Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is the fourth-busiest airport in Germany. It is one of the main airports in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with the other important ones serving the region being Cologne-Bonn (CGN) and Dortmund (DTM).
The airport is located 7 kilometers north of Düsseldorf city center and about 20 km southwest of Essen. It’s the primary airport to fly into Germany’s densest metropolitan region - Rhine-Ruhr. Düsseldorf Airport has scheduled flights to almost every country in Europe plus many seasonal charters to holiday destinations.
In 2024, it handled over 20 million passengers ranking as the 30th busiest in Europe.
Major Airlines - Eurowings, Condor, Corendon, Lufthansa
The airline with both the most flights and most destinations served from Düsseldorf is Eurowings. This low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa flies to over 100 destinations, taking over 30% of the airport’s passenger capacity.
Other German airlines serving DUS include:
The flag carrier Lufthansa: only domestic flights to Munich and Frankfurt.
Condor: focused on flights to destinations around the Mediterranean.
SunExpress: a Turkish-German joint venture offering flights to many Turkish cities.
TUI fly Deutschland: a tourism and leisure airline with lots fo charter flights.
The low-cost market is complemented by several other airlines such as AJet, Pegasus Airlines, and Vueling.
Other notable airlines at DUS include Aegean Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, KLM, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
Terminal Layout and Gates of Düsseldorf Airport
Düsseldorf Airport has a single terminal building split into three concourses. Some may call them separate terminals, but since they are connected both airside and landside by walkways, they function as pieces of a single entity.
Concourse A: serves Lufthansa, Eurowings, and most Star Alliance partners. Has 16 numbered gates beginning with the letter A.
Concourse B: Handles domestic and Schengen flights with 11 B gates.
Concourse C: To enter this concourse, you need to go through Passport Control because it serves non-Schengen destinations. It is geared towards handling long-haul flights and has 8 gates beginning with C.
The three concourses are linked by a central spine lined with shops, restaurants, and other services.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Transiting at Düsseldorf Airport is relatively simple because of the single terminal building.
As a rule of thumb, tickets not booked together do not guarantee your transfer, i.e. you will be self-transferring and holding total responsibility for getting to your gate on time.
Whether or not you need to go through passport control depends on your incoming and outgoing flights:
Schengen to Schengen: No passport control is required as these are treated like domestic flights. Proceed directly to your new departure gate.
Schengen to Non-Schengen: You must pass through passport control at Düsseldorf Airport and then make your way to your new gate.
Non-Schengen to Schengen: You must clear passport control upon arrival at DUS. You need to comply with Immigration requirements to enter Germany and the Schengen area.
Non-Schengen to Non-Schengen: Typically, no additional checks are needed as you will remain within the transit area of the airport. However, not many such connecting options exist at Düsseldorf.
There is at least one transit counter at each concourse of DUS. Staff at these kiosks will help you navigate the airport, issue boarding passes, and provide general assistance during layovers.
The minimum connecting time at DUS is just 35 minutes for any type of connection. Regardless, it’s better to allow at least an hour and wait a little than be outright late!
During longer layovers, you may consider hopping over to the city for the best things to do!
Wi-Fi at DUS
Düsseldorf Airport offers both free and paid premium Wi-Fi.
The free network is called "DUS Airport Free WiFi”. Connection is simple and straightforward and only requires accepting the terms and conditions.
The premium network offers faster speeds suitable for video calls, online gaming, and streaming:
30 minutes cost 4 EUR
60 minutes cost 6 EUR
240 minutes within a year cost 12 EUR
You can select and pay for the premium Wi-Fi on the welcome screen.
Dining Options at Düsseldorf Airport
There are more than 30 bars and restaurants at Düsseldorf Airport with food served varying from traditional German bakery items, fast food burgers, and grilled meats, to sandwiches, donuts, and coffee.
Here are some of the best places to eat at DUS:
Bäckerei Kamps: German foods like sandwiches, pastries, and pretzels, plus various beverage options to eat in or on the go. Located in the Public Area, one in each Departures and Arrivals.
Hausmann's: A restaurant with full table service (plus a Grab & Go counter for those in a hurry) offering German cuisine with a modern twist. Located airside in Concourse A.
White Monkey: A pizzeria that transforms into a lively cocktail bar in the evening. Located airside, Concourse A.
Sportsbar: Beers and other alcoholic drinks plus light bar fare. And you can watch the match! Located airside, Concourse C.
eatTokyo: Authentic Japanese cuisine from sushi to bento boxes. Find it in the Public area on the Departure Level.
You can grab coffee at Grab & Fly, Kiosk, Dunkin’, McCafe, Starbucks, or Segafredo, to name a few.
Lounges at DUS
Düsseldorf Airport houses 5 lounges: 3 airline-specific ones and 2 with open access.
The lounges open to any passenger are:
Hugo Junkers Lounge: Located in Concourse B, Level 2. It offers complimentary drinks and snacks, Wi-Fi, relaxation areas, and magazines to read. The entrance fee is set at 39 EUR.
Open Sky Lounge: Situated in Concourse C, Level 2. It provides similar services and has the same entrance fee.
The airline-specific lounges at DUS are:
Emirates Lounge: Reserved for those flying with the Emirates in Concourse C. On top of the expected lounge amenities, you can also use the shower facilities.
Lufthansa Business Lounge and Lufthansa Senator Lounge: Both are located on the gallery level in Concourse A.
Transport options at Düsseldorf Airport
Düsseldorf Airport is extremely well-connected to the city and the surrounding region of Rhine-Ruhr by a variety of trains, buses, and private transport options.
Here are the details:
- Train: Not one but two stations serve the airport!
Düsseldorf Flughafen (Airport) train station sees more than 350 trains daily. It is however on the other side of the airport with respect to the terminal building, so you need additional transport from there. Luckily, the SkyTrain runs every 5-7 minutes connecting with the terminal in about 7 minutes. When it doesn’t run in the early hours of the day, shuttle buses take its place.
Düsseldorf Airport Terminal station: Only the S-Bahn S11 line goes through this station. It runs every 20-30 minutes bound for Bergisch Gladbach via Düsseldorf Central Station.
- Bus: Multiple bus lines serve the airport departing from in front of Arrivals, notably:
721 to Tannenhof/Gothaer Weg via Düsseldorf main railway station.
760 to Ratingen and Düsseldorf-Wittlaer-Bockum.
SB51 to Kaarst-Rathaus via Nordfriedhof und Meerbusch.
More buses depart from the Airport train station too.
Taxis are always available in front of the terminal. Look for the “Airport Taxi” sticker to make sure it’s a licensed vehicle. The approximate cost to get to Düsseldorf is 28 EUR and the trip takes about 15 minutes.
Ride-hailing is another option for private transfer. Just look for the “Ride App Pickup” sign with the corresponding logo for the pick-up locations.
Last but not least, check out these private transfer options from DUS.
Parking at Düsseldorf Airport
There are 8 parking garages (covered) and 6 car parks (uncovered) at the airport, so it’s safe to say they cater to any type of traveler no matter the intended length of stay.
Covered parking garages:
P1 and P2: Short-term parking less than 1 minute from the terminal. (technically under the terminal).
P3: Connected to the terminal by a covered walkway. About 2 minutes away. Has EV charging stations.
P4 and P5: Two minutes away from the terminal by the SkyTrain. Also equipped with EV charging stations. Best for longer stays.
P7 and P8: Located right next to the car hire center, super close to Gates C. Suitable for longer stays. The ground floor of P7 features EV charging stations.
Uncovered car parks:
P11: Located at the terminal, just 1 minute away. Best for short stays.
P12: About 2 minutes from the Arrivals hall, this car park is best while waiting to pick up arriving passengers.
P13: Located near GAT (General Aviation Terminal) but connected to the terminal via a free shuttle every 20 minutes.
P23: The best low-cost option. Just 5 5-minute walk from the terminal, next to the Airport City.
P24: The holiday parking option, especially for extended stays. Located 15 minutes on foot away from the entrance.
P25: Best for weekend and holidaymakers and super close to the terminal but can only be booked at weekends as part of the Weekend Special.
The best option for pick-ups and drop-offs is P12 where you can get a special ticket that entitles you to a special rate of 6 EUR for up to 90 minutes.
An alternative is the Kiss&Fly zone which lets you in for free for up to 7 minutes but incurs high charges for longer stays and parking is strictly prohibited.
You can book online on the official page or check prices at a glance here.
Hotels near DUS
The closest you can stay to the terminal building is the Sheraton Düsseldorf Airport Hotel, which is directly connected. It offers upscale rooms, amazing restaurant and lounge, and is the perfect place to conduct business meetings close to the airport.
Other nearby options include the modern Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf, which is a short walk from the terminal, and Holiday Inn Express Düsseldorf Airport which is a more budget-friendly option with a paid shuttle to/from the terminal.
Dusseldorf, Germany
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