Travelling from Washington DC to Frankfurt: what you need to know
When searching for a flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt, there's a range of airports to depart from. Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are among Washington DC's main terminals.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN) are Frankfurt's primary gateways.
Hop on a direct Washington DC to Frankfurt flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 7 hours 50 minutes.
Frankfurt is five hours ahead of Washington DC and observes the UTC+1 timezone.
Leave plenty of time to catch your Washington DC to Frankfurt flight. As a general rule, turn up two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're travelling during a peak month like February, head to the airport even earlier. It's smart to arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Expect lines to be longer during holiday periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Frankfurt
Booking in advance is often the key to scoring a cheap Washington DC to Frankfurt flight. Fares tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Washington DC to Frankfurt across the entire month. It's a good way to snap up a bargain if your dates aren't set in stone.
You don't need to check every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you when a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Washington DC to Frankfurt.
Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your Washington DC to Frankfurt flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Think about adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Washington DC to Frankfurt flight. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Ronald Reagan National Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular airports:
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
DCA is about 6 kilometres from central Washington DC. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 45 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels near Ronald Reagan National Airport:
Of the departures from Ronald Reagan National Airport, 76.44% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
DCA is located at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Consider booking your direct flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Nonstop connections from IAD will take you to Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
From IAD, you can lock in a direct Washington DC to Frankfurt plane ticket with United Airlines.
Break up your Washington DC to Frankfurt flight with a stop so you can freshen up or tick another place off your list. Popular stopovers between Washington Dulles International Airport and Frankfurt are:
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Washington DC to IAD in around 1 hour 10 minutes. The terminal is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 50 minutes.
Start your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt, kick back in one of these hotels near Washington Dulles International Airport:
74.39% of flights leaving Washington Dulles International Airport stick to their scheduled arrival time.
You'll find IAD at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
You can hop on a direct flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt departing from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Reserve a ticket and travel straight to Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Condor is one trusted airline that offers direct Washington DC to Frankfurt plane tickets from BWI.
Choosing a ticket from Washington DC to Frankfurt with a stop or two can offer you more departure time choices along with better fares. When flying from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), here are a few places you can make a pit stop at on the way to Frankfurt:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
The journey to BWI from central Washington DC is around 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you about 50 minutes to cover the 40 kilometres or so.
Take the 'what ifs' out of departure day — stay near Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport and know you'll get to your gate with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early Washington DC to Frankfurt flight:
The on-time performance rate of BWI is 77.13%. In simpler terms, that's how often flights from this airport arrive at their final stop as planned.
Arriving in Frankfurt
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is approximately 11 kilometres from central Frankfurt. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 20 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these accommodation options near FRA:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Frankfurt Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Wheego, Alamo or OK Mobility to explore Frankfurt and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by reserving your vehicle from Frankfurt Airport around three weeks ahead of your trip.
Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN)
Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN) is roughly 105 kilometres from central Frankfurt. After your flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt, it'll take you approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
If you choose to travel on public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 2 hours 40 minutes or so.
There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to HHN. Settle in and get cosy after your Washington DC to Frankfurt flight at one of these well-located options:
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Frankfurt - Hahn Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Flex To Go, Alamo or Keddy By Europcar and be off and running.
Snap up a deal by booking your ride from HHN four weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a bigger selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Frankfurt
January is the quietest month for flights from Washington DC to Frankfurt, while April is the busiest. Find the best time to visit Frankfurt based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Lock in a Washington DC to Frankfurt ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Frankfurt to range from 12ºC to 28ºC.
Look for cheap flights from Washington DC to Frankfurt in January if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -4ºC and 7ºC on average.
More about Frankfurt
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Frankfurt right here. Explore these options once you've booked your flight from Washington DC to Frankfurt:
Palmengarten and Goethe House are just the start of the major attractions to add to your Frankfurt to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Frankfurt Cathedral.
Explore more of Germany
You've visited Frankfurt, now it's time to discover other corners of Germany. Travel about 418 kilometres north-east to Berlin to check off its leading sights. From Brandenburg Gate to Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Around 386 kilometres north of Frankfurt, Hamburg is another essential stop in Germany. Experience major highlights starting with Miniatur Wunderland, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Port of Hamburg.