Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is one of the more efficiently connected airports in Germany, with two separate railway stations serving it and an automated overhead shuttle tying them together — meaning the fastest route into the city depends slightly on which type of train you catch, but either way you're in central Düsseldorf within about a quarter of an hour.
Understanding the airport's two stations
Düsseldorf Airport has two distinct train stations, which trips up some first-time visitors. Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal is an S-Bahn station built directly beneath the terminal building, served only by the S11 line. Düsseldorf Flughafen (sometimes called the Fernbahnhof, or long-distance station) is a short distance away and handles regional RE trains as well as some long-distance ICE and IC services — it's connected to the terminals by the SkyTrain, an automated, elevated shuttle.
The quickest way: the S11 S-Bahn
The S11 runs directly from the underground Flughafen Terminal station — no SkyTrain transfer needed — to Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof in around 13 minutes, with departures roughly every 20 minutes throughout the operating day. Because it starts right beneath the terminal, this is usually the simplest option for anyone landing without heavy luggage complications and heading straight to the main station or central Düsseldorf.
Tickets are bought from machines on the platform or through the local transport app before boarding — validate before you travel, since German regional and S-Bahn services generally use proof-of-payment systems rather than gated barriers.
The SkyTrain and RE regional trains
The SkyTrain is a free, automated overhead shuttle connecting the terminals to the long-distance Flughafen station, taking around 6–7 minutes and running frequently throughout the day. From there, RE regional express trains reach Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof in a comparable time to the S11 once the SkyTrain transfer is included, but with the advantage of continuing on to a much wider stretch of the Rhine-Ruhr region — Cologne, Essen and Dortmund are all realistic direct or near-direct connections from this station, useful if the airport is your entry point rather than your final destination.
Long-distance ICE and IC services also call here, making DUS a genuinely useful gateway for travellers connecting onward across Germany by rail rather than flying a second leg.
Taxis and rideshare
An official taxi rank operates outside the terminal, with metered fares to the city centre taking around 20–25 minutes depending on traffic on the surrounding autobahns. Ride-hailing services also operate in Düsseldorf — see our guide to ride-hailing apps around the world if you're travelling on from another country and used to a different one. For late-night arrivals, groups with heavy luggage, or destinations away from the rail network, a taxi remains the most straightforward door-to-door option, though it costs noticeably more than the train for a journey the S11 covers quickly and cheaply.
Car hire at the airport
Several car hire desks operate in the terminal, useful if you're planning to explore the wider Rhineland — the Rhine Valley, Cologne's cathedral, or a longer road trip into the Netherlands or Belgium are all realistic from Düsseldorf. Driving into and parking within the city centre itself is less convenient than the train, given Düsseldorf's efficient rail links and the cost of central parking. See our guide to driving in Germany for autobahn rules and the Umweltzone low-emission stickers required in many German city centres.
Luggage, timing and first-timer tips
Signage throughout the airport is clear in German and English, distinguishing between the S-Bahn station beneath the terminal and the SkyTrain to the long-distance station — read the boards before committing to a platform, since heading to the wrong one costs several extra minutes. Ticket machines accept cards as well as cash, so there's no need to arrive with local currency purely for the transfer.
If you're arriving very late at night, check current S11 and RE operating hours before you fly, since neither runs right through the night. Taxis remain available around the clock as the dependable fallback.
Which option should you choose?
For most visitors heading to central Düsseldorf, the S11 S-Bahn is the simplest choice — direct from the terminal, frequent and quick. Travellers connecting onward elsewhere in the Rhine-Ruhr region or across Germany may prefer the RE or long-distance trains from the Flughafen station via the SkyTrain, given the wider network they reach. Taxis suit late arrivals or a destination well away from a station.
If you're continuing to nearby cities, see our guide to Cologne to Düsseldorf, a short Rhineland hop by train, and for the wider national picture see Germany by train. For a tight onward connection through this hub, see minimum connection times explained, and for a longer wait, our guide to leaving the airport during a layover.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Düsseldorf Airport to the city centre?
The S11 S-Bahn runs directly from the station beneath the terminal to Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof in around 13 minutes. RE regional trains from the separate long-distance station, reached via the free SkyTrain shuttle, offer a similar journey time plus onward connections across the Rhine-Ruhr region.
What is the SkyTrain at Düsseldorf Airport?
It's a free, automated overhead shuttle connecting the terminals to the airport's long-distance and regional (RE) train station, a separate building from the S-Bahn station beneath the terminal itself.
Do I need a different ticket for the S11 than for city transport?
No — the S11 uses the same regional VRR/Rhine-Ruhr fare system as the rest of Düsseldorf's public transport, so a standard ticket or travel card generally covers it within the relevant zones.
Is a taxi faster than the train from Düsseldorf Airport?
Not usually — a taxi takes around 20–25 minutes to the centre depending on traffic, while the S11 covers the same distance in about 13 minutes without traffic risk.
Sources and further reading:
- Airport transport information: Düsseldorf Airport official site.
- S-Bahn and regional rail routes: Deutsche Bahn and Rheinbahn.