Parking, the smart way.

The short version: use park-and-ride

With millions of visitors over ten days, central parking fills early and many streets near the Seine are closed to traffic. The stress-free approach is to park on the edge of the city and take public transport in — Rouen sets up park-and-ride sites and shuttle/transit links specifically for the event.

Driving in

• Expect road closures along the quays and around the event perimeter, especially in the evenings and on the closing parade day.
• Arrive early if you must park near the centre — the best spots go by mid-morning.
• Follow the event signage and don't rely solely on sat-nav, which won't know the temporary closures.

Park-and-ride + transit

Leave the car at a park-and-ride on the outskirts and ride the metro or bus to the quays — it's faster, cheaper, and you skip the closure zone entirely. Past editions ran frequent shuttle services from large car parks; check the official 2027 transport plan nearer the time for exact sites and timings.

The Grande Parade day

The closing Sunday is the busiest. If you're heading to a downstream viewpoint like La Bouille, Sahurs, Duclair or Jumièges, go early — village parking is limited and roads close as crowds build. Plan your exit before you arrive.