Is There a Direct Train from Frankfurt Airport to the City?
Yes. Unlike many airports, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has its own railway stations built right into the complex, so you can travel by train without leaving the airport. There are in fact two separate stations: a Regional Station for local and suburban trains, and a Long-Distance Station for high-speed services across Germany and Europe.
The Regional Station (Regionalbahnhof) sits directly beneath Terminal 1 and handles the S-Bahn and regional trains — this is the one you want for the trip into central Frankfurt. The Long-Distance Station (Fernbahnhof), connected to Terminal 1 by a covered walkway, handles ICE and IC trains for onward journeys.
For the city centre, the S-Bahn reaches Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in around 11–15 minutes. For an overview of every route into town, see our transport to the city centre guide.
The Regional Station (Regionalbahnhof)
The Regional Station lies one level below the Terminal 1 arrivals area and is well signposted from every concourse. From here, S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 run to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in about 11–15 minutes and continue through the city centre to Hauptwache and Konstablerwache. Between the two lines, a train leaves roughly every 7–8 minutes during the day, and both run through the night at reduced frequency.
The same station also serves regional trains (RB / RE) to nearby cities including Mainz, Wiesbaden and Darmstadt, making the airport a handy regional hub. Journey times are short — Mainz and Wiesbaden are around 25–35 minutes away.
The Long-Distance Station (Fernbahnhof)
The Long-Distance Station is a separate building linked to Terminal 1 by an enclosed walkway (roughly a 5–10 minute walk from arrivals). It is served by ICE and IC high-speed trains operated by Deutsche Bahn, connecting the airport directly with cities across Germany and beyond — Cologne in about an hour, Stuttgart in around 1¼ hours, Munich in roughly 3 hours, plus Hamburg, Berlin, Basel and more.
Lufthansa and its partners offer AIRail — Lufthansa Express Rail — which lets you book an ICE leg as part of your flight ticket. You travel on a normal Deutsche Bahn train, but with a flight number, coordinated connections and baggage/check-in handled at the dedicated AIRail Terminal beside the long-distance station. It is a seamless way to connect from cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart without changing to a plane for the short hop.
Where Are the Train Stations at Frankfurt Airport?
Both stations are on the Terminal 1 side of the airport. The Regional Station is directly beneath Terminal 1 — follow the S-Bahn signs down from arrivals. The Long-Distance Station is reached via the walkway from Terminal 1 (look for signs to "Fernbahnhof" or the long-distance trains / DB symbol).
If you arrive at Terminal 3, take the free Sky Line train or shuttle bus to Terminal 1 first, then follow the signs to the station you need. Allow a little extra time for the transfer with luggage.
Train Tickets from Frankfurt Airport
Which ticket you buy depends on where you are going. For the S-Bahn and regional trains, use the local RMV tariff: a single ticket into central Frankfurt costs around €6–7 (about €6.90 in 2026), and a day ticket covering the airport is around €13–14. Buy from the RMV machines on the station concourse, or in the RMV or DB Navigator apps.
For ICE and IC long-distance trains, book through Deutsche Bahn (bahn.de or the DB Navigator app). Fares vary with how far ahead you book — advance "Sparpreis" tickets can be much cheaper than the flexible full fare, so it pays to book early.
There are no ticket barriers at either station, but you must hold a valid ticket before boarding, as onboard checks are frequent and fines apply. If you booked an AIRail journey with Lufthansa, your train leg is already included in your flight booking — no separate ticket is needed.
Tip: if you are also using buses, trams or the U-Bahn in Frankfurt, an RMV day ticket can cover the whole network within the fare zone, which is better value than several single tickets.