Opened in 1888, the original Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof was built of iron and glass, in Renaissance Revival style—by 1924, it already needed expansion. Two neoclassical passenger halls were added on either side, which corresponded with the era’s three railway companies. Today, the station serves over 450,000 daily passengers across both local and regional services—all the way to France and the Netherlands. Here, travelers will find the S-Bahn (rapid transit commuter trains), U-Bahn (metro line), tram services into the city, and a direct link to the Frankfurt Airport.
If you need a ticket, you can head to the counter in the main hall, or use one of the many self-serve ticket machines throughout the station.
It takes just a couple of minutes to walk between platforms, regardless of number.
If you need a bite, there’s a surprising amount of eatery options available (plus shopping).
You’ll see “hauptbahnhof” shortened to “hbf” throughout Germany.
The station has free Wi-Fi, luggage lockers, bicycle parking, and car parking onsite.
If you’re coming from Frankfurt International Airport, take the direct S-Bahn S8 or S9 lines, which connect you to Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof in about 15-20 minutes. Otherwise, in the city, walk to your nearest U-Bahn or tram station for a short commute to this bustling transportation hub.
Aim to get to Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof at least 20 minutes before your train departs—no need to run through the station in a tizzy. The same goes for changing trains: Even though it only takes a few minutes to switch platforms, aim to have at least 20 minutes between arrival and departure. (If you do miss your train, you can just hop on the next one.)
The Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof is designed to be easy to navigate—it’s all in the open with no barriers, so switching platforms is a breeze (great news for those with kids or luggage). They’re also numbered from left to right, 1 to 24. Ticket stations abound, and if you get lost or have questions, there’s an information station opposite platforms 12 and 13.
