Getting to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport

Ground Transportation to Low-Cost Airline Flights at HHN, Germany

Oct 8, 2007

Several ground transportation options and cheap parking allow travelers to get to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) to take advantage of cheap airfares on low-cost airlines.

Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN), Germany is a small regional airport popular with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. Facilities are modern, long-term airport parking is fairly priced, a couple of airport hotels and various car rental agencies are at or near the airport, and buses run to several cities. Passengers can spend time while waiting for flights in a couple of unremarkable restaurants and shops – including a small erotic shop. The only things that are missing are a railway station and of course Frankfurt itself.

Where is Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN)?

Frankfurt-Hahn Airport is located near the Mosel in the far west of Germany in a sparsely populated area of the state Rhineland Palatinate. The airport started life as a US Air Force base but has been a civilian airport since the mid-1990s. It is currently the fourth-largest freight airport in Germany, which explains the presence of large Aeroflot Antonov planes. Frankfurt-Hahn is a growing hub for low-cost airline Ryanair.

The closest large towns to Hahn are Koblenz (51 km/32 miles) and Trier (68 km/42 miles) while better-known, larger cities are Wiesbaden (72 km/44 miles), Mainz (73 km/45 miles), and finally Frankfurt am Main (120 km/75 miles).

How to Get to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) on Public Transport?

There once were plans to build a Maglev railway link from Hahn to Frankfurt but although the dreams are not dead, the plans and its financing pretty much are. Rare for Germany, Hahn is not even close to any major railway lines – the best connections are at Koblenz, Mainz, and especially Frankfurt International Airport.

As trains are not available, buses are the main mode of transportation to Hahn Airport for those not arriving by car. Regular bus services are available to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, Frankfurt International Airport, Mainz, Darmstadt, Heidelberg (via Mannheim and Ludwigshafen), Koblenz, Cologne (Köln), Trier, Saarbrücken, and Luxemburg.

Taxis and shuttle services are available from Hahn-Airport to almost any destination. However, the prices are very high and certainly not compatible with Hahn’s reputation as haven for lovers of low-cost flights.

Driving from Frankfurt-Hahn Airport

Frankfurt-Hahn Airport has huge long-term parking lots and many car rental agencies confirming that driving to and from the airport is very popular.

Most travelers will use the B50 in the direction of Simmern. From here, the road is a double-lane highway. At Rheinböllen (Autobahn exit 45) turn north on the A61 to go to Koblenz and Cologne, and south towards Mainz, Wiesbaden, and Frankfurt. The A60 leads to Mainz; turn off onto the A643 to get to Wiesbaden. From here follow the A66 straight into Frankfurt am Main, or turn off on the A3 towards Frankfurt International Airport. In light traffic, traveling time is around an hour to Mainz and Wiesbaden and 90 minutes to Frankfurt city and airport.

When not in a rush, consider the following very scenic alternative route. From Rheinböllen, avoid the autobahn and continue on the small and winding road to Bacharach on the Rhine. (This road is best avoided in the dark and adverse weather conditions.) Bacharach is a very picturesque Rhine wine town. Roads closely follows the Rhine on both banks. No bridges cross the Rhine between Koblenz and Wiesbaden-Mainz but several car ferries are available. The B42 on the right bank of the Rhine passes through Rüdesheim and automatically leads into the A66 to Wiesbaden and Frankfurt.

The copyright of the article Getting to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport in Budget Transportation is owned by Henk Bekker. Permission to republish Getting to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.