S-Bahn
Default. S8 or S9, about a quarter of an hour to the Hauptbahnhof, from the regional station. Ticket first.
FRA · Out and back · published · checked
FRA to the city and back
There are two railway stations at FRA. The regional one is yours. The ICE station is for a different journey.
Clear the border if you are entering
Germany is in Schengen. A non-EU arrival from outside the area meets the Entry/Exit System. Frankfurt Airport warns that the wait can be longer. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens use the EU lane.
ETIAS is not in operation. Ignore any site selling one today.
The regional station, not the Fernbahnhof
S8 and S9 leave the Regionalbahnhof under Terminal 1. From Terminal 2, take the people mover across, then follow the S-Bahn. If your airline uses another terminal, follow the signs rather than a guessed walk.
Hauptbahnhof is about 12 to 15 minutes. Trains continue through the inner-city tunnel. Buy an RMV ticket from the machine or the app before you board.
In the centre
The Hauptbahnhof is the layover landmark. Hauptwache is the stop closer to the old town if your hotel is there. Confirm on the day.
A taxi exists and loses to the train almost every time the train is running.
Back to the regional station
Same lines, to Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof. Three hours in the terminal for a long-haul. Know which terminal the airline uses before you are on the train.
Very early flights: an airport hotel, not the first S-Bahn and a sprint.
Taxi
A group, a strange hour, or a hotel the train does not serve. The official rank. Not a way to beat the S-Bahn in normal hours.
What not to do
Do not board an ICE by mistake. Do not start for Heidelberg. Do not treat the visitor centre as airside.
Live detail lives on the operator's site: RMV (opens in a new tab), Frankfurt Airport (opens in a new tab).