Terminals at Stuttgart Airport: layout and orientation for drivers

Since 2014, Stuttgart Airport has borne the name of former Lord Mayor Manfred Rommel. Its layout is clear: the four terminals are lined up side by side, the S-Bahn and light rail run in beneath them, the forecourts and multi-storey car parks lie in front, and the trade fair centre rises on the other side of the A8. If you know which section applies to your flight, you will quickly find your way. Here you will find out how the complex is structured and what this means for the multi-storey car park, driving service and bus.

The four terminals

Terminals 1 to 4 are not widely scattered buildings but sections of one complex stretching in a row along the forecourt. Each section has check-in desks, baggage drop-off and access to security. Which airline checks in where can change; what always counts is the current information in your travel documents or on the airport's website. Because the sections are side by side, a change on foot is quickly done.

Station and light rail

Flughafen/Messe station is beneath the terminal area. The S2 and S3 S-Bahn lines stop here, connecting the airport with Stuttgart main station and the region. In addition, the U6 light rail line runs to the airport. For people picking up passengers who come by train, the station is an obvious meeting point. Construction work is also under way around the airport as part of the Stuttgart 21 rail project; routes and entrances may therefore change temporarily.

How to find your terminal area

1. Check your booking confirmation or e-ticket.
2. Look in your airline's app.
3. Open the departures overview on stuttgart-airport.com.
4. Pay attention to the display boards at the airport.

For codeshare flights, the airline operating the flight counts, not the one you booked with.

What it means for parking

Parking yourself: the airport's multi-storey car parks are at the terminals. Choose one near your section so that the distances with luggage stay short. The airport publishes site maps and rates.

Valet: state your terminal area when booking; the meeting point may depend on it. More: Valet parking at Stuttgart Airport.

Shuttle: the stop depends on the provider's details. More: Shuttle parking at Stuttgart Airport.

Departures and arrivals levels

If you are departing, you need the upper level: that is where the desks, the baggage drop belts and the entrances to security are. If you are arriving, you leave the building one floor down at the baggage belts and exits, where people picking up passengers also wait. Whether your meeting point for the driving service or bus is upstairs or downstairs is stated in the confirmation – read the description carefully once before you get into the wrong lift with a full luggage trolley.

Security and gates

Beyond security, signs lead to the gates; the letter and number are on your boarding pass. If you are travelling outside the Schengen area, border control also awaits. During the morning peak and on the first day of the holidays it can get crowded in front of the security lanes, so your airline's lead time applies even at a compact airport like Stuttgart.

Getting to the terminals

You reach the airport grounds via the A8, junction Stuttgart-Flughafen/Messe, or via the B27. The signs lead to the terminals, multi-storey car parks and forecourts. Make sure you don't accidentally follow the signs to the trade fair. More on the route: Driving to Stuttgart Airport.

The trade fair opposite

The airport and trade fair are also connected for pedestrians by a bridge. On trade fair days, therefore, not only the roads but also the walkways in the terminal area and at the station are busier. For travellers with luggage, it is then worth allowing a little more time. More: Parking at Stuttgart Airport during trade fairs.

Picking up at the terminal

If you are picking up relatives, use the multi-storey car parks or stop briefly at the forecourt, where only getting in and out is allowed. Agree on a specific meeting point, for example at a particular exit on the arrivals level, and track the flight status online. For arrivals from non-Schengen countries it takes longer because of passport control.

Food, services and accessibility

In the terminal there are restaurants, cafés, shops, baby-changing rooms and information desks. Not all services are open at all times; the opening hours are on the airport's website. Travellers with reduced mobility register for assistance through their airline. Valet shortens the walking distances further.

Tips for your first visit

If you are at Stuttgart Airport for the first time, download the site map beforehand or take a screenshot. Remember where your car park or meeting point is and how to get from there to your terminal area. The information desks can help with questions. After your first visit you will know the structure and find your way around immediately.

Changing between the terminals

Because the terminals are side by side, changing on foot takes just a few minutes. This is practical if fellow travellers check in in different areas or if you have parked in the multi-storey car park of another section. Follow the signs; with a luggage trolley, pushchair or wheelchair, use the lifts.

Luggage trolleys

In Stuttgart, luggage trolleys are available at several collection points in front of and inside the buildings. For some models you need a deposit token, so a coin in your purse is worthwhile. With a full trolley, lifts are the better choice than escalators. From the driving service's meeting point it is only a few steps to the desk.

If the terminal area changes

Airlines occasionally move to a different section, for example after renovation work. A last look at the app on the morning of travel protects you from a detour. If you chose your meeting point based on the old section, inform the provider – a handover one terminal further along is rarely a problem in Stuttgart.

Waiting areas and views

If you are early, you will find waiting areas in the terminal and places with a view of the apron. Children love watching planes take off and land. After security there is further seating near the gates.

Safety tips in the terminal

Never leave luggage unattended in the terminal; unattended suitcases are examined for security reasons, causing delays for everyone. Keep an eye on your valuables in busy areas. If you have questions or problems, airport staff and the Federal Police, who are present in the terminal, can help.

Conclusion

Four terminals in a row, S-Bahn and light rail under one roof, the trade fair opposite: Stuttgart Airport is easy to get an overview of. If you know your terminal area and have the address of your parking booking in the satnav, you will get from your car to the gate without detours.

For those picking up: car park or forecourt?

The forecourt is intended for quickly picking up travellers, not for waiting. If you arrive early or have to wait because of delays, park in the multi-storey car park and walk to the arrivals level. The walk is short, and you are not under time pressure while the travellers get through baggage and checks. A look at the arrivals boards shows whether the luggage is already being delivered.

With children in the terminal

For families there are baby-changing rooms and play areas in the terminal; their location is on the airport's website. Agree a fixed meeting point with older children in case you get separated in the crowd, and give them a note with your mobile number. If you are early enough, you can pass the waiting time with a view of the apron – planes taking off are the best entertainment for children.

Have a good trip from Manfred Rommel Airport!

Arrival and the way back

After landing, you usually leave the building in your airline's section. Where your driver or bus is waiting is stated in the confirmation; the procedure is described in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Stuttgart Airport. You can see the current status at Friend-Park on Parking at Stuttgart Airport.