How to Get From Berlin to Frankfurt: Train, Bus, & Flight Options

Are you wondering how to get from Berlin to Frankfurt? In this post, I’ll show you options for taking the bus or train from Berlin to Frankfurt and for flying to Frankfurt from Berlin.

Frankfurt is a great city to add to your Germany trip. The distance from Berlin to Frankfurt is too far for a day trip from Berlin, but Frankfurt is a great city to use as a base for day trips to smaller cities nearby.

Frankfurt also has the busiest airport in Germany, and it’s a common place to fly in and out of if you’re visiting Germany. Keep reading for details on different options for getting to Frankfurt from Berlin.

How to get to Frankfurt from Berlin

Traveling from Berlin to Frankfurt is easy when you know how to do it.

First a quick note about the city name. Frankfurt am Main is the full name of the city, and it’s named this way for the Main River where it’s located. There’s also a Frankfurt an der Oder, which is on the Oder River on the Polish border.

Since Frankfurt an der Oder is close to Berlin, you might see regional trains going from Berlin to Frankfurt an der Oder. This is a different city and different direction, so make sure you’re looking for and buying tickets for Frankfurt am Main, or sometimes shown as Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.

>>Read: 101 Fun and Essential Things to do in Berlin

What is the distance from Berlin to Frankfurt?

The driving distance from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main is roughly 550km (343 miles) depending on exactly which route you take. This means it can take anywhere from six to seven hours to drive depending on which route you choose, traffic conditions, and any road work that might be happening.

Driving could be an interesting option if you enjoy road trips, if you understand the road rules in Germany, and if you want to make stops along the way.

But keep in mind, parking isn’t easy in central Berlin or central Frankfurt, and you have to understand German driving laws. If you’d rather avoid the stress, traveling by train or bus can be faster and easier.

That’s why I have all the details you need for taking the bus or train from Berlin to Frankfurt, and even when it might make sense to fly to Frankfurt from Berlin.

How to Get from Berlin to Frankfurt by Train

Getting around in Germany using Deutsche Bahn is pretty simple, and getting from Berlin to Frankfurt is no exception.

There are direct trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof once or twice per hour. The travel time is from 3 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes depending on which train you take.

This is taking the ICE trains, which are Inter City Express trains. They are high speed trains that make fewer stops than regional trains and fewer stops than the IC (Inter City).

Note that there are some routes that require you to change trains along the way. Unless you have a compelling reason to take one of those, it’s easy to take one of the direct trains instead.

There are also some DB Sprinter trains, which go a little faster than the normal ICE trains. Most direct ICE trains going to Frankfurt Hbf also stop in Berlin Südkreuz before continuing on their route.

Check which train station is closest to where you’re staying in Berlin to see which one makes the most sense. You can also click on the train number to see its full route, including all other train stations in Berlin where that train stops.

>>Read: 75 Famous Landmarks in Germany

Using high speed trains from Berlin to Frankfurt

When using high speed trains, you are usually bound to the exact train you choose, so you can’t hop on any train on that route. So if you booked a train from Berlin to Frankfurt for 9am, you must take the 9am train. (These are just example times, not indicative of any actual schedule.)

The exception is if you buy the more expensive Flexpreis (Flexible Fare) ticket that allows this. I generally don’t think it’s worth the extra expense, unless you absolutely need that flexibility.

>>Check prices and schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website in English.

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Using regional trains from Berlin to Frankfurt

There are ways of reaching Frankfurt from Berlin using only regional trains, but it will take you 9-10 hours and involve switching several times, usually at least three times. It only takes one small delay to throw off your whole connecting schedule and add hours to your already long journey.

If you do decide to use the regional trains, your ticket is valid for any regional train that day. So you can buy a ticket for a train that departs at 9am, oversleep, and grab a 10am train. (Again, these are just example times, not indicative of any actual schedule.)

Another great option is the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket. This is a Germany day ticket starting at 42 euros which is valid for up to 5 people, so it’s a great deal if you’re traveling with a group and you’re willing to take the slower trains.

But in general, I think the distance from Berlin to Frankfurt is too far for using the regional trains, and often not even a cost savings. If you plan ahead, you can usually get a pretty good price on the ICE train, and you’ll lose a lot less of your vacation time.

>>Read: Is Berlin Worth Visiting? 23 Reasons to Visit Berlin

Are there seat reservations on Deutsche Bahn trains?

On high speed trains in Germany, your second class ticket does not come with a seat reservation. This means you can sit anywhere within second class that isn’t already reserved.

Seat reservations cost 4.50 euros, and it’s highly recommended that you reserve. At busy times, and on popular routes such as Berlin to Frankfurt, the train could be rather full, and having a seat reservation means you won’t get stuck standing.

If you buy a first class ticket, seat reservations are included as long as you select it at the time of booking.

Regional trains do not have seat reservations. But be aware that most regional trains do have a small 1st class section, and you can’t sit there on a 2nd class ticket.

How to buy a train ticket from Berlin to Frankfurt

There are several ways to buy a train ticket to Frankfurt from Berlin, and all are fairly simple. High speed trains are often cheaper if you book several weeks in advance, so planning ahead helps.

They have recently made it harder to buy tickets on the train, and in some cases it’s not even possible. You will get checked almost every time, so don’t get on a train without a ticket.

In person
Deutsche Bahn has ticket offices in the train stations in Berlin, so you can buy a ticket in person. They won’t always speak English though, so this can be tricky.

If you decide to buy your ticket this way, I highly recommend going to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (central station) to buy your ticket. Here you’ll have a better chance of finding an employee who speaks at least some English.

At a machine
There are Deutsche Bahn ticket machines at the train stations, and they have a language option so you can switch it to English. These are the same machines used at Sbahn stations.

Simply follow the prompts to buy your ticket. Remember that times are often displayed in a 24 hour format, so 5pm would be 17:00, as an example.

Online
Tickets can also be purchased on the Deutsche Bahn website, which is also available in English. Once you’re done with your purchase, you’ll get an email with a PDF of your ticket which you can show on the train.

Deutsche Bahn app
The Deutsche Bahn app is also available in English, and it’s easy to use. Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you’ll have it right there in your app. You can also purchase a ticket online and later easily add it to your app.

Types of tickets

When buying tickets online, once you put in your start and end cities, date and time info, and number of people, you’ll get a list of routes for that day. Choose a time, and you’ll have different ticket options to choose from, as seen in the photo above.

In general, cheaper tickets have more restrictions. The Sparpreis tickets bind you to the exact train, while the Flexpreis tickets let you take any train on that route that day.

For more detailed info, jump over to my step-by-step instructions on how to book train tickets on Deutsche Bahn.

Are there other companies that run trains to Frankfurt from Berlin?

FlixBus also runs FlixTrain, and they have 1 to 5 trains per day, depending on the day, between Berlin and Frankfurt. Their trains take 4 to 5 hours to travel to Frankfurt from Berlin.

If you’re traveling in Berlin on a budget, this might be a good option to consider.

The good thing is that if you’re using the FlixBus website and there is a FlixTrain option, it will show up too. That way you can compare their bus and train options for Berlin to Frankfurt.

Some of their trains start from Berlin Hbf while others have stops at Südkreuz or Gesundbrunnen, so you can decide if one of those stations is more convenient.

Train from Berlin to Frankfurt Airport

The Frankfurt Airport is well connected by train. So if you’re traveling from Berlin to Frankfurt to catch a flight at the airport, you can find high speed connections.

Most train routes to the Frankfurt Airport from Berlin involve a switch somewhere, although you will occasionally see a direct train all the way from Berlin to Frankfurt Airport. In German, you’re looking for Frankfurt (M) Flughafen.

If you go with one of the options that involves switching to an Sbahn from Frankfurt Hbf to Frankfurt Flughafen, you don’t have to take the exact Sbahn shown on your ticket. It just has to be the same route.

To get to the Frankfurt Airport, it’ll take 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours.

>>Read: 2 Days in Berlin: Ideal Itinerary for 48 Hours in Berlin

How to Get from Berlin to Frankfurt by Bus

If you’re traveling on a budget, FlixBus is another great option.

They have several buses that leave Berlin early morning, mid afternoon, and in the evening. The evening buses go overnight to Frankfurt from Berlin.

The bus journey from Berlin to Frankfurt takes anywhere from 7 and a half hours to over 9 hours, without traffic problems. Luckily you don’t have to switch buses on the Berlin Frankfurt route.

Berlin has bus services from several stations, though not all stations are on every route. The buses to Frankfurt from Berlin mostly leave from the central bus station, though sometimes there are options from other Berlin bus stations, such as Alexanderplatz, Südkreuz, or the airport.

The central bus station, called Berlin ZOB, is located in the western side of Berlin, quite far from the center. Give yourself plenty of time to get there. If possible, I’d choose one of the other stations to start from.

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FlixBus is a comfortable option that will most likely save you money if you’re willing to take a longer journey getting from Berlin to Frankfurt. But if you’re going the budget route, FlixTrain is usually only a few euros more and will save you quite a few hours.

Always compare Flixbus/FlixTrain with Deutsche Bahn to determine which price and time combo works best for you.

I’ve taken FlixBus more times than I can count, both in Germany and in other parts of Europe. Their buses are comfortable and safe, and I would highly recommend them if you’re trying to save a few bucks.

The buses do have a bathroom, though I can’t vouch for their cleanliness because I do whatever I can to avoid going to the bathroom on moving vehicles.

Are there seat reservations on FlixBus?

FlixBus does have an option to reserve a seat. This is good for people who want to make sure they’re seated with their family or friends, or if you are particular about where you sit.

But buying a ticket guarantees you a seat, so you don’t have to reserve a specific seat if it’s not important to you. Standing is not allowed on long distance buses.

Prices for seat reservations vary depending on the type of seat the route. They range from 1.50 to 5 euros.

How to buy a bus ticket to Frankfurt from Berlin

There are a few different ways to book a bus ticket to Frankfurt from Berlin.

In person
Technically you can buy a FlixBus ticket from the ticket office at the ZOB (central bus station) but I wouldn’t recommend it.

I’ve definitely been over there to catch a bus and noticed that the office was closed. Even if they were just closed for a short break, this feels too stressful when there are easier ways to book a ticket.

There are multiple travel agents around the city that can book you a FlixBus ticket, but finding them is even more of a hassle.

Online
The FlixBus website is an easy way to book tickets. It’s available in multiple languages.

You can search your route, and it’ll show you all starting and ending points. So if you want to travel from Berlin to Frankfurt, you can see which stations the bus leaves from and buy based on that.

Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you’ll get an email with a PDF that you can show the bus driver when boarding the bus.

FlixBus app
The FlixBus app is also easy to use to search for routes and buy tickets. It’s available in multiple languages.

Are there other companies that run buses from Berlin to Frankfurt?

Other bus companies operate routes in Germany, but they are not as widespread as FlixBus. I have not seen any others running on the Berlin to Frankfurt route.

Flights from Berlin to Frankfurt, Germany

In general, I don’t recommend flying to Frankfurt from Berlin, unless you’re connecting to another flight from the Frankfurt Airport. Sure, the flight time makes it look faster than traveling by train, but there are so many other factors.

Remember the time it takes to fly from Berlin to Frankfurt doesn’t include getting to the Berlin Airport, being at the airport 1-2 hours ahead of time, waiting for checked luggage once you arrive, and then getting from Frankfurt Airport into the city.

Once you factor in all of that time, you’re looking at around the same amount of time as taking the train to Frankfurt from Berlin. And while prices for flights can vary greatly, they it will usually be more expensive to fly.

Flight time Berlin to Frankfurt

The flight time from Berlin to Frankfurt is listed at 1 hour 10 minutes.

Lufthansa is your best option for a nonstop flight to Frankfurt from Berlin, and they have a flight almost every hour from early morning into the evening.

What’s the cheapest way to get from Berlin to Frankfurt?

Ticket prices fluctuate for both the train and the bus to Frankfurt from Berlin, but both are affordable. Flights are usually reasonable too, but almost always more expensive than either train or bus options.

Taking FlixBus will usually be cheaper than Deutsche Bahn. While writing this post, I searched for trains and buses roughly a month out, and the FlixBus and FlixTrain optionss were 10-40 euros, while Deutsche Bahn was 28-66 euros.

Both the train and the bus are comfortable, but I’d have to give a little more credit to Deutsche Bahn for comfort.

Deutsche Bahn is a lot faster than the bus, but similar timing compared to FlixTrain. Taking Deutsche Bahn from Berlin to Frankfurt will save you a minimum of 3 hours compared to the bus, and often it’ll save you even more time since some of the bus routes take quite a bit longer.

The train is less likely to have timing problems, but delays can happen with either the train or the bus. In dozens of trips on FlixBus, I’ve only dealt with a major delay (which was due to an accident miles ahead of us on the highway) one time.

If you’re in Berlin on a budget, every dollar and euro counts. This is definitely a situation where you have to weigh the cost savings with the time savings and decide which is more important to you.

Taking FlixBus to Frankfurt from Berlin can easily save you money in exchange for extra time, which is a good trade-off for budget travelers. But Deutsche Bahn and FlixTrain are much faster, and that could be reason enough to spend the extra money.

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