When visiting Frankfurt with children, plan the journey from the airport before filling your days with activities. Think about how you will carry your bags, where your children can rest and when you can enter your hotel room.
A late room check-in can matter more than the distance to a museum. A short train ride can still involve a long walk with a pushchair. These details deserve a place in your plans.
Leave room in your arrival day
Your flight's arrival time is not the time you will leave the airport. You still need to get off the aircraft and collect any checked bags. Passport checks may also form part of your arrival.
Avoid booking an activity that starts shortly after landing. A delayed suitcase or a hungry child can make that booking difficult to reach.
For example, a family arriving in the morning might plan lunch near the hotel. A short afternoon walk can remain optional. That gives everyone time to settle in without losing money on missed tickets.
Check the terminal on your flight information before travelling. Use the airport's current map to find your onward transport and any facilities you may need.
Check how your airline handles pushchairs
A pushchair helps during long walks, but you need to know where it will be available. Ask your airline whether you can take it to the departure gate. Also confirm where you will collect it after landing.
Frankfurt Airport advises families to check airline rules for pushchairs, travel cots and child seats. Many airlines carry these items outside the usual baggage allowance, but arrangements differ. [1]
Do not pack everything your child needs into the pushchair basket. You may have to fold it and hand it over before boarding. Keep essential items in a separate cabin bag.
If you plan to bring a baby carrier, consider whether you can comfortably manage it alongside your hand luggage.
Keep one bag ready for the first few hours
Pack a small bag that you can open without unpacking the family's luggage. It should cover the flight and the journey to your accommodation.
Useful items include:
- A change of clothes for each young child.
- Nappies, wipes and a small changing mat.
- A familiar toy or comfort item.
- Snacks suitable for your child, subject to travel and entry rules.
- Any essential medication and the documents needed for it.
- Your accommodation details and transport confirmation.
Frankfurt Airport has baby rooms with changing and breastfeeding facilities. Its parent-child rooms also include toilets for adults and children. Check the airport map for a room you can access along your route. [2]
Take a toilet or changing break before starting the next part of the journey. This is particularly useful when you are continuing beyond Frankfurt.
Choose transport around your luggage and hotel location
Look at the whole journey when comparing transport. Include the walk through the terminal, any changes and the distance from your final stop to the hotel.
Frankfurt Airport's regional railway station is beneath Terminal 1. Services include the S8 and S9 suburban trains. The airport also has a separate long-distance station, so follow the signs for the service you need. [3]
Rail can be a practical choice when your accommodation is close to a station. Check current departures and any service changes for your travel date.
With small children, several suitcases and a pushchair, a direct car journey may suit your family better. When comparing airport transfers with Ghotra Ride, check its saloon and larger vehicle options against your passenger numbers and luggage. Confirm the child seat arrangements before you travel.
A vehicle's passenger capacity does not tell you how much luggage it can carry. Two large cases and a folded pushchair can take up considerable space. Give the provider an accurate luggage list and your child's age, height and weight when discussing a suitable seat.
Also check where you will meet the driver, what waiting time is included and how delays affect the booking.
Look beyond the family room label
Before reserving a room, check its actual sleeping arrangements. A double bed and a sofa bed may work for one family. Another may need separate beds or space for a cot.
Ask about anything that affects your stay:
- Whether a cot needs to be reserved and whether it costs extra.
- Whether a lift serves your room floor.
- The earliest confirmed room access time.
- Whether the hotel can store luggage before check-in.
Whether breakfast and any children's meals are included.
An early flight makes room access especially relevant. If you land well before check-in, decide where the family will spend those hours.
Check the streets around the hotel too. A nearby place to eat and a short walk to transport can make daily outings easier to manage.
Choose one main outing each day
Start with an activity your children already enjoy. A child interested in dinosaurs may prefer the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History. Palmengarten offers gardens and greenhouses for families who enjoy exploring plants. Frankfurt's official tourism website includes both among its family attractions. [4]
Choose one as the main activity for the day. Leave time for lunch and a break before deciding whether to go elsewhere.
Keep an indoor option available if the weather changes. Check opening hours and ticket conditions directly before setting out. Temporary closures or a sold-out time slot can change your plans.
For instance, a morning museum visit followed by lunch may be enough for a younger child. Older children might still want an afternoon walk. Plan around the people travelling with you.
Prepare for the journey home before the final morning
Check your departure terminal and your airline's recommended airport arrival time. If you plan to travel by train, review the service information again. If you have arranged a car, confirm the pickup details and child seat requirements.
Repack the children's cabin bag the night before. Replace clothes and supplies used during the trip. Keep travel documents where you can reach them while managing the luggage.
Leave the final morning free of activities that could delay your departure. Breakfast, getting children ready and checking the room for forgotten belongings already take time.
Before leaving, check under beds, beside charging sockets and inside bathroom cupboards. Keep your child's comfort toy in the cabin bag where you can find it during the journey.
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