LOCATION
European Space Operations Centre (ESOC)
Robert-Bosch-Str. 5
64293 Darmstadt, Germany
https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESOC
ACCOMMODATION
Our recommendations:
Best Western Hotel Darmstadt, Grafenstraße 31, 64283 Darmstadt (www.bestwestern.de).
Maritim Hotel Darmstadt, Rheinstrasse 105, 64295 Darmstadt (www.maritim.de).
GETTING TO ESOC
Arriving by air:
From Frankfurt-Main International Airport (Flughafen)
- By taxi: Driver will meet your flight - contact ESOC Reception for booking and details.
- By train: The airport local station is underneath Terminal 1; there are frequent trains to Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof. You can also take a local train (S-Bahn) to Frankfurt-Main Hauptbahnhof and there change to the regional train (Regionalbahn) to Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof.
- By bus: Take the "Airliner" bus from the Busbahnhof outside Terminal 1, or from the curbside Haltstelle (bus stop) outside Terminal 2. The Airliner stops in Darmstadt at the Maritim Konferenz Hotel and at the Hauptbahnhof; both are just a few hundred metres from ESOC (see walking or taxi directions below). The Airliner runs between Frankfurt International Airport and Darmstadt twice per hour at peak times, otherwise once per hour; see link at right for details.
- By rental car: See driving directions below; also, see Google Map link at right.
From Frankfurt-Hahn International Airport (120 km from Darmstadt)
- By bus: Use the Bohr Omnibus coach service from the Haltstelle (bus stop) just outside the main terminal; it runs to Frankfurt-Main Airport and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof; see link at right for details on schedule.
Arriving by train:
Darmstadt is served by the German Railway (DB - Deutsche Bahn) with frequent local, regional 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 (Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9) going toward the "Hauptbahnhof." Buses drop you at the east or west side of the station. Tram Nos. 2, 3 and 5 drop you off at the station's east side and you must then walk through the station to the west side - "Weststadt."
Tram Nos. 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, access the Rhein-Main Region Transport Authority site RMV (English).
Walking from the Hauptbahnhof:
ESOC is located just west of the Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof. From the east side of the station, walk through the station to the west side ("Weststadt"), go out, then head diagonally across the pedestrian plaza to the left and pick up the next street, Lise-Meitner-Strasse.
Follow Lise-Meitner-Strasse two blocks until it runs into the ESOC fence (you'll see the building with all the flags ahead of you). Turn left and go approximately 50 metres to Robert-Bosch-Strasse, then turn right; the ESOC main gate is just ahead on the right.
Arriving by car:
- Via A5 (Basel-Heidelberg-Frankfurt-Kassel, Frankfurt-Main Airport/Flugahfen)
Coming from autobahn A5, take exit No. 26 (Darmstädter Kreuz) and follow the A67/A672 towards Darmstadt Stadtmitte.
The A672 leads into highway B26/Rhein Strasse heading towards the city centre. Look for the small white sign on your right marked "ESOC" (you may also see a sign marked "TIZ") located just after an overpass.
At the sign and just past the overpass, turn right onto the Eifelring and circle above and across the B26 roadway. Follow the signs (on your right) to ESOC.
- Via A67 (Mannheim-Mainz-Karlsruhe)
Coming from autobahn A67, take exit No. 6 (Darmstädter Kreuz) and follow the A67/A672 towards Darmstadt Stadtmitte.
The A672 leads into highway B26/Rhein Strasse heading towards the city centre. Look for the small white sign on your right marked "ESOC" (you may also see a sign marked "TIZ") located just after an overpass.
At the sign and just past the overpass, turn right onto the Eifelring and circle above and across the B26 roadway. Follow the signs (on your right) to ESOC.
- Via B45/B26 (Hanau-Aschaffenburg)
Follow the B26 into Darmstadt. The B26 turns into Hanauer-Strasse and then Landgraf-Georg-Strasse. Continue following, and:
-> turn right into the Schlossgraben
-> turn left into the Zeughausstrasse
-> continue straight onto Bleichstrasse
The B26 ends and you turn left into Kasinostrasse, now the B3. Leave Kasinostrasse after a few meters and turn right into the Rheinstrasse (now the B26 again), heading towards the autobahn (follow the blue autobahn signs).
At the first lights past the bridge over the railway tracks, turn right into Zweifalltorweg (just before the large Morzartturm tower), heading towards the Hauptbahnhof "Park & Ride" park garage. Before reaching the P&R garage, turn left into Robert-Bosch Strasse.
Visitors`Parking: The visitors`parking is located opposite the ESOC Main Gate, on the other side of the street.
Recommended TAXI companies:
Rheinmaintransfer
Email: info@rheinmaintransfer.de
Phone: 0049-6151-46255
https://rheinmaintransfer.de/
Flying Cars
Phone 0049-6150-187148
Email: flyingcars@t-online.de
