Parking Information

Parking in Oulu 

In Oulu’s city centre, you may park your vehicle in underground car parks, multi-level parking garages and curbside. Parking in the city centre is subject to a charge by rule. At some distance from the city centre you will find free of charge parking spaces.  

Further information on parking garages owned by the city of Oulu from Oulun Pysäköinti Oy.

Parking fees in Oulu’s city centre and adjacent areas 

Curbside and other parking areas administered by the city of Oulu are divided into four fee zones. Parking is subject to charge in these zones on weekdays 8.00-18.00 and on Saturdays 8.00-16.00. You will find the fee zones in the karttatie service.

Parking fees curbside and in parking areas managed by the city of Oulu as of 1 September 2024 are presented in the table below (the fees include 25,5 % VAT)

Zone 13,20 €/hour
Zone 22,10 €/hour
Zone 31,50 €/hour
Zone 40,60 €/hour (only with the service provider’s mobile application) 

Curbside and in parking areas managed by the city of Oulu also use a monthly parking fee. The parking can be purchased via a mobile payment operator. The monthly parking fee is 104,70 € as of 1 September 2024 (includes a 25,5 % VAT) and is in effect in Zones 2-4.

Parking fees can be paid with cash, debit/credit cards or with a service provider’s mobile application on your phone. The payment methods vary by area; please verify the possible payment methods of the area.  

The following service provider mobile applications are in use: 

Moovy
eParking
EasyPark
ParkMan
ePark

Further information from the service providers’ websites. 

Time-limited parking or parking subject to a charge? 

You must ensure whether the parking space is subject to a charge or time-limited from the relevant traffic sign.  

When using time-limited parking spaces, you must indicate your arrival time clearly, for example, with a parking disc. 

Parking subject to a charge can be paid with mobile payment applications. Cash and debit/credit cards can also be used in many parking areas.  

Equipment used to indicate arrival time

The arrival time on time-limited parking spaces

You must indicate the time at which you parked the car as your arrival time. You may indicate your arrival time as the next full or half hour from your arrival, depending on which is earlier.  

The arrival time can be indicated with a free form slip of paper or with a digital or traditional parking disc. Mobile payment does not substitute the indication of arrival time.

The indication must be easily visible inside the windshield. Only one time must be clearly visible to avoid misinterpretations. 

It is not permitted to change the arrival time in the middle of parking. 

The indication of arrival time is not demanded from motorcycles or other vehicles without windshields, but the time-limits still must be followed. Parking control supervises the parking of vehicles without windshields in time-limited parking spaces.  

Parking motorcycles and mopeds 

There are parking spaces allocated for motorcycles on Rantakatu by the market square for example. Motorcycles can also be parked in any parking space in accordance with the relevant traffic signs and regulations.  

Motorcycles and other vehicles without windshields do not need to pay parking fees in curbside spaces or parking areas administered by the city. Indication of arrival time is not demanded from motorcycles and other vehicles without windshields in Oulu. 

Though the indication of arrival time is not mandated, the time-limits still must be followed, and parking is supervised.  

Please note that this exception in payment obligation and arrival time indication of vehicles without windshields is only in effect in the Oulu region. In other cities the customs may be different. 

Parking trailers 

Vehicle combinations with trailers can be parked in two spaces or curbside in accordance with area regulations. You must ensure that parking does not endanger or inconvenience other traffic.  

When the trailer is connected to your vehicle, only one parking fee needs to be paid.  

If the trailer is not connected to your vehicle, you must pay another parking fee for the trailer. It is naturally challenging to attach the parking receipt to the trailer. If it is not possible to attach the parking receipt to the trailer, please keep it with you in case you need to present it to a traffic warden.  

Though the indication of arrival times is not mandated, the time-limits must still be followed, and parking is supervised. 

Parking in spaces designated for other vehicles 

Parking in parking spaces designated for other vehicle types, such as spaces indicated for disabled parking, distribution traffic, trucks and buses is not permitted. These spaces are marked with an icon of the vehicle or in writing on supplementary signs. 

Disabled parking right does not entitle parking in spaces indicated for other vehicle types.  

Parking in streets, pedestrian zones, and cycle zones 

  • Parking in streets: Parking in neighborhood streets is only permitted in marked parking spaces. Bicycles, mopeds as well as vehicles with home care or reduced mobility parking rights may park outside the marked parking spaces, if it does not cause excessive inconvenience to traffic.  

  • Parking in pedestrian zones: Parking cars, motorcycles, and mopeds is not permitted in pedestrian zones. In practice, the entire Rotuaari is considered a pedestrian zone. Vehicles with home care or reduced mobility rights are not permitted parking in pedestrian zones either.  

  • Parking in cycle zones: Pakkahuoneenkatu is considered a cycle zone from Rantakatu all the way to Uusikatu. Parking cars in cycle zones is not permitted outside of marked parking spaces. Parking bicycles, mopeds or vehicles with reduced mobility rights may park outside marked parking spaces, if it does not cause excessive inconvenience to traffic.