Frankfurt am Main’s main train station is on the river Main.
If that doesn’t make it easy enough to remember, we don’t know what will.
We’ll circle back later as to why that “Main” distinction is so important, but for now, let’s see how the sausage is made and dive into this railway hub in the German state of Hesse.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Mlenny. Image Location: Frankfurt Hbf station, Frankfurt, Germany
Order up: your guide to Frankfurt train station
Everything you need to know about Frankfurt train station, including how to get from Frankfurt airport to the train station (the right one, not the Oder one).
What is Frankfurt's main train station called?
Frankfurt am Main’s main train station is called Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof. Frankfurt (M) Hbf has, first of all, a gorgeously grand neo-Renaissance façade. Also, like many German central stations, it offers connections to regional trains, intercity trains, S-Bahn lines, and international routes like the ICE and TGV inOui trains linking France and Germany.
Where is Frankfurt train station?
The main train station in Frankfurt is located on the western edge of the city center. It’s on the north side of the Main river; attraction-wise, that means it's on the opposite side of the river from the Städel Museum. Don’t worry: this side of the river has a lot to see, too, including the famous Römerberg timber houses, the Goethe House, and Frankfurt Cathedral.
How far is Frankfurt train station from the airport?
Frankfurt am Main train station isn’t far from the airport; it's around 8 miles as the crow flies. And we’ll level with you: it’s a quick cab ride. If you’re a cyclist, it’s a quick bike ride, too. But when your calves are tight from walking around the Dom-Römer-Quartier all day, the most convenient option for how to get from Frankfurt airport to Frankfurt train station and vice versa is the train.
How to get from Frankfurt airport to Frankfurt train station?
Getting from Frankfurt airport to Frankfurt train station is so convenient, we’ll say it twice. Getting from Frankfurt airport to Frankfurt train station is so convenient because the airport has not one, but two, train stations running right into the city center. One train station is called “Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof”; the other is “Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof”. Let’s keep things simple: go to Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof and take either the S-Bahn S8 or S9 line eastbound for 13 mins and get off at Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Travelpix Ltd. Image Location: Frankfurt Hbf station, Frankfurt, Germany
Was geht ab? What’s on at the main train station in Frankfurt?
Great news for anyone who wants to set their bag down and post a bunch of photos to social media the moment they get to Frankfurt train station: luggage storage and wifi are both available. Shops include jewelry at Lovisa, tobacco at Wolsdorff, books at Schmitt & Hahn, and a pharmacy at Apotheke im Hauptbahnhof. The food options are a little more mouthwatering: pretzels, cakes, and snacks from Der Bäcker Eifler, loaded fries at Frittenwerk, and a liquid lunch at Paulaner Bierhaus.
Frankfurt hotels near train station Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof
There is no hotel on the property of the train station in Frankfurt, Germany, which is a shame because who wouldn’t want to stay in such a stunning station? You’ll have to settle for one of the four-star Frankfurt hotels near the train station. Hotel Monopol’s beautiful century-old Jugendstil architecture is quite stunning. Hotel The Frankfurt is one of the closest to your platform; Hotel Europa Life & Style, two separate neighboring hotels, let you choose your budget level according to the comfort and conveniences you desire.
Image Credit: Getty Images, photo by Chris Axe. Image Location: Frankfurt Hbf station, Frankfurt, Germany
How to order a Frankfurter train ticket
Anyone who has ever ordered a wiener in a bun knows that there’s a big difference between a hot dog and a frankfurter: sure, they’re both in the same meat-in-tube-form category, but absolutely not interchangeable.
The same must be said about Frankfurt am Main and Frankfurt an der Oder, both destinations in Germany. One is a major city in western Germany, nicknamed the “Mainhattan of Europe”. The other is a smaller town in eastern Germany on the Polish border.
Make sure that you’re purchasing train tickets that say “Frankfurt (M) Hbf” or “Frankfurt (Main) Hbf” to go to the city of Frankfurt am Main. “Frankfurt (Oder)” tickets will take you pretty far in the wrong direction, probably with fewer frankfurters and more pierogi.
Let us be your Main provider
From purchasing the cheapest tickets available to helping you decipher international train station boards, Trainline’s got your back. Download the Trainline app and we’ll help you snag cheap tickets to the correct Frankfurt. And if you're looking for things to do in and around Frankfurt am Main, check out our guides to the best things to do in Frankfurt and Germany's best castles near Frankfurt.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, pic4you. Image Location: Frankfurt Hbf station, Frankfurt, Germany