Frankfurt · Germany
FRA — Frankfurt Airport
Two terminals, long walks, and two separate railway stations
Frankfurt is one of Europe's largest transfer airports and one of its more demanding. Two terminals are connected by a people mover and shuttle buses, the piers inside them are long, and non-Schengen passport control adds a step that catches people out on a short connection.
It is entirely manageable with time, and the rail connections are excellent — two separate stations sit under the airport, one for local trains and one for long-distance services across Germany. The mistake is treating a Frankfurt connection as equivalent to one at a smaller hub.
Terminals and how they connect
Terminal 1
The larger and older terminal, divided into concourses A, B, C and Z. Handles the main hub carrier and most of its alliance partners. The concourses are long and the walks inside are substantial.
Terminal 2
Concourses D and E, used by many non-alliance and other international carriers. Smaller and generally calmer than Terminal 1.
Getting between them
The Skyline people mover runs airside between the terminals, with shuttle buses as the landside alternative. Neither is instant, and a terminal change should be planned for rather than assumed.
Two railway stations
The regional station sits under Terminal 1 for local and S-Bahn services. The long-distance station is a separate building reached by a walkway, serving high-speed trains across Germany.
Getting into Frankfurt
Times below are realistic ranges rather than best cases. Rail journeys keep to a timetable; road journeys do not, and treating the two the same is how people miss flights.
S-Bahn regional train
About 15 minutes to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof
From the regional station beneath Terminal 1, running frequently. The fastest and cheapest way into the city by a clear margin.
Long-distance train
Varies by destination
The separate long-distance station connects the airport directly to Cologne, Munich, Hamburg and beyond. For many German destinations this beats a connecting flight outright.
Taxi
20 to 40 minutes
Straightforward but considerably more expensive than the train for a journey the S-Bahn does in fifteen minutes.
Connecting through FRA
Frankfurt rewards a longer connection. A change within one terminal concourse is fine; a change between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, or between Schengen and non-Schengen areas, needs materially more time than the published minimum. Some departures also board by bus from a remote stand, which adds a further step. If you have a choice between a Frankfurt connection and one at Munich or Zurich at a similar price, the smaller hub is usually the easier journey.
Worth knowing before you fly
The two stations are not the same place
Regional trains leave from beneath Terminal 1; long-distance services leave from a separate building. Arriving at the wrong one with a booked seat on a high-speed train is a real risk.
Allow for non-Schengen passport control
Connections crossing the Schengen boundary involve a border check, and at peak times the queue is not trivial. This is the step that turns a comfortable connection into a tight one.
Remote stands are common
A bus to the aircraft is a normal part of a Frankfurt departure. Work to the boarding time on the pass rather than the departure time.
Terminal assignments, transit timetables and fares all change. Confirm the details that matter to your trip with the airport or transport operator before you travel.
Routes through FRA
Flying to Frankfurt
FAQ
FRA — common questions
Terminals, transfers and getting into the city.
How much time do I need to connect at Frankfurt?
More than at a smaller hub. Within a single terminal concourse a standard connection is workable, but a change between Terminals 1 and 2, or a crossing of the Schengen boundary, needs considerably longer than the published minimum. Add further time if either flight boards from a remote stand by bus, which is common here.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport into the city?
The S-Bahn from the regional station beneath Terminal 1 reaches Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in about fifteen minutes and is cheap and frequent. Note that the airport has a second, separate station for long-distance high-speed trains, so check which one your ticket is for before walking to a platform.
Is Frankfurt or Munich better for connecting?
Munich, in most cases. It is smaller, newer and laid out more compactly, so transfers are faster and less prone to going wrong. Frankfurt serves more destinations and has better long-distance rail links, but connections there involve longer walks, more frequent passport checks and a higher chance of a bus to a remote stand.
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