Getting to Nuremberg Airport from Franconia and the Upper Palatinate
Published on · updated on
No car parks can be booked through Friend-Park at Nuremberg Airport yet.
As soon as a partner is activated, you will find their offers with real prices on the airport page.
Albrecht Dürer Airport is the airport for Middle, Upper and Lower Franconia and large parts of the Upper Palatinate. Many people who fly from here don't come from Nuremberg itself, but from Bamberg, Bayreuth, Ansbach, Amberg, Neumarkt or Würzburg. Four motorways meet around the city, and each region has its own route with its own bottlenecks. This guide describes the most important routes, names typical congestion points and helps you choose the right time buffer. On the day of travel it does not replace a satnav with live traffic, but it helps with planning.
Key facts at a glance
- The A3, A9, A6 and A73 converge around Nuremberg.
- Congestion points: the Frankenschnellweg, motorway interchanges, roadworks on the A3 and A9.
- Choose your buffer according to route, time of day and the holiday calendar.
- Put the address from the parking booking into the satnav.
From Bamberg and Forchheim
The A73 connects Bamberg via Forchheim and Erlangen with Nuremberg. At the Fürth/Erlangen interchange you continue onto the A3 or via urban roads to the airport. The section near Erlangen is often busy with commuter traffic. From Franconian Switzerland you reach the A73 near Forchheim via federal roads. In winter the roads over higher ground can be icy.
From Würzburg and Lower Franconia
From Würzburg, the A3 leads south-east past Kitzingen and through the Steigerwald. It is one of the most important east–west links with heavy lorry traffic; roadworks and widening sections occasionally slow traffic down. If you come from Lower Franconia, also check whether Frankfurt Airport is an alternative for your connection.
From Regensburg and the Upper Palatinate
From Regensburg, the A3 leads north-west via Neumarkt towards Nuremberg. From Amberg and Sulzbach-Rosenberg you take the A6 west and then the A9 and the A3 or go through the city. From Weiden you come via the A93 and the A6. The routes are long; in winter, snow and ice in the Upper Palatinate Jura can lengthen the journey.
From Bayreuth and Upper Franconia
From Bayreuth, the A9 leads south towards Nuremberg. North of the city you switch to the A3 and so reach the airport. The A9 is an important north–south axis between Berlin and Munich with a lot of long-distance and holiday traffic. From Kulmbach or Hof the journey is correspondingly long – plan generously.
From Ansbach and western Middle Franconia
From Ansbach, the A6 leads east towards Nuremberg. After that you go via the A9 and the A3 or through the city to the airport. From Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Dinkelsbühl the routes are long and partly use federal roads. From the Gunzenhausen area you reach the A6 via the B13 or the B466.
From Schwabach, Roth and the south
From Schwabach and Roth, the A6, the B2 or the A73 lead to Nuremberg. If you have to go through the city, you pass the Frankenschnellweg – a bottleneck at peak times. From the Altmühltal and the Franconian Lake District the routes are longer; plan enough reserve.
From Fürth and Erlangen
From Fürth and Erlangen the airport is close. You reach it quickly via urban roads, the A73 or the A3, but traffic can be slow in rush hour. For travellers from Erlangen with light luggage, a combination of train and U2 is also possible.
From Nuremberg itself
From the city, the Nordring, the Erlanger Straße or the Bayreuther Straße lead to the airport. If you live near a U2 station, you are often faster by underground. Weighing it up: Underground or car to Nuremberg Airport.
How much buffer?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Short drive, early morning | small reserve, check night-time roadworks |
| Frankenschnellweg in rush hour | generous reserve |
| A3 or A9 at the start of the holidays | considerably more time |
| Trade fair or Christkindlesmarkt | additional reserve |
| Winter in the Jura or the Fichtel Mountains | watch the weather, leave earlier |
Parking after a long journey
If you come from far away, you don't want to lose time at the airport. The driving service saves the transfer; the outdoor car park with a bus is often cheaper for long trips. A site on your approach route saves detours. More: Valet or shuttle at Nuremberg Airport and Choosing a parking service at Nuremberg Airport.
By train from the region
Regional and long-distance trains from Bamberg, Würzburg, Regensburg or Ansbach reach Nuremberg main station; from there the U2 runs to the airport. With light luggage this is comfortable. For early flights, families and places without good connections, the car usually remains more practical.
From Thuringia and the Coburg area
From Coburg and southern Thuringia, the A73 leads south via Lichtenfels and Bamberg. The route is well developed, but in winter the heights of the Thuringian Forest may be snow-covered. For many travellers from Thuringia, Nuremberg is the nearest larger airport.
From the Ingolstadt area
From Ingolstadt, the A9 leads north towards Nuremberg. For travellers from this region, Munich Airport is also close; what matters is where the right connection departs from. If you fly from Nuremberg, switch to the A3 north of the city.
From the Hohenlohe area
From Crailsheim, the A6 leads east via Ansbach. The route is long and dominated by lorries on weekdays.
Night-time roadworks
On the A3, A6, A9 and A73, work is often carried out at night. For early flyers this means: between 22:00 and 05:00, lanes or exits may be closed. Check the reports the evening before.
Weather and season
The Fichtel Mountains, the Franconian Forest and the Upper Palatinate Forest are often snow-covered in winter, and the Regnitz valley is foggy in autumn. If you come from higher ground, allow more time.
Car sharing
If several people are travelling from one place, sharing a car saves parking costs. Clarify beforehand who drives and who books.
Long-distance bus
From some regions, long-distance buses run to Nuremberg; from the central bus station you continue by underground. With lots of luggage this is tiresome.
In brief
Whether from Upper Franconia, Lower Franconia, the Upper Palatinate or western Middle Franconia: with the right route, a reserve for the A3, A9 and the Frankenschnellweg and a look at the weather, holidays and roadworks, you will arrive in Nuremberg relaxed.
Have a good drive!
From the Franconian Lake District
From Gunzenhausen, Weißenburg or the Brombachsee, federal roads lead north to the A6 or via Roth and Schwabach to Nuremberg. In summer, many day-trippers are on these roads, and at weekends also motorhomes and cyclists. So on sunny days allow more time than the satnav shows. If you come from the Altmühltal, you will partly be on winding country roads that are slower to drive in fog or ice.
From Hersbruck and the Nürnberger Land
From Hersbruck and Lauf, the A9 and the B14 lead west. You reach the airport via the A9 and the A3 or through the city. In rush hour the B14 towards Nuremberg is often congested.
Once you have found your route, you will drive even more relaxed next time you fly. Note down the actual driving time, and in future you will plan with your own figures.
From the Steigerwald
From the Steigerwald and the Aischgrund, country roads lead to the A3 or the A73. The routes are scenic but winding and sometimes icy in winter. Plan generously.
From Fürth via the Südwesttangente
From Fürth, Zirndorf and Oberasbach, the Südwesttangente leads towards Nuremberg; after that you take ring roads or the A73 and the A3 to the airport. In rush hour these routes can be slow.
If you have questions about the last stretch, the parking service you booked will be happy to help with directions to its site or meeting point.
Have a good drive from every part of Franconia!
And if you set off early, you usually arrive relaxed too – whichever direction you come from.
On the way
- Check the traffic before setting off.
- Know an alternative route.
- If you are delayed, inform the provider early – see frequently asked questions about delays on the way.
- Address from the booking in the satnav.
More on the last stretch: Getting to Nuremberg Airport by car. Whether offers can be booked via Friend-Park: Parking at Nuremberg Airport.
