Parking at Frankfurt Airport: All Car Parks Compared

If you drive to Frankfurt Airport and want to leave your car there, you face a surprisingly wide price range. Between the most expensive spot right at the terminal and a cheap shuttle car park, the gap quickly runs to over a hundred euros a week. So it’s worth comparing beforehand and — this is the most important point — booking online in advance. Here’s the overview of the options at Terminal 1.

The car parks at Terminal 1 at a glance

At Terminal 1 there are several parking facilities that differ mainly in distance from the terminal and in price:

• P2 and P3: these car parks are around 300 metres from Terminal 1. They’re the cheapest option right at the terminal.
• P4 (Business Parking): the underground car park is central and only about 80 metres from the terminal — the shortest walks, but also the highest price.

Interesting: P4 (the most expensive) and P2/P3 (the cheapest) are in the same parking complex — so the difference is mainly in comfort and proximity, not in entirely different locations.

The prices compared (as of 2026)

Here are the concrete rates to guide you:

P2 and P3:

• 1 hour: approx. €7.00
• 1 day: approx. €42.00
• 1 week: from approx. €163.80

P4 (Business Parking):

• 1 day: approx. €48.00
• 1 week: from approx. €195.90
• For a surcharge, P4 additionally offers Secure and Premium options.

As you can see: for a short stop — say to pick someone up — the hourly rate is steep. And for a whole holiday week, terminal parking adds up to a hefty sum.

Parking more cheaply: long-stay and shuttle options

If you’re flying off for longer, it’s worth looking at the cheaper alternatives away from the terminal. There are economy or long-stay car parks further out, from which a shuttle takes you to the terminal, as well as external providers around the airport. These are considerably cheaper — external shuttle car parks sometimes start at around €39 to €49 per week.

The catch: you have to factor in the shuttle frequency and a few minutes’ travel time. For a relaxed holiday trip that’s usually no problem; with a very tight schedule or a late return flight, you should keep an eye on the last shuttle times.

How to save the most: book ahead

My most important tip from experience: book your parking space online in advance. The rates for pre-reserved spaces — often advertised as saver or advantage prices — are usually well below what you pay at the barrier if you simply drive in. For longer stays in particular, that makes a big difference.

Further saving and planning tips:

• Estimate the duration realistically: daily rates only pay off for short stays. From several days on, weekly or long-stay rates are cheaper.
• Weigh proximity against price: do you really need P4 with an 80-metre walk, or is P2/P3 with 300 metres enough? With luggage the difference is small, but the price difference is large.
• Check external providers: for long trips, shuttle car parks are often by far the cheapest solution.
• Mind the terminal: make sure which terminal you’re flying from and choose a suitable parking option — since Terminal 2 closed, many routes are different.

Is the car even worth it?

An honest assessment to finish: if you’re coming from the Rhine-Main region anyway, the car is convenient. But weigh the parking costs against the alternatives. From central Frankfurt the S-Bahn (S8/S9) gets you to the airport in around 15 minutes for under €6 — so a week of parking is quickly more expensive than a return trip by train for two people. For travellers from the wider region, the ICE to the long-distance station can also be the more relaxed choice.

Conclusion

When parking at Frankfurt Airport, two things above all decide the price: how close to the terminal you park and whether you book ahead. Right at Terminal 1, P2 and P3 are the cheaper options, P4 the most comfortable but most expensive. If you’re flying off for longer, long-stay or shuttle car parks are much cheaper. In any case, book online in advance — it saves real money. And check beforehand whether the train isn’t the smarter way to get there for your route.