Long-term parking at Munich Airport: tips for long holiday trips
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Long-haul trips, parental leave holidays, long summer holidays: many travellers depart from Munich Airport for destinations where they stay for two, three or more weeks. Lufthansa operates one of its major hubs here, and the range of long-haul connections is correspondingly large. For the car this means: it stands for a long time – and every additional week affects the parking costs. This guide helps you find a suitable solution and park your car well prepared.
Key facts at a glance
- On long trips the total duration determines the price – compare final prices, not daily rates.
- With many parking days, shuttle car parks are often the most economical choice.
- Prepare the car for the standstill and document its condition.
- Plan the return as well: landing time, the provider's operating hours, the drive home.
Why the duration changes everything
On a weekend trip it hardly matters whether a car park is a little more expensive. With 21 days it is a different story. Many providers stagger their prices: the first days cost more, longer periods become cheaper per day. Others have fixed weekly packages. So compare the final price for your exact period – from handover to return. Which factors influence the price is explained in the guide Parking costs at Munich Airport.
Which option for long trips?
Shuttle parking
For many long-term travellers, shuttle parking is the standard: you park the car yourself at the provider's site near the airport and take the shuttle to the terminal. On a long trip, the transfer time hardly matters. More in the guide Shuttle parking at Munich Airport.
Valet parking
Also possible for long trips – and sensible when comfort has priority, for example with children or a great deal of luggage for a long-haul trip. More in the guide Valet parking at Munich Airport.
The airport's multi-storey car parks
Munich Airport offers its own parking areas, including options for longer stays. Locations and rates are on munich-airport.de. For very long trips, a comparison with private providers is worthwhile. The guide Parking options at Munich Airport gives an overview.
Preparing the car for the standstill
- Take valuables and documents out of the interior and glove compartment.
- Check the tyre pressure – during a long standstill a tyre slowly loses air.
- Battery: older batteries can weaken during a long standstill, especially in winter. If you are unsure, have it checked beforehand.
- Fuel level or battery charge: enough for the drive home, so that you do not have to refuel immediately after landing.
- Interior: do not leave any food or drinks behind.
- Photos: document the condition all round, including the mileage.
How to record the handover cleanly with photos is explained in the guide Vehicle handover at Munich Airport.
Book early in the holiday season
During the Bavarian summer holidays, at Whitsun and over Christmas, many car parks around the airport are in high demand. If you are travelling for a long time, you usually plan well in advance anyway – make use of this and reserve the car park early. More on this in the guide Reserving a car park at Munich Airport.
When plans change
On long trips, plans change more often – the return flight is moved, the trip extended. So clarify in advance how flexible the provider is. For bookings via Friend-Park: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service begins; the period and service cannot be rebooked yourself. All the rules are in the guide Cancelling or changing a car park booking at Munich Airport.
The return after a long trip
After a long-haul flight you often land in Munich with jet lag, and for flights from outside the Schengen area, passport and customs control are added. Plan the drive home calmly accordingly. Tips in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Munich Airport.
What is different when parking for weeks
A long standstill is unusual for a car. Modern vehicles use some power even when parked, for example for the alarm system, control units or the radio key receiver. With a healthy battery this is usually no problem over a few weeks, but with an older one it can get tight. If you are unsure, have the battery checked at a garage before the trip. For electric cars: the battery loses some charge over weeks, more in the cold. Start with a charge level that still leaves you enough range after your return.
Tyres also slowly lose air over a longer period. A correctly set tyre pressure before the trip ensures that you can drive off safely after your return. Check it at the next petrol station after you get home at the latest.
Long-term parking in winter
If you travel for a longer period over Christmas and New Year or during the carnival holidays, you must expect snow and frost. A car parked outdoors may be snowed in after your return. Pack a hand brush and an ice scraper in the boot. Do not leave any drinks or liquids in the interior that could freeze and burst. Whether a provider has covered spaces is stated in its description – for long winter trips this can be a criterion.
Long-term parking in summer
In summer, other things are important: do not leave heat-sensitive items in the car, such as aerosol cans, lighters or electronics. A sunshade for the windscreen protects the dashboard if the car is parked outdoors. And remember that a heated-up car should first be aired a little after your return before you set off with children.
Post, home and being reachable
On long trips it is not only about the car. Make sure someone checks on things at home, and leave the most important details of your parking booking with a trusted person: provider, booking number, phone number. If your return flight is postponed and you are hard to reach while travelling, this person can inform the provider. Also save the confirmation in your email inbox or in a cloud so that you can access it even without your phone.
The costs over the entire trip
Over three or four weeks, parking costs make up a noticeable part of the travel budget. So do not just compare individual offers, but also alternatives: with such a long trip, might the S-Bahn be worthwhile if you live in the city and have little luggage? Or is the car more convenient because you are coming from the surrounding area with a lot of luggage? For most long-term travellers from Upper and Lower Bavaria, your own car with a car park booked in advance remains the most practical solution.
Long-term parking checklist
- Final price for the entire period compared
- Battery and tyre pressure checked
- Interior empty, no valuables, no food
- All-round photos including the mileage
- Confirmation saved and trusted person informed
- Return times matching the return flight
If the trip lasts longer than planned
On long-haul trips it happens that people extend spontaneously – because it is so nice or because a return flight is cancelled. Then the car stays on the provider's site longer than booked. Inform the provider as early as possible so that they do not have your car ready at the original time, and clarify how the additional days will be charged. For bookings via Friend-Park you do not change the period yourself; in this case contact us via the contact form or the provider so that the extension is properly documented.
On long trips, also plan for the opposite case: if you fly back earlier, let them know as well so that the car is ready.
Before departure: the last ten minutes
Before you hand over or park the car at the provider's site, take ten minutes: windows and sunroof closed? Lights off? No drinks in the cup holder? Sunshade or winter protection fitted? Charging cables and sat nav removed from the interior? These little things prevent unpleasant surprises after weeks of absence.
With this short routine you make sure that your car gets through the weeks well and is ready to go straight after landing in Munich – whether in summer or winter.
That way you can enjoy the weeks away without having to worry about your car at Munich Airport.
Long-term parking via Friend-Park
On Friend-Park you see the final price of an offer for your entire period and book online with instant confirmation. Which providers are already affiliated at Munich Airport is shown on the page Parking at Munich Airport.
