Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Guide: Terminals, Parking, Lounges, and Everything Else You Need to Know

Frankfurt Airport in Germany is situated 12 km southwest of central Frankfurt and is one of Europe’s busiest airports, serving as an important aviation hub. With a yearly passenger volume of 63.2 million (2025 stats), it has two terminals: T1 and the newly opened T3. As of 2026, T2 is closed for renovations.

Passengers have access to a range of facilities, including airline-operated business lounges, such as Lufthansa’s, as well as car rental services. Budget travelers can also reach the city easily by public transport, with train access available directly from the two operating terminals.

This is your guide to FRA!

TL;DR

• Set in Hesse, 12 km southwest of Frankfurt.
• There are two operating terminals in 2026. Frankfurt International Airport’s Terminal 1 and the new Terminal 3. Terminal 2 will be closed until the middle of the 2030s.
• Allow 2+ hours to get through non-EU passport control. In 2026, EES pass-through times doubled.
• Expect to pay around €4 per hour or €99 a week for parking when booked online.
• The journey by road takes 20 minutes, while the S-Bahn trip takes between 12 and 15 minutes.

1 — Where Is Frankfurt Airport and How Big Is It?

Wondering how big Frankfurt Airport is? Situated 12 km southwest of central Frankfurt , FRA/EDDF is operated by Fraport AG and can be found in the state of Hesse. It covers a land area of 2,300 hectares, has four runways, and consistently ranks as Germany’s busiest airport and the sixth-busiest in Europe, with Fraport’s 2025 traffic figures showing 63.2 million passengers passed through that year.

Due to the volume of flights departing and arriving, it can be easy enough to find cheap flights to FRA if you book at the right time.

2 — Frankfurt Airport Terminals: Terminal 1 vs. the New Terminal 3

Frankfurt Airport’s terminals are T1 and the New Terminal 3, both of which are managed by Fraport.

Terminal 1 has always been the main terminal, while Terminal 3 opened on the 23rd of April, 2026 , and took over all of Terminal 2’s former airlines on the 9th of June, 2026. There has been no announcement of the exact date for the reopening of Frankfurt Airport Terminal 2, but it’s expected around the mid-2030s.

The SkyLine train system links the terminals and is free for all passengers, with average trip times of 8 minutes. If you think you’ll need to ride the SkyLine when using Kiwi’s self-transfer flight hack, allow 2 to 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 to 6 hours for international trips.

3 — Security and the New EU EES System: How Long Should You Budget?

Security is something you need to plan around at FRA. Non-EU travelers, including those from the US and UK, will have to go through the new EU EES. This is a biometric registration system that tracks passport holders’ movements whenever they cross a Schengen country’s border.

In 2026, the Frankfurt Airport EES wait time has increased significantly , with Euronews reporting delays of 1 to 2 hours and even 2 to 3 hours during peak periods. For this reason, non-EU passport holders should allow 3 hours to get through, EU travelers with bags should allow 2.5 hours, and EU travelers with hand luggage only should allow 2 hours.

One workaround is the EasyPASS for those who are able to get it. This pass allows eligible people to use the E-gates, making things slightly faster. FRA SmartWay is another solution, which gives passengers the chance to virtually book a slot at immigration and skip the queues.

Beat the EES queues by following these three tips:

• Secure FRA SmartWay before your flight.
• See if you’re eligible for the EasyPASS.
• When booking a self-transfer through Kiwi, it’s best to give yourself more time than you think you’ll need.

4 — Frankfurt Airport Lounges

You’ll find a selection of lounges across Frankfurt Airport’s two active terminals, though access is limited. In T1, the main lounges include Lufthansa Senator/Business/First, with most being Star Alliance/status-restricted. There’s also the LuXXXLounge, a primary Priority Pass/DragonPass-friendly option landside that offers paid day passes from €39.

The main option in T3 is Priority Lounge near Terminal 3’s J gates, with business/first-class ticket holders as well as Priority Pass holders gaining free entry, which is how airport lounges work . Since T3 is relatively new, the lounge service here is still being developed.

5 — Parking at Frankfurt Airport

The main Frankfurt Airport parking areas are the Terminal Parking zones, Business Parking areas, eParking, and the Holiday Parking at Gateway Gardens.

Both T1 and T3 have Terminal Parking zones, with online prices starting from €99 per week. Walk-up rates are also available, for between €4 and €43 per day. If you have an EV, you can leave your vehicle in the official eParking zone for €45-€49 per day, or use the dedicated Business Parking area at T2 for €46 per day. There’s also the Holiday Parking zone at Gateway Gardens, which starts from just €64 per week.

Those getting a lift from someone they know will be glad to hear that each vehicle gets two free drop-offs a day, with a max stay of 3 hours. Be sure to double-check these rates on Frankfurt Airport’s parking page before your trip.

6 — Getting To and From Frankfurt Airport

Terminal 1 has two train stations, including Regionalbahnhof, served by the S8, S9, and other regional trains. Fernbahnhof station is primarily for long-distance trains from other German cities, such as Cologne and Düsseldorf , as listed on Wikipedia .

Upon arrival at Frankfurt Airport , you can take the S8/S9 to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof to the center. Most trips only last 12 to 15 minutes.

If you want to take a taxi, T1 and T3 each have their own taxi ranks outside arrivals. Additionally, there are car rentals at Frankfurt Airport from Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Alamo, and Budget at T2, with Sixt also operating at T3.

7 — Hotels Near Frankfurt Airport

For those on an extended layover and needing somewhere to stay, the best hotels near Frankfurt Airport are the Sheraton (Marriott) Hotel & Conference Center and the Hilton Garden Inn. Both are directly connected to T1, and within walking distance, so you don’t need to take transport.

If there’s no space at either of those, you can check out the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Frankfurt, which is about 1.4 km away and has a complimentary 24-hour shuttle. Moxy is another popular choice. It’s a 1.8 km shuttle ride from the grounds, making it ideal for people on a long layover at the airport , though their shuttle has a fee.

8 — Food, Wi-Fi, Sleeping Pods, and Luggage Storage at Frankfurt Airport

T1 and T3 have their fair share of food options, with popular spots at T1 including Amore, McDonald’s, and Ritazza Café. T3 is still building up its list of spots but already has the likes of Asia Street Cooking. The two terminals have their own duty-free sections and free, unlimited WiFi that works 24/7 and is listed under the name ‘Airport-Frankfurt’, with no sign-up required.

If you need a snooze between flights, T1B and T1A Plus have sleeping pods called napcabs for €17 per hour during the day, €12 at night, with a minimum fee of €34. Fancy taking a day trip into Frankfurt and need luggage storage? Frankfurt has baggage storage like at other major airports; you can find it at T1, Area B, Level 1, and it’s open 24/7.

9 — Search Flights Into Frankfurt Airport With Kiwi.com

Since becoming a two-terminal airport in 2026, getting around FRA requires a little more planning than before, particularly in light of recent EES delays. We recommend allowing at least two hours to reach your gate, so you have extra time if there’s a delay.

Use Kiwi.com to search flights into Frankfurt Airport today and compare hundreds of routes with virtual interlining fares, and find the best deal for your itinerary now.

Your biggest questions about FRA are answered below!

10 — Frankfurt Airport FAQs

Will Terminal 2 Reopen at Frankfurt Airport?

It won’t be happening for a while. T2 shut its doors on the 9th of June, 2026, for renovation work, and the estimated time of reopening isn’t until the middle of the 2030s. The airport’s operators have moved all the airlines that used to fly there to T3.

Does the EU’s EES System Affect US and UK Travelers at Frankfurt?

Indeed, it does. Non-EU/non-Schengen passport holders, including those from the US and the UK, must complete the EES biometric registration. The only people who can use the EasyPASS lanes, which are much quicker, are EU/EEA passport holders and a few other specific nationalities, such as Swiss nationals.

How Do You Get Between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3?

Jump on the SkyLine people mover, which is free to use for all passengers. It only takes around 8 minutes, which is slightly longer than the trip used to be between T1 and T2. Keep this in mind when planning your time if you’re using a Kiwi self-transfer fare.

Is There a Long-Distance Train Station at Frankfurt Airport, or Just Regional?

There are long-distance and regional trains. From T1, you go to Fernbahnhof for long-distance ICE/IC trains, and if you want to take an S-Bahn or regional train, walk over to Regionalbahnhof. You can easily walk between the two in a matter of minutes.

What’s the Closest German City to Frankfurt Airport Besides Frankfurt Itself?

Besides Frankfurt itself, Mainz and Wiesbaden are the closest major cities to FRA. They’re around 31 km from FRA and just 27–28 minutes away by car.