Roberta Aguirre
Germany is home to more than thirty commercial passenger and cargo airports, including mega complexes such as Frankfurt and Munich, which transport tens of millions of passengers per year. Frankfurt Airport is Germany's busiest and most well-known airport, serving as a global hub for international travellers with connections to nearly 300 airports in over a hundred countries. However, Munich Airport has been named Europe's Best Airport and is Germany's second-largest hub for international travel, serving 248 destinations. For easy access to southern Germany and Austria, Munich Airport is a good option. For eastern Germany, flying into Prague can be a convenient choice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in Germany | Frankfurt Airport |
| Second busiest airport in Germany | Munich Airport |
| Third busiest airport in Germany | Berlin Brandenburg Airport |
| Best airport in Germany for dining | Munich Airport |
| Best airport hotel in Europe | Kempinski Hotel at Munich Airport |
| Second-best airport in Europe in terms of direct connectivity | Frankfurt Airport |
| Germany's second-largest hub for international travel | Munich Airport |
| Airport with its own bus station | Frankfurt Airport |
| Airport with a large number of parking spaces | Frankfurt Airport |
| Airport with quick access to Europe's expressway cloverleaf | Frankfurt Airport |
| Airport with direct connections to other German cities by rail | Frankfurt Airport |
| Airport with the busiest expressway cloverleaf in Europe adjacent to it | Frankfurt Airport |
| Airport served by both premium and budget airlines | Frankfurt Airport |
| Airport with the best airport in Europe nearby | Brussels Airport (near Cologne) |
| Airport with the cheapest flights to Germany from the US | Luxembourg Airport via Copenhagen |
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What You'll Learn
- Frankfurt Airport: Germany's busiest airport with excellent connectivity
- Munich Airport: Europe's best airport in 2014, with modern design and leisure activities
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport: Germany's newest airport, which opened in 2020
- Hamburg Airport: A hub for Eurowings, with efficient connections to other German cities
- Düsseldorf Airport: A regional gateway with good train connections to German cities
Frankfurt Airport: Germany's busiest airport with excellent connectivity
With nearly 70 million passengers, 512,115 flights, and 2.2 million tonnes of cargo annually, Frankfurt Airport is Germany's busiest airport. It is a global top-15 airport, ranking 12th for total passengers, seventh for international passengers, eighth for total cargo tonnage, and seventh for international freight. Frankfurt Airport has scheduled connections to nearly 300 airports in over 100 countries.
Frankfurt Airport boasts excellent connectivity, both in terms of flight destinations and ground transportation. The airport is served by both premium and budget airlines, with Lufthansa, Germany's biggest and most well-known airline, operating out of Frankfurt Airport as its primary hub. The airport has its own long-distance train station, with direct connections to German cities such as Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart, as well as European cities like Vienna, Milan, Zurich, and Amsterdam. The high-speed Frankfurt-Cologne rail line, connecting Frankfurt and Cologne-Bonn airports, has reduced travel time between the two cities to under an hour. The airport is also easily accessible by local trains (S-Bahn, RE, or RB), with the regional train station located on the ground floor of the airport below Terminal 1. Additionally, Frankfurt Airport has its own bus station, providing numerous bus connections, as well as car rental, car-sharing services, and taxi options.
Frankfurt Airport is conveniently located adjacent to Europe's busiest expressway cloverleaf, the "Frankfurter Kreuz," where the A3 and A5 autobahns intersect, providing quick access to Europe's extensive highway network. The airport offers a range of facilities and services to enhance the travel experience, including a 24-hour medical centre, pharmacies, lounges, a transit hotel, nap cabs, gaming and movie areas, and a variety of shops and dining options.
Frankfurt Airport is not just a major transportation hub but also a gateway to the city of Frankfurt, an important commercial centre in Germany. Many passengers choose Frankfurt as their final destination, while others use the airport as a transfer point for air and rail connections to other German cities and international destinations, particularly in Eastern Europe and Asia.
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Munich Airport: Europe's best airport in 2014, with modern design and leisure activities
Munich Airport, also known as Franz Josef Strauss Airport, is located about 28 kilometres northeast of Munich. It is Germany's second busiest airport, serving 31 million passengers in 2022, and is one of the busiest passenger airports in Europe. In 2014, it was named "Europe's Best Airport" in the World Airport Awards by Skytrax, a London-based aviation consultancy. The airport has also been recognised for its architectural design, with its daring Terminal 2 being an important step towards its extraordinary growth. The terminal features a market square reminiscent of Munich's famous outdoor market, Viktualienmarkt, offering a variety of dining options.
Munich Airport provides a modern and comprehensive travel experience. It offers excellent transport connections, with the S1 and S8 train lines providing access to various parts of Munich and beyond. The airport is also easily accessible by car via the A92 autobahn. Additionally, the Lufthansa express bus provides a convenient connection to the airport every 20 minutes. Regional trains from eastern Bavaria, such as the Airport Express from Regensburg, also serve the airport.
The airport is more than just an infrastructure hub; it is a powerful engine for economic growth. It attracts global companies, showrooms, hotels, conference centres, and a wide range of retail and culinary options. Munich Airport has been recognised for its dining, ranking second best in the world according to passengers, with over 45 dining choices available. The Kempinski Hotel at the airport was chosen as Europe's second-best airport hotel.
Munich Airport also provides a range of leisure activities and facilities for visitors. It features a visitor park with a viewing hill, a children's playground, and a miniature golf course. The airport's non-aviation activities, including these leisure offerings, account for 50% of its total revenues. This "Airport City" concept creates a synergy between the airport and the surrounding region, enhancing its appeal as a destination for business and pleasure.
Overall, Munich Airport offers a unique combination of modern design, efficient transport connections, exceptional dining, and leisure activities, solidifying its reputation as one of the best airports in Europe.
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Berlin Brandenburg Airport: Germany's newest airport, which opened in 2020
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (IATA: BER) is Germany's newest airport, which finally opened its doors on 31 October 2020, after a long and challenging journey spanning more than two decades. The airport is located 11 miles southeast of Berlin's city centre and serves as a symbol of innovation, overcoming significant delays, cost overruns, and construction chaos.
The vision for Berlin Brandenburg Airport was conceived as early as 1996, but it faced numerous obstacles and delays during its development. The initial opening was planned for June 2012, but an overwhelming number of construction flaws forced a postponement. Despite assurances of a 2019 opening, forecasts estimated that the airport would not be ready until 2020, which proved accurate. The airport's journey to inauguration cost €6.9 billion, with additional spending planned for future expansions.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport features two parallel runways and initially had five terminals, including Terminal 5, which operated until the COVID-19 pandemic led to its temporary closure in November 2020. Terminal 5 never reopened for flights but found new purposes, first as a vaccination centre and then as a shelter for refugees from Ukraine. The airport boasts extensive parking facilities, with five multi-storey car parks and 13 open parking areas, accommodating around 10,000 vehicles.
The airport has transformed itself since its opening, embracing modern aviation innovations. In 2023, Berlin Brandenburg Airport won the prestigious Airport Innovation Award, recognised for its early adoption of artificial intelligence in airport operations. The airport offers connections to various destinations and has become a significant transportation hub in Germany, contributing to the country's extensive network of over 30 commercial passenger and cargo airports.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport stands as a testament to perseverance and innovation, overcoming a turbulent history to become a key aviation gateway in Germany and beyond. Its future expansions and continued integration of cutting-edge technology will undoubtedly shape its role in the country's aviation landscape.
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Hamburg Airport: A hub for Eurowings, with efficient connections to other German cities
Germany has no shortage of large international airports, with Frankfurt being the busiest airport in the country. However, Hamburg Airport, located 8.5 km north of the city centre in the Fuhlsbüttel quarter, is a major international airport in Germany's second-largest city and a hub for Eurowings, Germany's second-biggest airline.
Hamburg Airport, officially named Flughafen Hamburg "Helmut Schmidt", serves as a base for Eurowings and a focus city for Condor. The airline Eurowings currently serves 79 destinations worldwide and has covered all of the short-haul operations for Germanwings since 2015. At the Eurowings Airlines HAM Terminal in Hamburg Airport, passengers can easily connect with airline customer service for seamless travel.
Hamburg Airport is the fifth busiest of Germany's commercial airports, with 13,559,732 passengers and 120,315 aircraft movements in 2023. The airport offers flights to over 130 destinations, mostly in Europe, with two long-haul routes to Dubai and Doha. The airport is equipped to handle wide-bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380.
Hamburg Airport has a rich history, dating back to the British occupation in 1945 when it was used extensively during the Berlin Airlift. Lufthansa also used Hamburg as a hub until Frankfurt Airport took over due to growth constraints. Today, the airport continues to modernise, with plans for a new terminal, pier extension, and a consolidated security area, enhancing its role as a convenient gateway to Germany and beyond.
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Düsseldorf Airport: A regional gateway with good train connections to German cities
Germany has no shortage of large international airports, with Frankfurt being the busiest in the country, followed by Munich Airport. Frankfurt Airport has scheduled connections to nearly 300 airports in over a hundred countries and is also a transfer point for air and rail connections to other German cities. Munich Airport, on the other hand, has been named "Europe's Best Airport" by Skytrax and offers excellent dining options and accommodation.
Düsseldorf Airport is another important gateway in Germany, boasting good train connections to many German cities. The airport is linked to the region's S-Bahn and Regio train services, which provide direct access to Düsseldorf and other cities. For example, the Regio trains on lines RE7 and RB14 connect Düsseldorf Airport to Cologne, Dortmund, Essen, and Monchengladbach. Additionally, the airport is easily accessible from other cities, such as Berlin, where passengers can take advantage of the dedicated 'FEX' Airport Express trains to reach Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.
The German railway system is well integrated with its airports, making it convenient for passengers to travel between cities and catch their flights. The Cologne-Bonn airport, for instance, is connected to the high-speed ICE trains, offering quick connections to Frankfurt and other cities. Similarly, Bremen Airport is just a 15-minute tram ride from the city's main railway station, showcasing the efficiency of Germany's transport network.
With efficient rail connections, Düsseldorf Airport serves as a convenient gateway for travellers looking to explore German cities. The airport's connectivity to the country's extensive railway network ensures smooth transfers to various destinations, making it a good choice for those seeking a central hub for their German vacation.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany has over 30 commercial airports, so the best airport will depend on your vacation plans. Frankfurt Airport is Germany's busiest airport, with connections to nearly 300 airports in over 100 countries. Munich Airport is also a good option, with connections to 248 destinations.
Frankfurt Airport is a global hub for international travellers, with unparalleled connectivity. It is also a central hub for Lufthansa and the Star Alliance network. The airport is easily accessible by road, with Europe's busiest expressway cloverleaf, the "Frankfurter Kreuz", right next to the airport. It also has its own bus station and a large number of parking spaces.
Munich Airport is renowned for its efficiency, cleanliness, and exceptional passenger services. It has been named "Europe's Best Airport" and is Germany's second-largest hub for international travel. The airport also offers a range of leisure activities, including a beer garden, mini-golf, and greenery.
Yes, there are several other international airports in Germany that may be convenient depending on your travel plans. These include Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Hamburg Airport, Düsseldorf Airport, and Stuttgart Airport.
To find the best flight deals to Germany, it is recommended to use a travel search engine such as KAYAK, which allows you to search for flights from multiple airlines and find the lowest prices. Flying into Brussels, Luxembourg, or Copenhagen and then taking a train to Germany is another option for finding cheaper flights. Additionally, consider the time of year you are travelling, as flight prices can surge during popular festivals such as Oktoberfest.
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