What to do at FRA?

April 10, 2008 5:24 AM

What to do during a layover in Frankfurt?

My brother will have a 6 hour layover at Frankfurt International later today. Is there anything worth doing in that time frame? I remember going through FRA in 1989 and the security was crazy then (maybe that was Munich). Anyway, can you suggest anything or should he just grab a book and sit tight? Thanks in advance!!

posted by pearlybob to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

Went through Frankfurt last year and it security was annoyingly tight. I went through three checkpoints (US passport) and wasn't allowed to leave the final area. Six hours is a pretty short time for a layover if you have to worry about the security. The airport has WiFi and lots of coffee shops in the main concourse. It's an international hub so I had fun just sitting around during my 4 hour layover and watching the endless stream of varying nationalities parade past while sipping coffee and browsing the internet.
posted by Burhanistan at 6:45 AM on April 10

With six hours you'll be fine. You can clear immigration easily and then you can shop in the arrivals area, take a shower, or you can take a train downtown. It takes twenty minutes to the train station. The trains run frequently. At that point you can walk, find a cafe, maybe walk down to the river. It depends on what time it is.

No way would I sit inside security for six hours. Plan on 30 minutes to go through security though it should be less than that. If you are going to the US prepare for three security checks, though it may be only one. You never know.
posted by Xurando at 7:01 AM on April 10

Thanks folks. I've sent him both options. He's coming off of 2 weeks in Eastern Europe and Cairo so he is pretty spent. He'll probably just chill in a coffee shop but he does like to make the most of things so we'll see. Thanks for the help!!
posted by pearlybob at 10:05 AM on April 10