By train to Düsseldorf Airport: long-distance station, SkyTrain & S11

Taking the train to Düsseldorf Airport is a good alternative to the car for many travellers. The airport has two railway stations, its own suspended monorail called the SkyTrain and is connected to the suburban, regional and long-distance rail network. If you know how it works, you reach the terminal relaxed. If you don’t, you may end up at the wrong station or miss the SkyTrain’s night-time break. In this guide we explain step by step how to travel by train, what to look out for with tickets and in which cases your own car with a parking space booked in advance is the better choice.

Two stations: long-distance station and suburban station at the terminal

Düsseldorf Airport has two railway stations that you should not mix up:

• Long-distance station “Düsseldorf Flughafen”: it is located on the eastern edge of the airport site. Suburban trains, regional trains and long-distance trains such as ICE and IC stop here – according to the airport, more than 350 trains a day. From the long-distance station you continue to the terminal with the SkyTrain.
• Suburban station “Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal”: it is in the basement of the terminal building. Only the S11 suburban line serves this station. If you come by S11, you get off directly under the terminal and do not need the SkyTrain.

Which station suits you depends on where you are coming from. From Cologne, the Ruhr area or further away by regional and long-distance train you arrive at the long-distance station. From Düsseldorf city centre or from the direction of Bergisch Gladbach and Neuss, the S11 is a convenient option because it takes you under the terminal without changing. Always check the current connection in the timetable information beforehand, because routes and engineering works change.

The SkyTrain: from the long-distance station to the terminal

The SkyTrain is a driverless suspended monorail that shuttles above the site between the long-distance station and the terminal. According to the official airport website, the ride from the long-distance station to the terminal takes about seven minutes. The train stops at car park P4/P5, Terminal A/B and Terminal C, among others – that is, close to piers A, B and C.

According to the airport, the SkyTrain runs every five to seven minutes during the day, depending on passenger numbers. The night-time break is important: between about 0:45 and 3:45 the SkyTrain does not run. If you arrive on a very early train or return late in the evening, check the current information and any replacement buses on the airport’s travel page (dus.com). If the SkyTrain breaks down, the airport runs replacement buses between the station, car park P4/P5 and the terminal.

Tips for riding the SkyTrain

• Allow at least 15 to 20 minutes in total for changing, walking and the SkyTrain.
• With large luggage or a pushchair, use the lifts at the station – escalators are unsafe with heavy suitcases.
• Get off at the stop that matches your pier. You can find it on your boarding pass. Read more in the guide Piers and terminal at Düsseldorf Airport.

Tickets: what do you need?

For the journey by suburban train, regional train and SkyTrain you need a valid ticket. According to the airport, VRR tickets, the Deutschlandticket and rail tickets to Düsseldorf Flughafen are valid, for example. For long-distance tickets to “Düsseldorf Flughafen” it is worth reading Deutsche Bahn’s conditions carefully. The binding rules can be found on the airport’s travel page and with your transport operator.

Be honest when comparing prices with the car: you pay for tickets for every traveller, there and back. A family with two adults and two children quickly reaches an amount on longer routes that exceeds the cost of an affordable parking space.

Advantages of the train

• No risk of motorway traffic jams: especially in rush hour on the A3 and A44 this is a plus – although trains can be delayed too.
• No parking costs: for solo travellers with light luggage, the train can be the cheapest solution.
• Use the time: on the train you can read, work or relax.

Disadvantages of the train

• Changing with luggage: every change costs time and nerves, especially with children or several suitcases.
• Early and late flights: for early-morning departures there are often no suitable trains yet, and connections are thin after a late-evening return. On top of that comes the SkyTrain’s night-time break.
• Delays and cancellations: a missed connection can upset your whole schedule. So plan at least one train earlier.
• Costs for groups: from two people upwards, the train is often more expensive than an affordable parking space.

Train or car? A decision guide

Whether the train or the car is the better choice depends on your situation. These rules of thumb help:

1. Alone, little luggage, daytime departure, good direct connection: the train is often cheap and relaxed.
2. Two or more people: compare the tickets for all travellers with the final price of a parking space. For a week’s holiday, the car is often ahead.
3. Children, pushchair, sports equipment: the car is usually much more convenient – especially with valet parking at Düsseldorf Airport, because you get out right at the meeting point near the terminal.
4. Departure before 7:00 or return after 23:00: the car is generally more reliable, because you do not depend on train timetables and SkyTrain operating hours.
5. From rural areas: if even the way to the nearest station is long, the car saves a lot of time.

If you decide on the car, you can find all route information in the guide Driving to Düsseldorf Airport.

Park & Fly instead of Park & Ride

Some travellers combine both: they drive to a station near them, park there and take the train to the airport. That sounds economical but has drawbacks: park-and-ride spaces are often not intended for parking for several weeks, are not supervised and sometimes have time limits. And you still have to drag your luggage through stations.

Classic Park & Fly is more convenient: you drive straight to a provider’s car park near the airport, leave your car and are taken to the terminal by shuttle – or you hand it over directly at the meeting point with valet parking. How this works in detail is explained in the guide Shuttle or valet parking at Düsseldorf Airport.

What does parking cost compared with the train?

Parking prices at Düsseldorf Airport depend on the provider, the type of parking and the length of your trip. On Friend-Park the search results show the final price including the service fee for your dates, so you can compare directly with the cost of the train. An overview of the price factors can be found in the guide How much does parking at Düsseldorf Airport cost? The quickest way to get the current price for your trip is here: Find parking at Düsseldorf Airport.

Returning by train: what to look out for

After landing you reach the public hall via baggage reclaim and the arrivals area. From there, follow the signs to the SkyTrain or the suburban train. Pay particular attention to:

• Late arrival: check before you fly which connection home will still run on the evening of your return – and what you will do if your flight is delayed.
• Delayed flight: a train ticket bound to a specific train can become invalid if your flight is delayed. Flexible tickets are more expensive but safer.
• Tiredness: after a long flight every change is tiring. Many travellers then appreciate getting straight into their own car.

What you can do about delays is explained in the guide Flight delayed or cancelled at Düsseldorf Airport.

Conclusion: the train suits solo travellers, the car suits families and off-peak hours

With its long-distance station, SkyTrain and S11, Düsseldorf Airport is easy to reach by train. For solo travellers with light luggage and a good direct connection, that is a solid choice. As soon as several people, lots of luggage or very early and late flights come into play, your own car with a parking space booked in advance is usually more relaxed and often cheaper too. Compare the offers on the page Parking at Düsseldorf Airport or go straight to the affordable options under cheap parking at Düsseldorf Airport.