Getting around · Frankfurt · Germany
Getting around Frankfurt
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mylius, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Central Frankfurt is compact: the Römerberg, cathedral, Museumsufer, Zeil and Main Tower are all within 20 minutes on foot. The RMV network of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses covers the rest, including the airport. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- FRA, HHN
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Frankfurt Card
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking covers the old town, the shopping streets and the Museumsufer; footbridges cross the Main every few hundred metres.
Metro
U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines run through the centre; the S-Bahn links the Hauptbahnhof with the airport, Höchst and the suburbs.
Buy tickets in the RMV app or at machines before boarding; there are no ticket barriers, but checks are frequent.
Tram
Trams serve Sachsenhausen, the Hauptbahnhof and outlying districts, and are a pleasant way to see the city.
Cycling
Frankfurt has bike-share schemes and flat cycle paths along both banks of the Main.
Boat
Sightseeing boats leave from the Eiserner Steg for river tours past the skyline, and some summer services run towards Rüdesheim and the Rhine.
Tickets and passes
Frankfurt Card
Unlimited local transport including the airport, plus discounts at many museums and attractions, for one or two days.
Museumsufer Ticket
Two consecutive days of entry to more than 30 Frankfurt museums, including the Städel.
Deutschlandticket
A monthly subscription valid on local and regional transport across Germany, including RMV and regional trains to Mainz, Wiesbaden and Heidelberg.
From the airport
Frankfurt Airport is about 12 km south-west of the centre; S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 reach the Hauptbahnhof in about 12–15 minutes, and long-distance trains leave from the airport's own station. Hahn Airport, used by some low-cost flights, is about 120 km away and served by coach.
Do you need a car?
No. Public transport is fast and parking is expensive. A car is only useful for rural areas such as the Taunus, the Odenwald or wine villages in the Rheingau.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Heidelberg | About 1 hour by train | Intercity or regional train, sometimes via Mannheim |
| Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge | About 1 hour 10 minutes by train | Regional train along the Rhine to Rüdesheim |
| Mainz | About 35 minutes by S-Bahn | S-Bahn S8 via the airport, or regional train |
| Würzburg | About 1 hour 10 minutes by ICE | ICE from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof |
| Marburg | About 1 hour by train | Regional or Intercity train |
| Darmstadt | About 20 minutes by train | Regional train or S-Bahn |
| Saalburg Roman Fort | About 45 minutes by train and bus | S-Bahn to Bad Homburg, then bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Frankfurt?
No. Public transport is fast and parking is expensive. A car is only useful for rural areas such as the Taunus, the Odenwald or wine villages in the Rheingau.
+How do you get from the airport to Frankfurt?
Frankfurt Airport is about 12 km south-west of the centre; S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 reach the Hauptbahnhof in about 12–15 minutes, and long-distance trains leave from the airport's own station. Hahn Airport, used by some low-cost flights, is about 120 km away and served by coach.
+What is the best way to get around Frankfurt?
Walking: Walking covers the old town, the shopping streets and the Museumsufer; footbridges cross the Main every few hundred metres.