Frankfurt travel guide: towers, museums and apple wine
Frankfurt is Germany's financial center, with a skyline of towers beside a rebuilt old town, a river lined with museums and a strong apple wine tradition. Two days cover the old town and the Museumsufer. A third buys the Rheingau or Heidelberg. The one thing to know is trade fairs, which fill hotels and raise prices.
The short answer
- First trip
- Stay near the Altstadt or the Hauptbahnhof, walk the Römerberg, cross the Eiserner Steg to the museums and go up a tower.
- Where to stay
- The Altstadt for sights, Sachsenhausen for apple wine, the Westend for a quieter base.
- How many days
- Two to three days. Add a fourth for the Rheingau or Heidelberg.
- Best time to go
- May to September, plus the Christmas market in December.
- Book ahead
- Hotels during trade fairs, and tables at the better restaurants.
- From the airport
- Frankfurt airport is 10 km away. The S-Bahn reaches the Hauptbahnhof in about 12 minutes.
Where to stay in Frankfurt, in brief
Altstadt and Römerberg
sights and first-timers
The rebuilt old town, with the Römer, the cathedral and the river. Walkable. Hotels are fewer and pricier.
Bahnhofsviertel
trains and business
The area by the main station, with many hotels and diverse restaurants. Convenient. Some streets are rough at night.
Sachsenhausen
apple wine and evenings
South of the river, with cobbled streets and traditional apple wine taverns. Lively on weekends.
Westend
a quieter, leafier base
A residential district near the Palmengarten, with villas and good cafes. A short ride to the center.
Things to do in Frankfurt
Römerberg
The reconstructed old town square with timber houses and the Römer city hall.
Frankfurt Cathedral
The Imperial Cathedral, where German emperors were crowned, with a tower you can climb.
Main Tower observation deck
The only skyscraper with a public viewing platform. Go at sunset.
a few days ahead for sunset slots
Museumsufer
A line of museums on the south bank of the Main, including the Stadel, the Museum Angewandte Kunst and the Film Museum.
Stadel Museum
A major art museum with Old Masters and modern works.
Palmengarten
A botanical garden with glasshouses and a lake, in the Westend.
Goethe House
The birthplace of Goethe, rebuilt after the war, with period rooms.
Eiserner Steg
An iron footbridge over the Main with a view of the skyline and the old town.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Frankfurt can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Frankfurt, and which to pick- Hotels during trade fairsweeks ahead
Prices rise sharply and rooms are scarce when the Messe is on.
- Main Tower observation deck at sunseta few days ahead
Sunset slots sell out in summer.
What to skip in Frankfurt
- The Zeil shopping street
It is a long chain-store street. The Fressgass and the Kleinmarkthalle are better.
- Restaurants near the Hauptbahnhof for dinner
Choose the Altstadt or Sachsenhausen instead.
Best time to visit Frankfurt
May to September is best, with warm weather and river walks. The Frankfurt Christmas market is among the largest in Germany and runs through December.
Trade fair weeks, especially in autumn and spring, raise hotel prices. Winter is cold and gray but museums and taverns are warm.
- From the airportThe S8 and S9 take about 12 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof. A taxi takes 20 to 25 minutes.
- U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tramsA dense network. A day ticket for Frankfurt covers most visits.
- On footThe center is compact. The Altstadt and Museumsufer are about 15 minutes apart.
Frankfurt in two days
- Day 1
Römerberg, the cathedral, a walk across the Eiserner Steg and the Museumsufer. Dinner in Sachsenhausen.
- Day 2
Main Tower, the Kleinmarkthalle for lunch and the Palmengarten in the afternoon.
Day trips from Frankfurt
- HeidelbergA castle town about an hour by train.
- Rheingau wine regionWine villages on the Rhine, about 40 minutes by train to Rüdesheim.
Frankfurt: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Frankfurt?
Two days cover the old town, museums and a tower. Three adds the Palmengarten or a day trip.
Where should I stay in Frankfurt?
The Altstadt for sights, Sachsenhausen for evenings and the Westend for quiet.
Is Frankfurt worth visiting?
Yes, for the museums, the apple wine taverns and the skyline. It is also a good base for the Rhine and Heidelberg.
What is Frankfurt famous for?
Its skyline, finance and the airport. It is also known for apple wine and Frankfurter sausages.
Is Frankfurt easy to get around?
Yes. The airport is close and the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and trams are quick.