Arriving in Frankfurt by Train
Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof
Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is the busiest railway station in Germany and one of the most important rail junctions in Europe. More than 350,000 passengers pass through daily. Nearly every long-distance ICE route in Germany runs through Frankfurt — whether you’re coming from the north, south, east, or west, Frankfurt Hbf is almost always on your route.
The station sits in the Bahnhofsviertel district, within walking distance of the city centre. The main entrance opens onto Kaiserplatz, from where you can reach the old town on foot in 15–20 minutes.
Key ICE connections:
- Munich: ICE every 30 minutes, approx. 3 h 30 min, saver fares from around €19
- Berlin: ICE hourly, approx. 4 hours
- Cologne: ICE every 30 minutes, approx. 1 hour
- Hamburg: ICE hourly, approx. 4 hours
- Düsseldorf: ICE hourly, approx. 1 h 15 min
- Paris: TGV several times daily, approx. 3 h 45 min
- Brussels: Thalys or ICE, approx. 2 h 40 min
Frankfurt Airport to the City
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has a direct S-Bahn link to the main station:
- S8 and S9: Journey time approx. 11–15 minutes, trains every 15 minutes
- Ticket: approx. €5.80 (tariff zone 4)
- Frankfurt Airport long-distance station (Fernbahnhof): Direct ICE services stop here — you can transfer from plane to ICE without going via the main station
Tip: If your ICE departs from the airport’s long-distance station, check this when booking to save the S-Bahn leg entirely.
Getting Around Frankfurt: RMV, S-Bahn, U-Bahn
Network overview
Frankfurt operates 9 S-Bahn lines and 9 U-Bahn lines under the RMV network. The grid is dense and reliable for a city of its size.
- S1–S9: Radiate from the main station into all districts and the wider region
- U1–U9: Cover the inner city and neighbourhoods including Sachsenhausen, Bornheim, and Nordend
- All S-Bahn lines pass through the city centre via Konstablerwache
Ticket prices
- Single ticket (zone 1): €3.60 — valid 60 minutes
- Day pass (zone 1): €9.40 — unlimited travel all day
- Group day pass (up to 5 people): €22.60
- Hessen-Ticket: €46 (+ €9 per extra person) — valid on regional trains across the entire state of Hesse
Day Trips from Frankfurt
Heidelberg
Journey time: approx. 50 minutes by ICE to Mannheim, then S-Bahn onward
Castle, old town, and the Philosophers’ Walk — all easily reached by rail.
Rhine Valley (Rüdesheim)
Journey time: approx. 1 hour by regional train (RE)
Gateway to the UNESCO Middle Rhine Valley with castles and vineyards.
Würzburg
Journey time: approx. 1 hour by ICE
UNESCO-listed Residenz palace, vineyards, and the starting point of the Romantic Road.