Frankfurt Airport Guide

Find your way around Frankfurt Airport (Flughafen Frankfurt am Main). Two terminals in use, a free sky train between them, one of Europe's best rail connections underneath — and a few local rules that catch people out, from the liquid limit that differs by checkpoint to the terminal change you cannot make on foot.

What do you need to know about Frankfurt Airport?

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the main aviation gateway to Germany and one of the busiest airports in Europe. Operated by Fraport AG, it lies about 12 km / 7.5 miles southwest of Frankfurt city centre, at the Frankfurter Kreuz junction of the A3 and A5 motorways. Under normal conditions, the S-Bahn reaches the city centre in around 11–15 minutes.

As the largest hub of Lufthansa and a major Star Alliance base, FRA connects Frankfurt with destinations worldwide. In 2025 the airport handled roughly 63.2 million passengers, and it remains one of the world’s leading cargo hubs.

This guide brings together everything you need for a smooth trip through FRA, with links to detailed pages on terminals, parking, transport to the city, hotels and more.

How many terminals does Frankfurt Airport have?

Two in use. Terminal 1 (concourses A, B, C and Z) is the home of Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners and sits directly above the railway stations. The new Terminal 3 (piers G, H and J), south of the runways, opened in April 2026 and handles most other international carriers; it is built for around 19 million passengers a year. Terminal 2 (former concourses D and E) closed to passengers in June 2026 for a multi-year refurbishment, and its airlines moved to Terminal 3.

How do you get between the terminals?

By the free automated Sky Line train, which links Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 in about eight minutes and runs every two to three minutes from 04:00 to 23:00. Outside those hours free shuttle buses take over, calling at the arrivals forecourts of both terminals. Inside Terminal 1, concourses A and B are joined by a passenger tunnel. Always allow extra time for terminal changes and passport control — full details are in our terminals guide.

How do you get to and from the airport?

FRA is one of the best-connected airports in Europe. Two railway stations beneath and beside Terminal 1 provide S-Bahn services (lines S8 and S9) to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and the city centre, as well as ICE and IC high-speed trains across Germany and Europe.

Other options include airport taxis from the ranks outside arrivals, pre-booked private transfers, long-distance coaches, and car rental from desks at both terminals. Compare them all in our transport to the city centre guide. Driving to Terminal 3 is a separate journey from driving to Terminal 1: it connects directly to the A5 motorway and has its own car park of up to 8,500 spaces at entrance P11.

How much liquid can you take through security at FRA?

It depends on the checkpoint, which is unusual and worth knowing. All checkpoints in Terminal 3 and most in Terminal 1 have CT scanners: there you may carry up to 2 litres of liquids, with no transparent bag, and liquids and laptops can stay inside your hand baggage. The older 100 ml limit with a 1-litre transparent bag still applies at the gate checkpoints C1, C2, C4 and C6, at some special-purpose lanes in Terminal 1, and — the one that catches connecting passengers — at the transfer checkpoints.

Can you book a slot for security?

Yes, and it is free. FRA SmartWay lets you reserve a time slot at security from 72 hours before departure, with access to a dedicated lane, at three checkpoints: Terminal 1 Area A on Level 2 (Schengen only), Terminal 1 Area B on Level 2, and Terminal 3 Central Control on Level 3. There is a 15-minute grace period before the slot; miss the window and you join the regular lanes. Airline fast lanes at the major checkpoints are a separate thing and depend on your ticket or status.

What happens when you connect at Frankfurt?

Frankfurt is a hub, so a large share of its passengers never leave the airport. Crossing the Schengen border means passport control, where EasyPASS automated gates speed things up for eligible travellers and non-EU visitors should allow for the EU Entry/Exit System's biometric registration. Arrivals from outside the Schengen area are normally re-screened at a transfer checkpoint. If a connection looks tight, the airport's Service Points, InfoGates and the Mobile Service Guides in red uniforms exist precisely for that; walking-time displays around the terminals show how long it takes to reach your gate.

Where can you sleep at or near the airport?

Travellers passing through Frankfurt Airport have plenty of accommodation choices. Several hotels sit right at the airport — including the Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn in The Squaire and the Sheraton, both connected to Terminal 1 — which are ideal for early departures, late arrivals and long layovers.

Frankfurt city centre also offers a wide range of hotels, from luxury properties to budget options, all within a short train ride of the airport. See our overview of hotels near Frankfurt Airport to compare locations.

Where do you park?

Fraport provides a large range of parking facilities at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, from short-term garages close to the terminals to economy and long-stay lots served by shuttle buses, plus valet and premium options. Booking online in advance usually gives the best rates — see our parking guide for details.

Which lounges can you use?

Frankfurt Airport has an exceptional choice of lounges, including numerous Lufthansa Business and Senator lounges and the exclusive Lufthansa First Class Terminal for eligible passengers, as well as independent pay-per-use and Priority Pass lounges. Learn more in our lounges guide.

What can you do on a long layover?

Layovers at FRA can be comfortable and productive, with extensive dining, shopping, lounges, showers, quiet areas and day rooms available airside. Germany is in the Schengen Area, so watch for passport control when moving between Schengen and non-Schengen zones.

If your layover runs to five or six hours or more, the city centre is just 11–15 minutes away by S-Bahn, making it easy to see the skyline, the Römerberg old town or the museum embankment before your onward flight. For tips, read our layover guide.