Frankfurt International Airport (Flughafen) is Europe’s second busiest air hub, and serves as the gateway for many travellers to Germany and the continent. More than 240 destinations from 110 countries worldwide are serviced by virtually every airline carrier on the planet. From Frankfurt you can fly to every city in Germany and most within Europe.

The two terminals are located 11kms from the centre of Frankfurt, and fully equipped with every modern amenity imaginable. There are banks, currency exchange kiosks, restaurants, shops and hotels. An excellent way to get from the airport to Frankfurt is via the Airport Train Station, located underneath Terminal 1. From this train station travellers can access both InterCity trains and S-Bahn commuter trains. This allows you to go straight from the airport to other German cities or directly into Frankfurt itself.

Terminal 1 is connected with Terminal 2 by the Sky Line, a moving walkway which makes it easy to get back and forth. The affordable S-Bahn trains depart the airport every 10 minutes, taking less than 15 minutes to reach the city centre. Special airport buses also depart regularly from their bus station at Terminal 1, and taxis are waiting outside both of the terminals for the most convenient and direct mode of transport.

Travellers can also easily reach Frankfurt by train, bus or car. The city’s main train station, the Hauptbahnhof, is the busiest railway station in Europe and contains a full range of passenger facilities. About 1,600 trains come and go throughout the day to every major city in Germany and most neighbouring countries. Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany’s national railway company. Its rail network is very modern, highly efficient, and covers the entire country. High-speed InterCity trains travel between cities, while EuroCity trains cover the continent. A new TGV/ICE high-speed train connects Frankfurt to Paris in under four hours.

Long-distance coaches provide transport from around 800 cities in Germany and Europe each day. Deutsche Touring GmbH is the main bus company, followed by Eurolines. All long-distance buses depart and arrive at the Omnibusbahnhof next to the central train station. If you have rented a car, Frankfurt lies right on the extensive German Autobahn network. The A3 and A5 intersect at Frankfurt, making driving a snap. Cars from all the major firms can be rented at the airport and several locations around the city such as the Hauptbahnhof.

Frankfurt’s public transportation network consists of seven underground lines (U-Bahn), nine tram lines (Strassenbahn) and more than 40 bus routes which cover every corner of the city. The S-Bahn city trains handle anything the other modes of transport don’t reach. The network, called VGF, has a useful information desk at the Hauptbahnhof.

All of the different forms of public transportation work under a single ticketing system based on seven zones. Tickets include transfers and can be bought at the green, coin-operated machines wherever there’s a departure point. The zone map is printed on each machine in six languages. There are several passes which can prove useful to visitors. The Tageskarte is a one-day pass allowing unlimited travel during a 24-hour period within zones one to three. A week-long version is also available, as are single ride tickets. All tickets can be bought at the RMV ticket machines.

Another very useful ticket option is the Frankfurt Card, which combines transportation fares with museum admissions in one ticket. Available as a one or two-day pass, these tickets can be bought at the city’s two tourist offices, the airport and the Hauptbahnhof. The price is very affordable, making this the best deal in town.

Taxis are easy to find and relatively inexpensive for short rides. You can call for a taxi, hire one at the hundreds of taxi ranks, or hail one on the street if its rooftop light is illuminated. Rates go up on holidays and between 22:00 and 06:00. If you rent a car, keep in mind that driving within Frankfurt can be congested and confusing due to its many one-way streets. Street parking is very hard to find, but there are ample covered car parks.