Trains to and from Frankfurt Airport
If you’re flying into Germany from an international location, there’s a strong chance you’ll be arriving at Frankfurt Airport. It is the busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic and serves 330 destinations across 5 continents.
The airport is incredibly well-connected by train, with two dedicated train stations in Terminal 1:
- The long-distance train station (Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof) serves 14 high-speed intercity train lines, connecting the airport to destinations as far away as Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Brussels.
- The regional train station (Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Regionalbahnhof) offers quick and convenient connections to the center of Frankfurt on S-Bahn and Regionalbahn services.
This is your dedicated guide to everything you need to know about getting to and from Frankfurt Airport.
What's in this guide?
- I’m traveling from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt city center
- I’m traveling from Frankfurt city center to Frankfurt Airport
- I’m traveling from Frankfurt Airport to another German city
- How to buy Frankfurt Airport train tickets
- Other destinations to visit from Frankfurt by train
- More travel inspiration
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to get from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt city center by train
Want to get to downtown Frankfurt ASAP? A train will get you there fast!
One of the fastest ways to reach the center of Frankfurt is to take a local S-Bahn or Regional Express train—the equivalent of the subway or metro. You can find these trains in the airport’s regional train station (Regionalbahnhof), which is located beneath Terminal 1. If you are arriving at Terminal 2, you can take a yellow shuttle bus from in front of the terminal or the SkyLine (the airport’s monorail service)—both offer free transfers to Terminal 1.
Once you are in Terminal 1, follow signs for Regionalbahnhof on Floor 0. Here you’ll find ticket machines and the platforms. You will have to buy a ticket from the ticket machines before boarding an S-Bahn or Regionalbahn train.
Fastest route to the city center
You can take either of these trains (heading east) and you’ll arrive in the center of Frankfurt in under 20 minutes:
- S-Bahn S8
- S-Bahn S9
Other connections
- Eastbound Regional Express trains RE2 & RE3 will take you as far as the city’s main train station (Frankfurt am Main Hbf).
- Regional Express RE59 will bypass the city center but will connect you to the Frankfurt Süd train station.
How to get from Frankfurt city center to Frankfurt Airport
Got a plane to catch? S-Bahn trains will get you there fast!
20 minutes max. That’s how long it takes to get from Frankfurt city center to Frankfurt Airport on the S-Bahn (subway/metro).
In Frankfurt city center head to any of these S-Bahn stations:
- Konstablerwache
- Hauptwache
- Taunusanlage
- Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Take one of these trains heading west:
- S-Bahn S8
- S-Bahn S9
And get off at Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof. Head upstairs and you’ll be in Terminal 1.
How to get from Frankfurt Airport to other German destinations
Avoid annoying connecting flights. Catch a high-speed train directly from the airport.
The long-distance train station (Fernbahnhof) is connected to Terminal 1. From Terminal 1: Take the connecting footbridge from Level 3. From Terminal 2: Take the shuttle bus from in front of Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, then from the bus stop take the escalators up to the connecting footbridge.
Frankfurt Airport’s long-distance train station is served by 14 different high-speed intercity (ICE) train routes. From here you can quickly reach these popular nearby destinations with direct trains:
How to buy Frankfurt Airport train tickets
Buying tickets from Frankfurt Airport
To travel to Frankfurt city center, you’ll need to buy a ticket at the regional train station (Regionalbahnhof) before you hop on the S-Bahn.
You’ll find ticket machines at the regional train station (connected to Terminal 1), and you can buy a range of tickets, from single tickets and day tickets to weekly and monthly passes. You can pay with coins and notes (euros), by card (including American Express) or with other contactless methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.).
A single adult ticket from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt Hbf costs €6.30 (around $6.85) as of March 2024.
Buying tickets in Frankfurt city center
If you need to get from Frankfurt city center to the airport, you can buy an S-Bahn ticket at any S-Bahn station, including Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Hauptwache.
You’ll find ticket machines at these S-Bahn stations. You can pay with coins and notes (euros), by card (including American Express) or with other contactless methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.).
A single adult ticket from Frankfurt Hbf to Frankfurt Airport costs €6.30 (around $6.85) as of March 2024.
Where should I travel next after Frankfurt?
Frankfurt to Berlin by train
While Frankfurt is more of a cultural hub than most people give it credit for, Berlin is only a few hours away by train if you feel like exploring Germany’s capital of cool. Trains from Frankfurt to Berlin take as little as 3 hours, 45 minutes on the fastest Deutsche Bahn ICE trains.
Not only that: you can avoid the hassle of domestic air travel and go straight from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Berlin Hbf. Just book a ticket with Trainline, make sure you’re at the train station on time, and enjoy smooth and sustainable travel from city center to city center—the European way.
Once you’re in Berlin, check out the best flea markets, visit the top museums, and treat your tastebuds to the city’s famous Currywurst.
Frankfurt to Munich by train
Go from business to beer. After you’ve finished in Germany’s financial hub, jump on a train to the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest. Intercity Deutsche Bahn (DB) trains will take you from Frankfurt to Munich by train in as little as 3hrs 15mins.
Make the most of Germany’s well-connected high-speed train network: you can board your train in Frankfurt and get off at Munich Hbf—right in the middle of the city. Say goodbye to waits at airport security!
And it’s not all beer in Munich! There’s so much to do, from cultural highlights to visiting local soccer team Bayern Munich’s famous Allianz arena. Why not also put time aside to explore the wider region of Bavaria, Germany’s largest state?
Frankfurt to Paris by train
Frankfurt’s frankfurters and Paris’ pains au chocolat might seem worlds away, but you can try both in one day. A high-speed train can get you from the beating heart of German business to the French “city of love” in only a few hours—3 hours, 45 minutes on the fastest direct trains.
Traveling from Frankfurt to Paris by train is a fantastic way to extend your European adventure and experience more of what the continent has to offer.
Paris needs hardly any introduction, so why not focus for now on your accommodation with our guides to the best hotels in Le Marais, the best hotels in Bercy, the best boutique hotels and best hotels with views of the Eiffel Tower.
Frankfurt to Amsterdam by train
One of Europe’s most popular destinations is only a few hours from Frankfurt by direct train. Trains from Frankfurt to Amsterdam run multiple times a day, with journey times of just over 4 hours on the fastest trains.
Step off the train at Amsterdam’s Centraal station and you’re only a short hop from some of the coolest bars, food stalls and restaurants on the continent. Don’t forget to check out the windmills and (if you’re around in Spring) the world-famous Keukenhof tulip fields before you go.
And if you’re looking for another European air hub with direct flights back to the States, look no further than Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, easily accessible from the city center by train.