Valet parking at Nuremberg Airport: hand over the key, check in straight away
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 lies just seven kilometres or so north of Nuremberg's old town, nestled between the Knoblauchsland with its vegetable fields and the residential districts of Ziegelstein and Buchenbühl. If you fly from here, you benefit from a compact airport: check-in, security and gates are in one terminal building with short distances. Often the biggest hurdle before departure is not the airport itself but the question of where the car will stay during the trip. Valet parking answers it in the most convenient way: you drive up, hand the key to an employee and go straight to the desk. How this works in Nuremberg and what travellers from Franconia and the Upper Palatinate should look out for, you can read here.
Key facts at a glance
- Handover of car and key at a meeting point near the terminal.
- Compact airport – short distances from the meeting point to check-in.
- Allow more time during major trade fairs and at the start of the Bavarian holidays.
- Match return times with the landing time, state your flight number.
The procedure in a few sentences
On departure day you don't head for a multi-storey car park but for the meeting point in your confirmation. An employee meets you there. You walk round the car together, document its condition, and you hand over the key against a receipt. While you go into the terminal with your luggage, the employee takes your car to the provider's site. After landing you get in touch, the car is brought round, and you drive home. No searching for a free space, no bus, no carrying suitcases across parking decks.
How this differs from the bus model is explained in the guide Valet or shuttle at Nuremberg Airport.
A compact airport
Nuremberg is one of those airports where you can hardly get lost. The terminal is clearly laid out, and the distances between the forecourt, desks and security are short. For valet customers this means: only a few minutes pass between the meeting point and check-in. Even so, it is worth checking your documents to see in which desk area your airline checks in. More on this in the guide The terminal at Nuremberg Airport.
Step by step on departure day
- Have your confirmation ready: meeting point, time, phone number.
- Getting there: via the A3 or the A73, then follow the signs and your satnav. Enter the address from the confirmation as your destination.
- Make a quick call: Many providers ask for a message before arrival – see frequently asked questions about calling the provider.
- Handover: walk round, photos, key, receipt.
- Check-in: on foot into the terminal.
NürnbergMesse and major events
NürnbergMesse in the south-east of the city hosts international trade fairs, such as the toy fair at the start of the year or Biofach in February. On top of that come major events such as the Rock im Park festival in early summer or the Christkindlesmarkt in Advent, which attracts visitors from all over the world. At such times, hotels, taxis and roads are busier, and more guests land at the airport too. If you depart in these weeks, allow more time for the journey and book early.
Bavarian school holidays
Bavaria traditionally has late summer holidays, which usually begin at the start of August, plus Whitsun and carnival holidays. On the first day of the holidays the airport is busy: families from all over Franconia set off on holiday at the same time. The valet services' meeting points are then busier than usual. If you fly on such days, get to the meeting point a little earlier and still take the time for a careful handover.
Preparation at home
- Clear valuables, documents and garage door openers out of the car.
- Split your key ring and take only the vehicle key.
- Take photos: all round, rims, interior, mileage, fuel or battery gauge.
- Note special features: electric car, tow bar, roof box.
In detail: Vehicle handover at Nuremberg Airport.
Where your car is parked
Around the airport, fields of the Knoblauchsland, woodland and residential areas border the grounds. Private providers therefore usually have their parking areas in commercial zones in the north of Nuremberg or in neighbouring municipalities. Good providers describe whether the area is fenced, lit or under video surveillance and whether the cars are parked outdoors or in a hall. Your car is normally only moved for the journey to the parking site, the return and repositioning on the site.
Return after landing
After leaving the plane, collect your luggage – after passport control for flights from outside the Schengen area. Then get in touch with the parking service as agreed. The employee brings the car to the meeting point, you walk round it once, compare it with your photos and drive off. In Nuremberg, restrictions apply to flights at night; even so, delayed aircraft sometimes land late in the evening. So check until when your provider returns cars. More: Return: collecting your car at Nuremberg Airport.
Who valet particularly suits
- early risers – see Early flight from Nuremberg,
- families with children and luggage – see with the family to Nuremberg Airport,
- business travellers from Erlangen, Fürth and Herzogenaurach – see Business trip from Nuremberg,
- travellers who land in the evening and don't want to wait for a bus.
Weather in Franconia
In winter it can be frosty and icy in Franconia, and in autumn fog often lies over the Knoblauchsland. With valet you get out close to the terminal. For the photos at handover: wipe the lens, photograph at an angle, use your phone's torch in the dark. When it snows, a windscreen cover is worthwhile if the car is parked outdoors.
Electric cars and technology
Briefly brief the employee if your car has special features, and with electric cars photograph the battery level. Whether charging during the trip is possible is stated in the provider's offer.
Recognising good providers
A clearly described meeting point, suitable operating hours, details on the parking location, a transparent final price and a reachable phone number – further criteria are offered by Choosing a parking service at Nuremberg Airport.
A morning with valet
An example from Erlangen: the flight to Palma departs at 06:25, two hours' lead time, so 04:25 in the terminal. Meeting point at 04:10. The drive via the A73 and the A3 takes about 20 minutes at night; with a 15-minute reserve you set off at 03:35. The figures are an example.
What the employee should know
Mention special features such as a sensitive front splitter, a tow bar or items in the boot that should stay there.
To the meeting point as a group
If several of you travel in one car, everyone gets out at the meeting point and one person takes care of the handover. Especially with lots of luggage this is convenient.
In brief
Valet at Nuremberg Airport suits early departures, families and business trips. What matters are suitable operating hours and a clearly described meeting point.
If the departure is moved
If the airline moves your departure, inform the parking service early. If the new time is outside its working hours, with Friend-Park you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of service and rebook.
Valet and bulky luggage
With a golf bag, pushchair or ski bag, valet plays to its strengths: everything stays in the car until you are in front of the terminal.
Have a good trip – and a relaxed return to Franconia!
Planning the return
When booking, give a generous return time and enter your flight number. That way the company can recognise delays and you don't have to wait after landing.
Valet in Advent
In December the airport is busier because of the Christkindlesmarkt. Allow a little more time for the journey and book early if you fly at this time.
Valet for first-time travellers
If you are driving to the airport for the first time, you will appreciate the simplicity of valet: drive up, hand over, check in. Still read the confirmation calmly beforehand so that you find the meeting point straight away.
Have a good trip from Nuremberg!
And after landing your car is already waiting – it hardly gets more convenient to start the journey home.
Valet via Friend-Park
Friend-Park is a comparison and booking portal; the parking service is provided by the respective partner company. Whether valet providers are already connected at Nuremberg Airport is shown on the page Parking at Nuremberg Airport – with meeting point and final price as soon as a partner has been activated.
