Where to stay in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is smaller than its skyline suggests. The old town, the museums and the shopping streets sit within a fifteen-minute walk of one another, and the S-Bahn and U-Bahn cover the rest. For a first visit, stay in the Altstadt or the Innenstadt for the sights, across the river in Sachsenhausen for apple wine and evenings out, or in the Westend for a calmer, leafier base. The Nordend and Bornheim suit a longer stay and a local feel. The two things to plan around are the streets by the main station, which are rough at night, and trade fair weeks, when hotel prices rise sharply.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Altstadt or the Innenstadt, with the Römerberg and the shops on foot.
- Couples
- The Westend for quiet streets and cafes, or Sachsenhausen for an evening in an apple wine tavern.
- Families
- The Museumsufer or the Westend, near the riverbank and the Palmengarten.
- Tight budget
- Nordend or Bornheim, a short ride from the center, rather than the streets by the station.
- Food and evenings
- Sachsenhausen for apple wine, Bornheim for a slower dinner.
How we judge an area of Frankfurt: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Frankfurt's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Römerberg | Main Tower | Hauptbahnhof | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | A first, short visit | Quiet at night | 5 min | 15 min | 25 min | U4, U5 Römer; S-Bahn Hauptwache | €€€ |
| Innenstadt | Shopping, transport | Quiet after dark outside the Zeil | 5 min | 10 min | 25 min | All U-Bahn and S-Bahn at Hauptwache | €€€ |
| Bahnhofsviertel | Trains, tighter budgets | Busy and rough around the station | 15 min | 10 min | 5 min | Hbf: S-Bahn, U4, U5, trams | €€ |
| Museumsufer | Museums, riverside walks | Quiet | 15 min | 15 min | 15 min | Trams 15, 16; U-Bahn Schweizer Platz | €€€ |
| Sachsenhausen | Apple wine, evenings | Lively; loud on weekends | 15 min | 20 min | 25 min | Trams 14, 15, 16; S-Bahn Lokalbahnhof | €€ |
| Westend | Calm, leafy streets | Quiet | 30 min | 20 min | 20 min | U6, U7 Westend; U4 Bockenheimer Warte | €€€ |
| Nordend | Local feel, value | Quiet; Berger Strasse is busy | 30 min | 30 min | 45 min | U4 Merianplatz, Höhenstrasse | €€ |
| Bornheim | Local taverns, value | Quiet; busy near the square | 40 min | 50 min | 60 min | U4 Bornheim Mitte; tram 12 | € |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until prices from the booking sites replace it. Frankfurt is a business city, so rates are usually higher on weekdays and in fair weeks than at weekends.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Altstadt, for a first trip on foot
The Römerberg, the cathedral and the river within a few minutes, with fewer hotels and higher prices.
The Altstadt is the rebuilt old town around the Römerberg: the Römer town hall, the cathedral, the new timbered houses of the Dom-Römer quarter and the Eiserner Steg footbridge to the museums. Most of it was destroyed in 1944 and reconstructed, so it reads as a careful copy more than an old place, but the squares are pleasant and everything a short visit needs is within ten minutes on foot.
There are only a few hotels here and they are not cheap. The squares are busy with groups by day and quiet at night, and the streets toward the Zeil are noisier. The Römer U-Bahn stop and the Hauptwache are close, and the airport S-Bahn runs from the Hauptwache.
Good for
- A first trip of two or three nights
- Walking to the Römerberg, the cathedral and the museums
- A quiet square at night
Think twice if
- You want a wide choice of hotels
- You want value: this is one of the dearest parts of Frankfurt
- You expect a medieval old town
The Innenstadt, for shops and connections
The Hauptwache and the Zeil shopping street, with the best transport links and plenty of hotels.
The Innenstadt is the business and shopping center around the Hauptwache: the Zeil, the Goethestrasse luxury shops, the Opera and the towers of the banking district. Every U-Bahn and S-Bahn line passes through the Hauptwache, and the Römerberg is a five-minute walk.
It is a working district, so it is quiet at weekends and after dark outside the Zeil and the restaurants around the Opera. Hotels are mostly larger business chains, with rates that rise on weekdays and during fairs. Some streets north of the Zeil are less attractive, so check the exact address.
Good for
- A central base with every transport line
- Shopping and a short walk to the old town
- A wide choice of larger hotels
Think twice if
- You want a lively evening neighborhood
- You want a quiet, historic street
Staying in Innenstadt: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Bahnhofsviertel, by the main station
The best rail links and many hotels, in an area with an open drug scene and a red-light district.
The streets between the Hauptbahnhof and the Main Tower hold dozens of hotels at every price, and some of the city's best-value restaurants, with Eritrean, Turkish, Indian and Japanese places along Kaiserstrasse and Münchener Strasse. The airport S-Bahn, long-distance trains and every main line stop at the station, and the Römerberg is a fifteen-minute walk.
It is also Frankfurt's roughest district. Around Kaiserstrasse and the streets near Taunusstrasse there is an open drug scene, street drinking and a red-light area, and the station forecourt is busy at all hours. It is mostly a nuisance, not a danger, but it is not a place to walk home late with luggage. Pick a hotel on a side street, and read recent reviews for the street, not just the hotel.
Good for
- An early train or the airport S-Bahn
- Cheaper rooms near the center
- Late, inexpensive food from many countries
Think twice if
- You will walk back late through the station streets
- You travel with children or want a quiet evening
- Your dates fall in a fair week
Staying in Bahnhofsviertel: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Museumsufer, for museums and the river
The south bank of the Main, with a line of museums, riverside paths and the skyline across the water.
The Museumsufer is the stretch of the south bank between the Eiserner Steg and the Friedensbrücke, along Schaumainkai: the Städel, the Liebieghaus, the Film Museum, the Architecture Museum and more. A flea market fills the riverside on Saturdays. The view back across the Main to the towers is the best in the city.
It is residential and quiet in the evening, with the Sachsenhausen taverns a short walk east. Hotels are few, mostly mid-range, and the area is a long walk from the main station, so you will use the tram or cross a bridge. It suits families and anyone who plans to spend a day in museums.
Good for
- Museums and walks along the Main
- Families, with parks and space
- A calm evening a short walk from the taverns
Think twice if
- You want many hotels to choose from
- You will arrive at the Hauptbahnhof late and walk
Staying in Museumsufer: nearby sights, food and getting around
Sachsenhausen, for apple wine and evenings out
Cobbled streets of apple wine taverns south of the river, lively on weekends.
Alt-Sachsenhausen, around Schweizer Strasse and Brückenstrasse, is where Frankfurt goes for Ebbelwoi, the local apple wine, and for its bars and live music. The taverns serve Handkäs mit Musik and Frankfurter green sauce in tree-shaded courtyards, and the Eiserner Steg gets you to the Römerberg in ten minutes.
Weekend nights are loud, particularly on Schweizer Strasse and around the Affentorplatz, with groups and some rowdy behavior late. Rooms at the back or a few streets away on quieter lanes are much calmer. There are fewer hotels and more small guesthouses and apartments.
Good for
- Apple wine, dinner and bars on the doorstep
- A younger, social crowd
- Walking to the museums and the old town
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and the room faces Brückenstrasse on a weekend
- You want a wide choice of hotels
Staying in Sachsenhausen: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Westend, for a quieter, leafier base
Villas, cafes and the Palmengarten, a few U-Bahn stops from the old town.
The Westend lies northwest of the banking district, with 19th-century villas, quiet streets, the Palmengarten botanical garden and the Grüneburgpark. It is residential, with good cafes, bakeries and restaurants, and is one of the pleasanter places to wake up in the city.
The Römerberg is about thirty minutes on foot, or ten by U-Bahn from Westend or Bockenheimer Warte. Hotels are few, often small and above average in price, and the area is close to the Messe, so rates rise sharply in fair weeks.
Good for
- Quiet streets, parks and cafes
- Couples and longer stays
- The Palmengarten and the Messe on foot
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the old town
- Your dates fall in a fair week and you are on a budget
The Nordend, for a local feel and value
Residential streets with cafes and restaurants, north of the Zeil, and a short ride in.
The Nordend is a dense residential district of 19th-century apartment blocks, with Berger Strasse as its long main street of shops, bars and restaurants. Many Frankfurters live here, and the Günthersburgpark and the Zoo are close.
The Hauptwache is fifteen to twenty minutes on foot, or a few stops by U-Bahn. Hotels are few and mostly small, so apartments are the main choice. Berger Strasse is busy on summer evenings, so ask for a room at the back.
Good for
- A local neighborhood with cafes and restaurants
- Longer stays and apartments
- Better value than the center
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the old town
- You want a big hotel with a lobby
Bornheim, for a village-like evening
A small-town center of taverns and shops on Berger Strasse, a fifteen-minute tram ride from the center.
Bornheim is the eastern end of Berger Strasse, with its own market square, apple wine taverns and an independent feel that locals describe as a village inside the city. It is the place for a long dinner without the tourists, and the Saturday market at the Uhrtürmchen is popular.
The center is about forty minutes on foot, so you will use the U4 or tram 12. Hotels are few and tend to be inexpensive, and the area is a good choice if you want a local base and don't mind the ride.
Good for
- A local evening in a tavern
- Cheaper rooms
- Longer stays
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the sights
- You are staying only one night
Where not to stay in Frankfurt, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Frankfurt. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room on Kaiserstrasse or beside the station forecourt, if you will be out late
Convenient and cheap, and the roughest streets in the city at night. Pick a side street and read recent reviews for the street, not just the hotel.
- Anywhere near the Messe or the Westend during a big trade fair, if you are on a budget
Rates rise sharply and rooms sell out. Check the Messe calendar before you choose dates, or stay in the Nordend or Bornheim and ride in.
- A room on Schweizer Strasse or Brückenstrasse on a weekend, if you need sleep
Both are loud until late on Friday and Saturday nights. Ask for a room at the back, or stay a street or two away.
- A hotel near the airport, for a city break
The rate looks lower, but you lose the evening and pay for the S-Bahn each way. Frankfurt is compact: stay in it.
- A cheap room in the Gallus or Gutleut districts beyond the station
Saves a little and gives you industrial streets and a long walk to anything. Check the walk to the nearest U-Bahn or S-Bahn before you book.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Frankfurt
The Altstadt or the Innenstadt for two or three nights.
Couples
The Westend for quiet, or Sachsenhausen for apple wine.
Families with children
The Museumsufer or the Westend, near the river and the Palmengarten.
A tight budget
Nordend or Bornheim, or a side street in the Bahnhofsviertel.
Food
Sachsenhausen for apple wine, Bornheim and the Nordend for slower dinners.
Nightlife
Sachsenhausen for bars and live music.
Peace and quiet
The Westend or the Museumsufer.
Day trips by train
The Bahnhofsviertel or the Innenstadt, minutes from the Hauptbahnhof for Heidelberg, Mainz and the Rheingau.
Before you book a room in Frankfurt
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Frankfurt makes a good stay.
- The city taxFrankfurt charges a tourism contribution (Tourismusbeitrag) of €2 per person per night to visitors who do not live in the city, shown as a separate line on your hotel bill. It is not included in the room rate on most booking sites, so expect to pay it at the hotel. Check the city's page for any changes.
- Trade fairsFrankfurt's Messe hosts some of the world's largest fairs, including the Book Fair in October, Automechanika and ISH. In those weeks hotels across the city, and in nearby towns, sell out or double their rates. Check the Messe calendar before you pick dates.
- From Frankfurt airportThe S8 and S9 S-Bahn trains run from the regional station under Terminal 1 to the Hauptbahnhof in about 11 to 15 minutes, and on to the Hauptwache. Buy a ticket from the machines or the RMV app; check the current fare with the RMV before you travel.
- Getting aroundThe center is compact and flat, and walkable. The U-Bahn, trams and S-Bahn cover the rest, and a day ticket for the city zone is usually better value than single tickets. You rarely need a car, and parking in the center is costly.
- Lifts and stairsMany hotels in older buildings in the Westend and Nordend have small lifts or none. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor and the lift before you book.
- Weekdays and weekendsFrankfurt is a business city: prices are often higher from Monday to Thursday and lower at weekends, the reverse of most city breaks. A Friday to Sunday stay can cost noticeably less.
Where to stay in Frankfurt: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Frankfurt for a first visit?
The Altstadt, for a short trip: the Römerberg, the cathedral and the museums are all within ten minutes on foot. The Innenstadt is the close second, with more hotels and the best transport links.
Is it better to stay in the center or near the Hauptbahnhof?
The center for atmosphere and quiet evenings, the Hauptbahnhof area for price and trains. The station is a fifteen-minute walk from the Römerberg. Pick a side street and read recent reviews, because the station streets are rough at night.
Sachsenhausen or the Westend: which is better?
Sachsenhausen if you want apple wine taverns and a lively evening on the doorstep. The Westend if you would rather have villas, cafes and a quiet night, with the old town ten minutes away by U-Bahn.
Is the Bahnhofsviertel safe?
It is busy and rough around the station, with an open drug scene and a red-light area on a few streets. It is rarely dangerous for visitors, but it is not pleasant late at night. Watch your bag, avoid walking the side streets alone late, and choose your hotel carefully.
Where should I stay during a trade fair?
Book months ahead, and consider the Nordend, Bornheim or Sachsenhausen, a short U-Bahn or tram ride from the Messe. Rooms in the Westend and around the station cost the most.
Can you walk everywhere in Frankfurt?
In the center, yes. The Altstadt, the Innenstadt, the Museumsufer and Sachsenhausen are within twenty-five minutes of the Römerberg. The Westend, Nordend and Bornheim are further, and easy by U-Bahn.
Which area is the best base for day trips?
The Bahnhofsviertel or the Innenstadt, minutes from the Hauptbahnhof, where the trains leave for Heidelberg, Mainz, Wiesbaden and the Rheingau.
Is there a hotel tax in Frankfurt?
Yes. The city charges a tourism contribution of €2 per person per night to visitors, shown as a separate line on the bill. It is paid at the hotel and is often not in the price on a booking site.
