We are visiting our daughter who is studying in Strasbourg...we arrive in Frankfurt at 6am and want the fastest way to Strasbourg. There seems to be a Lufthansa bus from Terminal 1 to Strasbourg Center but it doesn't leave until 8:30am. There is a DB train which is direct (1H 49 min) leaving at 6:58am but I'm not sure with customs, etc. and trying to find the train station that we'd make that one. Next one is at 8am but has 1 change..... Advice????
Posted by
Chicago
7850 posts
take the train; in Germany it goes faster than automobiles.
Posted by
Baltimore, MD, USA
17 posts
The bus will probably take longer than the 2 hours or so that the train takes and the train is more convenient. So you could probably make the 6:58 train but you will definitely make the 7:51 train. You do have to change trains in Karlsruhe but you have about 30 minutes for that. And the train costs 62 euro. The Lufthansa bus (and all buses) is cheaper but takes longer. However the Lufthansa bus only takes 2 1/2 hrs as it is direct. It also seems to cost about 50 euro.
The fastest way is the train by about 48 minutes.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
I’d hope for this train connection, but purchase a walk up ticket on arrival in case of any delays.
ICE 101
Dep 07:51 FRANKFURT(M) FLUGHAFEN FERNBF (Germany)
Arr 08:58 KARLSRUHE HBF (Germany)
TGV 9576
Dep 09:32 KARLSRUHE HBF (Germany)
Arr 10:12 STRASBOURG (France)
Posted by
Germany
268 posts
Just for the record, I could not find any direct trains from Frankfurt airport to Strasbourg. The direct one you are referring to leaves from Frankfurt central station (so for you, it would not be direct, as you would have to get a train there first, and it would be a lot slower than the connections shown if you search for connections from the airport).
It is unlikely, but not completely impossible that you could reach the 6:51. You can buy a (Flexpreis) ticket beforehand, or you can ask your airline whether they offer "Rail & Fly" tickets which are flexible and would cover at least the German section of the trip. If you arrive at the airport train station in the last minute, you can also board a long-distance train without a ticket and buy one from the conductor. These tickets come with a surcharge, but it is completely legal.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you everyone. Wishing there was a direct route! Also, does anyone know about Frankfurt? At the end of our trip, my husband and I will be coming from Venice back to Frankfurt at about 4pm, heading back to Boston the following morning on a 10am flight. Would it be wise to stay at a hotel at the airport or is Frankfurt a city we'd like to explore a bit at night so say in the city center????
Posted by
Baltimore, MD, USA
17 posts
I have walked out of the plane to the Frankfurt Airport train station in about 15 minutes before but ....the 7:51 train is most likely doable but you should get it online and if there is a problem you will likely be able to exchange it for a later train.
Posted by
Baltimore, MD, USA
17 posts
stay at the airport or explore?
It depends on you. I'm home in Frankfurt although it isn't my favorite city. If I had to wait a day before departing I'd see if anything was playing at the Opera or theater that I'd like to see. Or just walk around and drink coffee and see if cafes I used to visit are still there.
But the city was rebuild completely as a modern city after WW II so it is basically an anomaly in Germany wrt architecture (although some old buildings were rebuilt). Also there is some crime to worry about. It can be a charming city but I'm sort of from there.
Connections between the city and the airport are basically perfect but I haven't been there in a while and you have to make sure there are no surprises (construction resulting in delays, etc.). Your best bet on reliability is just the train from the main train station to the airport.
At the airport itself the hotels are nice hotels with pretty much everyone locked in their rooms waiting for their flights in the morning. And lots of TV.
Posted by
Chicago
7850 posts
It is worth walking around Frankfurt. Just stay by the airport.
Posted by
Germany
268 posts
kirt: If you buy a ticket online, it is either a saver fare (which cannot be exchanged on the day of travel) or a flexible fare / Flexpreis (which does not need to be exchanged, as an ICE train ticket is valid for all trains on that route for the whole day).
Concerning the trip back, I think Frankfurt is worth exploring, also in the evening. The airport is very close to the city centre, and there are lots of hotel options in the centre (as opposed to the airport, though there are good hotels there as well). For a 10 am departure, I would definitely stay in the centre, not at the airport.