Frankfurt Airport is Germany’s largest aviation hub by passenger traffic and the main hub for Lufthansa, Germany’s flagship airline. With nearly 60 million travelers passing through annually, it’s an unattractive, sprawling and confusing airport, renowned for long queues, but proper preparation can make it easier to navigate.
Think of Frankfurt as the crossroads of Europe and the world. It’s an essential connection point, and it’s incredibly well served. Currently, nearly 100 airlines fly direct to over 300 destinations in close to 100 countries, and it remains the world’s leading airport for global hub connectivity – meaning it has the largest number of destinations for transfer passengers on direct connecting flights.
Getting to and from Frankfurt and beyond
One reason travelers put up with the quirks of Frankfurt Airport is because getting there and away is a piece of cake. It’s not just about the flights. The airport is well connected by rail, road and bus, and many nearby hotels operate shuttle services (though fares and policies vary by hotel).
Frankfurt Airport has two train stations, both at Terminal 1. The Airport Regional Railway Station (Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof) connects to the metro and regional S-Bahn trains. The S8 and S9 trains go directly into Frankfurt city center or central train station in around 15 minutes.
The Airport Long Distance Railway Station (Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof) connects to the national network and intercity express ICE trains.
You can grab tickets from machines at the station, and they all have an English option. Now, a little insider tip: while the train is my preferred way in and out of the airport, a word of warning. The Deutsche Bahn is in a pretty terrible state at the moment and delays and cancellations are commonplace. It’s wise to have a contingency plan, should the worst happen.
Flying with Lufthansa? Check out their Express Rail service, which combines your train and plane tickets. This means you’re covered if there are delays, and you can drop your bags at the AiRail Terminal at the long-distance train station, skipping the long check-in lines in the terminal. Just be sure to confirm the bag drop service is running when you travel.
Buses are another great option. Public buses serve Frankfurt (line 61 to Frankfurt Süd) and Schwanheim (line 62), while the AirLiner bus links the airport and Darmstadt. Long-distance bus services are available at the P36 station near Terminal 1, with a free 24/7 shuttle linking both terminals. Most buses have stops at both terminals – Terminal 1 Arrivals level and Terminal 2 Level 2.
If you’re driving, the A3 and A5 freeways are close by, and car rental companies are represented in both terminals: the Car Rental Centre in Terminal 1 is in Hall A (Airport City Mall), and in Terminal 2, it’s in Hall D (Arrivals).
How to navigate Frankfurt Airport terminals
First things first, know your terminal. Terminal assignments at Frankfurt depend on your airline alliance:
Terminal 1 serves Lufthansa (the biggest operator at the airport) and Star Alliance airlines
Terminal 2 handles many non-Star carriers, including oneworld alliance carriers like American Airlines and British Airways, and SkyTeam airlines like Delta
Terminal 2 is smaller and quicker to navigate than Terminal 1.
Alongside its two main terminals, Frankfurt has a small First Class Terminal for exclusive Lufthansa use. There’s a third main terminal under construction, with Phase 1 opening planned soon.
T1 and T2 are connected by a dedicated SkyLine shuttle, a regular free train that runs 24/7 with departures every two to three minutes. A new Sky Line line will link T1 and T3 (approximately eight minutes), with an interchange at T2, connecting them all seamlessly.
What’s inside Terminal 1
The original terminal is split into three levels – departures, arrivals and baggage claim, and transport connections top to bottom. Schengen flights typically use gates A, B1 to B19, and C1, while non-Schengen flights are from Z, B20 to B63, and C2 to C20. The signage can be tricky, so if you see a long line, double-check that it’s actually yours before you commit.
You’ll find plenty of high-end shopping and the usual fast-food joints, but there’s a strong local flavor too. I like Haussman’s for a proper German meal and a beer. Or there’s the Goethe cafe, where a statue of the famous writer lounges like he’s also waiting on a delayed flight. You can even find a Porsche Design store or a shop selling everything from bratwurst to lederhosen.
My favorite escape from the chaos is the Open Air Deck above gate B42. It has great airfield views and even a telescope for some quality plane spotting. Just be ready to share the space with smokers getting their pre-flight fix.
What’s inside Terminal 2
The newer, smaller Terminal 2 has fewer facilities. For food, your main options are hearty German fare at Ludwigs or Japanese noodles at MoschMosch (located in Area E, Level 3), both of which are perfectly fine. The shops cover the basics from duty-free to luxury brands.
A word to the wise if you’re flying out of T2: try to fly during the day. Many shops and restaurants close between 19:00 and 21:00, with only a few options like McDonald’s staying open until 22:00. By late evening, the place can feel like a ghost town with just a few lonely travelers waiting for their flights.
Check-in, security and immigration at Frankfurt Airport
Terminal 1 comprises areas A, B, C and Z, while Terminal 2 comprises areas D and E. Each area sign is color coded, and identifying the one you want will make it easier to find as you navigate through the airport.
It’s a poor first impression. While the analog departure boards are mesmerizing, they’re not intuitive, and general signposting to check in and security is inconsistent (especially from train to terminals).
Check-in and bag drop are all about preparation and patience. Queues for different airlines regularly grow so long they actually intersect. Expect stressed families, lots of clock-watching and general travel chaos. Frankfurt Airport advises arriving two to 2.5 hours before departure (and up to three hours if you need baggage inspection), especially during peak season.
As you can also expect to queue at immigration and security, it’s wise to come prepared. Bring snacks and drinks, as cafés are expensive. If you’re traveling with kids, have plenty of things ready to entertain them.
Download movies and games and bring books to pass the time. I find headphones really help block out much of the hustle and bustle.
Immigration and security can be slow going. Security checks can be sluggish and passport booths are often closed. The status of the airport as a major world hub means there’s often a heavy police presence, which can feel a bit intimidating.
My advice? Travel with only carry-on bags if you can and check in online to dodge the worst of the lines. Be ready for security, know the rules and have your electronics and liquids easy to grab. Always double-check you’re in the right queue, and don’t be afraid to ask staff if you’re unsure. They all speak English.
Arriving at Frankfurt Airport
If you’re arriving from within the Schengen area, you won’t need to pass through immigration and customs to enter Germany. The same applies for transfers between Non-Schengen areas.
If you’re arriving into Germany from a Non-Schengen area like the US, expect lengthy queues at immigration and passport control. Recently, Lufthansa has standardized the Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) at Frankfurt Airport to 60 minutes for all connections, including those from Schengen to non-Schengen destinations and intra-European flights.
Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted off the plane by unsmiling police with sniffer dogs for a random passport check. In my experience, this happens most often on flights from Asia. It’s a good idea to have your passport handy the second you deboard. Even if you get spot-checked, you’ll still have to go through the main passport control line.
Baggage collection is a sore point. In the many times I’ve passed through, I’ve never got my bags sooner than 40 minutes after arriving at the belt, and usually it’s longer. More than once my bags have been delivered to the wrong belt entirely, with the last incident taking several hours to track down and resulting in a missed train and expensive new ticket.
One quirk is that from certain gates you’ll need to cross through the departure hall to get to baggage claim. Poorly signposted, this has more than once left me wondering where to go, although it does make it easy to pick up a quick snack or drink. If you’re taking onward public transport, it’s worth booking flexible tickets where available in case you get delayed.
Frankfurt Airport lounges and amenities
There’s no shortage of airline and public lounges across both terminals. The standout options, not surprisingly, are Lufthansa’s First and Business Class lounges. Lufthansa’s Business Class and Senator Lounges are available to eligible Star Alliance members, while access to the First Class Terminal and First Class Lounges is exclusively reserved for Lufthansa and SWISS First Class passengers, HON Circle Members, and Air China First Class passengers. Select Lufthansa lounges, including the Business Lounge in departure area A (Gate A13) and the Business Lounge in departure area Z, underwent recent renovations and are bright and comfy with great food and drinks.
If you don’t have alliance status, pay-in access is available at Priority Lounge in Terminal 2. In Terminal 1, I’d go for the LuxxLounge (located in the public area between Concourses B and C). Over in Terminal 2, the Primeclass Lounge in Concourse E (Non-Schengen) is very well done and a good value, especially compared to the terminal’s other dining options.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
