Brașov-Ghimbav (GHV) is a single-terminal regional airport, and parking is straightforward: one surface lot a short walk from the doors, plus a kiss-and-fly bay for drop-offs that doesn’t charge if you stay under the posted free window. If you’re driving in, the lot is where you want to be — there’s no separate “remote” facility and no shuttle to factor in.

Short-stay vs long-stay parking

The surface lot operates with a single tariff schedule that rewards longer stays. Short-stay rates are charged by the hour; rates are posted on the entry barrier and on the pay stations and are kept inside a hourly band typical for regional Romanian airports (a few RON per hour). Long-stay parking is the same lot but billed at a daily cap once you cross the rollover threshold — so a 24-hour ticket costs noticeably less than 24 × the hourly rate.

The practical implication: if you’re dropping someone off and grabbing a coffee inside, you’ll pay a short-stay slice. If you’re flying out for a few days, you’re on the daily cap from hour one of day two onward. The gate timestamps your entry; the pay station calculates the bill automatically when you insert your ticket.

Paying

The pay station accepts contactless cards, chip-and-PIN, and cash (RON). Card payment is the path of least friction — there’s no need to find change and the receipt prints in English on request. You pay before returning to your car; the exit barrier reads the validated ticket and lifts within a couple of seconds.

Lost ticket policy is the usual industry default: a flat penalty fee (significantly higher than a maximum day rate) — keep the ticket on your dashboard or in your wallet, not in your suitcase.

Free drop-off and pick-up

Right outside the terminal door there’s a short kiss-and-fly lane. Stopping to unload luggage is free under the posted window (typically up to 10 minutes); the lane is monitored by airport staff and cars left longer get a polite move-along or are towed at the operator’s discretion. For pick-ups where the inbound flight is delayed, the surface lot is the right choice — the short-stay rate for the first hour costs less than any “waiting” scheme would.

Accessibility and signage

The lot has marked accessible spaces nearest the terminal door, and the path to the entrance is step-free. Signage in the lot is bilingual (Romanian / English) and the colour-coded zone numbers make it easy to remember where you parked — useful at the end of a multi-day trip.

When the lot fills up

GHV is a small airport, so a “full lot” weekend is unusual today; that said, peak Friday-evening departures and Sunday-evening return waves are the busiest windows. If you’re flying out during a peak departure block (which on a regional airport is the morning push, 5:00–8:00) it’s worth arriving at the lot 15 minutes earlier than the equivalent at a metro airport — not because you’ll struggle for a space, but because the single pay station can queue briefly.

If you don’t want to park at all

The three sensible alternatives:

  • Airport transfers — door-to-door service from Brașov, Poiana Brașov, Bran, and the surrounding villages. Best for groups, late-night arrivals, or anyone who doesn’t want a multi-day parking bill. See our airport transfers guide for current options and bands.
  • Car rental on-site — pick up at GHV when you land, drop off at the same desk on the way out. No “drive home from the airport at midnight” risk and no parking bill at all. See car rental at Brașov-Ghimbav.
  • Hotel + airport shuttle — some hotels near the airport include a complimentary airport shuttle on the night you stay. See hotels near Brașov-Ghimbav.

For non-driving visitors arriving from the city, the broader transit picture (taxi, rideshare, public bus, private transfers) lives in our travel guide entry on getting from the airport to Brașov.

Quick FAQ

Is there a covered or underground parking garage? No — the lot is open-air. The terminal canopy covers the immediate door and the kiss-and-fly lane.

Can I pre-book a parking space online? Pre-booking isn’t required today; the lot has enough capacity for current passenger volume. If that changes, the airport’s official site is where the booking link will appear first.

Are EV charging stations available? Charging infrastructure at the lot is being rolled out as part of the regional grid build-out. Check the airport site for the current count and connector types before relying on it for an inbound charge.

What if my flight is severely delayed and I’m past my paid hours? The pay station re-bills automatically when you insert the ticket on exit. There’s no penalty for an honest delay; you simply pay the difference.