Getting here
The European Space Operations Centre, ESOC, is in Germany at 5 Robert-Bosch Strasse in Darmstadt, Hessen. ESOC is a few minutes’ walk from Darmstadt Main Train Station (Hauptbahnhof). Plan your arrival at Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) via local public transportation (bus or rail) here.
From Frankfurt-Main International Airport (Flughafen)
By bus
The Airliner bus stops in Darmstadt at the main station (Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof Luisenplatz and the Convention Centre (Kongresszentrum). The stop at the main station is a few hundred metres from ESOC. Take the Airliner bus from the Busbahnhof (bus station) outside Terminal 1 (Bus stop 14, Gate 3), or from the curbside Haltstelle (bus stop) outside Terminal 2 (Arrivals Area D+E). The Airliner runs twice per hour at peak times and once per hour during off-peak times.
By train
The airport local station is underneath Terminal 1; follow the signs for ‘Regionalbahnhof / Local Trains.’ Trains from the airport depart regularly: take a local train (S-Bahn) to Frankfurt-Main Hauptbahnhof. From there, change to the regional train (Regionalbahn) or the S3 S-Bahn to Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof.
From Frankfurt-Hahn International Airport
Travellers coming to Frankfurt Hahn airport should carefully consider their connections as the airport is over 100kms away from ESOC.
Use the Bohr Omnibus coach service from the Haltestelle (bus stop) just outside the main terminal. This stops at Frankfurt-Main Airport and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.
Arriving by train
Darmstadt is served by the German Railway (DB - Deutsche Bahn) with frequent local, regional, IC (InterCity) and ICE (InterCity Express) connections from Frankfurt-Main, Frankfurt-Main Airport and other major cities. For more information, access the German Railway site Deutsche Bahn (English).
Arriving by city bus/tram
Luisenplatz is the central public transportation hub in Darmstadt. From there, take any bus (Bus H, F, etc.) or tram (trams 2, 3, 4, 5, 9) towards ‘Hauptbahnhof.’ Buses stop at either the east or west side of the station. Trams 2, 3 and 5 stop at the station's east side.
Trams 4 and 9 from Luisenplatz go in the direction of Griesheim and stop at TZ Rhein Main and Maria-Goeppert-Strasse, both of which are very close to ESOC.
For more information, visit the Rhein-Main Region Transport Authority website RMV (English).
Arriving by car
ESOC is located close to main exits from key motorways – including the A67 and A5. To arrive using car navigation or with a map app on your phone use this address:
Robert-Bosch-Strasse 5, 64293 Darmstadt.
Visitors' Parking: The visitors' parking lot is located opposite the ESOC Main Gate on the other side of the street.