Car Hire Stuttgart Echterdingen Airport

Car Hire

Stuttgart Airport is a medium-sized international airport found eight miles to the south of downtown Stuttgart. Around 10 million passengers use the airport each year, although the terminals boast a combined capacity of 12 million yearly. The Stuttgart railway network connects passengers to the airport, as does the public bus service. With the facility located beside the A8 autobahn, car hire in Stuttgart Airport makes for a quick and reliable transport option.

Who to Book With
There are several companies that provide car rental services at Stuttgart Airport. The suppliers are all found at Terminal 3’s second level, including Sixt, Budget, Avis, Hertz and Enterprise. These organisations are worldwide leaders in the auto-rental industry, so tourists are guaranteed satisfaction. Visitors will find a large range of styles and prices to fit any holiday need.

Need to Know Essentials
A few documents are required before renting cars at Stuttgart Airport:

- A driver’s licence
- The credit card specifically used for the booking
- A passport

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Stuttgart’s roads are well-maintained, especially the autobahn highways. Driving in the city centre can be confusing due to the layout of the downtown streets and use of tunnels. However, motorists should be aware of the inner-city ring road, which makes driving much easier. Parking can be difficult to find, but parking blocks are available in downtown Stuttgart, with parking generally charged at £1 per hour.

Our guide to Germany gives more detailed information regarding driving here.

Transport

There are several different modes of transport passengers can use to get from the airport to the centre of Stuttgart. Car rental is a convenient option, and taxi services are abundant. Tourists can travel into downtown Stuttgart via the suburban rail network, which offers two underground rail lines to Terminal 1. Buses generally don’t go to the heart of Stuttgart. However, they travel from the airport to several surrounding towns and cities, including Tubingen and Esslingen.

Trains
The train network, operated as S-Bahn Stuttgart, is a convenient public transport method. Trains run from Stuttgart Airport to Stuttgart Central Railway Station every 10 to 20 minutes. Journeys are operated along Line 2 and Line 3, and generally take less than 30 minutes. Prices vary, but single day tickets are around £5, with single-journey tickets costing around £2.

Taxis
By Taxi and Kurier Taxi Stuttgart are the largest companies offering taxi services at the airport. Both companies operate 24 hours, 365 days a year. Taxi ranks are located outside the terminals’ entrances.

Taxi prices:
Stuttgart Airport to Hauptbahnhoff is about £25
Stuttgart Airport to Rosenstein Park is about £25
Stuttgart Airport to Fellbach is about £35

Buses
Buses do not go into the centre of Stuttgart. However, there are plenty of bus connections to other cities in close vicinity to the airport. Many of the bus stops at the airport are found on the lower levels of the terminals. Routes to Esslingen and other surrounding destinations are served by several companies, including VVS, EFA Baden-Wurttemberg and DB Bahn. Prices are generally cheap, costing about £3 for routes to Esslingen.

Facilities

Terminals
Stuttgart Airport operates four terminals, the latest of which was built in 2004. There are plenty of modern facilities located within all four terminals. Terminal 2 accommodates only GermanWings flights, which connect to other German and European cities. Terminals 1, 3 and 4 operate international routes, handling flights with both national carriers and low-cost airlines. Altogether, 12 million passengers can be accommodated at the terminals per year.

Parking
Motorists have plenty of parking opportunities at the airport. Parking sites P3, P5 and P7 are set aside for short-term requirements. There is short- and long-term parking at P4 and P6 covered parking garages, and the open parking zones of P0, P1, P2 and P8 up to P15. All parking zones are open 24 hours. Generally, the further away from the terminals the car park is, the cheaper the rates. However, tourists should expect to pay between £16 and £20 per day.

Wi-Fi
All terminals have internet access via a wireless network. A small charge is required to log-in to the airport’s internet network.

Information Services
The main information centre in Stuttgart Airport is found at Terminal 3’s Arrivals hall. This central tourist information booth boasts multi-lingual staff for visitor convenience. However, there are information desks across the terminals.

Useful Numbers
Passenger Information Call Centre: +49 1805 948 444
Terminal Information Desk: +49 711 22280

Accessibility
Passengers are required to inform their airline if they have a need for special services. Wheelchairs and trolleys are available upon request. The airport is equipped with elevators, ramps and automatic doors, making navigation easy for passengers with reduced mobility. In addition, many of the parking zones close to the terminals have handicapped persons’ spaces that are clearly marked.

Restaurants and Bars
Each terminal has a great range of restaurants, cafés and bars. Fast food outlets are available, including Pizza Hut Express in Terminal 3 and Burger King in Terminal 1. A range of sit-down restaurants are also on hand. Some of the more popular options include Restaurant Red Baron, Top Air and Panorama. There is also a beer garden in Terminal 3 which serves the best in German beers.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
Executive Club Lounge
Elli-Beinhorn Lounge

Terminal 3:
Elli Beinhorn Lounge
LH Business Class Lounge

Money and ATMs
Two banks operate at the airport. Baden-Wurttembergische (BW Bank) and Deutsche Bank provide currency exchange services and money withdrawal facilities.

Shopping
Shopping facilities are located in all terminals at Stuttgart Airport. Terminals 1, 3 and 4 contain duty-free stores for travellers heading outside of the EU. Duty-free items are found at the Travel Value and Duty Free Shop. There are also fashion and accessories stores, including Picard, Tie Rack, Esprit and Dresscode, in additions to gift and souvenir shops.