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 travellers passing through annually, it has a reputation as 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 almost 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 travellers put up with the quirks of Frankfurt Airport is because getting there and away is very straightforward. 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 underground trains (U-Bahn) and regional S-Bahn trains. The S8 and S9 trains go directly into Frankfurt city centre 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, meaning 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 any delays, and you can drop your bags at the AiRail Terminal at the long-distance train station, skipping the long check-in queues 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 3 Arrivals level.
If you’re driving, the A3 and A5 motorways are close by, and car hire companies are represented in both terminals: the Car Rental Centre in Terminal 1 is in Hall A (Airport City Mall), and in Terminal 3, it’s in Hall J.
How to navigate Frankfurt Airport terminals
First things first, know your terminal. Frankfurt Airport now has three terminals. Terminal 3 opened in April 2026 and is located across the runway from Terminal 1. With the opening of Terminal 3, Terminal 2 is closed indefinitely for renovations.
Terminal assignments at Frankfurt depend on your airline alliance:
Terminal 1 serves Lufthansa (the biggest operator at the airport) and Star Alliance airlines
Terminal 3 handles many non-Star carriers that were previously operating from Terminal 2. These include oneworld alliance carriers like American Airlines and British Airways, plus SkyTeam airlines like Delta.
T1 and T3 are connected by a dedicated SkyLine shuttle, a regular free train that runs from 04:00 to 23:00 with departures every two to three minutes. Outside of these hours, you can use the shuttle bus.
An advantage of the new SkyLine is that you can board it directly from the train station. A disadvantage: since its opening, it has experienced some growing pains and has either been closed for maintenance or very crowded. Factor in some extra time to wait for the next train.
What’s inside Terminal 1
The original terminal is split across 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 queue, double-check that it’s actually yours before you commit.
You’ll find plenty of high-end shopping and the usual fast-food spots, but there’s a strong local flavour too. I like Haussman’s for a proper German meal and a beer. Or there’s the Goethe café, where a statue of the famous writer lounges like he’s also waiting for a delayed flight. You can even find a Porsche Design store and a shop selling everything from bratwurst to lederhosen.
My favourite 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 3
The first thing I noticed in T3 is the artwork. Frankfurt artist Tobias Rehberger has created a unique travel experience as the terminal’s first ‘Artist in Residence’. You can feast your eyes on his colourful vision as soon as you leave security.
Of course, you can also find plenty to eat and drink, from Asian street food to Jägermeister shots. I recommend Brot by Axel Schmitt for a final taste of Germany’s baked goods. There are also quite a few shops, including several duty-free areas for your Haribo fix and a dedicated German store, aptly called ‘Germany on my mind’.
A big improvement in Terminal 3: there are plenty of charging points in the seats by the gates and a few play areas for kids.
Check-in, security, and passport control at Frankfurt Airport
Terminal 1 comprises areas A, B, C, and Z, while Terminal 3 comprises areas G, H, and J. Each area sign is colour-coded, and identifying the one you want will make it easier to find as you navigate through the airport.
To be honest, it gives a poor first impression. While the analogue departure boards are mesmerising in their own unique way, they’re not very intuitive, and general signposting to check-in desks 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 that they actually intersect. Expect stressed families, lots of clock-watching, and general travel chaos. Frankfurt Airport advises arriving 2–2.5 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 passport control and security, it’s wise to come prepared. Bring snacks and drinks, as cafés are expensive. If you’re travelling with kids, have plenty of things ready to entertain them.
Download films and games, and bring books to pass the time. I find headphones really help block out much of the hustle and bustle.
Passport control 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 also means there’s often a heavy police presence, which can feel a bit intimidating.
My advice? Travel with only hand luggage if you can and check in online to avoid the worst of the queues. Be ready for security, know the rules, and have your electronics and liquids within easy reach. 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.
How are things going at the new Terminal 3?
Security queues can be a bit confusing, especially when arriving early in the morning; they all use CT scans. This means you can leave your electronics and liquids in your cabin bag, and you’re even allowed liquids up to 2 litres.
If you’ve got a US or non-EU passport, queue for the EES exit, which can take a while. If you’ve got an EU passport, go to the left after security and skip the EES gates.
As a traveller with an EU passport, you can use the automated eGates, which are usually empty but can be a bit tricky to find amongst the crowds.
Arriving at Frankfurt Airport
If you’re arriving from within the Schengen Area, you won’t need to pass through passport control and customs to enter Germany. The same applies for transfers between non-Schengen countries (e.g., on flights from the UK to Qatar).
If you’re arriving into Germany from a non-Schengen country like the UK, expect lengthy queues at passport control. Recently, Lufthansa has standardised 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 get off the plane. Even if you get spot-checked, you’ll still have to go through the main passport control queue.
Baggage collection is a sore point. In the many times I’ve passed through, I’ve never received my bags sooner than 40 minutes after arriving at the luggage carousel – and it’s usually longer. More than once, my bags have been delivered to the wrong carousel entirely, with the last incident involving a search of several hours to track down my bag, 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
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 reserved exclusively for Lufthansa and SWISS First Class passengers, HON Circle Members, and Air China First Class passengers.
There is also an Air Canada Lounge and the LuxxLounge, accessible with a Priority Pass or similar. The downside is its location in the public area between Concourses B and C. I’d recommend paying a bit more and buying access to a Lufthansa lounge whenever possible (I like the Lufthansa Bistro Lounge in Area C).
In Terminal 3, there are three lounges. One is a dedicated Emirates lounge, the other a SkyTeam Lounge, and the third a Priority Lounge. All three are in Area J after security. If you are not flying Emirates, I would choose the Priority Lounge, which has a great view of the planes and a good selection of Haribo gummy bears.
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.
