Frankfurt’s airport is the fastest in Germany to leave. The S-Bahn S8 or S9 runs from Terminal 1’s Regional Station to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in 11 minutes for EUR 5.35. Terminal 2 connects to Terminal 1 via the Skytrain in about 10 minutes. A 3-hour layover is workable. A 5-hour layover gives you time to eat properly and walk the old town.
Getting to the city
Take S8 or S9 from Frankfurt Airport Regional Station (below Terminal 1) to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. Trains run every 15 minutes. Buy a single ticket from the RMV machines on the platform for EUR 5.35, or use a Frankfurt Card (EUR 11.50 for 24 hours, includes all transit and museum discounts).
From the Hauptbahnhof, the old town (Romerberg) is a 20-minute walk east through the pedestrian zone, or one stop on U-Bahn lines U4 or U5 to Dom/Romer. Taxis from the airport cost EUR 30-45 and take 20-30 minutes, longer in traffic.
Short layover: 3-4 hours
S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof (11 min), walk or take U-Bahn to Romerberg (20 min on foot). The Romerberg is Frankfurt’s medieval market square. The half-timbered Ostzeile buildings on the east side were destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in 1983. The Romer town hall on the west side has been in use since 1405. Spend 30 minutes here.
Walk 5 minutes south to the Main riverside. Cross the Eiserner Steg pedestrian bridge into Sachsenhausen. Find any Apfelwein tavern (Zum Wagner, Dauth-Schneider, or Lorsbacher Thal are the established names). Order a Bembel (traditional grey ceramic pitcher) of fresh Apfelwein: tart, low-alcohol, EUR 5-7 for half a liter. Order a Handkase mit Musik (strong curd cheese marinated in caraway and oil) if you want the authentic Frankfurt bar snack. Walk back over the bridge and take S-Bahn to the airport. Allow 60 minutes to return for check-in.
Extended layover: 5+ hours
The Museum Embankment (Museumsufer) runs along the south bank of the Main through Sachsenhausen. Fifteen museums in a 2-kilometer stretch. The Stadel Museum is the best: one of Germany’s oldest art institutions, with 700 years of European painting from Botticelli to Gerhard Richter. Entry EUR 16. Two hours minimum. The Museum of Architecture (DAM) and the German Film Museum are next door if you have more time.
For food beyond Apfelwein taverns: Kleinmarkthalle (indoor market, Hasengasse, open until 6pm weekdays) for fresh produce, cheese, sausage, and the best baked goods in the city center. Green Sauce (Frankfurter Grune Sosse), made from seven fresh herbs, is the local specialty: served cold over boiled eggs and potatoes. Order it anywhere you see it on the menu.
Practical tips
No visa required for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders for stays under 90 days. Germany is in the Schengen Zone. English is widely spoken in Frankfurt, more so than in most German cities (banking culture means most residents have international English-language experience). Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof connects to every major German city and to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam by high-speed rail, making Frankfurt a natural hub for multi-city European trips if your layover turns into something longer.
- S-Bahn S8/S9 from FRA to Hauptbahnhof takes 11 minutes for EUR 5. One of Europe's fastest airport-to-city connections. Even a 3-hour layover is viable.
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