Frankfurt (FRA) Stopover Tips

[AFF Editor]

This thread is a place to share tips and recommendations for stopovers at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany. You can discuss things like:

• How to get from the airport to the city
• Things to do (both near the airport and in the city)
• Where to stay/hotel recommendations (both near the airport and in the city)
• Your favourite FRA airport lounges
• Airport facilities such as luggage storage and showers
• Any other destination-specific tips or "hidden gems" you've discovered that could be useful for someone stopping over

Do you have a great tip that other travellers might find useful when stopping over in Frankfurt am Main? Add your suggestions to this thread, and your advice could make it into an AFF Stopover Guide article!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

This week we transit FRA airport and I was pulled aside for a bag check, I had a handbag and a roll on bag. I had two baggies of creams/sprays for both of us in my bag, so the security guy asked why the two bags, and I said I am carrying the creams/sprays for the two of us and my husband has my computer. So he went thru my handbag and found a 15ml lip balm - " this should be in the bag !! " He looked in my diary, my phone was turned off, he opened my money purse, " What are you doing with all this chinese money ??" ME: it not chinese, it japanese yen. He looked at my camera ! My curling wand, He gave both bags a good going over.

So make sure you have everything in order if transitting FRA !!

 

[Mattg]

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with FRA. Sometimes, everything is super efficient and it's a pleasure to pass through this airport. Other times, you have to walk 1000km to your gate and there are huge queues for immigration and security.

Last year, I arrived off a long-haul flight around 7am and had 2 hours to connect to a Schengen Zone flight. The queue for inbound immigration was crazy, and I had to then walk forever to get to the next gate. I almost missed the connecting flight.

I've tried out a few of the Star Alliance lounges here. The Lufthansa Senator Lounges in general are very good with nice food and drink options, and my favourite is the one opposite gate B42. There's also an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, which is not bad but I do prefer the Lufthansa lounges.



If you have an overnight layover, there are a few options. There is a bunch of airport hotels within a short shuttle bus ride from the airport... I've stayed at the Park Inn by Radisson and found it good for the price. To get to the airport hotel park, you can also now take the S-Bahn one station from the airport to Gateway Gardens, or if you want to stretch your legs it is an easy ~30 minute walk. (There is also a Hilton or Sheraton directly outside Terminal 1, but they are expensive.)

If you want to go into the city, there are frequent and inexpensive S-Bahn trains that only take 15-20 minutes. There is also a long-distance railway station at the airport, so you can quite easily get to anywhere else in Germany.

If you have a whole day to spend in Frankfurt, consider a day-trip with the train to Heidelberg to visit Heidelberg Castle.

FWIW, I have a 50-minute connection in FRA this weekend. Wish me luck!

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

FWIW, I have a 50-minute connection in FRA this weekend. Wish me luck!

I'd be buying a lotto ticket after if I made that! Keep us posted and wishing you the very best of luck.

 

[Mattg]

I'd be buying a lotto ticket after if I made that! Keep us posted and wishing you the very best of luck.

Well I ended up making the connection without any problems. We arrived at a bus bay and I had to walk about a kilometre (without even changing terminals), but still made it to the next gate before boarding began.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have 2 days out of FRA in May and would appreciate tips on places to visit - @tyrolean ?

1) Immediately in and around Frankfurt that are less well known, preferably with a historical interest. (I've been to Mainz & the Gutenberg museum).

2) With a rental car over 2 days (notwithstanding the pricing I've seen so far is extortionate) to the NE and SE of Frankfurt. I'm doing the Rhine and Moselle Valleys on another part of the trip.

• Neuschwanstein Castle is high on the wish list (thanks @Mattg -and I note your suggestion of Heidelberg Castle above. Of the two, which would be the better choice?

 

[Mattg]

Neuschwanstein Castle is high on the wish list (thanks @Mattg -and I note your suggestion of Heidelberg Castle above. Of the two, which would be the better choice?

Of the two, Neuschwanstein for sure! It's in another league

 

[OZDUCK]

Rooflyer-

Wurzburg is about 120 km drive east of Frankfurt and also just over an hour by express train. It has an excellent fortress overlooking the town and the reconstructed Residenz is a must see.

Würzburg – visit the glamorous Baroque city - Germany Travel

The university city Würzburg shines in all its glory with culture, history and a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of the beautiful countryside.

www.germany.travel

Bavarian Palace Administration | Würzburg Residence | Residence / Overview

Official website of the Würzburg Residence and Court Garden

www.residenz-wuerzburg.de

Closer in is Bad Homburg reachable by the S Bahn. It is one of, if not, the wealthiest city in Germany. It has a very impressive Kurpark with a grandiose spa building. Its castle was the summer residence of Kaiser Wiilhelm ll.

Bad Homburg - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

We did enjoy our few hours in Marburg last year. The old town is well known for its half timbered houses. It is a little over 90 km north of Frankfurt and also easily reachable via rail.

11 Reasons Why You Should Visit Marburg, Germany

Idyllic river views, a romantic city centre, countless of bars, cafés and restaurants and a castle – here are 11 reasons why you should visit Marburg.

theculturetrip.com

If you are interested in Art Nouveau architecture then a visit to Darmstadt is a must. It is only 36 km south of Frankfurt and also eastly accessible by rail.

Mathildenhöhe

www.mathildenhoehe-darmstadt.de

If you have an interest in the Roman Empire then there is a nice 35 minute drive up into the Taunus Mountains to visit the Saalburg. It is a reconstruction of a Roman Fortress from the days of the Limes Germanicus - the frontier of the Roman Empire around 200 AD. It is a bit of fun but with an interesting small museum and some genuine Roman era remnants around.

Home EN – Römerkastell Saalburg

www.saalburgmuseum.de

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks @OZDUCK - yes, yes, yes, yes!

 

[SYD]

I know this is an old thread but I was surprised no one mentioned the best tip: “Don’t” (stopover / transit if you can avoid it). Unless you know your way around those 1000kms of passageways and piers.

@Mattg hit the nail on the head. Transiting, if you’re lucky it’s a short painless experience but there‘s the entirely opposite experience available - especially arriving from North America (for some unknown reason). If you follow the signs they’ll take you to the most busiest security / immigration point but “exit stage left” and you can find yourself in a parallel universe with no one else around. But you still end up walking 1000 kms to your onward flight.

So maybe allowing one or two night stopover is the go…

 

[BCons]

I know this is an old thread but I was surprised no one mentioned the best tip: “Don’t” (stopover / transit if you can avoid it). Unless you know your way around those 1000kms of passageways and piers.

@Mattg hit the nail on the head. Transiting, if you’re lucky it’s a short painless experience but there‘s the entirely opposite experience available - especially arriving from North America (for some unknown reason). If you follow the signs they’ll take you to the most busiest security / immigration point but “exit stage left” and you can find yourself in a parallel universe with no one else around. But you still end up walking 1000 kms to your onward flight.

So maybe allowing one or two night stopover is the go…

So whats the procedure arriving from US and transiting to (non Schengen) UK ? Will be doing that in Sept.

Is it just an airside transit, or must one clear Immmig and then go find the next gate/terminal/lounge ?

 

[Mattg]

So whats the procedure arriving from US and transiting to (non Schengen) UK ? Will be doing that in Sept.

Is it just an airside transit, or must one clear Immmig and then go find the next gate/terminal/lounge ?

Non-Schengen to non-Schengen is an airside transit. No need to clear immigration. I think you might need to re-clear security though.

 

[BCons]

Non-Schengen to non-Schengen is an airside transit. No need to clear immigration. I think you might need to re-clear security though.

Thanks. It’s from SQ to LH and it appears both of them use Terml 1, but I will build in a decent transit fudge factor..

 

[Cossie]

Might as well ask here! We arrive in Frankfurt at about 6am on a Sunday and leave at midday Monday.
Normally we would pick up a car and start driving then check into a hotel that afternoon, however this time we will stay in Frankfurt.
We don’t really want to stay up all day then get a room, but I’m having trouble finding something where we can checkin early Sunday about 8am.
All the places at the the airport I have tried don’t seem to understand that I’m happy to pay for two nights, but I don’t want to run the risk of being “a no show” on Saturday evening and losing the room
Any suggestions for a 24 hotel room, or other ideas?

 

[OZDUCK]

Perhaps stay in relatively cheap place like one of the three B & B Hotels in Frankfurt? We have used them in France. Small but clean and comfortable rooms. They seem like the sort of place that would understand what you wish to do. They appear to be pretty close to rail transport.

 

[jase05]

Might as well ask here! We arrive in Frankfurt at about 6am on a Sunday and leave at midday Monday.
Normally we would pick up a car and start driving then check into a hotel that afternoon, however this time we will stay in Frankfurt.
We don’t really want to stay up all day then get a room, but I’m having trouble finding something where we can checkin early Sunday about 8am.
All the places at the the airport I have tried don’t seem to understand that I’m happy to pay for two nights, but I don’t want to run the risk of being “a no show” on Saturday evening and losing the room
Any suggestions for a 24 hotel room, or other ideas?

Have never had problems with Accor in getting an early morning checkin. I just book 2 nights and tell them I have a late night/early morning flight and ask if they have a 24hr checkin. Plenty of cheap Accor properties in Frankfurt that are ok and should have no problems with what you want

 

[Michenny]

Might as well ask here! We arrive in Frankfurt at about 6am on a Sunday and leave at midday Monday.
Normally we would pick up a car and start driving then check into a hotel that afternoon, however this time we will stay in Frankfurt.
We don’t really want to stay up all day then get a room, but I’m having trouble finding something where we can checkin early Sunday about 8am.
All the places at the the airport I have tried don’t seem to understand that I’m happy to pay for two nights, but I don’t want to run the risk of being “a no show” on Saturday evening and losing the room
Any suggestions for a 24 hotel room, or other ideas?

I stayed at Staycity Aparthotel at Airport last Oct. Cheap and a great hotel in the new Gateway Gardens.