Wheelchair accessibility review of Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is Germany’s financial powerhouse and one of Europe’s most important transportation hubs. It is home to Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the second-busiest airport in Europe by passenger volume — behind only London Heathrow — making it a gateway city for millions of international travelers each year. The city’s massive central train station, Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, is among the busiest railway hubs on the continent, connecting travelers to destinations throughout Germany and beyond. Downtown Frankfurt itself is largely a banking and business district — the famous skyline of glass towers belongs to some of the world’s largest financial institutions — so tourist attractions are more limited compared to other European capitals. That said, the city’s historic old town and the iconic Euro statue are well worth a visit.

Overall, I found Frankfurt to be a reasonably accessible city. Curb cuts were prevalent throughout, sidewalks were a mix of smooth concrete and pavers, and while some sections featured bumpier pavers or cobblestone — particularly in the historic Römerberg area — the surface conditions were notably better than many other historic European cities.

On This Page:

• Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
• Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)
• Downtown Frankfurt
• Overall Accessibility

Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1

Frankfurt Airport is a large and sprawling facility — the second-busiest in Europe — and that size comes with complexity for wheelchair users. Elevators are plentiful throughout both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, but the sheer scale of the airport means navigating between gates, baggage claim, and ground transportation can be time-consuming and occasionally confusing without assistance.

Note: We recommend requesting airport wheelchair assistance in advance through your airline. Airport staff can help navigate the long distances between terminals and connections, which can be genuinely difficult to manage independently.

For deplaning, the process is similar to U.S. airports: passengers with mobility impairments are transferred from their seat to an aisle chair — a narrow wheelchair that fits down the aircraft aisle — and then transported to a jetway or tarmac-level lift before being helped into their wheelchair.

Staff will typically escort you through the airport, which also speeds up the passport control sections. Highly recommend asking the team that helps you off the plane to help.

Getting Into the City: S-Bahn from the Airport

Conveniently, Frankfurt Airport has its own train station located directly within the terminal complex. The S-Bahn (suburban rail lines S8 and S9) connects the airport to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) in approximately 11 minutes. The platforms are accessible via elevator from the terminal, and the S-Bahn trains have designated wheelchair spaces and accessible boarding. There was a large gap between the train and the platform, so I had to get the attention of the conductor. He came out and put down a ramp. This is their typical routine, so I suggest waiting near where the front of the train will be so you can get the conductor’s attention.

Tip: The airport train station has two levels — a lower level serving the S-Bahn (regional/city rail) and an upper level serving the Fernbahnhof (long-distance ICE trains). Both are accessible by elevator. If continuing directly to another German city, check whether your intercity train departs from the airport Fernbahnhof rather than Hauptbahnhof.

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof — one of Germany’s busiest rail hubs

Frankfurt’s main train station is very accessible overall. Elevators serve all major platforms, and the station’s layout — while large — is generally navigable. Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national railway, has a robust assistance program for passengers with disabilities.

Arranging Assistance Through DB

DB strongly recommends arranging assistance in advance via the DB website or passenger service hotline. When you book, DB coordinates staff to meet you, help with boarding and alighting, and ensure the correct car — typically the one with the designated wheelchair space — is accessible to you.

The meeting location for pre-arranged assistance is usually the DB Information (DB Info) desk inside the main hall. Staff will escort you to the correct platform and car at departure time.

A Personal Note on the Boarding Process

It was genuinely encouraging to see a lot of wheelchair users navigating the station — Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof felt more used by people in wheelchairs in practice than many stations we have visited. That said, the high volume of wheelchair passengers can create some coordination challenges.

Our experience: We had pre-arranged assistance and were told to meet the train attendant at the specific platform and car. However, when we arrived, multiple wheelchair users were boarding the same area of the train, and in the bustle, we were loaded onto the wrong train. To DB’s credit, they were immediately helpful and responsive once we realized the mistake — staff worked quickly to get us onto the correct next train heading to our destination with minimal delay. The takeaway: even with advance planning, stay alert and double-check with staff that you are boarding the right train, especially when multiple wheelchair users are boarding simultaneously.

Downtown Frankfurt

Downtown Frankfurt is dominated by its financial district — a dense cluster of gleaming skyscrapers housing major banks and the European Central Bank. It is not a city with an overwhelming array of traditional tourist sights, but the highlights that do exist are worthwhile. We focused on two main spots:

Römerberg

A Brief History of Römerberg

Römerberg — meaning “Roman Mountain” — has been Frankfurt’s central civic square for over a thousand years. The Römer, the striking step-gabled building on the square’s west side, has served as Frankfurt’s city hall since 1405. For centuries, Römerberg was the site of coronation celebrations for Holy Roman Emperors, who were crowned at the nearby Imperial Cathedral (Kaiserdom) and then celebrated in the square. Much of the medieval old town was destroyed in Allied bombing raids in 1944; the half-timbered buildings you see today are largely faithful postwar reconstructions, rebuilt in the 1980s to restore the historic character of the square.

The Römerberg is Frankfurt’s most visited historic site and the heart of the old town. The square itself is mostly accessible — the central open area is paved with stones that, while not perfectly smooth, are manageable. The half-timbered facades surrounding the square are beautiful and easily appreciated from ground level without needing to enter any buildings.

The surrounding streets in the old town area have some cobblestone and rougher paver sections, but compared to cities like Brussels or parts of Paris, the surfaces were not extreme. Take it slowly and plan your route to stay on the smoother sections of the plaza where possible.

Euro Statue (Eurotower)

Just a short roll from the old town, the large Euro (€) sculpture outside the former European Central Bank headquarters is a popular and easy-to-access photo stop. The surrounding plaza is flat and smooth, making it one of the most effortlessly wheelchair-accessible attractions in the city. It’s a quintessentially Frankfurt sight — the city as the financial heart of the Eurozone rendered in giant steel.

The iconic Euro sculpture outside the former ECB headquarters

More to see: For a broader guide to Frankfurt’s sights, history, and practical tips, Rick Steves offers an excellent resource at ricksteves.com/europe/germany/frankfurt.

Overall Accessibility Assessment

Overall: Good. Frankfurt proved to be a reasonably wheelchair-friendly city, particularly for a major European hub. The combination of strong transit infrastructure and a business-focused city center (with newer, flatter sidewalks) worked in our favor.

Curb cuts were prevalent and generally well-maintained throughout the city center. Sidewalks were a mixed bag — smooth concrete in the business district, transitioning to pavers in and around the old town — but the rougher sections near Römerberg were manageable and far less challenging than the cobblestone-heavy old towns of Brussels or Nice. The financial district in particular was excellent, with wide, smooth sidewalks and consistent accessibility infrastructure. One issue is a lot of restaurants had a step to get inside. My portable ramp came in quite handy for accessing those, but I also found that proprietors would come outside to assist as well.

The airport and train station both have solid accessibility provisions, and DB’s assistance program — while requiring advance planning — is genuinely helpful and staffed by responsive, accommodating people. Frankfurt may not have the dazzling tourist density of Paris or Rome, but as a transit and business destination, its accessibility holds up well.