Frankfurt to Berlin: Fastest & Cheapest Way?
May 4th, 2004, 02:31 AM
#1
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Frankfurt to Berlin: Fastest & Cheapest Way?
I need to get from Frankfurt airport to central Berlin. Arriving in the morning. I've never been to Germany and have no idea of the distance/time/cost involved. Appreciate in put on best and cheapest way to travel.
May 4th, 2004, 02:42 AM
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Frankfurt airport is an easy one. I have traveled to Germany every year for the past 13 but never to Berlin. I would suggest you do the following and decide what's best for you:
1. Check out rental car prices and a good map (driving is very easy if you plan ahead)
2. Check out the following link: http://www.bahn.de/pv/view/int_guest...l_guests.shtml
This is the D-Bahn website, you can simply plug in the city you are leaving from and the one you want to get to and it will make an itinery with times and costs.
3. Do a search for comuter flights.
Good luck and enjoy Germany!
1. Check out rental car prices and a good map (driving is very easy if you plan ahead)
2. Check out the following link: http://www.bahn.de/pv/view/int_guest...l_guests.shtml
This is the D-Bahn website, you can simply plug in the city you are leaving from and the one you want to get to and it will make an itinery with times and costs.
3. Do a search for comuter flights.
Good luck and enjoy Germany!
May 4th, 2004, 03:45 AM
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Just remember that the "fastest" may not also be the "cheapest."
Unless you can get a reasonably-priced connecting flight out of Frankfurt, then I would say the EASIEST way would be to take an ICE train from the airport station. Easier because you
1) Don't have to drive
2) Worry about directions
3) Worry about insurance
4) Worry about parking or drop-off once you get there
In other words, a car might be the last thing you'd want to hassle with for this trip. Good luck.
Unless you can get a reasonably-priced connecting flight out of Frankfurt, then I would say the EASIEST way would be to take an ICE train from the airport station. Easier because you
1) Don't have to drive
2) Worry about directions
3) Worry about insurance
4) Worry about parking or drop-off once you get there
In other words, a car might be the last thing you'd want to hassle with for this trip. Good luck.
May 4th, 2004, 04:02 AM
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Not that I'm an expert, but according to whichbudget.com you should have a number of choices. You can fly Germania Express or take a train to Cologne and fly Germanwings. I suspect flying will be faster than the train.
May 4th, 2004, 05:43 AM
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I was curious so I took a look at airberlin. No flights to Berlin from Frankfurt but it looks like there're flights from Nuremberg. Perhaps that's another option -- take a train to Nuremberg and fly to Berlin (probably comparable to the connection with Cologne via Germanwings).
May 4th, 2004, 05:59 AM
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Germania flies FRA to Berlin for 88E, but only 2 flights/day at 8:20 and 18:55. Depending on when you arrive at FRA this would be the fastest. Air Berlin does not fly this route. There are many rail options: From the airport ICE to Hannover and change to Berlin, or SBahn from airport to Frankfurt main station (15 min) then ICE direct to Berlin. Both options cost 93E and take a little over 4 hours. You might save a little by taking train to Cologne then transfering to the airport and catching a Germania flight to Berlin for around 50E, but consider the hassle
May 4th, 2004, 06:02 AM
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Wow -- FRA to Berlin is only 4 hours?! I'm surprised. Then probably train is convenient. I was expecting longer, judging from how far apart they seem on the map.
I bet a connection in Cologne or Numremberg won't be any faster especially with the flight checkin time requirements.
I bet a connection in Cologne or Numremberg won't be any faster especially with the flight checkin time requirements.
May 4th, 2004, 06:03 AM
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Check out Germania Airlines (www.gexx.de), but they offer only one flight in the a.m. at 8:20. Otherwise take a direct train from FRA airport to Berlin downtown (Zoo).
May 5th, 2004, 08:11 PM
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Thanks for your help. I think I'll go with the train. Since it's my first time in Germany, I'm not familiar with the different choices. Could someone please elaborate on the difference between the airport ICE and the SBahn?
Is there a website for German trains?
Do I need to buy a ticket in advance?
Thanks again.
Is there a website for German trains?
Do I need to buy a ticket in advance?
Thanks again.
May 5th, 2004, 08:25 PM
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May 5th, 2004, 08:28 PM
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May 6th, 2004, 08:37 AM
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The S(chnellbahn)train is a local Express train, in this case connecting from the airport to Frankfurt downtown.
The ICE (InterCity Express) train is a direct express train connecting larger cities in Germany.
The website for the German Railroad is www.bahn.de, avail. in English.
You do not need to reserve seats in advance, but you can on their website.
The ICE (InterCity Express) train is a direct express train connecting larger cities in Germany.
The website for the German Railroad is www.bahn.de, avail. in English.
You do not need to reserve seats in advance, but you can on their website.
May 6th, 2004, 06:18 PM
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Marmot, my original reply contains the link directly to the english version of the German train website. I've used it many times it's very helpful. If you choose the exact route you want to take, just print the page and take it along for easy booking.
May 8th, 2004, 07:27 PM
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Okay, thanks everyone I'm in Berlin! Now I need to get back to Frankfurt airport from Paris. I note I can take a train that arrives Frankfurt main at 19:14. Is this okay for a 22:25 departure from Frankfurt airport?
Is there a low cost airline that flies from Paris to Frankfurt?
Is there a low cost airline that flies from Paris to Frankfurt?
May 8th, 2004, 07:55 PM
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marmot - You want to take the train direct to the Frankfurt Airport (Flughafen).
A 12:55 Thalys departure at Paris Nord, connected to an ICE in Koln will get you to the airport at 18:14.
Even the next one, 14:55-20:14 is possible.
Don't take the slower IC/EC to Frankfurt Hbf.
Don't know about low-fare from Paris to FRA. You may want to just check the prices on AF or LH.
A 12:55 Thalys departure at Paris Nord, connected to an ICE in Koln will get you to the airport at 18:14.
Even the next one, 14:55-20:14 is possible.
Don't take the slower IC/EC to Frankfurt Hbf.
Don't know about low-fare from Paris to FRA. You may want to just check the prices on AF or LH.
May 10th, 2004, 06:02 AM
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Even if you arrive at Frankfurt Central Station at 19:14, you can easily get to the airport in about 30 minutes (including train time & waiting for the train time). There should be trains every 15 minutes departing from the lower level of the station, and it takes 15 minutes to get to the airport.
