Karlsruhe can easily be reached by car (see Google Maps route calculator), by train (see www.bahn.de), and by plane (5 nearby airports: Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Baden-Airport, Frankfurt-Hahn, see map). Baden-Airport and Frankfurt-Hahn are served by cheap airlines, like Ryanair.
From the large airports (Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Strasbourg) there are good connections by train (see below) and airport shuttle.
Public transportation in and around Karlsruhe is very good. NO rental cars needed.
Arrival at Frankfurt Airport (recommended)
Railway: There are hourly train connections directly from Frankfurt airport to Karlsruhe (follow the signs to "long distance trains" when you leave the airport, the price for a second class one-way ticket is 40 EUR). To find a train connection, use the train schedule of the German railway and enter "Frankfurt Main Flughafen" (airport) as your city of departure. You can also purchase E-Tickets for German railway on this page.
Airport-Shuttle: There are a number of airport shuttle services available. Flughafenexpress-Buhrain, Airport-Express, Fahrdienst&Consulting
Arrival at Stuttgart Airport
Railway: There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the main station in downtown Stuttgart. To find a train connection, use the train schedule of the German railway and enter "Stuttgart Flughafen" (airport) or "Stuttgart Hbf" (city center) as your city of departure. You can also purchase E-Tickets for German railway on this page.
Airport-Shuttle: There are a number of airport shuttle services available. Flughafenexpress-Buhrain, Airport-Express, Fahrdienst&Consulting
Arrival at Strasbourg Airport
Railway: Take the airport shuttle bus (leaving every 20-30 minutes) to the tramstop"Baggersee". Tickets for the shuttle bus can be bought on the spot, from the bus driver, or at any other tram vending machine. At tramstop "Baggersee" take Tram A to Strasbourg main station (Gare Centrale). Railway tickets from Strasbourg main station to Karlsruhe can be booked online.
Airport-Shuttle: There are a number of airport shuttle services available. Flughafenexpress-Buhrain, Airport-Express, Fahrdienst&Consulting
Arrival at Baden Airport
Airport-Shuttle: Take the airport shuttle bus ("Baden-Airport-Express") (leaving 8 times a day on weekdays, 3 times a day on saturdays, synchronized with flight schedule) to Karlsruhe Main Station. One-way-tickets can be bought from the driver (cash only).
Railway:There are Taxi stands in front of the terminal. The driving time from Baden-Airpark to the mainstation Baden-Baden is about 15 min. The price is approx. 30 EUR.
You can also take bus route 205 to Baden-Baden main train station or bus route 234 to Rastatt. Railway tickets from Baden-Baden or Rastatt to Karlsruhe can be booked online (enter "Baden-Baden Bahnhof"/ "Rastatt" as city of departure) or purchased at the train station. Depending on the train tickets are about 15EUR, the trip to Karlsruhe main station takes about 20min for both Baden-Baden and Rastatt.
Airport-Shuttle: This is a list of shuttle services. Flughafenexpress-Buhrain, Airport-Express
Arrival at Frankfurt Hahn Airport
Bus to Heidelberg&Railway: Take the airport shuttle bus ("Hahn-Express") to Heidelberg. Tickets can be bought at the driver (cash ohnly). The coaches are running regulary 7 times a day without any need for reservation, the trip to Heidelberg takes about 2h20m.
The bus stop for Hahn-Express in Heidelberg is just in front of the main train-station. Railway tickets from Heidelberg to Karlsruhe can be booked online (enter "Heidelberg" as city of departure)or purchased at the train station.
