To Hauptbahnhof and Hauptwache · One way · 2 adults · All service hoursPrices are whole-party totals. Times are recorded journey durations; no walking or waiting has been added.
All prices are totals for 2 adults. Group fares included.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt city center?
For one traveler the cheapest way is the S-Bahn S8 or S9 at €6.90, 14 min, and it is also the fastest. Every option below is priced as a total for your party and says where it leaves you.
1 listed option
Lowest listed totalregional
S-Bahn S8 or S9
regional · S-Bahn Rhein-Main, RMV tariff
14 min rideEvery 15 minRuns all night
Regionalbahnhof→Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in 14 minutes
Airport to Frankfurt is Preisstufe 4: a single is EUR 6.90 (child 6–14, EUR 4.10), a day ticket EUR 13.50. The Gruppentageskarte at the same level is EUR 22.50 for up to five people, valid all day network-wide — children count as full people. Do not buy the EUR 14.80 Frankfurt group day ticket: it does not cover this journey.
Luggage. Racks by the doors; it is a commuter train and full at rush hour.
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Going somewhere specific?
"The center" is not one place, and the answer changes
The Regionalbahnhof sits in the basement of Terminal 1, level 0, platforms Regio 1 to 3, reachable from every terminal area — A, B and C. It's a separate station from the Fernbahnhof, five minutes' walk away, where the ICE and IC trains leave instead.
Which terminal
Terminal 3 has no railway station of its own. Follow the signs for Terminal 3 G, H or J and ride the free SkyLine train, about 10 to 15 minutes, over to Terminal 1 for the S-Bahn or on to the Fernbahnhof.
Tickets
Buy an RMV ticket from a machine at the Regionalbahnhof, paying by cash or EC-card, or buy one from the driver if you catch a bus instead. The Fernbahnhof's long-distance trains run on separate Deutsche Bahn tickets and machines.
The taxi rank
Taxis wait around the clock at both terminals and at the Fernbahnhof, so there's no need to book ahead or hunt for a specific rank.
Uber and Bolt
Uber picks up and drops off at Terminal 1's short-term car park P31, on the departure level. At Terminal 3, pickup is from the charter-bus lane P62 and drop-off from the departure level's P63 — book the ride in the app before you go looking for the car.
Before you travel
Where each one starts, how long it runs, what it carries
regional · S-Bahn Rhein-Main, RMV tariffS-Bahn S8 or S9
From
Regionalbahnhof, Terminal 1 level 0, platforms Regio 1 to 3
To
Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in 14 minutes, Hauptwache in 18, Konstablerwache in 20
Luggage
Racks by the doors; it is a commuter train and full at rush hour.
Runs
All night
Journey
14 min
Airport to Frankfurt is Preisstufe 4: a single is EUR 6.90 (child 6–14, EUR 4.10), a day ticket EUR 13.50. The Gruppentageskarte at the same level is EUR 22.50 for up to five people, valid all day network-wide — children count as full people. Do not buy the EUR 14.80 Frankfurt group day ticket: it does not cover this journey.
Buy the Gruppentageskarte if there are four or more of you, or three of you making a return trip today. It is EUR 22.50 whether you are four or five, against EUR 6.90 each in singles, and the machines do not suggest it.
Write every traveler's name on the group ticket before you board and carry photo ID: it is not transferable, and VGF states that blank name fields make it invalid.
S8 and S9 are interchangeable for this leg: both call at the Regionalbahnhof and both reach the Hauptbahnhof (tief) in 14 minutes. They differ only west of the airport and east of the city.
Do not walk to the Fernbahnhof. It is signposted, its trains are faster, and your RMV ticket is not valid on any of them.
At night the S8 runs alone, every 30 minutes, at :00 and :30 from midnight to 04:30. Those departures carry RMV's regular-maintenance flag, which means a bus can stand in on some nights; check before relying on one.
Until 19 September 2026 Deutsche Bahn has closures between Kelsterbach and Wiesbaden, west of the airport. They do not touch the airport-to-city leg, but the timetable is being altered around them.
The S-Bahn also leaves you at Taunusanlage, Hauptwache and Konstablerwache on the same ticket, so pick the stop nearest your hotel rather than defaulting to the main station.
regional · S-Bahn Rhein-Main, RMV tariffS8 to Mainz Hbf
From
Regionalbahnhof, Terminal 1 level 0, platforms Regio 1 to 3 — the S8 westbound, towards Mainz and Wiesbaden
To
Mainz Römisches Theater in 23 minutes, Mainz Hauptbahnhof in 29, Mainz Nord in 33; the train goes on to Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof in 43
Luggage
Racks by the doors; a commuter train, full at rush hour.
Runs
All night
Journey
29 min
Airport to Wiesbaden/Mainz is Preisstufe 4, the same level as airport to Frankfurt: EUR 6.90 adult single, EUR 4.10 child (6–14), EUR 13.50 day ticket, EUR 22.50 for the Gruppentageskarte (up to five people, all day). Frankfurt city to Mainz is Preisstufe 5, EUR 11.50.
Take the S8, not the S9. Both leave the same platforms westbound, but the S9 turns off after Mainz-Bischofsheim to "Mainz-Kastel" — a district of Wiesbaden on the far bank of the Rhine, by RMV's own tariff plan — and never reaches Mainz Hauptbahnhof.
Four or more of you: buy the Gruppentageskarte at price level 4, EUR 22.50 for up to five, against EUR 6.90 each. Three pay EUR 20.70 in singles and lose EUR 1.80 by taking it — unless they are coming back the same day.
Every one of the 141 westbound S8 departures in RMV's 2026 timetable takes 29 minutes to Mainz Hauptbahnhof, at :00 and :30 past the hour, day and night.
On Sunday-to-Thursday nights, service to Mainz thins: the 02:00 and 03:00 trains end at Kelsterbach and the 04:00 slot is an S9 to Wiesbaden, so departures are hourly between 01:30 and 04:30 (01:30, 02:30, 03:30, 04:30). Friday, Saturday and pre-holiday nights keep the half-hourly S8 service. Night departures may be replaced by buses.
Until 19 September 2026, the S8 is replaced by buses between Mainz-Bischofsheim and Rüsselsheim from Friday 11 September 21:00 to Monday 14 September 05:00, with further night closures (21:00–05:00) until 25 September. Nothing has been published for after 25 September.
Going back, a Mainz city ticket (EUR 3.90, the Wiesbaden/Mainz level) is not valid to the airport; you need Preisstufe 4 again.
regional · S-Bahn Rhein-Main, RMV tariffS9 or S8 to Wiesbaden Hbf
From
Regionalbahnhof, Terminal 1 level 0, platforms Regio 1 to 3 — either line westbound
To
Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof: 33 minutes on the S9 via Mainz-Kastel, 43 on the S8 via Mainz Hauptbahnhof; both call at Wiesbaden Ost five minutes before
Luggage
Racks by the doors; a commuter train, full at rush hour.
Runs
All night
Journey
33–43 min
Wiesbaden and Mainz are one fare zone: the airport to it is Preisstufe 4, EUR 6.90 adult, EUR 4.10 child, EUR 13.50 day ticket, EUR 22.50 for the Gruppentageskarte (up to five). The single is valid on both the S9 and S8. The EUR 3.90 Wiesbaden/Mainz city single does not reach the airport.
Take whichever comes first. The S9 is ten minutes quicker (33 against 43) and together they run every 15 minutes by day; the ticket is the same and so is the platform.
Four or more of you: the Gruppentageskarte at price level 4 is EUR 22.50 for up to five against EUR 6.90 each. Three are EUR 1.80 better off on singles for a one-way trip.
At night the S9 stops and the S8 carries on. The last S9 to Wiesbaden is 00:15 (Sunday–Thursday) or 00:45 (Friday, Saturday, pre-holiday); then the S8 via Mainz runs at :00 and :30 (43 minutes), thinning to hourly between 01:30 and 04:30 on weekday nights, with the S9 back at 04:00. Night departures may be replaced by buses.
Until 19 September 2026, the S9 is suspended between Kelsterbach and Wiesbaden Hbf (from 11 July), replaced by the S9X bus; the S8 runs with its own replacement buses in stretches, and is itself replaced between Mainz-Bischofsheim and Rüsselsheim from Friday 11 September 21:00 to Monday 14 September 05:00. More night closures follow to 25 September, with nothing published for after that.
Mainz-Kastel, Mainz-Kostheim and Mainz-Amöneburg are Wiesbaden districts despite the name, by RMV's own tariff plan; the S9 serves Kastel, 25 minutes out, on the way.
bus · HEAG mobilo, RMV tariff plus AirLiner surchargeAirLiner bus to Darmstadt Hbf
From
The bus station in front of Terminal 1, Steig 11, by exit B — the stop since 7 September 2026; Steig 25 is no longer served
To
Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof (Steig 11) in 29 minutes, Luisenplatz in 35, the Kongresszentrum in 38; it calls at the airport's Tor 3 and Hugo-Eckener-Ring on the way out
Luggage
Double-deck coaches with shelf space for large luggage, by the operator; free Wi-Fi.
Runs
04:47–00:02
Journey
29 min
The AirLiner costs the RMV fare plus a EUR 3.80 surcharge per person: EUR 10.70 adult, EUR 7.90 child (6–14). A Gruppentageskarte (EUR 22.50 for up to five) pays only the surcharge on top: EUR 37.70 for four, EUR 41.50 for five. Deutschlandticket holders pay the surcharge only; Deutsche Bahn ticket holders pay both fare and surcharge.
Nothing waives the EUR 3.80 surcharge except a first-class Rail&Fly ticket, the Seniorenticket Hessen Komfort, or companions of disabled passengers. An RMV single, Gruppentageskarte, Deutschlandticket or Rail&Fly with RMV validity still pays it; a Deutsche Bahn ticket needs the RMV fare too.
No cash on board. Buy cashless from the driver, in advance on the HEAG mobilo app, or — for the surcharge alone — by contactless card, phone or watch at the validator by the second door; keep the card you paid with for the inspector, since there is no paper ticket. The airport's RMV machines do not sell this surcharge.
Terminal 1 only. From Terminals 2 and 3 take the free SkyLine to Terminal 1 first; the operator says so in terms.
The half-hourly pattern breaks in the evening: after the 19:17 the next is 20:02, and the last is 00:02. Between 00:02 and 04:47 nothing goes to Darmstadt from this airport, on this bus or the X15.
RMV's express bus X15 does the same relation for EUR 6.90 without the surcharge — an hour longer, hourly, and to Mathildenplatz rather than the Hauptbahnhof.
From Terminal 1, every day: 04:47, 05:17, 05:47 and every 30 minutes to 19:17, then 20:02, 20:32, 21:02, 21:32, 22:10, 22:32, 23:10, 23:38 and 00:02. Nothing between 00:02 and 04:47.
bus · RMV express bus, RMV tariffX15 express bus to Darmstadt
From
The bus station in front of Terminal 1; the bus then serves the airport's own site gates — Tor 3, the Lufthansa base, Tor 23 to Tor 31 — before leaving the grounds
To
Darmstadt Mathildenplatz in 63 to 68 minutes, via Walldorf, Mörfelden, Gräfenhausen, Otto-Röhm-Straße and Willy-Brandt-Platz; it does not call at Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof or Luisenplatz
Luggage
An ordinary RMV express bus, not a coach; no published luggage rule.
Runs
05:16–00:16
Journey
63–68 min
The plain RMV fare for airport to Darmstadt is Preisstufe 4: EUR 6.90 adult, EUR 4.10 child, EUR 22.50 for up to five on the Gruppentageskarte. The X15 is an ordinary RMV line with no surcharge, unlike the AirLiner.
Twice the AirLiner's journey time, once an hour, ending at Mathildenplatz rather than the Hauptbahnhof. It is EUR 3.80 a head cheaper — EUR 19.00 cheaper for five with a group ticket — and the only Darmstadt bus with no surcharge on a plain RMV ticket.
The first 15 minutes are spent on the airport's own grounds: the timetable puts Tor 31 fifteen minutes out and Walldorf Okrifteler Straße twenty.
Last bus 00:16, first 05:16, every day; nothing to Darmstadt from this airport in between.
The fare level is RMV's matrix figure for the relation, which RMV says is "for the shortest possible connection"; the X15's own fare level is not published elsewhere. Buy the ticket to Darmstadt, not to an intermediate town.
From Terminal 1 hourly, at 15 or 16 minutes past, the same list every day of the week in RMV's timetable dated 21 April 2026: 05:16, 06:15, 07:15 … 19:15, 20:16, 21:16, 22:16, 23:16 and 00:16 — twenty departures.
What is the cheapest way from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt city center?
For one traveler, the S-Bahn S8 or S9 at €6.90. Per-person fares multiply with the size of your party and per-vehicle fares do not, so check the total for your group rather than the single fare.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt city center by train?
One train reaches Hauptbahnhof and Hauptwache: the S-Bahn S8 or S9, €6.90 for one traveler, 14 min, to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in 14 minutes. For one traveler that is the cheapest way into Frankfurt by any means. See every option by train →
How long does it take to get from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt city center?
S-Bahn S8 or S9: 14 min. Frankfurt Airport is 12 km from the inner city.
How far is Frankfurt Airport from the city center?
12 km to the inner city. The fastest way in takes 14 min.
Where is the train station at Frankfurt Airport?
The Regionalbahnhof sits in the basement of Terminal 1, level 0, platforms Regio 1 to 3, reachable from every terminal area — A, B and C. It's a separate station from the Fernbahnhof, five minutes' walk away, where the ICE and IC trains leave instead.
Is there Uber or Bolt at Frankfurt Airport?
Uber picks up and drops off at Terminal 1's short-term car park P31, on the departure level. At Terminal 3, pickup is from the charter-bus lane P62 and drop-off from the departure level's P63 — book the ride in the app before you go looking for the car.
Where do I catch the S-Bahn S8 or S9 at Frankfurt Airport?
Regionalbahnhof, Terminal 1 level 0, platforms Regio 1 to 3. Follow the signs from arrivals. It leaves you at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in 14 minutes, Hauptwache in 18, Konstablerwache in 20.
Does the S8 to Mainz Hbf go to Hauptbahnhof and Hauptwache?
Runs west to Mainz, not into Frankfurt. The airport is between the two, and on this ticket Mainz costs exactly what Frankfurt does.
Does the S9 or S8 to Wiesbaden Hbf go to Hauptbahnhof and Hauptwache?
Runs west to Wiesbaden, not into Frankfurt. Two lines, two banks of the Rhine, one fare.
Does the AirLiner bus to Darmstadt Hbf go to Hauptbahnhof and Hauptwache?
Runs south to Darmstadt, not into Frankfurt. The fast way there, and the only one with a surcharge.
Does the X15 express bus to Darmstadt go to Hauptbahnhof and Hauptwache?
Runs south to Darmstadt, not into Frankfurt. The cheap way there: the same EUR 6.90 as the S-Bahn into the city, and twice the AirLiner's time.
Worth knowing
The airport is in Frankfurt but not in the city fare zone. A single inside the city is EUR 3.80; to the airport it is EUR 6.90. The EUR 14.80 Frankfurt group day ticket does not reach the airport — the EUR 22.50 one does. Nothing at the machine says "airport", so ask for Preisstufe 4.
The Gruppentageskarte (price level 4) covers up to five people for EUR 22.50 all day. It pays off from four people (EUR 22.50 versus EUR 27.60 in singles); for a same-day return, it pays off from two. Everyone's name must go on the ticket, and everyone needs photo ID.
Two stations. The S-Bahn leaves from the Regionalbahnhof under Terminal 1; the ICE leaves from the Fernbahnhof in The Squaire, five to ten minutes' walk away. An RMV ticket, the Frankfurt Card and the HessenTicket are not valid on the ICE. The ICE takes 12 minutes, the S-Bahn 14 (the S-Bahn fare is the one priced here). Terminal 3 has no station: take the free SkyLine, 10 to 15 minutes, to Terminal 1.
No taxi is priced here: the city tariff is a meter (a base charge plus a rate per kilometre), with no fixed airport fare. The EUR 90.00 "airport to city" figure seen online is actually the price of a guided sightseeing tour by taxi, not a ride into town.
There is no night gap. The S8 leaves the airport for the city every 30 minutes through the night, every night; the S9 adds runs by day for every 15 minutes. Late-evening and night departures are flagged for possible maintenance works, so check before relying on one.
The same EUR 6.90 ticket also reaches Mainz, Wiesbaden and Darmstadt: the 29-minute S8 to Mainz Hauptbahnhof, the 33-minute S9 to Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof, and the hourly X15 bus to Darmstadt, all EUR 6.90 a head or EUR 22.50 for up to five on the group day ticket (from Frankfurt itself, Mainz costs EUR 11.50). HEAG mobilo's faster AirLiner bus to Darmstadt adds a EUR 3.80 surcharge per person: EUR 10.70 for 29 minutes against EUR 6.90 for 63 on the X15. Watch two traps: the S9's "Mainz-Kastel" stop is actually in Wiesbaden, not Mainz, and until 19 September 2026 the S9 is suspended with the S8 replaced by buses in stretches west of Kelsterbach.
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