwegian Card or Phone Number
Most apps accept international cards. You can usually register with an email address, and you do not need a Norwegian phone number. Machines accept international Visa and Mastercard, sometimes Apple Pay or Google Pay. If your card is declined, try contactless or chip instead of swipe, or switch to a nearby machine on the same street face.
What To Do If Something Goes Wrong
If the app crashes or the machine is out of service, take a quick photo of the machine or sign, including the time, then move to the next machine or switch to the operator’s alternative app. Document your attempt to pay. If you end up with a ticket, your photo helps when you contact the operator. In genuine outages, operators are reasonable if you can show you did your best.
Quick Checklist Before You Walk Away
- You matched the zone code in the app to the sign.
- The license plate in the app is the car you parked.
- Your session shows the correct start time and rate.
- You noted any maximum stay to avoid overstaying.
- You know how to stop the session when you return.
Once you have done this once or twice, Norwegian parking feels simple and fair. You pay only for what you use, and the rules are written plainly on the sign. With an app or two on your phone and a habit of reading the plates under the blue P, you will avoid fines and save time for what you actually came to do.