Quick answer. At Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Germany's biggest airport and Lufthansa's main hub, the trap is the blue Euronet ATMs in the terminals, which charge a high fee and push DCC. Use a real bank machine instead, and if you carry a Bank of America card, Deutsche Bank is a BoA Global ATM Alliance partner, so a Deutsche Bank ATM is fee-free for BoA debit. Germany is still notably cash-friendly, so withdraw a useful euro float. Decline DCC and always choose euros. To Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (the main station): the S-Bahn S8/S9 from the airport's regional station reaches the city in about 15 minutes for around €5.80, and long-distance ICE trains run from the airport's separate Fernbahnhof; contactless tap-to-pay works on the S-Bahn.
Where to get euro at FRA
The key Frankfurt Airport fact is to avoid the blue Euronet ATMs and use a real bank machine; Deutsche Bank is fee-free for Bank of America cards, and any bank ATM is cheap with a no-FX-fee card. The cost math below assumes you withdraw the equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank ATM (BoA Alliance, fee-free for BoA cards) | City; airport where available | 0% for BoA debit; interbank otherwise | ~$110 + $0 fee (BoA) |
| Other bank ATM on a no-FX-fee card | Airport and city | Interbank rate, little or no surcharge | ~$110 + $0 fee |
| Blue Euronet ATM | FRA terminals | High operator fee + DCC pitch | ~$95-102 |
| Airport exchange counter | FRA arrivals | A wide spread plus fees | ~$95-100 |
| Accepting DCC at any machine | Anywhere | +4-12% if you choose 'charge in USD' | ~$96-104 |
Where to find the real bank ATMs at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), and the Euronet machines to avoid
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the largest airport in Germany and one of Europe's biggest hubs, the home base of Lufthansa, with two main passenger terminals, Terminal 1 (Lufthansa and Star Alliance) and Terminal 2, linked by the Sky Line people mover (a Terminal 3 is under construction). The single most useful money fact here is to avoid the blue Euronet ATMs scattered around the terminals: they dispense euros but charge a high operator fee and aggressively push dynamic currency conversion. Use a real bank machine instead. Germany is unusually cash-friendly for a wealthy country, so a euro float is genuinely useful. If you carry a Bank of America card, you are in luck in Germany: Deutsche Bank is a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a Deutsche Bank ATM gives fee-free withdrawals for BoA debit cards. Otherwise a no-FX-fee card (Wise, Schwab) at any bank ATM is cleanest. Decline DCC, choose euros, and take the S-Bahn or an ICE train into the city.
Terminal 1
Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners (United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, and others), plus the long-distance ICE rail station (Fernbahnhof) and the S-Bahn regional station beneath
In the arrivals area, walk past the blue Euronet ATMs; look instead for a real bank machine, and if you have a Bank of America card, a Deutsche Bank ATM is fee-free as a BoA Alliance partner. With a no-FX-fee card, any bank ATM is fine. Decline DCC, choose euros, then follow signs to the Regionalbahnhof for the S-Bahn or the Fernbahnhof for ICE trains
Terminal 2
A range of other carriers, including some SkyTeam and Oneworld members and leisure airlines. Connected to Terminal 1 and the rail stations by the free Sky Line people mover
As in Terminal 1, avoid the blue Euronet machines and use a real bank ATM, ideally a Deutsche Bank one if you hold a Bank of America card. Decline DCC and choose euros, then take the Sky Line to Terminal 1 for the S-Bahn or ICE
Do you actually need cash at Frankfurt (FRA)?
Not to leave the airport (the S-Bahn takes contactless), but yes in town, since Germany is cash-friendly. Here is what works, and where euro cash still helps:
S-Bahn (S8 / S9 to Hauptbahnhof) (~€5.80 one way): Fastest cheap option, about 15 min to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and on into the city, from the Regionalbahnhof beneath Terminal 1. Contactless tap-to-pay accepted.
ICE / IC long-distance train (Varies by destination): From the airport Fernbahnhof (long-distance station) to Cologne, Stuttgart, and beyond. Book by card.
Taxi (~€30-40 to the city centre): From the terminal taxi ranks; cards generally accepted.
Regional / airport buses (Varies): Buses serve the wider region; contactless and tickets accepted.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Frankfurt (FRA) to Frankfurt?
No. S-Bahn (S8 / S9 to Hauptbahnhof) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order euro before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical euro to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 euro for taxis and tips on day one.
Which ATM should I use at Frankfurt Airport, and which to avoid?
Avoid the blue Euronet ATMs in the terminals; they charge a high operator fee (often several euros) and push dynamic currency conversion. Use a real bank machine instead. If you have a Bank of America card, Deutsche Bank is a BoA Global ATM Alliance partner, so a Deutsche Bank ATM is fee-free for BoA debit. With a no-foreign-transaction-fee card such as Wise or Charles Schwab, any German bank ATM (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, a Sparkasse) gives euros at the interbank rate with little or no surcharge. Always decline DCC and choose euros. If in doubt, withdraw a small float and use a bank machine in the city.
Is Deutsche Bank a Bank of America Alliance partner in Germany?
Yes. Deutsche Bank is a member of the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance in Germany, so a Bank of America debit card withdraws euros at a Deutsche Bank ATM with no BoA non-network fee and no Deutsche Bank operator surcharge. That makes Deutsche Bank the best machine for BoA cardholders in Frankfurt. Look for Deutsche Bank branches in the city and, where available, at the airport. Even so, decline dynamic currency conversion and choose euros, because DCC is a separate, avoidable markup that the Alliance does not cover.
How much cash do I need in Frankfurt and Germany?
More than you might expect in a wealthy European country. Germany remains notably cash-friendly: many bakeries, smaller restaurants, bars, market stalls, and some shops still prefer or require cash, though cards and contactless are increasingly accepted in cities. Carry a useful euro float, and top up at a bank ATM rather than the airport Euronet machines. Public transport, including the S-Bahn from the airport, increasingly accepts contactless cards, so you do not need cash just to leave FRA, but you will want euros once you are in town.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to the city?
Two rail options share the airport. The S-Bahn (lines S8 and S9) runs from the Regionalbahnhof beneath Terminal 1 to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in about 15 minutes and on to the city centre, for around 5.80 euros, with contactless tap-to-pay accepted. For travel beyond Frankfurt, long-distance ICE and IC trains depart from the separate Fernbahnhof (long-distance station) connected to Terminal 1, reaching Cologne, Stuttgart, and beyond. A taxi to the city centre runs roughly 30-40 euros. The S-Bahn is the cheapest and usually fastest way into central Frankfurt.
Should I change money at the Frankfurt Airport exchange counter?
No need. The exchange counters at FRA run a wider spread than a bank ATM withdrawal. Because the euro is a major currency and German bank ATMs give the interbank rate (fee-free at Deutsche Bank for BoA cards, or with a no-FX-fee card anywhere), simply withdrawing euros from a real bank machine is cheaper. Avoid the blue Euronet ATMs and the exchange counters alike, decline DCC, and if you want euros before you fly, order them from your home bank, since the euro is widely stocked.