Cardiff Airport

Cardiff Airport Parking Options

Short or long; self-park or valet? There are a few different parking options at Cardiff Airport. Here are a few of them:

Meet and Greet

Drop off your car at the dedicated Meet and Greet area, hand over your keys, and then head straight for check-in. They will park your car in a secure location and keep it there until you return.

CCTV is in operation throughout the car park and at all hours of the day. It uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to automate and simplify the parking process.

More importantly, the Meet and Greet area is just a short walk from the main terminal building and the start of your holiday!

Short Stay

The Short Stay car park is Park Mark certified, with no maximum height restrictions, special assistance for reduced-mobility travellers, and 24/7 operation. It’s designed for short and simple travel, as it’s just a short walk from the terminal.

For the best rates, book in advance. You can pay at the gate, and it’s possible to book stays of less than 20 minutes. For stays of multiple days, the gate prices are on the high side.

Long Stay

The Long Stay car park is a little further away, but it’s still within walking distance and it’s just as secure. Book online for the cheapest prices.

Premium Parking

Short Stay is almost within touching distance of the terminal and the Long Stay car park isn’t too far away either. But if you want to take as few steps as possible, head for Premium Parking. It’s right next to the terminal and features extra-wide bays, perfect for larger vehicles and clumsy kids.

There is a height restriction of 2.7m and the car park is open 24 hours a day.

Special Assistance Parking

There are special assistance points throughout Cardiff Airport’s Short and Long Stay car parks. You’ll find these points at every entry and exit barrier. Just press the button to call a representative and they will provide assistance.

Highwayman Parking

Highwayman Parking is the only off-airport parking available at Cardiff Airport. It’s a secure unofficial service that features an award-winning car park and is open 24 hours a day.

There are regular shuttle buses to take you to the airport and they’ll also pick you up on your return. The shuttle journey is about 5 to 7 minutes, and the drivers can help you to load your luggage if required.

*We've included this list of parking options available at Cardiff Airport for information only. The products mentioned are not necessarily available for purchase through CheapAirportParking.co.uk

Cheap Cardiff Airport Parking

Car Park	Total Price (8 Days)	Price Per Day
Highway Security Park	£59.99	£6.67

The prices in the table above were generated by CheapAirportParking.co.uk and relate to an 8 day period at Cardiff Airport. The exact dates searched were 07/01/25 to 15/01/25.

*Please note: CheapAirportParking.co.uk returns live prices that change regularly due to price adjustments by the suppliers we work with and their availability. Therefore, it’s important that you understand that the above prices are provided for illustrative purposes only to give you an indication of a likely price at an option we offer in our database. You must not rely upon the prices in our table and for up-to-date pricing, you should run a search.

Cardiff Airport Information

Cardiff Airport is located near the village of Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, about 13 miles from the city that gives it its name. Before the pandemic, it handled over 1.6 million passengers a year, but it remains to be seen whether it can return to those numbers.

Cardiff Airport is the only commercial passenger airport in Wales and while passenger numbers vary, it’s usually around the 20th busiest airport in the United Kingdom.

In 2020, Amsterdam was the busiest route flying from Cardiff Airport, with all flights handled by KLM. Doha was a close second, followed by Alicante, Dublin, and Edinburgh.

The Doha route first became available in 2018. It was the first long-haul flight in over a decade and proved to be a hit with travellers from the outset. The route is provided by Qatar Airways and while it was suspended during the pandemic, it may make a return in the near future.

The biggest airlines at Cardiff Airport include Wizz Air, TUI Airways, and Ryanair. It is a Focus City for Wizz Air and the airline offers a number of seasonal routes, including Alicante, Bucharest, Faro, Corfu, Larnaca, and Lanzarote.

Airport Lounges at Cardiff Airport

Cardiff Airport is home to the 51° Executive Lounge, which you can book online or at reception. It provides guests with a relaxing place to spend a few hours and includes all of the following:

• Free Wi-Fi
• A selection of teas, coffees, and soft drinks
• A variety of wine, spirits, and beer
• Snacks
• Business facilities

If you’re flying KLM Business Class or as part of their Blue Platinum and Gold membership schemes, you can also access the Business Lounge. Contact your airline or the airport for more information.

Shopping at Cardiff Airport

The Executive Lounge isn’t free, so if you’d rather save your cash for your holiday or some mementoes, head to the airport’s duty-free instead.

World Duty Free has the widest selection of duty-free fragrances, alcohol, snacks, treats, and luxury items. There’s also a WHSmith… because of course there is. You’ll find the usual selection of books and magazines, and as it’s also a Well Health & Beauty location, there are some health and beauty essentials too.

There’s a Beer House restaurant if you want to grab a bite to eat and a Costa if you need a pick-me-up.

Cardiff Airport Drop Off/Pick Up Information

The Drop Off Zone is located just outside of the terminal. It’s free for up to 5 minutes and costs £3 for every 5 minutes thereafter. Don’t leave your vehicle unattended if parking here as it might be removed.

Pick-up is cheaper, but it can get expensive if you hang around:

• Up to 10 mins = £1.00
• 10- 20 mins = £2.00
• Up to 1 hour = £5.00
• 3 to 24 hours = £50.00
• Subsequent days = £50.00 per day

You can also drop off and pick up in the Long Stay car park. It’s a little further out of the way, but the first 20 minutes are free and there is a special assistance vehicle available for travellers with reduced mobility.