Frankfurt Airport

Which terminal do you arrive in? Google your flight and # if you aren't sure. Are you going with a regional train or long distance train?
I am at the airport all the time, but I know my way around. You don't, so everything may take longer, plus you have to figure in possible flight delays. If you are taking a regional train, it doesn't matter as the price is the same today as it will be next month (except there will probably be price increases end of Dec. or 1st of Jan.)

Where are you going? The more information you give us, the better and more helpful answer you will get.

There's no good answer. Planes are late, workers get sick, strikes happen, etc. I would simply plan to leave FRA whenever time permits. Where are you going that day? Will you have a Eurail pass or German Rail Pass? With this information, we can provide some train tips, perhaps.

I have updated my post to add more details. Thanks for the suggestion to do so.

I agree with Russ that there is no good answer. Booking ahead could save you close to half the fare, but the same-day fare might be less than you think. One way of handling this is counting back from the latest you're comfortable arriving in Colmar. A quick check of Bahn.de suggests it takes at least 3 hours and 2+ changes to get there. The airport has places to shower, as well as loads of restaurants where you can pass the time waiting for your train.
I feel like there is a way to buy your onward train ticket along with your airfare (maybe only on German airlines like Lufthansa and Condor?). Not sure why I think this or whether a flight delay would allow you to take a later train without penalty. This is worth looking into.

If you are using Rail&Fly (part of your airline ticket) or a "full fare" ICE ticket, you don't need to plan a "time delay buffer". You can use any train that day.

If you are trying to use a Savings Fare ticket, look out. Those tickets are train specific (day and time), and if your flight is too late, you could lose the ticket and have to buy a new one at full fare. On three occasions I've been an hour late arriving in Germany on a flight from the U.S. Once, after ticketing a flight to Munich on USAir, I started checking it's arrival times. It was 9 and 10 hours late on two days that week! Fortunately, it was on time the day I flew.

I never recommend people using a Savings Fare ticket the day of arrival in Germany due to the possibility of a delay. I might plan on spending a night or two in the local area before using a train-specific ticket.

In 2017, we arrived at FRA with an eventual destination of Bavaria, but we spent the first two nights in St. Goar, where we could easily get to on regional tickets. I wanted my partner to see the Rhein Gorge anyway. Then, 2 days after our arrival, when we knew we could make the specific train, we took an IC to Bavaria.

Or, if you can arrange your trip so the first night is not too far from FRA, plan to leave immediately on a regional train. Leaving immediately on a regional train might get you to your destination as soon as waiting hours to take a long distance one.

Using the ICE trains from FRA airport to either Basel or Strasbourg will minimize your travel time as well as the number of trains (3-4 different trains. But you are still looking at a train trip of 3.5 - 4.5 hours that same day. Uggh.

I'd be looking at the 13:51 departure from FRA with a change in Karlsruhe (15 minute layover) and then Strasbourg (17 min. layover) with final arrival in Colmar at 17:51. But...

1) The chances of missing the connecting train in Karlsruhe are good.
2) The chance that your flight may be delayed is unknown. A saver-fare ticket from DB will be subject to forfeiture if you miss that 13:51 departure.

You can look into a rail-and-fly ticket which provides a discounted flexible departure from FRA to Colmar that same day (contact your airline.) But that won't help you make the Karlsruhe connection.

My advice: Stay the night in or near Frankfurt. Catch your train to Colmar in the morning using the cheap saver fare bought for the date that follows your flight. This reasonable overnight time cushion accommodates a delayed flight and better ensures you can use the cheaper ticket - and you'll feel much more refreshed once you get to Colmar.

Which terminal do you arrive in? Google your flight and # if you aren't sure.

Just as help for travelers: every airport with more than one terminal has a list on its website which terminal an airline is assigned to. Example FRA: https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en/flights-and-transfer/airlines-a-to-z.html

I would not take the ICE to the main station in Frankfurt. Take the S-8 or S-9 or any regional train that stops at track 1 in the regional station. They all stop at the main station in Frankfurt. Cheaper than the ICE. The regional station is directly under terminal 1, and faster to get to then walking all the way to the long distance station where the ICE are.

If you are taking a regional train to Colmar, just get your ticket after you arrive. There is no price difference getting it ahead of time.

You stated you have to take "An ICE train to a main terminal."

Do you mean Frankfurt or another station?

If Frankfurt, I'd go with Ms. Jo's advice to take the S bahn over any other train as the station is closer to the terminal. If you are going to another station directly from Frankfurt Airport then stick with your schedule.

I like Russ's advice about staying the night in Frankfurt and then going the next day to Colmar, presuming there is not a reason you need to be in Colmar the day you land.

In 2023, we flew into Frankfurt and were going to Berlin by train. Due to landing late and some other airport issues, we got a later train than we had hoped, and it was an annoyance. We just decided then we would never do that again. Later this month we are flying to Frankfurt and staying a couple of nights (we are going to do some day trips) before we take the train to Strasbourg, so we don't have to stress the day we land about making it to a train.

When I planned travel to Germany several years ago I used Frankfurt as my base. Ms. Jo provided exceptional advice and information that made for an incredibly easy experience and a wonderful time. I used public transportation the entire time - train, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, and bus. As stated taking the S-8 or S-9 to the main train station is straightforward, simple and quick.

Thanks to each who responded for the great advice. No travel book I have consulted has been nearly as helpful. Your collective experience and knowledge is such a wonderful resource.

Flew in this morning. Arrived @10am local time from USA. It took 3 Customs agents 2 hours to clear 124 people (ahead of me). Then 15 minutes to baggage claim, another 15 minutes to the trains, 20 minutes until my first train (which was late). Train to Mainz was delayed (20 minutes), so missed that connection. Next train also delayed, and train that was posted as "will wait" didn't, so very late arrival home.

Trains from FRA to Colmar take multiple routes, but all depart FRA at 51 minutes past the hour.

Thank you very much for the detailed information. Gives me a good idea what to expect.

KGC, are you familiar with Easypass? It should help you clear immigration quickly

It's free and takes about 10 minutes to register. I did it at FRA. .

Of course, not sure what will happen once EES is in full swing.

Frank, no, it won't. You still have to wait in line. I cleared in about 2 minutes. The folks ahead of me were the issue. The fast pass is only being accepted for EU passport holders, and they do process quickly. I have an American passport. Anyone without a EU passport was inspected personally.

By the way, everyone was required to do the initial processing for ESS before moving to the immigration control.

We arrived into Frankfurt in early sept. It took just over an hour to clear immigration- still not sure why! Quite a few flights had just arrived, tour groups, arrivals hall heaving. We were lined up fairly efficiently, way down some side corridor. But it was an unexpected hitch. Then on to luggage which of course had long been unloaded. Luckily we had no urgency but legs were very tired! And lots of frayed tempers around us!

KGC...I have an American passport and registered for Easypass. While they heard everyone through the regular line, you have to tell them you have Easypass to use the machines. You then move to a separate booth for the stamp. This is not the same one processing non-EU passport holders.

Of course, if they made everyone go and register with EES, that is different.

Frank, they had two booths. EU and non-EU. Those were the only choices at Frankfurt on Wednesday morning. The guy next to me was another frequent flyer through this airport and has the same issue. I have easypass, pre check and a couple other options, none of which made any difference.