Düsseldorf Airport

Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is Germany's third busiest airport and the largest airport serving the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, located approximately 8 km north of Düsseldorf city center. As a major gateway to western Germany and a Eurowings focus city, it handles over 20 million passengers annually.

The airport has three terminals housed in one interconnected building:

• Terminal A: Gates A1-A79, serves a mix of airlines including Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and various international carriers
• Terminal B: Gates B1-B87, home to Eurowings, British Airways, KLM, Air France, and other European carriers
• Terminal C: Gates C1-C49, primarily serves low-cost carriers and charter flights

All three terminals are connected landside and share a central check-in hall (Departures Level 2). The SkyTrain automated people mover connects the terminals to the railway station (Düsseldorf Flughafen) and long-term parking areas.

The airport features a distinctive curved terminal building designed by JSK Architekten, with an emphasis on natural light and clear wayfinding.

Düsseldorf Airport is located 8 km (5 miles) north of Düsseldorf city center, making it one of the most conveniently located major German airports.

Travel time overview:

• S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof: 12-15 minutes
• Regional trains to Cologne: 45-50 minutes
• Taxi to city center: 15-25 minutes (traffic dependent)
• Bus to city center: 25-30 minutes

The airport has its own railway station (Düsseldorf Flughafen) connected to the terminals via the SkyTrain. Additionally, a regional bus station serves local connections.

Taxi

Licensed taxis queue outside the arrivals area of all terminals. Düsseldorf taxis are typically cream/beige colored.

Destination	Fare	Time
Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof	€25-35	15-20 min
Düsseldorf Altstadt (Old Town)	€25-35	15-25 min
Düsseldorf Messe (Trade Fair)	€15-20	10-15 min
Cologne Hauptbahnhof	€90-120	45-60 min
Essen	€60-80	30-40 min

Fares are metered with a base fare of approximately €4 plus €2-2.50 per kilometer. No surcharges for luggage.

Uber

Uber operates at Düsseldorf Airport with pickup at designated areas.

• Pickup location: Follow signs to rideshare pickup zones outside arrivals
• Services available: UberX, Uber Comfort
• Typical fare to city center: €20-30
• Advance booking: Reserve through the app up to 30 days ahead

Alternatives: Bolt and FREE NOW also operate in the Düsseldorf area with similar pricing.

S-Bahn (Suburban Rail)

The S11 line connects Düsseldorf Airport directly to the city center, departing from Düsseldorf Flughafen station (connected via SkyTrain).

To Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof (Central Station):

1. Take the SkyTrain from the terminal to Düsseldorf Flughafen station
2. Board the S11 (direction: Düsseldorf-Wehrhahn or Bergisch Gladbach)
3. Exit at Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof (3 stops, 12 minutes)

To Düsseldorf Altstadt (Old Town):

1. Same S11 train
2. Exit at Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and walk 10-15 minutes, or continue to Heinrich-Heine-Allee (U-Bahn transfer required)

Ticket Type	Price	Notes
Single ticket (Preisstufe A3)	€3.20	Valid for airport to city center
Day ticket	€8.20	Unlimited travel in Düsseldorf
Group day ticket (up to 5)	€15.30	Best value for groups

Frequency: Every 20 minutes Operating hours: Approximately 04:30-00:30

Purchase tickets from VRR ticket machines on the platform before boarding. Machines accept coins, notes (euros), and cards. Validate your ticket before boarding.

Regional Express Trains

For destinations beyond Düsseldorf, regional trains (RE) connect from Düsseldorf Flughafen station.

Destination	Train	Journey Time	Frequency
Cologne Hauptbahnhof	RE1, RE5, RE6	45-50 min	Every 20-30 min
Duisburg	RE1, RE11	15-20 min	Every 20 min
Essen	RE1, RE11	25-30 min	Every 20 min
Dortmund	RE1, RE3	50-60 min	Every 30 min

Airport Bus (SB51)

The Airport Express Bus SB51 connects the airport directly to Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof.

Detail	Information
Route	Airport → Hauptbahnhof (direct)
Journey time	25-30 minutes
Frequency	Every 15-20 minutes
Fare	€3.20 (single)
Operating hours	05:00-23:00

The bus departs from the bus station outside the terminal and offers a direct route avoiding train changes.

Düsseldorf Airport offers over 20,000 parking spaces across multiple facilities.

Terminal Parking

Location	Type	Price
P1 (Terminal A/B)	Short-term	From €4/hour, €29/day
P2 (Terminal C)	Short-term	From €4/hour, €29/day
P3	Covered parking	From €25/day
P4	Economy long-term	From €11/day
P7 (Holiday Parking)	Long-term economy	From €6/day

Tips:

• Book online at dus.com for discounts (often 20-40% off walk-up rates)
• P1 and P2 are closest to terminals but most expensive
• P4 is connected to terminals via the free SkyTrain
• P7 requires shuttle bus transfer
• Maximum entrance height: 2.10 m for covered parking

Off-site alternatives: Several providers near the airport offer parking from €4-7/day with shuttle service.

Düsseldorf Airport offers dining options across all terminals, with the majority concentrated in the central area.

Terminal A/B (Landside - Check-in Hall)

Sit-down restaurants:

• Löwenbräu: Traditional Bavarian beer hall with schnitzel, sausages, and Munich-style cuisine
• Marché Mövenpick: Fresh market-style dining with made-to-order meals

Quick bites:

• Starbucks: Multiple locations
• Kamps Bakery: German bakery chain with pretzels, rolls, and pastries
• McDonald's: 24-hour service

Airside (After Security)

Terminal B:

• Heinemann Duty Free Bar: Wine, coffee, and light snacks
• Nordsee: Fresh seafood and fish sandwiches
• Cafe & Bar Celona: Coffee and light meals

Terminal C:

• Subway: Sandwiches
• Various kiosks: Snacks and beverages

Near Gates

Most gate areas have smaller cafes and kiosks. Terminal B has the best variety of airside dining options.

Tip: Landside dining options (before security) offer more variety and often better value than airside.

Free WiFi is available throughout Düsseldorf Airport with no time limit.

Detail	Information
Network name	DUS Airport Free WiFi
Registration	Accept terms (email registration optional)
Time limit	Unlimited
Coverage	All terminals, SkyTrain stations

Quality: Generally reliable for browsing, email, and light streaming. Speeds may vary during peak travel times. For faster, more reliable connectivity, airline lounges offer premium WiFi.

Prepaid SIM cards are available at the airport in the arrivals area and terminal shops.

Where to Buy

• Telekom Shop: Arrivals area, Terminal A/B
• Vodafone: Arrivals area
• Press & Book stores: Multiple locations (sell prepaid SIMs)
• Tegut/Rewe To Go: Convenience stores in the terminal

Prices

Provider	Price	Data
Telekom	From €10	Varies by plan
Vodafone	From €10	5G available on select plans
O2	From €10	Budget-friendly options
Aldi Talk	From €8	Available at nearby supermarkets

Important: German law requires SIM card registration with ID. Bring your passport and provide a German address (your hotel address works).

Tip: Airport SIM prices are typically €5-10 higher than city shops or supermarkets.

ATMs are located throughout all terminals in both landside and airside areas.

ATM Locations

• Arrivals hall (all terminals)
• Departure level near check-in counters
• Airside near gates

Major German banks represented include Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and Sparkasse.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange counters (Travelex, Reisebank) are available in the arrivals area. However, exchange rates at airports are typically unfavorable (3-8% worse than market rates).

Better alternatives:

• Withdraw euros from ATMs using a no-fee debit card
• Use Wise or Revolut for better exchange rates
• Pay directly with credit/debit card (widely accepted in Germany)

Currency: Euro (€)

Düsseldorf Airport offers shopping options in all terminals, with Heinemann as the primary duty-free operator.

Duty Free (Heinemann)

Location	Hours
Terminal A (airside)	05:00-21:00
Terminal B (airside)	05:00-21:00
Terminal C (airside)	06:00-21:00

Products: Perfumes, cosmetics, spirits, tobacco, chocolates, fashion accessories, German souvenirs.

Notable Stores

• WMF: German kitchenware and home goods
• Montblanc: Writing instruments and leather goods
• Swarovski: Crystal jewelry
• Esprit: Fashion (landside)
• Relay: Books, magazines, travel essentials

Tips

• Pre-order online at heinemann-shop.com for in-store pickup
• Non-EU residents can claim VAT refunds on purchases over €50
• Terminal B has the best shopping variety

Düsseldorf Airport has several lounge options across terminals.

Lufthansa Lounges (Terminal A)

Business Lounge:

• Location: Terminal A, after security
• Access: Lufthansa Business Class, Star Alliance Gold, Senator status
• Hours: 05:30-21:30
• Amenities: Hot and cold buffet, bar, work areas, showers

Senator Lounge:

• Location: Terminal A, after security
• Access: Lufthansa Senator, HON Circle, Star Alliance Gold (when flying Business)
• Hours: 05:30-21:30
• Amenities: Enhanced food selection, quieter atmosphere

Priority Pass Lounges

Hugo Junkers Lounge:

• Location: Terminal B, after security (Schengen)
• Hours: 05:30-21:00
• Access: Priority Pass, LoungeKey, €39 day pass
• Amenities: Hot and cold food, bar, newspapers, WiFi, work areas
• Note: Can get crowded during peak hours

Open Sky Lounge:

• Location: Terminal C, after security
• Hours: 05:00-21:00
• Access: Priority Pass, €35 day pass
• Amenities: Basic snacks, beverages, seating area

Airline Lounges

• British Airways Lounge: Terminal B (for BA Club members, oneworld Emerald/Sapphire)
• Turkish Airlines Lounge: Terminal A (for Business Class and Miles&Smiles Elite)

Credit Card Access

• Amex Platinum: Access to Lufthansa Business Lounge when flying Star Alliance
• Priority Pass: Hugo Junkers Lounge (T-B), Open Sky Lounge (T-C)
• LoungeKey: Hugo Junkers Lounge (T-B)

Several hotels are located at or near the airport.

At the Airport

Sheraton Düsseldorf Airport Hotel

• Connected to Terminal A/B via covered walkway (5-minute walk)
• 4-star, full-service
• Direct access without going outside
• From €120/night

Maritime Hotel Düsseldorf Airport

• 10-minute walk from terminals
• 4-star business hotel
• Free shuttle available
• From €90/night

Near the Airport

• Holiday Inn Düsseldorf Airport-Ratingen: 10-minute shuttle, from €80/night
• Mercure Hotel Düsseldorf Airport: 5-minute drive, from €75/night
• Ibis Düsseldorf Airport: Budget option, from €60/night
• Van der Valk Airporthotel Düsseldorf: 5-minute drive, from €85/night

In the City (Quick Access)

Given the airport's proximity to the city center (12 minutes by S-Bahn), staying in central Düsseldorf is practical even for early flights:

• Hyatt Regency Düsseldorf: Near Hauptbahnhof, from €150/night
• Breidenbacher Hof: Luxury option in Altstadt, from €280/night
• 25hours Hotel Das Tour: Trendy option near Hauptbahnhof, from €100/night

Düsseldorf is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, known for its fashion industry, art scene, and the famous Altstadt with the "longest bar in the world."

Getting to the City Center

• S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof: 12 minutes (€3.20)
• Taxi to Altstadt: 15-25 minutes (€25-35)

Top Attractions

Attraction	Travel Time from Airport	Highlights
Altstadt (Old Town)	20 min by S-Bahn	260+ bars and restaurants, "longest bar in the world"
Königsallee (Kö)	20 min by S-Bahn	Luxury shopping boulevard with canal
MedienHafen	25 min by S-Bahn + walk	Striking modern architecture by Frank Gehry
Rheinturm	25 min by S-Bahn	240m TV tower with observation deck and revolving restaurant
Kunstsammlung NRW (K20/K21)	20 min by S-Bahn	World-class modern art museums
Rhine Promenade	20 min by S-Bahn	Scenic riverside walk

Layover Recommendations

• 4-hour layover: Visit Altstadt, walk along Königsallee, try an Altbier
• 6-hour layover: Add MedienHafen for Gehry architecture and Rhine Promenade
• Day trip from airport: Cologne Cathedral (45 min by train), Rhine Valley castles

Düsseldorf Specialties

• Altbier: Dark, top-fermented beer unique to Düsseldorf; served in small 0.2L glasses called "Stangen"
• Rheinischer Sauerbraten: Marinated pot roast with sweet-sour gravy, a Rhineland classic
• Himmel un Ääd: "Heaven and Earth" - black pudding with mashed potatoes and apple sauce
• Halve Hahn: Not half a chicken, but a rye roll with Gouda cheese (confusing local specialty)
• Killepitsch: Local herbal liqueur, 42% alcohol, digestif

Practical Tips

• VRR day ticket: €8.20 for unlimited travel in Düsseldorf (covers S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses)
• SchönerTagTicket NRW: €34.90 for unlimited regional train travel in North Rhine-Westphalia (up to 5 people)
• Altstadt bars: Traditional brewery pubs (Uerige, Füchschen, Schumacher, Schlüssel) serve fresh Altbier
• Fashion: Düsseldorf is Germany's fashion capital; Königsallee has luxury shopping, Flingern has independent boutiques
• Japanese Quarter: One of Europe's largest Japanese communities; excellent Japanese restaurants around Immermannstraße