Frankfurt am Main Transportation

Frankfurt Airport is probably known to most travellers who travelled to Europe or changed planes here. Besides Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow, it is the main airport in Europe, and it is the biggest airport in Germany. Ranked by passenger numbers, it is the ninth-biggest airport in the world. All the overseas flights go from here, even to Australia. It is also the homebase of Lufthansa.

There are two terminals: Terminal 1 (areas A, B and C) has all Lufthansa flights as well as all airlines of Star Alliance (for example Singapore Airlines, Continental Airlines and Air Canada). Terminal 2 (areas D and E) has all Oneworld members (like British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas), as well as Skyteam (for example AirFrance, Alitalia and KLM).

I departed from this airport twice, and both times from terminal 2. I like to come here a few hours earlier to do everything without stress and just start to the trip in a relaxed manner. There are so many shops and restaurants that it is easy to pass the time.

There is also a big window where you can see the planes land and take off, it is very interesting to be here and watch it.

Frankfurt has two big train station so it is very important to check which exactly you need! There is Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, the main station, and Frankfurt Flughafen/Fernbahnhof, the station at the airport. You often need to change trains at Fernbahnhof as many ICEs stop here. As the train stations are located almost in the middle of Germany, they are very important for rail services in Germany. There are direct services to all important cities of Germany, like Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Hamburg, and also to many European cities, like Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels.

Nothing could be more complicated that the RMV vending machines for tickets. Fortunately, most have a touch screen, and if you touch a flag where they speak a language you understand, it will be easier to use. Otherwise it works as follows.

1) Select a destination on the list on the machine, and pick out its code.

2) Punch the destination code number in the machine, and select a coloured button below for Single adult, child, etc.

3) Pay the amount for the ticket.

The machines can only give change if they have enough change in them. YOU CANNOT PURCHASE TICKETS ON THE METRO, and if you board the train, without a ticket you may get caught for riding without a ticket, which means an immediate payment of 60 Euro fine.
Although many have a slot for a card, this is for a German ATM or Eurocard, and not for credit cards.

Place of departure Frankfurt Main Train Station:
Bus-Stop at Mannheimer Street. Bus-Stop is marked with a "RYANAIR/Bohr" sign. It is located on the south side of the main train station.
Place of departure Frankfurt Airport:
Bus stop is at Terminal 2, opposite exit E 9. Place of arrival Frankfurt-Hahn Airport:
Bus stops directly in front of the terminal building A
Total time one way: 1h 45min

Fares per person/way
Adults: 12,00 €
Children up to 7 years: 6.00 €

Tickets are available only from driver on the bus. At Hahn-airport tickets also at the information desk and the ticket shop in front of terminal A. The bus goes also to Frankfurt main airport

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The train station in Frankfurt is very beautiful (obviously like many big stations in Germany). Everything inside is very easily done. There is much information and enough signs. There are lockers for your luggage which are pretty big to keep 2 big suitcases. There are shops and cafes and restaurants but if you have the chance go somewhere else to eat cause it’s a bit more expansive then average.

We used the Ryanair bus to get to Frankfurt Hahn airport. You catch the bus at Frankfurt Central Railwy station. The bus stop is located at the south side of the Central Railway station in Mannheimer Street (croner Stuttgarter Street). It departs daily and the times used to be on the hour every hour, but I think you should just check at the info desk inside the railway station. Travel time to Hahn airport is approx 1h45 min

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, or Frankfurt (Main)'s main station... that is, it's the main station in Frankfurt (Main)... well, I mean... the Main's main...Frankfurt (Main)'s CENTRAL station, is one of the largest train transportation hubs in Germany. Over 600 long distance and regional trains depart the station daily, along with 1100 S-Bahn trains departing from the lower level. From here, you can get to just about anywhere in Europe. There are even plans to launch direct Eurostar service to London in the next few years.

The hauptbahnhof is surrounded by a number of business class hotels, which makes it a convenient place for an overnight stop. In addition, the station is served by all 9 S-Bahns, the U4 and U5, and three trams, which can get you to just about anywhere in the city quickly and conveniently. If you need to get to the airport, the S-8 and S-9 trains run frequently to Frankfurt Airport's Regional Train Station, making a stay at a nearby hotel a potentially viable alternative to the pricey airport hotel.

The train station is immense with a wide variety of services, to include luggage storage, restaurants, and ATMs.

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Frankfurt am Main International Airport (IATA Code: FRA) is one of the largest air transportation hubs in Europe. A hub for German flag carrier Lufthansa, the airport also serves more than 100 airlines, from Adria Airlines to Yemen Airlines.

Frankfurt Airport has two terminals, connected by a "Skyline" monorail. The train has an ingenious system allowing passengers on either side of security to use it simultaneously. If departing from Frankfurt, be sure to note which terminal your flight departs from so you will know where to check in.

The airport has not one but two train stations. For those of you who haven't traveled to Frankfurt in several years, the original underground station is now the "Regionalbahnhof," or regional train station, where you can catch S-Bahns and regional trains to Frankfurt, Mainz, and other towns in the local area. The longest trains from this station are "Regional Express" trains to destinations such as Saarbrücken and Koblenz. The other, newer train station is called the "Fernbahnhof," or long-distance train station. Long haul trains, including the high-speed ICE trains, depart from here for destinations all around Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. When connecting to a train, be sure to note which station your train departs from.

The airport itself has just about every service you can imagine, including restaurants, shops, electronics stores (where you can buy cell phone SIM cards), and even a luggage storage service where you store your bags for EUR 5 per bag per day.