Parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport for the first time: what you need to know
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Are you flying from Cologne/Bonn for the first time – or driving there in your own car for the first time? Then this guide is for you. It explains the basics compactly: where the airport is, how the terminals are laid out, what parking options there are and what the procedure looks like from booking to the drive home.
Key facts at a glance
- A59, exit Flughafen – two terminals, closely connected.
- Parking options: airport car parks, valet or shuttle.
- The airport operates around the clock – check providers' hours.
- Document the handover with photos.
Location and layout
Cologne Bonn Airport lies in the south-east of Cologne on the Wahner Heide, between Cologne and Bonn. The A59 leads to the airport with its own exit. There are Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, connected by a short walkway, and a dedicated station with S-Bahn, regional and long-distance trains. More: Terminals at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
Three ways to park
- Airport car parks: directly at the terminal, ideal for short stays.
- Valet parking: handover to a driver at the meeting point.
- Shuttle parking: park yourself at the provider, shuttle to the terminal.
More: Parking options at Cologne/Bonn Airport and Valet or shuttle at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
The special feature: round-the-clock operation
At Cologne Bonn Airport, flights also operate at night. This is practical for travellers, but it holds a trap: not every parking provider works around the clock. If you fly early in the morning or land late, check the opening hours carefully. More: Night flights and parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
Booking in five minutes
You enter the start and end of parking – these are the times at the car park or meeting point, not the flight times. Add the number plate, model, number of passengers and flight numbers. At Friend-Park this also works as a guest; how it works is shown in the frequently asked questions about booking.
The day of departure
- Open the confirmation, enter the address or meeting point in the satnav.
- Check the traffic on the Cologne ring and the A59.
- If requested: call the provider shortly beforehand.
- Hand over or park the car, take photos.
- To the terminal and the security check.
Photos and keys: Vehicle handover at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
The return
Collect your luggage, passport control if needed, contact the provider, check the car, drive off. More: Returning: collecting your car at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
Typical beginner mistakes
- Opening hours not checked for night flights
- Satnav set to “airport” instead of the parking address
- Flight times booked instead of parking times
- Underestimating the Rhine bridges and the Cologne ring in rush hour
- No photos at handover
What to do the evening before
Especially the first time, calm preparation the evening before helps: do the online check-in, load your boarding passes onto your phone, open the parking confirmation and save the address in your satnav. Put ID, charging cables and headphones in a fixed place. Check the traffic reports for the Cologne ring and the A59 and set your alarm a quarter of an hour earlier. That way, on the day of departure you only have to get in and drive off – even if the plane, as often at Cologne/Bonn, departs at dawn.
How big is the airport actually?
Many first-time travellers are wary of airports because they think of huge hubs. Cologne Bonn Airport is much more manageable than Frankfurt or Munich. Two terminals side by side, a station directly at the terminal area and short distances to the gates make orientation easy. Still, a little preparation is worthwhile: if you know which terminal you check in at and where the meeting point or car park is, you move confidently from the first moment. The airport publishes its site map on koeln-bonn-airport.de.
Choosing the right start of parking
A common mistake the first time: the departure time is entered as the start of parking. The correct time is when you arrive at the car park or meeting point. To work it out, count back from the departure time: the airline's lead time, time for the valet handover or shuttle transfer and a small buffer. For a flight at 10:00 with two hours' lead time and a 30-minute shuttle transfer, you will therefore be at the car park at around 7:30. For the end of parking you calculate similarly: landing time plus time for luggage, passport control if applicable and the transfer.
Important details when booking
The number plate, vehicle model and colour help the provider identify your car. The flight numbers for the outward and return flights allow it to track delays. The number of fellow travellers is important for the shuttle. And the provider needs your mobile number to reach you with any questions. Give all details in full – incomplete details are the most common cause of misunderstandings on the day of travel.
Understanding the confirmation
After booking you receive a confirmation by email. Read it carefully: where is the meeting point or the car park's address? Should I call beforehand? Which phone number applies on the day of travel? What do I do after landing? Save the confirmation on your phone and print it if necessary. If details are missing, ask the provider before you set off.
Arriving at the car park
With shuttle parking, you drive onto the provider's site and check in. Depending on the provider, you park the car in a space yourself or hand over the key. Then your luggage is loaded into the shuttle and you are taken to the terminal. With valet, you drive to the meeting point, where a driver is waiting for you. You look at the car together, hand over the key and go into the terminal. Both procedures are simpler than they sound – after the first time you will be a pro.
In the terminal
In the terminal, look for your airline's check-in desk or bag drop. The display boards show you where to go. Then it's on to the security check: liquids in hand luggage in containers of up to 100 millilitres in a transparent bag, laptop and tablet ready separately, belt and jacket off. If you prepare this, you get through faster. After the check, find your gate and wait for boarding.
The first return
After landing, follow the signs to baggage reclaim. For flights from outside the Schengen area, passport control comes first. With your luggage, contact the provider as described in the confirmation and go to the meeting point or shuttle pick-up point. At the car, walk around it once, compare with your photos and drive home.
Don't be afraid to ask
Especially the first time, it is perfectly normal to have questions. Call the provider if anything is unclear. In the terminal, the airport's information desks and airline staff will help. And for questions about a booking via Friend-Park, you can reach support via the contact form. Nobody expects you to know everything the first time.
Your personal checklist for the first time
Before you set off, go through these points once: do you know the terminal? Is the car park address or meeting point saved in the satnav? Do you have the provider's phone number on your phone? Are your ID and boarding pass to hand? Are the liquids in your hand luggage packed correctly? Have you allowed enough time for the journey, parking and the security check? If you can answer yes to all the questions, you are well prepared. The second time you probably won't need this list – by then you will already know Cologne Bonn Airport.
Flying for the first time with friends or family
If you are travelling with other first-time travellers, divide up the tasks: one person takes care of the car and the handover, another of the luggage and documents. That way everyone keeps track and nobody feels overwhelmed. Agree on a fixed meeting point in the terminal in case you get separated.
With this preparation, your first flight from Cologne/Bonn will not be an adventure but a relaxed start to your trip – from the car park to the gate and back again.
Help along the way
Traffic jam? Inform the provider – see frequently asked questions about delays on the way. Plans changed? Cancelling or changing a car park at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
You can see whether you can already book via Friend-Park at Cologne Bonn Airport on the page Parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
