Frankfurt Airport (Flughafen Frankfurt am Main) processes approximately 60 million passengers annually, making it the largest airport in Germany and the fourth busiest in Europe by passenger volume. The airport operates two main terminals connected by a free SkyLine monorail that runs every two to three minutes. Terminal 1 handles Lufthansa and Star Alliance carriers, while Terminal 2 serves airlines including Emirates, Delta, and several European carriers. The airport sits 12 kilometers southwest of Frankfurt's city center and functions as the primary European hub for Lufthansa, Germany's flag carrier. Construction of the Northwest Runway was completed in 2011, bringing the total to four runways capable of handling up to 126 aircraft movements per hour during peak operations.
Munich Airport (Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß) serves roughly 48 million passengers per year and operates from a location 28 kilometers northeast of Munich's center. The airport opened in 1992 to replace the old München-Riem airport and consists of two terminals handling both Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Terminal 2, opened in 2003, was built as a joint venture between Munich Airport and Lufthansa, featuring a satellite terminal connected by an underground passenger transport system that opened in 2016. The airport recorded 437,000 aircraft movements in 2019 and serves as Lufthansa's second-largest hub after Frankfurt. A third runway planned for construction has faced legal challenges from environmental groups and local municipalities since its approval in 2011, with construction timelines remaining uncertain as of 2024.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt) began operations on October 31, 2020, after a construction period that lasted 14 years against an original timeline of five years. The airport replaced Berlin's Tegel and Schönefeld airports and is located in Schönefeld, 18 kilometers southeast of Berlin's city center. The terminal building covers 360,000 square meters and was designed to handle 27 million passengers annually in its initial phase, with expansion capacity planned for up to 58 million. The project became notorious for cost overruns, with final expenses reaching approximately 7.3 billion euros compared to an initial budget of 2 billion euros. Technical issues including fire safety systems, escalators, and electrical installations caused repeated delays. The airport now serves as a base for easyJet and Ryanair, with Lufthansa operating a smaller hub compared to its Frankfurt and Munich operations.
Hamburg Airport (Flughafen Hamburg Helmut Schmidt) sits five kilometers north of Hamburg's city center and handled 17.3 million passengers in 2019. The airport bears the name of former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who was born in Hamburg in 1918. Two terminals operate at the site, which has been Hamburg's airport location since 1911, making it one of the oldest operational airport sites in the world. Eurowings and easyJet maintain bases at Hamburg, and the airport serves as a focus city for Condor. The single runway measures 3,666 meters and operates under noise restrictions that prohibit scheduled flights between 11 PM and 6 AM. A court ruling in 2022 tightened noise limits further, requiring the airport to reduce its annual noise quota by 15 percent compared to 2018 levels.
Düsseldorf Airport (Flughafen Düsseldorf) processed 25.5 million passengers in 2019, ranking it as Germany's third-busiest airport. Located eight kilometers north of Düsseldorf's city center, the airport serves the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which contains roughly 10 million inhabitants. Three terminals operate at the site, with Terminal A handling both domestic and international flights, Terminal B dedicated to additional gate capacity, and Terminal C opened in 2003 for low-cost carriers. Eurowings maintains its largest base at Düsseldorf, with approximately 30 aircraft stationed at the airport. The SkyTrain, an automated cable-driven people mover, connects the terminals and parking areas, completing the 2.5-kilometer circuit in roughly eight minutes. A fire in April 1996 killed 17 people and led to extensive redesigns of fire safety systems in German airport terminals.
Cologne Bonn Airport (Flughafen Köln/Bonn Konrad Adenauer) sits 15 kilometers southeast of Cologne and 16 kilometers northeast of Bonn. The airport served 12.4 million passengers in 2019 and operates as a major cargo hub, handling 866,000 tonnes of cargo that same year, making it Germany's second-largest cargo airport after Frankfurt. UPS Airlines operates its European hub from Cologne Bonn, with 60 daily flight connections and a sorting facility capable of processing 190,000 packages per hour. The airport is named after Konrad Adenauer, Germany's first post-war chancellor, who was born in Cologne in 1876. Two terminals handle passenger traffic, with Terminal 2 opened in 2000 to accommodate low-cost carriers including Ryanair and Eurowings. The airport maintains 24-hour operations with no nighttime curfew, a feature that supports its cargo operations but has generated ongoing disputes with surrounding communities.
Stuttgart Airport (Flughafen Stuttgart) is located 13 kilometers south of Stuttgart's city center and handled 12.7 million passengers in 2019. The airport operates from a single terminal complex with four terminal buildings numbered Terminal 1 through Terminal 4. Eurowings bases approximately 20 aircraft at Stuttgart, making it one of the carrier's larger operational centers. The airport sits on the Fildern plateau at an elevation of 389 meters above sea level. A notable architectural feature is Terminal 1's curved glass facade, completed in 2004, which spans 180 meters. The airport enforces noise restrictions prohibiting scheduled passenger flights between 11:30 PM and 6 AM on weekdays and between 10 PM and 7 AM on weekends. Runway 07/25 measures 3,345 meters and handles all commercial traffic.
Passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area proceed through passport control, where officers from the Federal Police (Bundespolizei) examine travel documents. Germany implemented automated border control gates (EasyPASS) at major airports, allowing citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland to use biometric passport readers. Non-EU citizens require manual passport inspection. The process typically takes between 10 and 45 minutes depending on flight arrival times and staffing levels. Baggage claim areas at Frankfurt Airport are divided across Terminal 1's concourses A, B, C, and Z, with digital displays indicating carousel assignments. Munich Airport's Terminal 2 features 12 baggage carousels in the arrival level. Customs channels follow the red-green system, where travelers with nothing to declare proceed through the green channel while those carrying declarable goods use the red channel. Random inspections occur in green channels, with customs officers authorized to request baggage examination.
Currency exchange offices (Wechselstube) operate in arrival halls at major German airports but typically offer exchange rates 5 to 8 percent less favorable than ATM withdrawals. Frankfurt Airport has Travelex and ReiseBank exchange counters in both terminals. ATMs accepting international cards are located in all arrival areas, dispensing euros in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and occasionally 100 euro notes. German ATMs typically charge no fees from the machine operator for international card withdrawals, though home bank fees may apply. Credit cards are less universally accepted in Germany compared to other Western European countries, with many smaller establishments preferring cash or EC-Karte (German debit cards). The euro replaced the Deutsche Mark on January 1, 2002, at a fixed rate of 1.95583 marks per euro.
Frankfurt Airport's regional train station (Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof) sits beneath Terminal 1 and connects to Frankfurt's main station (Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof) via S-Bahn lines S8 and S9, with trains departing every 15 minutes and completing the journey in 11 to 15 minutes. The fare costs 5.35 euros as a single ticket within Frankfurt's transit zone. Long-distance trains (Fernverkehr) operated by Deutsche Bahn depart from Frankfurt Airport's long-distance train station (Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof), located at Terminal 1's northwestern end. ICE high-speed trains connect directly to Cologne in 63 minutes, Munich in 3 hours 10 minutes, and Berlin in 3 hours 50 minutes. The long-distance station opened in 1999 and handles approximately 300 train movements daily. Tickets purchased at airport counters or machines carry no surcharge compared to advance online purchases for the same train, though flexible tickets (Flexpreis) cost significantly more than advance-purchase tickets (Sparpreis).
Munich Airport's S-Bahn station serves lines S1 and S8, both connecting to Munich's main station (München Hauptbahnhof). The S1 route takes 46 minutes with stops including Neuried, Donnersbergerbrücke, and Hackerbrücke. The S8 route takes 42 minutes via Ismaning, Ostbahnhof, and Rosenheimer Platz. Trains depart every 10 minutes during daytime hours, reducing to 20-minute intervals during early morning and late evening. A single ticket costs 13.60 euros for the entire journey to the city center. The Lufthansa Express Bus operates between Munich Airport and München Hauptbahnhof every 15 minutes during peak hours, completing the journey in 45 minutes under normal traffic conditions and charging 10.50 euros for a single ticket purchased in advance.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport's train station sits below Terminal 1-2 and serves both regional trains and S-Bahn line S9. The S9 connects to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in 28 minutes with trains departing every 20 minutes. Regional trains (RE7 and RB14) reach central Berlin in approximately 30 minutes with less frequent service than the S-Bahn. The Airport Express train (FEX) operates between Brandenburg Airport and Berlin Hauptbahnhof every 30 minutes, completing the route in 30 minutes with intermediate stops at Ostkreuz and Gesundbrunnen. A single ticket for the ABC zones, which includes the airport, costs 4 euros. The ABC zone designation indicates travel across Berlin's three fare zones, with the airport located in zone C. Bus line X7 connects the airport to Rudow U-Bahn station in 18 minutes, departing every 5 minutes during daytime hours.
Hamburg Airport's S-Bahn station serves line S1, connecting to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof in 24 minutes with trains departing every 10 minutes. The route includes stops at Ohlsdorf (interchange for the U1 U-Bahn line) and Hamburg Dammtor (interchange for regional trains). A single ticket within Hamburg's AB zones costs 3.70 euros. Bus route 292 connects the airport to Langenhorn Nord U-Bahn station in 12 minutes. The airport has no direct long-distance train connection, requiring passengers to travel to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof for ICE services. The Jasper bus operates between Hamburg Airport and central Hamburg every 20 minutes, charging 8 euros for advance-purchase tickets.
Taxi ranks at German airports operate under regulated pricing structures that vary by city. Frankfurt Airport taxis charge metered fares starting at 3.90 euros with an additional 2 euros per kilometer for the first seven kilometers and 1.75 euros per kilometer thereafter. A typical journey to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof costs between 35 and 45 euros depending on traffic conditions. Munich Airport taxis operate on a metered system starting at 3.90 euros, with the journey to München Hauptbahnhof typically costing between 60 and 75 euros and taking 40 to 50 minutes. Berlin Brandenburg Airport taxis charge a metered fare starting at 3.90 euros, with trips to Alexanderplatz costing approximately 50 to 60 euros and taking 30 to 40 minutes under normal traffic. All German taxis accept cash, with credit card acceptance varying by operator. Ride-sharing services including Uber operate at Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin airports, though Uber in Germany primarily dispatches licensed taxi and private hire vehicles rather than private drivers due to regulatory restrictions.
Car rental counters at Frankfurt Airport are located in Terminal 1's arrival hall B and Terminal 2's arrival hall D. Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and Enterprise maintain on-site operations. Return facilities sit in parking area P36 for Terminal 1 and parking area P29 for Terminal 2. Munich Airport's car rental center (Autovermietung) occupies a dedicated building opposite Terminal 2, connected by covered walkway. Drivers must be at least 21 years old to rent vehicles in Germany, with drivers under 25 typically facing surcharges of 15 to 25 euros per day. German roads include no-fee sections (freie Strecke) and limited toll requirements, though environmental zones (Umweltzonen) in 58 German cities including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Stuttgart require vehicles to display emission stickers (Umweltplakette). Rental companies typically provide these stickers as standard. Speed limits on German highways (Autobahnen) follow a recommended speed of 130 kilometers per hour on unrestricted sections, mandatory limits of 120 or 100 kilometers per hour on restricted sections marked by signage, 50 kilometers per hour in urban areas, and 100 kilometers per hour on rural roads unless otherwise posted.
Frankfurt Airport's InterCityHotel Frankfurt Airport occupies a building directly connected to Terminal 1 via covered walkway. The Hilton Frankfurt Airport hotel sits within walking distance of Terminal 1. Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel connects to Terminal 1 through an elevated walkway at the Squaire building, a multi-use complex that also houses office space. Munich Airport operates the Hilton Munich Airport hotel inside the Munich Airport Center between Terminals 1 and 2, accessible without passing through security. The Novotel München Airport also connects directly to the terminal complex. Berlin Brandenburg Airport has no hotels within the terminal buildings as of 2024, with the nearest options including Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt located 1.5 kilometers from the terminal.
Mobile phone network coverage across German airports operates on GSM 900/1800 MHz and UMTS 900/2100 MHz bands, with 5G networks active at Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin airports as of 2023. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefónica (O2) provide the three major networks. Prepaid SIM cards are available at airport kiosks and electronics retailers, requiring passport identification for purchase under German telecommunications law. A basic prepaid SIM with 5GB of data typically costs between 10 and 20 euros. Frankfurt Airport provides free Wi-Fi for 60 minutes per device per day through the Telekom HotSpot network. Munich Airport offers unlimited free Wi-Fi (M-net Hotspot) throughout both terminals. Berlin Brandenburg Airport provides 60 minutes of free Wi-Fi per device through the Telekom network.
Luggage storage facilities at Frankfurt Airport operate through Gepäckaufbewahrung counters in Terminal 1, concourses B and C, and Terminal 2, concourse D. Storage costs 7 euros for the first 24 hours for items up to cabin baggage size and 10 euros for larger items. Munich Airport's luggage storage (Gepäckaufbewahrung) sits in the Munich Airport Center on level 03, charging 8 euros per item for the first 24 hours. Berlin Brandenburg Airport operates luggage storage in Terminal 1, level E0, with pricing starting at 6 euros for the first 24 hours. Hamburg Airport's luggage storage in Terminal 1, arrival level, charges 7 euros for the first 24 hours.
Frankfurt Airport's shopping area includes over 100 retail outlets, with Terminal 1's Zeil shopping area named after Frankfurt's main shopping street. Duty-free shops operate airside in both terminals, selling alcohol, tobacco, perfume, and cosmetics to passengers traveling outside the European Union. Prices in airport retail locations typically run 20 to 40 percent higher than city-center equivalents for comparable products. Munich Airport's Terminal 2 shopping area includes approximately 50 stores, with brands including Hugo Boss, Montblanc, and Swarovski. Bookstores in German airports stock English-language publications alongside German titles, with Relay and WH Smith operating multiple locations across terminals.
Food service at Frankfurt Airport includes both landside and airside options across price categories. A coffee at a terminal cafe typically costs between 3.50 and 4.50 euros. A sandwich or bakery item costs between 5 and 8 euros. Sit-down restaurants charge between 15 and 30 euros for main courses. McDonald's locations in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 charge prices approximately 15 percent higher than city-center locations. Munich Airport's beer gardens in the Munich Airport Center serve half-liter measures (Maß) of beer for approximately 7 to 8 euros. Berlin Brandenburg Airport's food court in Terminal 1 includes outlets serving currywurst, döner kebab, and pretzels alongside international chains.