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Layover in Frankfurt: Make the Most of Your Time in the City or at the Airport

Layover in Frankfurt: Make the Most of Your Time in the City or at the Airport
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Frankfurt is the home base of Lufthansa. This German giant is a major player in Europe and internationally, and is also part of Star Alliance. So there’s a good chance you’ll pass through Frankfurt on a layover one day or another, especially if you booked your tickets with Aeroplan. Why not take a few hours to head out and explore before hopping back on a flight to your final destination? And if you think you won’t have enough time, there are plenty of options to keep you busy inside the airport.

Short Layover Inside the Airport

Take Advantage of Airport Lounges

Three lounges are accessible with DragonPass (Visa Airport Companion):

I tried out Le LUXXlounge because it was the only one in Terminal 1, and I have to admit that it was frankly disappointing. The lounge is tiny and the food and drinks on offer are very limited. It felt a bit like wasting a pass. Knowing now all the options available in the airport, I’d probably choose a different relaxation area than this one.

Sleep

If you’ve had a rough re-eye flight from Canada to Europe and would like to use your layover as a rest stop. There are options right in the airport.

Mycloud Hotel located in Terminal 1, it offers room rentals for a minimum of 3 hours in the non-Schengen area. Therefore, you need to have a flight segment outside the Schengen Zone, such as a flight from Canada, to access it. The room includes a bed, a desk, a bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and an entertainment system.

However, if you are already in the Schengen area, you can use the Napcabs.These are enclosed cabins with a single bed for napping. Payment is made by the hour, and reservations can be made in advance. In total, 9 cabins are available at two locations in Terminal 1. Payment can be made by credit card or PayPal, with rates of € 12 per hour at night and € 17 per hour during the day. Advance booking is possible.

Alternatively, the airport offers several free relaxation areas with comfortable lounge chairs or « silent chairs » equipped with built-in speakers to create a personal bubble. Check the airport map to locate them.

You can also get some fresh air by visiting the roof terrace.

Recharge Your Batteries

Surprisingly, the airport has two yoga studios, one in Terminal 1 and one in Terminal 2. A great opportunity to stretch out after hours of flying.

You might prefer to spend some time in one of the prayer rooms, which are adapted to accommodate various religious practices.

Do you simply need to calm down or meditate to relieve stress? Two » quiet rooms » are available for all religions to help you find inner peace, whether you’re in terminal 1 or 2.

Paid showers are available at four locations in the airport. For € 6, you can freshen up, with shower gel, shampoo, towel, and hairdryer included.

Entertainment

Would you rather relax and let time fly by? Then head to one of the three gaming rooms and take advantage of the free arcades.

Another option is to watch a free multilingual film or documentary in one of the three « movie world » sections.

Here are some other options:

  • Sitting at the Entertainment Gate and watch film sequences about big cities.
  • An interactive and multimedia exhibition could keep you entertained at the Fraport Visitor’s Center.
  • For children, there are 9 play areas in Terminals 1 and 2.

Layover in Visit Frankfurt (6 Hours or More)

Practical Information

When travelling with a Canadian passport, you don’t need a visa to leave the airport in Germany. It’s easy to pay by credit card almost anywhere, but carrying a few euros is never a bad idea.

If your carry-on luggage is cumbersome, you can use the paid luggage storage service available at various service points in the airport.

As for transportation, both long-distance trains and the metro to the city center pass directly through the airport at Terminal 1. Tickets can be purchased at a multilingual electronic kiosk. A one-day pass cost € 12.30 as of September 26, 2024.

To get to the city center, you need to take a train heading to the HAUPTWACHE station, either the S8 or S9 line towards Hanau or Offenbach. The trains run every 15 minutes. You will have just 6 stations to travel, which should take around 20 minutes.

What to Do During a Layover in Frankfurt

As you’re only on a stopover, perhaps you haven’t had time to research Frankfurt and note down the must-see attractions. A simple and (almost) free way to see the must-sees is to join a free guided tour. Several companies offer them every day, with departures in the morning and in the afternoon. Tours last about two to two and a half hours, and guides are paid through the tip you leave them. If you have to leave before the end, just let the guide know and leave them their tip.

Would you rather go for a walk? The famous Hop on Hop off bus is available all over Frankfurt, including a one-hour express version. The tour includes an audio guide in several languages, and the ticket is valid for 24 hours.

Are you more of a self-discovery type and let your desires guide you? Here are a few attractions to include on your itinerary:

  • The Einerner Steg pedestrian bridge
  • The waterside walk along the Main River
  • The old Alte Oper
  • The Konstablewache farmers’ market
  • Römerberg and its square
  • The Town Hall
  • The old Nikolaikirche church
  • Kleinmarkthalle indoor market
  • Myzeil shopping center
  • Bockenheimer Anlage Park
  • Main tower (for a view of the city)
  • Palmengarten Botanical Garden

Finally, take advantage of this short stay to eat your favorite German specialties like pretzels, schnitzels, curry wurst and German beer.

Save Money with Points and Credit Cards

Award Flights

Stopovers in Frankfurt can be very frequent when traveling with our points Aeroplan. It’s often easy to find last-minute award flight availability on Lufthansa to Europe (or anywhere else in the world), with a stopover in Frankfurt. If you’d like to spend more time in Frankfurt, it’s possible to add a long stopover to your itinerary for just 5,000 extra Aeroplan points. Read our stopover guide Aeroplan to adopt this strategy for your next trip.

Lounge Access

Planning to stay at the airport? Get free access to VIP lounges with these credit cards:

To find out more, read our guide to airport lounges.

Foreign Exchange Fees

For your euro transactions during your stopover (and your entire trip), avoid foreign currency conversion fees with these credit cards that eliminate those pesky 2.5% fees:

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Conclusion

In conclusion, remember to allow enough time to get back to the airport. Normally, being back an hour early should be enough if your luggage is already checked in and you have your boarding pass with you. All you have to do is pass through security and get to your boarding gate.

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$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
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on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

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