Kaiserslautern is located in the southwest of Germany, about halfway between Frankfurt and Strasbourg. Kaiserslautern can be reached:

By Plane

Frankfurt airport (FRA), the second largest hub in Europe, is one hour away by car or shuttle bus. To arrange a shuttle, please contact the MPI-SWS office staff. Alternatively, for instructions on getting from Frankfurt airport to Kaiserslautern by train, see "By Train" below.

Paris's two major airports (CDG and ORY) are also an option. Use public transportation or a taxi to travel from either airport to the Gare de l'Est train station. From there it is a 2½-hour journey by direct high-speed train.

Visitors traveling from certain destinations within Europe may also wish to consider using Ryanair to Frankfurt Hahn (HHN) (1 hour by car).

By Train

Kaiserslautern is connected to the Deutsche Bahn's (German Railways) ICE and IC/EC high-speed network. Frankfurt can be reached via high-speed train in 1 hour 20 minutes, Paris in 2½ hours, and Munich in 4 hours.

For train schedules and tickets please use the Deutsche Bahn English website. Enter your destination as "Kaiserslautern Hbf" (the Kaiserslautern Central Station). For directions on how to get to campus from the Kaiserslautern train station, please see "Getting to campus" below.

Frankfurt airport: Trains for Kaiserslautern depart from the train station directly underneath Frankfurt airport. High-speed trains leave from the long-distance train terminal (Fernbahnhof) about every 30 minutes, and require a transfer in Mannheim. The journey takes approximately 2 hours, depending on layover time. When using the Deutsche Bahn website, the departure code for Frankfurt Airport is "FRA".

By Car

Kaiserslautern is connected to the German Autobahn system, and within a few hours drive of a number of major cities in Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland (map of distances).

GPS Coordinates:
49° 25' 35.20" N
07° 44' 59.38" E

From highway A6 or A63 use exit Kaiserslautern Zentrum and follow the signs marked Universität. At the intersection of Trippstadter Straße and Paul-Ehrlich-Straße turn left at the traffic light. The MPI building is on the corner on your left. After 10 meters there is a parking lot on your right. Use the spaces marked "MPI Parking," which are at the far right of the lot. (See campus map below under "Finding the MPI-SWS building.")

The institute is located on the campus of The Technical University of Kaiserslautern.

By Taxi

A taxi ride from the main train station or the city center takes about 5 minutes (EUR 7). Tell the driver you want to go to "Trippstadter Strasse and Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse."

By Bus

A bus from the main train station or the city center takes about 5 to 10 minutes (EUR 1.90).
From the main train station (stop: Kaiserslautern Hauptbahnhof) you can take bus 105, 106, 115, 116, or 150. The bus stop is outside the main (i.e., north) exit of the train station. Exit the bus at the Uni West stop. See the exact location of the bus stop on the campus map below.

Most bus lines depart every 30 minutes. For more detailed information, please see the bus timetables.

By Bicycle or Foot

Walking from the south exit of the main train station to the MPI-SWS building takes about 25 to 30 minutes; biking takes about 10. The city center is about 30 to 40 minutes away by foot, and 10 to 15 minutes by bike.

The institute is located in building G 26 in the northwest corner of the campus of The Technical University of Kaiserslautern. The main office is in room 405, at the north end of the building.