Shuttle parking at Nuremberg Airport: procedure, transfer time and tips
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.
Two weeks in Crete, ten days in Tenerife, three weeks visiting family in Turkey: for trips like these, many Franconians don't put their car in the multi-storey car park at the terminal but on the site of a shuttle provider in the surrounding area. From there, a minibus shuttles to Albrecht Dürer Airport. The model is simple but has its pitfalls – above all in time planning. Because the airport lies on the northern edge of the city between fields, woodland and residential areas, the sites are at varying distances. Here is what matters so that the bus gets you to the desk on time.
Key facts at a glance
- Leave the car with the provider, minibus to the terminal, back after landing.
- Put the site's address into the satnav, not the airport.
- Count the transfer as a fixed block of time.
- State all fellow travellers and bulky luggage when booking.
What happens on departure day?
You drive to the address stated in your booking. At reception you give your name or number plate. Depending on the company, you park yourself in a marked space or leave the key so that staff can move the car. Then the suitcases go into the bus, and after a short ride you are in front of the terminal. On the way home it works in reverse. Answers to the basics can be found under frequently asked questions about the shuttle procedure.
Where are the cars parked?
The airport grounds border the Knoblauchsland to the north, where vegetables have been grown for centuries, the Reichswald forest to the east and districts such as Ziegelstein to the south. Large open areas right by the terminal are scarce. The shuttle companies are therefore located in commercial areas in the north of Nuremberg or in neighbouring towns such as Fürth and Erlangen. Depending on the location, the bus ride takes a few minutes longer or shorter. If you come from the Bamberg direction, a site near the A73 often suits you well; if you come from Regensburg, rather one on the A3.
How much time does the transfer take?
Add it up: checking in at the site, waiting for the next bus, loading suitcases, the ride. That gives your transfer block. During the day the buses usually shuttle at short intervals. In the off-peak hours, some companies run less often or only on request. The details are in the offer. Before an early departure, the guide Early flight from Nuremberg helps.
A worked example from Bamberg
Departure 10:50, the airline wants to see you two hours beforehand – so 08:50 in the terminal. With 35 minutes for reception, bus and suitcases, you reach the site at 08:15. Via the A73 it takes a good 40 minutes in the morning; because of the roadworks near Erlangen, you add a 20-minute buffer: set off at 07:15. Other starting points and companies give other values.
And if a lot comes along?
A minibus has limited storage space. If you are travelling with a buggy, golf bag, surfboard bag or wheelchair, write this in the booking so that the company sends a suitable bus. The number of fellow travellers belongs there too: some providers charge per car, others add a surcharge above a certain number of people. Details: frequently asked questions about the number of people on the shuttle. Child seats stay in the parked car.
Is the car worthwhile despite the underground?
Nuremberg has a special feature that other cities envy: the U2 runs without a change from the main station directly beneath the terminal. If you live in the city and travel with a rucksack, you don't need a car. For families from the district, Franconian Switzerland, the Altmühltal or the Upper Palatinate, things look different: it is a long way to the main station, and changing with suitcases is no fun. A detailed comparison is offered by Underground or car to Nuremberg Airport.
How does the return work?
After leaving the plane, collect your suitcases, briefly let them know if necessary and go to the stop in front of the terminal. If the flight is delayed, the company ideally sees this via the flight number. If you land late in the evening, clarify when booking until when buses run: Late arrival at Nuremberg Airport.
Which trips is the model suited to?
The longer the trip, the more worthwhile the bus, because price differences per day add up and half an hour of transfer hardly matters on a two-week holiday. Tips on this: Long-term parking at Nuremberg Airport. For day trips or trips with very small children, the driving service is often more pleasant – see Valet or shuttle at Nuremberg Airport.
What needs doing before setting off?
A few photos all round and of the speedometer, laptop and wallet in your hand luggage, the registration document not in the glovebox – that's all it takes. If the car is outdoors, a sunshade behind the windscreen protects it in summer, a cover against ice in winter. In Franconia it can get quite frosty between November and March.
What if the bus doesn't come?
If the minibus doesn't turn up, pick up the phone. Often it has just been delayed in traffic at the airport roundabout or on the Marienbergstraße. Wait at the agreed spot so that the driver can see you. If it drags on unusually long, note the times; if you booked via Friend-Park, you can also contact our support.
Trade fairs and the Christkindlesmarkt
In weeks with major trade fairs or during the Christkindlesmarkt, many guests come to Nuremberg. The roads around the airport and the city centre are busier, and the providers' buses sometimes take longer too. Allow a little more time in such weeks.
Planning waiting time
The bus is not always ready. On the first day of the holidays, many families board at the same time; then you may wait for the next one. Ten minutes' reserve makes the difference.
Hand over the key or keep it?
With some providers you park yourself and keep the key; with others, staff move the car. Both are common. With your own key, you can drive off immediately on your return.
A good stop
A reputable provider describes the stop at the terminal precisely – exit, level, possibly with a photo. Unclear details are a reason to ask.
In brief
Shuttle parking at Albrecht Dürer Airport works well if location, frequency and number of people are right. For longer trips, it is often the most economical choice.
Have a good trip from Nuremberg!
Shuttle and bulky luggage
It is best to register golf bags, pushchairs or bike cases when booking. Then the company plans enough space on the bus and you don't have to wait for the next one at the site. In winter this also applies to ski bags if you are heading to the mountains.
Shuttle in Advent
If you fly in December, you will find a lively airport, because many guests come for the Christkindlesmarkt. The providers' buses are then sometimes travelling in heavier traffic too. Allow a little more time, especially on Advent weekends.
After your return
Back at the site, walk once round the car and compare it with your photos. If you notice anything, mention it straight away.
Key and spare key
If you hand the key over to the company, don't take the spare key on the trip but leave it safely at home. That way you are covered if something gets lost on the way.
Children on the bus
Small children often ride in the shuttle without their own child seat – the journey is short and slow. Ask the provider if you would like a solution for this, and hold the children's hands when getting on and off.
That way, shuttle parking at Albrecht Dürer Airport becomes the uncomplicated part of your trip.
If you have questions about the procedure, the company you booked will be happy to help by phone beforehand.
Have a good drive to the site and a relaxed start to your holiday.
Checklist
- Site address in the satnav
- Bus frequency checked against your times
- Trade fair, market and holiday dates considered
- Fellow travellers and bulky luggage registered
- Company's phone number saved
As soon as shuttle partners have been activated at Albrecht Dürer Airport, you will find them on Parking at Nuremberg Airport.
