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Europe's top 50 busiest airports

The car hire depot is often the first port of call for many passengers arriving at one of Europe’s top 50 busiest airports. All of the best-known car rental providers have offices at these airports, from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Barajas Airport in Madrid. Given the range of suppliers offering airport rentals, many travellers don’t know where to start when it comes to booking a vehicle. We’ve consolidated all the leading suppliers so you can compare car hire in seconds for all Europe’s busiest airports below:

• 01. London Heathrow Airport
• 26. Stockholm Arlanda Airport
• 02. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
• 27. Athens Airport
• 03. Frankfurt Airport
• 28. Berlin Tegel Airport
• 04. Madrid Barajas Airport
• 29. Lisbon Portela Airport
• 05. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
• 30. Hamburg Airport
• 06. Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport
• 31. Helsinki Vantaa Airport
• 07. Munich Airport
• 32. Malaga Airport
• 08. Ataturk Airport
• 33. Geneva Airport swz
• 09. London Gatwick Airport
• 34. Sabiha Gokcen Airport
• 10. Barcelona El Prat Airport
• 35. Ruzyne Airport
• 11. Paris Orly Airport
• 36. Cologne Bonn Airport
• 12. Zurich Airport
• 37. Nice Cote d'Azur Airport
• 13. Domodedovo Airport
• 38. Gran Canaria Airport
• 14. Antalya Airport
• 39. Vnukovo Airport
• 15. Copenhagen Airport
• 40. Alicante Airport
• 16. Palma de Mallorca Airport
• 41. Stuttgart Airport
• 17. Vienna Airport
• 42. London Luton Airport
• 18. Sheremetyevo Airport
• 43. Frederic Chopin Airport
• 19. Oslo Airport
• 44. Edinburgh Airport
• 20. Düsseldorf Airport
• 45. Birmingham Airport
• 21. Milan Malpensa Airport
• 46. Pulkovo Airport
• 22. London Stansted Airport
• 47. Milan Linate Airport
• 23. Dublin Airport
• 48. Ferihegy Airport
• 24. Manchester Airport
• 49. Esenboga Airport
• 25. Brussels Airport
• 50. Lyon Saint Exupery Airport

Benefits of hiring a car at these airports

The convenience of collecting a rental car at these European airports cannot be understated. One of the biggest advantages is that airport depots tend to offer much better rates than depots elsewhere. Additionally, the enormous numbers of annual passengers that pass through these airports means that the range of vehicles on offer is wide and varied. Customers can choose between compact hatchbacks perfect for negotiating congested city traffic or four-wheel-drive vehicles that are better-suited to off-road travel. In addition, car rental firms at airports are open 24 hours, meaning late arrivals can avoid an expensive stay in an airport hotel.

Collecting your rental car

On landing, passengers should follow the signs to the relevant car hire desk, usually located in the Arrivals hall. The customer service representative will normally ask for identification, such as a passport, as well as a driving license and credit card. Not all countries accept an International Driving Permit, so customers should check in advance what kind of licence they need. Third-party cover is normally included in the overall cost and is mandatory in most countries. However, in countries with a high risk of accident, such as Turkey and Spain, fully-comprehensive insurance offers increased peace of mind.