Frankfurt tours and tickets
Frankfurt is easy to visit without a booking. The Main Tower is the one sight with slots that fill at sunset, and trade fair weeks push hotel prices up. The museums on the Museumsufer sell tickets at the door, the Römerberg and the cathedral are free, and Heidelberg is a short train ride. Book the tower for a clear evening and leave the rest open.
Book these first
- Hotels during trade fairs
- weeks ahead. Prices rise sharply and rooms are scarce when the Messe is on.
- Main Tower observation deck at sunset
- a few days ahead. Sunset slots sell out in summer.
Nobody pays to be on this page. The Viator buttons are partner links: if you book through one, Viator may pay us a commission, at no cost to you. Where the official site sells the ticket, we link it too. How we rank
Monuments and landmarks
Main Tower
A skyscraper with a public viewing platform on the 53rd floor, open until late. Entry is by ticket, with a timed slot for sunset. The restaurant on the lower floor needs a table reservation.
Which to pick. Book a sunset slot a few days ahead on a clear day. Go up once the light turns gold, and check the weather the same morning.
A few days ahead for sunsetVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorRömerberg and the old town
A rebuilt square of half-timbered houses beside the town hall, called the Römer, with a cathedral and an archaeological garden nearby. The square is free, and the Römer's rooms can be seen on a visit.
Which to pick. Walk it in the morning, then add the cathedral. A walking tour helps explain what was rebuilt after the war.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorFrankfurt Cathedral
A red sandstone Gothic cathedral where emperors were crowned. Entry to the nave is free, and the tower climb needs a ticket. A small museum holds the treasury.
Which to pick. Go inside for free, and climb the tower only on a clear day. It is a short stop beside the old town.
Not needed, entry is freeVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Museums and galleries
Städel Museum
One of Germany's leading art museums, with works from the Middle Ages to the present, including Dutch masters, Impressionists and modern art. Tickets are sold on the day, and audio guides and tours are offered.
Which to pick. Buy at the door or online for a weekend. See the old masters first, then the modern wing.
A day ahead for weekendsOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGoethe House
The birthplace and home of the poet, rebuilt after the war, with period rooms and the writer's study. Tickets are sold at the door, and audio guides are offered. It takes about an hour.
Which to pick. Buy at the door and take the audio guide. It is a good stop for a quiet morning in the old town.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorPalmengarten
A large botanical garden with glasshouses, a lake and themed beds. Entry is by ticket at the gate, and events run on summer evenings. It is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon.
Which to pick. Go on a dry day, and check the event program if you want music. No booking is needed for entry.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Food tours and classes
Apple wine tavern tour
A guided evening visit to taverns in Sachsenhausen, tasting apple wine, local dishes and green sauce. Tours last two to three hours and are held in small groups.
Which to pick. Take the tour if you want the rules and the menu explained. A table at a traditional tavern is also easy to find alone.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on ViatorKleinmarkthalle
A covered food market in the center with stalls for sausages, cheese, pastries and green sauce herbs. Food tours of the market include tastings and last about two hours. Entry is free, and the hall closes on Sundays.
Which to pick. Go on a weekday morning to eat at the stalls. Take a guided tasting only if you want the local dishes explained.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Heidelberg
A castle above a river town, about an hour away by train. The castle has a gardens ticket and a guided tour, and the town has a long pedestrian street and a student prison.
Which to pick. Take the train and buy the castle ticket on the spot. A guided day tour adds little, so go alone unless you want a group.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorRheingau wine region
A stretch of vineyards and castles along the Rhine, about 40 minutes by train. Wineries offer tastings, some by booking, and boats run on the river in the summer.
Which to pick. Book a winery tasting a few days ahead, and take the train to Rüdesheim for the cable car. A small-group tour handles the driving.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Frankfurt
- Frankfurt CardA card for a set number of days giving transport and discounts at many museums and attractions. It pays off with two or more paid visits and some use of the trams. It does not replace a Main Tower slot. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Frankfurt
Is the Main Tower worth it?
Yes, if the sky is clear. The view covers the whole skyline and the river. Book a sunset slot and check the weather that morning, since cloud makes the view flat.
Are trade fairs a problem for visitors?
They are for hotels. Prices rise sharply and rooms run out in fair weeks. If you can pick your dates, avoid the major fairs. Museums and tours are not affected much.
Do I need a ticket for the Römerberg?
No. The square and the old town are free to walk. The town hall rooms and the cathedral tower need tickets, which are sold on the spot.
Is the Frankfurt Card worth it?
It suits a stay with several museums and public transport. For two visits, single tickets are enough. Check which sights are included before you pay.
Can I do Heidelberg without a tour?
Yes. Trains run often, and the castle is a short climb or a funicular ride from the town. A tour is only needed if you want a guide.
What can wait until I arrive?
The old town, the cathedral, the museums and the Palmengarten can all be done on the day. Book the Main Tower for sunset and any apple wine tour first.