If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Frankfurt airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Frankfurt airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.
We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.
Sleeping in Frankfurt Airport
Locations & Seating
The seating is generally sufficient for the many travellers using this large airport, but the type and quality vary depending on location. If you’re airside, the seating options at Gates are often metal and equipped with armrests, particularly in Terminal 1. Specific Leisure Zones do have more comfortable seating options. Travellers report that the landside area of Terminal 2 has some armrest-free seating, which you could turn into a makeshift bed by pushing two together.
Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:
- Movie World in Terminal 1 (3 locations) has comfortable chairs and plays free movies and documentaries.
- Terminal 1, behind Gate A20, there are several rows of seats without armrests. The area is walled off on three sides, providing privacy and peace.
- In Terminal 1, the Bistrot Frankfurt Airport is a 24-hour eatery that seems very popular with overnight travellers looking to sleep, but it fills up quickly.
- Terminal 2’s McDonald’s, open 24 hours, has plenty of seating and even some benches and flat surfaces where travellers have managed some shuteye.
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Rest Zones
Frankfurt Airport offers Leisure Zones, cozy lounges with padded seats and lounge chairs with footrests. Perfect for travellers in transit who can relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight. Locations:
- Terminal 1, airside, where Concourses A, B, and C meet, and near Gates A26, A50-54, B43 and Gate Z11.
- Terminal 2, airside, near Gates D1-4, D24 and E24.
Hotels
Prefer some privacy and comfort? There is a transit hotel if you want a good, solid sleep between flights without the stress of going through security. Importantly, you must fly to or from a country outside the Schengen zone to access the My Cloud Transit Hotel in Terminal 1 at Gate Z25. This transit hotel offers private rooms equipped with a bed, desk, WiFi, and a private bathroom with a shower. Rooms are available to rent in blocks of 3-24 hours.
Three more hotels (Sheraton, Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn) are situated at the airport, connected to Terminal 1 by a pedestrian skywalk. You will need to exit the airside area to access these hotels. Day rooms are available. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Frankfurt Airport.
Lounges
While Frankfurt Airport has several lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Frankfurt Airport Guide that you can pay to access.
Airport Conditions
If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Temperature – The temperature varies throughout the airport, with travellers reporting some areas as too cold and others as stuffy and warm. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
- Lighting -At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Arrive prepared with eye shades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
- Noise – The noise levels here are typical for an airport of this size. During the day, expect to hear plenty of announcements on the loudspeakers. It can quiet down at night, though you’ll likely hear a cleaning crew pass by. As a precaution, bring along earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
Weather Delays
When mass cancellations happen at Frankfurt Airport due to things like bad weather or union strikes, cots are available for stranded passengers who cannot find accommodations or opt against getting a hotel room. To find them, ask an airline or airport employee or use a courtesy phone to reach someone with access to this information.
Importantly, cots cannot be reserved in advance and are only available in rare instances, not nightly.
Food & Drink
When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, many 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors:
- Terminal 1, landside: Scoom I (Area A, Level 2), Scoom II (Area B, Level 0), Mondo (Area B, Level 1), Mondo Bianco (Area A, Level 2), and Quicker’s (Area B, Level 2)
- Terminal 1, airside: Bistrot Frankfurt Airport (Concourse B), Hermanns’ Mobil (Area Z, Level 3), HUB/Convenience store (Area B, Level 3), HUB/Convenience store (Area C, Level 2, 2 locations), Mayer’s Bar (3 locations in Area C, Level 2), McCafe 4 (Area Z, Level 3), Mondo Caffe Bar (Area 2, Level 2), Mondo Mobil (Area C, Level 2), and Natural Mobil (Area Z)
- Terminal 2, landside: Quicker’s 3 (Area E, Level 2)
- Terminal 2, airside: McDonald’s 1 (Area D, Level 4)
Showers
Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Shower facilities are open daily from 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM (except the B locations, which are open from 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM). Rate: €6/US$ 8, which includes towels, floor mat, shower gel and hairdryer. Locations:
- Terminal 1, Landside, B Departures, Shopping Boulevard across from the Virgin store and the pharmacy.
- Terminal 1, Airside, Transit B, Level 3 opposite the “Lufthansa Senator Lounge,” to the left of Kuffler and Bucher.
- Terminal 1, Airside, Concourse A, Level 2, across from Gate A 50.
- Terminal 1, Airside, Concourse Z, Level 3, across from the children’s playground
- Terminal 2, Airside, Concourse D, Level 3, opposite security controls D 5-8.
Several pay-to-use lounges also have shower facilities. See our Frankfurt Airport Guide for details.
Security & Safety
Frankfurt Airport’s security presence is high, so they may wake you to check your ID and boarding pass. The staff tolerates overnight sleepers but may relocate you to specific areas. For instance, in Terminal 1, only Concourse B may stay open all night, with the other concourses closing to travellers.
A few people reported seeing homeless people and other vagrants wandering about the landside/public areas during the night.
Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
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