World Travel Guide > Guides > Europe > Germany > Frankfurt

Local time Frankfurt

Currency

€

Travel to Frankfurt

Flying to Frankfurt

Frankfurt International Airport is Germany's major air travel hub. British Airways and Lufthansa operate direct flights from the UK. Delta, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and United offer direct services from the USA and Air Canada from Canada. Ryanair flies from the UK to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, though this is around 125km (78 miles) from the city itself.

Due to Frankfurt's popularity as a business destination, prices are more or less consistent year-round, but increased demand over major holidays such as Christmas and Easter can influence fares if tickets aren't bought in advance.

Flight times

From London - 1 hour 30 minutes; New York - 7 hours 40 minutes; Los Angeles - 11 hours; Toronto - 7 hours 30 minutes; Sydney - 24 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

Germany has an excellent network of roads and motorways. Generally, there are no speed limits on much of the motorway network, but individually marked speed limits appear on a large percentage of motorway miles. A maximum of 130kph (81mph) is recommended.

On normal roads, speed limits are 100kph (62mph) outside built-up areas, and 50kph (31mph) or 30kph (19mph) in built-up areas. Traffic drives on the right. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Foreign drivers require their national driving licence and proof of insurance – third-party insurance is mandatory, but a Green Card is strongly recommended. A country identification sticker or national licence plate must be displayed on the vehicle.

Mitfahrzentrale are 'car sharing' agencies that link drivers with travellers heading to the same destination. Search the Mitfahrgelegenheit website (www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de) for possible car-pooling opportunities.

Frankfurt has an Umweltzone, a Low Emission Zone, which covers the area enclosed by the orbital motorway. Only vehicles displaying the green badge on their windscreen can travel within this zone. You can obtain badges from recognised test centres, garages and the vehicle registration authorities.

General information on travelling by car in Germany is available from the Allgemeine Deutsche Automobil Club - ADAC (tel: 0800 510 1112, in Germany only; www.adac.de)

Emergency breakdown services

ADAC (tel: 0180 222 2222, in Germany).

Routes

The Frankfurter Kreuz (near the airport, to the south of the city) is the most important junction in the German Autobahn network, where the A5 and A3 motorways connect. The A5 is the motorway to Frankfurt from the north (Hanover and Berlin) and the south (Karlsruhe and from across the border in Basel). The A3 connects Frankfurt with the east (Nürnberg) and west (Düsseldorf and Cologne).

Coaches

Eurolines (tel: +49 6196 207 8501; www.eurolines.de), Flixbus (www.flixbus.de), IC-Bus (www.bahn.de/p/view/angebot/fernbus/) operate international services between Frankfurt and numerous destinations such as London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Copenhagen and Budapest.

Eurolines, Flixbus and IC-Bus also operate services within Germany, including destinations on the 'Romantic Road' route. From Frankfurt, coaches go to Munich, Würzburg, Augsburg and Schwangau. All buses depart from the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof Omnibusbahnhof, at the main railway station.

Time to city

From Munich - 3 hours 40 minutes; Hanover - 3 hours 20 minutes; Berlin - 5 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

The rail network in Germany is modern, extensive and highly efficient. The high-speed TGV/ICE connection links Frankfurt with Paris Gare de l'Est in less than four hours, while other IC and EC services link to destinations throughout Germany and abroad.

ICE trains serve a number of cities including Basel, Bonn, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. The ICE Cologne-Frankfurt link is the fastest on the network, at just 64 minutes (50 minutes to Frankfurt Flughafen).

There are also night trains (www.oebb.at/de/angebote-ermaessigungen/nightjet) from Frankfurt to Vienna.

IR, IRE, RE (Regional Express) RB (Regional Bahn) and S-Bahn trains serve regional and domestic city destinations.

Frankfurt Airport also has its own train station, with regular ICE services to Amsterdam, Basel, Cologne, Hanover, Brussels, Paris, Stuttgart, Copenhagen and Munich.

Frankfurt’s Hauptbahnhof (main railway station), Am Hauptbahnhof Strasse, is the busiest in Germany.

Operators

Deutsche Bahn - DB (tel: 0180 699 6633, in Germany only; www.bahn.de) is the national railway provider.

Eurostar (tel: 03432 186 186, in the UK only or +44 1233 617 575; www.eurostar.com) runs from London to Brussels Midi in 2 hours. From Brussels, there is a direct ICE train to Frankfurt.

Journey times

From London - 5 hours 30 minutes; Berlin - 4 hours 10 minutes; Cologne - 1 hour 5 minutes; Munich - 3 hours 10 minutes; Hamburg - 3 hours 40 minutes.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

Gerbermühle

Housed in a former mill building on the south bank of the Main about 4km (2.5 miles) east of the main railway station, this small boutique hotel is where Goethe is said to have met Marianne von Willemer, who he'd later write poetry about. With only 19 rooms and suites, the hotel has very high standard in terms of comfort and service, offering a refreshing alternative to the major chain hotels that are so prevalent in Frankfurt.

Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof

Destroyed during WWII and entirely rebuilt by hotelier Albert Steigenberger, this fantastic listed building combines historical glory and modern convenience. Despite the elegant furnishings, the discreet service and the majestic atmosphere, Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof retains character and intimacy. The facilities are fantastic, including a wellness club and business centre. For very important guests, who require extra special treatment, the Presidential Suite even has bullet-proof windows.

Villa Kennedy

Now under the wing of the acclaimed Rocco Forte luxury hotel group the Villa Kennedy is firmly in the 5-star-plus category. Situated in the city centre, on the south bank of the Main and close to Sachsenhausen, the hotel consists of three buildings and the Villa Speyer, a building dating from the early 20th century. The Gusto restaurant vies with the very best in Frankfurt, while for those in need of rest and relaxation, there are full leisure and spa facilities including a swimming pool. The hotel also offers a number of meetings and events spaces for the business visitor and is a favourite with visiting celebrities too.

Hotel Palmenhof

The fine architecture of this elegant Westend building is more reminiscent of a historic palace than a modern hotel. However, the rooms of this small but stylish art nouveau residence, furnished throughout with sophisticated antiques, provide all the contemporary comforts of 21st-century business life. Satellite TV, private safes and wireless internet are basic standards in all rooms.

Maritim Hotel Frankfurt

Directly linked to the Trade Fair Centre, this very modern circular, glass hotel is most convenient for travellers visiting one of Frankfurt's numerous international fairs. The 5-star Maritim caters mainly for professionals, providing everything the sophisticated traveller expects, from extensive business facilities such wireless internet and digital fax machines to a laptop-sized safe. Excellent relaxation options are also available at the Maritim Sports Club.

The Pure

The Pure is one of the trendiest hotels in Frankfurt. Just around the corner from the main station this style haunt is decorated in a palette of white, white and white. The staff are warm enough to add a bit of colour and all rooms have flat screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi access, air conditioning and iPod docks. The lobby bar stocks an impressive range of single malt whiskies and there’s also a modest gym for more active types, as well as a sauna and steam room.

Introducing Frankfurt

While you’re there

Plan your trip

Germany Information

Airports