Car Hire Düsseldorf Airport

Car Hire

Sitting less than five miles from Düsseldorf and some 12 miles from Essen, Germany’s third largest airport makes it easy to access top attractions in the western portion of the North Rhine-Westphalia region. Local buses operate between the airport and Düsseldorf as well as other cities in the region, while trains run to the city from the Düsseldorf Airport Terminal station. Yet, the most comfortable way to access downtown Düsseldorf is with car hire in Dusseldorf International Airport, with the city being just a 20-minute drive to the south.

Who to Book With
Car rental agents at the airport include world-renowned suppliers such as Europcar, Avis, Thrifty and Hertz. All suppliers have counters in the central Arrivals area, though vehicles are collected from the car hire centre (Mietwagenzentrum), which can be accessed on foot from the central Arrivals area or by Sky Train.

Need to Know Essentials
Before collecting the vehicle you will need to show the following documents:

- UK driver’s licence (both parts)
- Your passport to confirm identity
- A passport or utility bill to confirm your ID
- Booking confirmation

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
There are many places to park in the city, consisting of on-street parking, multi-level car parks, underground car parks and open-air lots. Petrol stations are both full-service and self-serve, with a pay first pump after rule. Credit cards are accepted at all petrol fill stations. The city is a low emissions zone, which means that vehicles must have a badge (Feinstaubplakette) showing their emissions category. Car rental suppliers in Dusseldorf International Airport should supply this. If driving in the city without this badge, expect to pay a steep fine.

For additional information on driving here browse our guide to Germany.

Transport

Self-drive is a quick and easy way to access the city from the airport. Trains reach the city very quickly, while local buses take much longer, with a minimum journey time of 30 minutes. Taxis are also available, though are a more expensive option.

Trains
Düsseldorf Airport Railway station is one and a half miles from the central Arrivals area and is accessible via the airport’s Sky Train. From here, Bahn operates trains to Düsseldorf’s main railway station (Bergisch Gladbach) as well as a number of other destinations in the region, including Essen, Dortmund and Emmerich. The Düsseldorf Airport Terminal Station, which is below Terminal C, is served by the S11 line of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn. A one-way journey into the city from either of these stations is around £2 and takes 12 minutes. The Sky Train runs between all three terminals, car park 4/5 and the Düsseldorf Airport Railway station.

Taxis
Taxis can be found in front of central arrivals and are provided by Taxi Düsseldorf and Rhein Taxi.

Taxi prices:
Dusseldorf International Airport to downtown Düsseldorf is about £15
Dusseldorf International Airport to downtown Neuss is about £30
Dusseldorf International Airport to downtown Duisburg is about £35
Dusseldorf International Airport to downtown Essen is about £40

Buses
Local Verkehrsverbund Rheine-Ruhr buses leave from stops in front of central arrivals or from the Düsseldorf Airport Railway station. Bus number 721 serves Düsseldorf’s main railway station, while plenty of others serve the city’s suburbs. The bus journey from the airport to the city centre takes around 30 minutes, though this time can increase if there is traffic. A one-day bus ticket (TagesTicket) for travel within Düsseldorf costs around £4.50.

Facilities

Terminals
The three terminals at Dusseldorf International Airport are linked by Sky Train, with ticket vending machines located at all stations. Terminal A is the largest of the three terminals, with Lufthansa being its main occupant. Terminal C is the smallest and is used exclusively by non-Schengen flights, while Terminal B is dedicated to domestic and EU flights operated by airlines other than Lufthansa.

Parking
There are a total of 14 car parks on site, with P3 being a premium car park that is connected to central Departures by a covered walkway. Parking lot P7 has a dedicated area for HON and first-class Lufthansa customers. Parking lots P13, P23, P24 and P25 are dedicated to long-term parking, while lots P11 and P12 are for very short-term stays. Prices for one day run from around £20 to £30.

Wi-Fi
Wireless internet access is available to passengers in all public areas of the airport. Airport information can be accessed free of charge from the airport’s website. There are also two internet kiosks in each of the three terminals.

Information Services
Information desks can be found next to Belt 6 in the central Arrivals area, at Departures and at the Düsseldorf Airport Railway station.

Useful Numbers
Information Services: +49 211 421 0

Accessibility
Support is available for travellers with reduced mobility. Passengers needing assistance are asked to register with the airline as soon as possible so that the appropriate arrangements can be made upon arrival. Sky Trains are wheel-chair friendly, as is the rest of the airport.

Restaurants and Bars
All three terminals as well as the check-in area and public area each have a number of restaurants onsite that include five Italian restaurants, one Japanese restaurant and 37 snack bars. There are also three juice bars, two ice cream parlours and four bakeries on site, and there is no shortage of bars and coffee shops. As well, take-away is available at 30 establishments.

VIP Lounges

Terminal A:
Lufthansa Senator Lounge
Lufthansa Business Lounge

Terminal B:
British Airways Terrace Lounge
Air France Lounge

Terminal C:
Emirates Lounge
airberlin Lounge
Open Sky Lounge

Money and ATMs
ATMs can be found throughout central Arrivals, all Departures areas and at the Düsseldorf Airport Railway station. There is a bank branch in the central Arrivals that offers currency exchange and currency exchange counters are located in the check-in hall, Departures in Terminal C and central Arrivals.

Shopping
There are over 70 shops on site, with stores offering everything from leather goods to stationery. Heinemann Duty Free shops can be found in the Departures areas of all terminals, with Terminal B housing two. Gifts and souvenirs can be had as Ferrari in Terminal C, while flowers can be purchased in central Arrivals at Flores Mercedes. Fashion brand names present at the airport include Hugo Boss, Gant, Esprit, Mango and H&M.