This is a huge railway station. Huge and busy. They've got loads of shops and restaurants to cater…read moreto every need. It's pretty easy to figure out where you need to go and which platform to be on for a train in or out. I think there are 20-30 different platforms. We took a DB (Deutsche Bahn) to and from the Black Forest without any issue. The trains are clean, smooth, and FAST!

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (HBF) is a big station. Not big like Shinjuku in Tokyo, but pretty darned…read morebig! One thing I always remember is to arrive to and depart from the station from the main entrance as there are several other entrances dotted around there. This is the best way to get my bearings as well as hit the DB First Class Lounge before boarding my train. While it initially looks like it could be mayhem trying to get to your train track, there is plenty of signage showing arriving & departing trains. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to kick back in while you wait. I recommend finding your train track first, then finding a cafe or restaurant in the vicinity of your track so you don't get lost or caught in foot traffic. When taking the train into Frankfurt HBF, just remember to look for a giant windowed archway with an equally giant hallway toward the center of the building, and that will lead you straight to the main entrance.

Nice clean station. Information center was very helpful and we purchased tickets there. Lots of…read moreshops for food.

Originally one of Germany's small, but beautiful jewels of architecture, Darmstadt's main train…read morestation had been laid out in the strict, no frills early Art Deco style favored by Grand Duke Ludwig. Nice details are the main reception hall with the "distorted echo effect" and the daylight design of the entire building. Unfortunately, Darmstadt main station had not been kept up very well until recently and was bastardized by architectural Add-ons (my guess: early seventies). Recent rennovations are trying to do away with the stylistic rape. Let's see how well this goes - the early results are promising.

This is a good train station, but like any train station at night, just be aware of your…read moresurroundings. I had boarded a train at night heading towards the direction of Frankfurt and there was a vagrant spitting on people. Needless to say, I moved myself away from this area as others did.

This is the main train station for my city. I live about a 5 minute walk from here and I can go…read moreanywhere in the EU from here.

Typical German train station. One exception- the men's bathroom, which charges one euro, would not…read moregive change. Rather frustrating! Use exact change if you use the WC!

The Mainz train station is pretty standard for Europe. We had to catch a very early train to the…read moreairport for our flight home and overall I'd say we had an average experience here. The ticketing was fairly frustrating, but we'd grown accustomed to that as the electronic ticketing system in Germany, despite there being an English option, is not at all easy to navigate unless you are familiar with it. By this time in our trip we knew what to expect and had built in some time to navigate it and had a vague idea of what we needed so it went fairly well, but with the same little computer hiccups we'd come to expect from the system. The overall train station was, in my opinion, a bit grimy, and well loved, but it had some little cafes that were open early which was a win, and some fairly clean restrooms, though you had to go all the way to the basement for them. Overall, not a lot to report here. It could be modernized, cleaned up a bit, and improved, but it gets the job done.

Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof is a central hub in one of Germany's most picturesque cities, and I love…read morehow low-key this smaller-scale train station is. It's not overwhelming but seems to always be bustling with travelers, and it surprisingly can be a bit difficult to navigate (especially if you're in a hurry or late to catch a train -- so allow some extra time)! The station is modern and a bit cold except for the really rad piece of modern artwork hanging in the main lobby. It's worth a stop to admire and to snap a quick photo if you have the time. There are a handful of places to grab food and drinks for your train ride, and there is plenty of seating if you have to wait for your platform. Stairs are plentiful, but there are elevators to the platforms that are nice if you are traveling with a bunch of bags or require ADA assistance. The exterior architecture is cold and boring, as is the case with most stations across Germany. I was surprised at how many bicycles were parked out front, it totally looked like Amsterdam with all the bikes! Since this is a University town, I guess it shouldn't be much of a surprise that getting around on two wheels would be a very popular mode of transport. It's pretty easy to get to several hotels nearby, but the the historic Altstadt (Old Town) may technically be within walking distance (it's a good 35 to 40 minute walk), but I wouldn't venture that far with luggage. There's a very clean, safe, and efficient local tram that will take you most places in the city for a few Euros, and it runs directly to and from the station. The station operates as a regional hub, so it's easy to connect to most places throughout the country. There are regional and long-distance routes that run here, including Deutsche Bahn's ICE services and other high speed access to cities like Mannheim, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Stuttgart.

Another good experience on the Train. Clean station and plenty of food. Bathroom is clean and a fee…read moreof 1 euro. Pee on the train it's free.

This station is easily described as fine, but nothing special. There is a nice little bookstore, at…read moreleast two different bakeries, and clear signage for the tracks. The parking is affordable and attached to the station. We purchased our tickets online so I cannot speak to the ticket counter here. Our train to Paris ran 55 mins late which caused me to realize there is very little seating available on the platform. They offer free WiFi, so that's nice, however it's limited to only 30 mins. Which, again, I probably wouldn't have docked any points for if my train hadn't been running almost an hour late.

For a little town Bahnhof, this place is nice. Some great places to get food and drink. Good long…read moredistance connections including the ICE/TGV to Paris i. 2.5 h.

A stop at Mannheim Hauptbahnhof is surprisingly enjoyable, especially if you have a little time…read morebefore your train departs. Conveniently located right in the heart of downtown Mannheim, it's a very busy station--but also well organized and easy to navigate. What really stands out is the variety of shops throughout the station. From small restaurants and cozy coffee spots to bakeries, Imbiss stands, convenience stores, and even a bookstore--you'll find plenty to browse while you wait. It's perfect for grabbing a quick bite or simply enjoying a bit of window shopping. Another highlight is the large digital departure board (the "Anzeigetafel"), clearly displaying all train connections in the main hall. It makes navigating your journey straightforward and stress-free. Overall, Mannheim Hauptbahnhof is efficient, lively, and offers more than just a place to catch a train--it's a great little hub to explore while passing through.

I got to enjoy Mannheim for a bonus hour after the wonderful folks at Deutsche Bahn delayed my…read moreonward train. I spent the time walking the station waiting areas near the platforms, finding the toilets and then getting another coffee. There is plenty to do here while you're waiting. Coffee, cafes, some shopping, they have a locker area where you can leave your luggage if you're planning to explore Mannheim. The station was easy to navigate with lots of smooth floors, speedy lifts (that don't smell like urine!) though not nearly enough places to sit unless you're a customer of that particular cafe. [Review 21264 overall - 268 in Germany - 229 of 2024.]