Frankfurt Airport: Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 and Back

Changing terminals at Frankfurt Airport takes you between two very different kinds of building. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 sit next to each other on the north side of the airport and are directly connected. Terminal 3 is a separate building in the south, a few kilometres away. You move between them on the Sky Line people-mover or by shuttle bus, without leaving the airport — and the trip from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 is the longest of the three.

This guide covers each terminal change in turn, how much time to allow, what happens late at night, and when it is worth taking a car instead. Terminal and airline arrangements at FRA do change, so confirm your own terminal on your boarding pass before you travel, and check Frankfurt Airport's official transfer page for current running times.

How to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3

Follow the signs for the Sky Line people-mover or the terminal shuttle bus. Terminal 3 is in the southern part of the airport, so this is the longest terminal change at FRA and the one worth allowing extra time for — especially if you are collecting luggage or clearing passport control on the way.

1. Once you land at Terminal 1, follow the overhead signs for Terminal 3. Do not follow signs for the train stations, which lead the other way.
2. Take the Sky Line people-mover or the shuttle bus, whichever the signage directs you to at that hour.
3. At Terminal 3, follow signs to check-in or arrivals, depending on your onward journey.

If you are arriving on an international flight and leaving the secure area, you may need to clear passport control and collect checked baggage before you transfer. That adds time on top of the ride itself.

How to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1

The route is the same in reverse: follow the signs from Terminal 3 to the Sky Line or the shuttle bus, and stay on until Terminal 1. This is the direction most people search for, because Terminal 1 is where the airport's train stations are — both the regional station and the long-distance station for high-speed ICE services. If your onward journey is by rail, Terminal 1 is where you are heading.

Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, and Terminal 2 to Terminal 3

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are next to each other and connected, so moving between them is the quickest change at Frankfurt Airport. The Sky Line links the two directly, and there is also a walkway and shuttle bus connection.

Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 is a longer trip, because it crosses the airport from north to south in the same way a Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 change does. Treat it as the same kind of journey and allow the same sort of margin.

How many terminals does Frankfurt Airport have?

Frankfurt Airport has three passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is divided into concourses A, B and Z, and Terminal 2 into concourses D and E. Terminal 3 is the newest and stands apart from the other two in the south of the airport.

Frankfurt Airport terminals compared

Terminal	Where it is	Typical airlines (always check yours)	How to reach it
Terminal 1	North side; concourses A, B, Z. The airport's regional and long-distance train stations are here.	Mainly Lufthansa and Star Alliance partners	Direct by car or train; Sky Line from the other terminals
Terminal 2	Next to Terminal 1 and connected to it; concourses D and E	Historically Condor, plus various international and leisure airlines	Sky Line or shuttle from Terminal 1; direct by car
Terminal 3	Separate building in the south, a few kilometres from Terminals 1 and 2	A growing list, including Condor — confirm your airline	Sky Line or shuttle bus; direct by car

How long should you allow to change terminals?

Transfer times vary with the time of day, how busy the airport is, and whether you need to pass through security or passport control again. A Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 change is short. A change involving Terminal 3 takes noticeably longer because of the distance across the airport.

The practical advice is to work backwards from your connection: check the minimum connecting time your airline has applied to your booking, then add margin for baggage and border checks if your itinerary involves them. For current Sky Line and shuttle running times, including overnight service, check the airport's own transfer information rather than relying on a fixed figure — the arrangements for Terminal 3 are still settling in.

Changing terminals late at night

The Sky Line does not run around the clock. Overnight, terminal changes at Frankfurt Airport are covered by shuttle buses instead, which run less frequently than the people-mover. If you land late or have an early departure from a different terminal than the one you arrive at, check the current overnight arrangements before you travel, and allow more time than you would during the day.

Getting to the terminals from the train station

Frankfurt Airport's train stations are at Terminal 1. The regional station serves S-Bahn and regional services into Frankfurt city centre and the surrounding region; the long-distance station serves high-speed ICE trains. If you arrive by train and are flying from Terminal 2 or Terminal 3, you will need a terminal change on top of your walk from the platform, so build that into your timings.

How to find out which terminal your flight uses

Your boarding pass or booking confirmation normally states the terminal and gate, and that is the most reliable source. Airlines do move between terminals, so check again shortly before you fly rather than relying on what was true last time. If you want a starting point by airline, see our guide to which terminal your airline uses at Frankfurt Airport.

When a car makes more sense than the Sky Line

The Sky Line and shuttle buses are free and work well when you are travelling light and have time. A car is worth considering in three situations: when you are moving between terminals with heavy or awkward luggage, when you are travelling with children or someone with reduced mobility, or when you are leaving the airport entirely rather than connecting airside.

If your journey ends outside the airport, you do not need to change terminals at all. A door-to-door transfer collects you at the terminal you actually land at and takes you straight to your destination, which removes the terminal change from your trip completely.

For a car between terminals specifically, see our Frankfurt Airport terminal transfer page.

How pickups work at each terminal

With a pre-booked private transfer, the terminal is our problem rather than yours. You give us your flight number, we track the flight, and your driver is assigned to the terminal you actually arrive at — including Terminal 3. Your driver stays in contact by phone or WhatsApp and sends clear instructions on exactly where to meet, just outside the arrivals area.

Every ride has a fixed price confirmed before you book, with no meter and no surge pricing. Airport pickups include free flight tracking and 60 minutes of free waiting, so a delayed landing does not cost you anything extra. You can see current fares on our fixed price list, and how airport meetings work on our Frankfurt Airport Meet & Greet page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport?

Follow the signs for the Sky Line people-mover or the terminal shuttle bus. Terminal 3 is in the south of the airport, several kilometres from Terminal 1, so this is the longest terminal change at FRA.

Are Frankfurt Airport terminals connected?

Yes. All three terminals are linked, so you can change terminals without leaving the airport. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are directly connected to each other. Terminal 3 is reached by Sky Line or shuttle bus.

How many terminals are there at Frankfurt Airport?

Three: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

Is the Sky Line free?

Yes, the Sky Line people-mover is free to use for passengers moving between terminals at Frankfurt Airport.

Which Frankfurt Airport terminal has the train station?

Terminal 1. Both the regional station and the long-distance station for ICE trains are located there.

What is the difference between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Frankfurt Airport?

Terminal 1 is the larger and older terminal, used mainly by Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners, and it contains the airport's train stations. Terminal 2 sits next to it, is generally quieter, and has historically been associated with Condor and a range of international and leisure airlines.

Do I need to change terminals if someone is picking me up?

No. A pre-booked driver meets you at the terminal your flight actually arrives at, so there is no terminal change involved.

Book your Frankfurt Airport transfer

Whichever terminal you fly into or out of, we collect and drop off door to door, 24 hours a day. Share your flight number when you book and we handle the rest — including Terminal 3. Check availability and get your fixed price, or call us if you would rather arrange it by phone.