Parking at Munich Airport for the first time: advice for beginners

Driving your own car to Munich Airport for the first time raises questions. Where do I park? What is valet parking? How do I find the meeting point? And what happens if my return flight arrives late? Don't worry: with a few basic rules it works even the first time. This guide summarises what beginners should know – concisely and in the order in which you need it.

1. The airport in brief

Munich Airport lies in the Erdinger Moos between Freising and Erding, around 30 kilometres north-east of the city centre. There are two terminals, with the Munich Airport Center between them. By car, the A92 leads to the airport; it joins the A9 at the Neufahrn junction. Once you have taken this in, you are halfway there. More details in the guide Terminals at Munich Airport.

2. Understanding the parking options

• The airport's multi-storey car parks: directly at the terminals, practical for short stays.
• Valet parking: you hand the car over to a driver at a meeting point near the terminal.
• Shuttle parking: you park at the provider's site in the surrounding area and take the shuttle to the terminal.

Which option suits you is explained in the guide Valet or shuttle at Munich Airport. The guide Parking options at Munich Airport gives an overview.

3. Booking – the right way

When booking, you state when you will hand over the car and when you will collect it again. These are not your flight times but the times at the car park or meeting point. Then add the number plate, vehicle model, number of people and – very helpful – the flight numbers. Through Friend-Park you can also book as a guest. How booking works is shown in the frequently asked questions about booking.

4. On the day of departure

1. Open the confirmation and enter the address in the sat nav.
2. Leave in plenty of time – the drive via the A9 and A92 can get congested.
3. If requested in the confirmation: call the provider shortly before you arrive.
4. At the meeting point or car park: hand over or park the car and take photos.
5. On to the terminal – on foot with valet, by shuttle with shuttle parking.

Photos and keys are often the biggest uncertainty the first time. The guide Vehicle handover at Munich Airport explains how it works.

5. After your trip

After landing, first collect your luggage. Then contact the provider or go to the agreed point. With valet your car is brought to you; with shuttle parking you ride to the car park. Briefly check the car, then you are off home. More on this in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Munich Airport.

Five beginner mistakes – and how to avoid them

• Wrong terminal: check your flight documents beforehand.
• Sat nav set to “airport”: always use the address from the booking.
• Cutting it too fine: allow for transfer time and a traffic buffer.
• Booking flight times instead of parking times: state realistic handover and return times.
• No photos: two minutes of documentation can save a lot of trouble if in doubt.

What to pack – and what stays in the car

The first time, it is unclear what goes with you into the terminal and what can stay in the car. A simple rule: take everything that is valuable, important or irreplaceable with you. That includes ID documents, your wallet, phone, laptop, charging cables, medication and house keys. Things you need for the drive home and that are not of great value may stay in the car, such as a jacket for returning in winter, an ice scraper or child seats. You should not leave important vehicle documents lying openly in the vehicle.

Reading the confirmation correctly

Your booking confirmation is your most important document on the day of departure. Read it through calmly once before you set off. It contains:

• the address of the car park or the valet meeting point,
• the booked times for handover and return,
• the provider's phone number,
• notes on the procedure, for example whether you should call beforehand,
• your booking number, with which you can find the booking again later.

Save the confirmation offline on your phone or print it out in case you have no reception on the way. If a confirmation is missing, the frequently asked questions about a missing confirmation will help.

How early you need to be at the airport

The lead time is set by your airline. As a beginner, also add the time for parking: a few minutes with valet, a block of transfer time with shuttle parking. Also plan some reserve for finding your way – Munich Airport is large, and the first time you spend longer looking for the right counters. With two terminals and the Munich Airport Center between them, it helps to take a look at the site plan on munich-airport.de beforehand.

Security control for the first time

Liquids in hand luggage must comply with the applicable rules; laptops and other large electronic devices are checked separately depending on the checkpoint. Have your boarding pass and ID ready. If you know the rules, you get through faster – the airport publishes information on its website, and the airline provides details on luggage.

A plan B for the day of departure

Also write down your parking provider's phone number on paper and put it in your wallet. If your phone battery is empty, you will still have it. And think beforehand about what you will do if you are stuck in traffic: call the provider, check online check-in, contact the airline if necessary. If you have a plan, you stay calm.

Running through the schedule once

Before you drive to Munich Airport for the first time, a little thought experiment is worthwhile. Take your departure time and calculate backwards: when do you need to be in the terminal according to the airline? How much time do you need for the handover or the shuttle? How long does the drive take at this time of day, and what buffer makes sense? Write down your departure time. Once you have made this plan, you quickly notice whether the process is realistic or whether valet would make more sense than shuttle.

The same applies to the return: when do you land, how long does it take to get your luggage, and is your provider still open at that time? Many beginners forget this second calculation – and then find themselves in front of a closed door in the evening.

Frequently asked questions from beginners

Can I hand over the car earlier than booked? A little earlier is usually no problem; much earlier should be agreed with the provider. What happens if I am late? Call the provider so that they can plan. Do I need cash? If you booked and paid online, usually not; you clarify additional services on site with the provider. Do I have to print out the confirmation? Your phone is usually enough, but a printout does no harm.

After the first time

After your trip, note down what went well and what did not: how long did the drive really take? Was the meeting point easy to find? How long did you wait for your car after landing? With these experiences you will plan your next trip even more calmly – and know whether you will choose the same service again next time.

Travelling barrier-free

If you travel in a wheelchair or have reduced mobility, you usually register the assistance you need with the airline. The airport provides information about the services offered on its website. For parking, short distances are particularly important. Valet parking with a handover near the terminal can therefore be a good choice. State any special needs in the notes field when booking so that the provider can prepare for them.

And if something goes wrong?

Traffic jam on the way? Inform the provider, see the frequently asked questions about arriving late. Flight cancelled? Cancel in good time, see Cancelling or changing a car park booking at Munich Airport.

Whether you can already book a car park at Munich Airport through Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Munich Airport.