Reserving a parking space at Nuremberg Airport: how to plan properly

The parking booking is done quickly – but whether it fits on the day of travel is decided during planning. At Albrecht Dürer Airport, two calendars play a role: the Bavarian school holiday calendar, according to which half of Franconia sets off on holiday on the same day, and the city's event calendar with trade fairs, the Christkindlesmarkt and festivals. If you know both, choose the right timing and enter the times correctly, there is nothing left to do on the morning of departure but get in.

When to book?

The best moment is right after booking your flight. Then days, times and flight numbers are known, and the choice is widest. Because Friend-Park allows free cancellation up to one day before the drop-off time, you take no risk. For the start of the Bavarian summer holidays at the beginning of August, good offers are often taken long beforehand.

The calendar in Bavaria

In Bavaria, the summer holidays begin on the same day for all schools and are late compared with the other federal states. On top of that come the carnival, Easter, Whitsun and autumn holidays as well as bridge days in May and June. The Ministry of Education publishes the exact dates. Families from Thuringia and Baden-Württemberg also sometimes fly from Nuremberg and add to demand.

What else is going on in Nuremberg

International trade fairs, the Christkindlesmarkt in Advent and festivals such as Rock im Park bring many visitors to the city. In these weeks, roads are fuller and parking areas at the airport are in greater demand. If you are flexible, avoid such dates; if you can't, book early and allow more time.

Entering times correctly

A classic mistake: the departure time in the field for the parking start. What is meant is the moment you are at the site or meeting point. Work backwards: departure minus the airline's lead time minus minutes for the handover or bus minus a reserve. For the parking end, add to the landing time the time for disembarking, luggage, border control if applicable and the way to the pick-up point. For evening return flights, an extra half-hour buffer makes sense.

Keeping an eye on operating hours

Before you click "Book", check whether your times fall within the provider's operating hours. With early flights and late landings, this cannot be taken for granted. More: Early flight from Nuremberg and Late arrival at Nuremberg Airport.

Further details

• Number plate, model, colour – so that your car is recognised.
• Flight numbers – so that delays are visible.
• Number of people – important for the bus.
• Mobile number of the person driving – for queries.
• Special features – electric car, motorhome, bulky luggage.

How booking with Friend-Park works is shown in the frequently asked questions about booking.

Booking for others

If you book for your parents or colleagues, pay attention to the number plate, flight details and above all the mobile number of the person who will actually drive. Forward the confirmation to them and, with first-time travellers, go through the procedure together once.

After the click

Read the confirmation email in full, save it offline and note down the company's phone number. If the email is missing: frequently asked questions about a missing confirmation. Until the trip, check your flight booking now and then in case the airline changes times.

The evening before

Read the confirmation again, save the destination in the satnav, check the traffic for the morning, have your documents ready. That's all it takes.

Plans change

If the trip is moved, cancel within the deadline and rebook. Details: Cancelling or rebooking a parking space at Nuremberg Airport.

Or the underground after all?

If you live in the city and travel light, you may not need a parking space at all. Weighing it up: Underground or car to Nuremberg Airport.

Nothing found?

Try shifting the times slightly or compare with the airport's multi-storey car parks. For Nuremberg: Friend-Park only shows offers once partners are connected. You can see the current status on Parking at Nuremberg Airport.

An example from Erlangen

An engineer from Erlangen books flights for the Whitsun holidays in January: departure on a Saturday at 06:35, return flight ten days later landing at 22:15. He immediately checks the event calendar – nothing big is happening in Nuremberg that weekend. As the parking start he enters 04:20, as the parking end 23:30, to cover luggage and a possible delay. He chooses an offer whose hours cover both and enters the end of the free cancellation period in his calendar. The figures are an example.

Recurring trips

If you fly from Nuremberg regularly, notes save time: which company was good, how long did the drive take, when was the best departure time? After a few trips, you can plan in minutes.

Special occasions

For a honeymoon or a long-awaited long-haul trip, it is worth contacting the parking service early. Clarify open questions about the meeting point, luggage and return weeks in advance.

Uncertain plans

If your holiday is not yet final, you can still reserve. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the parking start gives you leeway.

For groups

If you are travelling with several cars, each party books individually. That way the details are correct and a cancellation affects only one booking.

Booking for your parents

If children book for parents who are driving to the airport themselves for the first time, it helps to go through the confirmation together and show the meeting point on the map.

Sharing the confirmation

If you are travelling as a couple, forward the confirmation to the second person. If one phone is flat, the other has all the details.

Flight times change

Check your airline's emails regularly. If a new time is within the operating hours, a message to the parking service is enough; otherwise cancel and rebook.

In brief

Book early, enter the times at the site, check operating hours, keep Bavarian school holidays and major events in Nuremberg in mind and note the cancellation deadline – and your planning is done.

Have a good trip from Albrecht Dürer Airport!

Reserving for day trips

A reservation is worthwhile even for a single day, especially with an early departure. Check whether the provider covers the early handover and the evening return. Valet and the terminal car park are usually the right options for day trips. More: Business trip from Nuremberg.

Reserving in Advent

If you fly to the sun in December, you will meet many guests coming for the Christkindlesmarkt. Around the weekends in Advent the airport is busier; an early reservation gives you certainty.

Reserving with an uncertain return flight

If the return flight is not yet fixed – for example on an open-ended tour – you can book with an estimated date at first and adjust it later. Within the deadline, cancel free of charge and rebook. After the deadline, inform support and the company about the extension. That way you have a secure space from the start without committing yourself.

Checking the confirmation

Read the confirmation right after booking: are the date, time, number plate and flight numbers correct? A typo is easy to correct now, but only with effort on the day of travel.

Dates in autumn

There is plenty going on in Nuremberg in autumn too: trade fairs, the autumn holidays and the Volksfest in late summer. If you fly in these weeks, reserve early. It is usually quieter in November before the Christkindlesmarkt begins.

All done?

After booking, checking the confirmation and adding the cancellation deadline to your calendar, your planning is complete. On the day of travel, all you have to do is get in and drive off.

Booking for two cars

If you are travelling with two cars, for example because the grandparents are coming along, book two separate parking spaces with the respective number plates. Make sure the correct mobile number is stored for both.

That way there is only one thing left to do on departure day: get in and drive off.

If you have questions about booking, Friend-Park support can help via the contact form.

Checklist

• Times at the site instead of flight times
• Operating hours fit
• School holidays and major events checked
• Details complete
• Cancellation deadline in the calendar