You might not think Europe’s biggest finance and banking hub would have much to offer tourism, but Frankfurt in western Germany has so many draw cards to offer, from food to history and culture. Here’s our Essential Guide to Frankfurt.
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At the heart of Hesse, the western German city of Frankfurt am Main is one of the unsung travel hubs of western Europe. Being a centre for business, banking and commerce, Frankfurt am Main Airport is Europe’s 6th (and Germany’s number one) busiest airports.
This means plenty of flights and great ticket deals.
But instead of using Frankfurt merely as a transit gateway city (or only coming here for business), staying here for a few days really pays off. The food, culture and architecture scenes are well worth exploring.
Click each of these headings to jump to each section:
– Where to Stay in Frankfurt
– Where to Eat and Drink in Frankfurt
– Things to Do in Frankfurt
– Getting Around Frankfurt
Our Essential Guide To Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Where to Stay in Frankfurt
Although inbound flights can be great value, staying in Frankfurt can lean to towards the expensive side thanks to all the business travel here. However, like with every city, you can find good prices.
More important is where you are in the city.
Some of the cheapest hotels are in the red light district. Although this area of many towns is the night life centre of a city and fun to stay in, Frankfurt’s red light district is different. It’s rough and be a little intimidating. Having said that, the district is extremely localised. We stayed one street over and it was absolutely fine.
The Mercure Hotel Kaiserhof Frankfurt City Center was perfect for our needs.
Comfortable, close to the train station (we travelled on through Europe by rail from here), centrally located and reasonably priced, this Mercure was ideal. Be aware though, there is another Mercure nearby that is in the red light district. Don’t get the two confused!
Check this out for some of the best deals on hotels in Frankfurt.
Where to Eat and Drink in Frankfurt
Food and Germany are the best of friends, and Frankfurt is no different to anywhere else in the country.
Bakeries and cafes are everywhere, on virtually every corner, in Frankfurt. Our favourite coffee shop—Why! Specialty Coffee—is just down the street from our hotel and if you can’t find a Kaiserzeit or Der Bäcker Eifler bakery, you’re not in southern Germany anymore.
Right near our hotel is also Plank, a very cool corner bar by night and by day a nice little cafe.
And if you miss out on having a Turkish kebab while you’re in Frankfurt, you have the perfect excuse for returning!
For our full write-up on where to eat and drink in Frankfurt, click here.
Things to Do in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is a wonderful walking city. The first evening we were there, we clocked up over 25,000 steps almost without noticing. Here are some of our favourite places to visit:
– Römerberg—this is an historic square by the River Main and captures the essence of Frankfurt’s old town. Some of the buildings are replicas of what was once considered ‘the most beautiful square in Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation’, but that should take nothing away from the quaintness of this piazza. There is also a pretty little Gothic church here—the Alte Nikolaikirche—which is worth a visit.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus—climb the Gothic steeple for the best views of the city. It’s only a couple of Euros to go in. Tickets are from a little booth to the right of the small timber door on the southern side of the cathedral.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Food and Wine Markets—like many cities in Europe, Frankfurt does wonderful markets. The short time we were here, we found two in the middle of the city.
Kleinmarkthalle—close to Romerberg, Kleinmarkthalle is a huge three-level indoor market that’s open Monday to Saturday from 8am. Inside is a warren of market stalls selling everything from fresh mushrooms to Persian spices, from sausages to baked goods.
Upstairs are some cafes and bars where you can try some of the produce from below as well. Probably the best wet-weather thing to do in Frankfurt other than museums and galleries, Kleinmarkthalle is a providore’s paradise.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
Bauernmarkt Konstablerwache is an amazing farmers’ market in the centre of the city. Konstablerwache is a large pedestrianised central square and has a history dating back to at least the middle 1500s.
But since 1989, every Thursday (10am-8pm) and Saturday (8am-5pm), market stalls appear selling beer, wine and delicious food connecting the countryside with city.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
Wochenmarkt Schillerstraße right in the centre of the financial district, Wockenmarkt—literally ‘Weekly Market’ on Schillerstraße opens every Friday (9am-6.30pm). This market has more fresh produce, but there are also stalls selling food and drink.
It’s not quite as much fun as Bauernmarkt Konstablerwache, but there’s still plenty to enjoy here, and running on a Friday means it’s quite a bit busier too.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– The Old Opera House (Alte Oper)—this grand old 19th Century building, fronted by beautiful fountains, trees and a broad piazza, is a popular meeting place and the best for people-watching. Oof course, you can come here to see operas and performances, but it’s also a lovely spot to sit and relax.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Sunset from Flößerbrücke—views from the Floßerbrucke (Raftman’s Bridge) over the city are stunning as the sun shines down on the River Maine before it dips below the horizon of Frankfurt’s cityscape. This bridge is also unusual in that it crosses the river at a funny angle.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Sachsenhausen District—not far from the Flosserbrucke Bridge on the southern side of the Maine is the Sachsenhausen district, which was once its own village back in the 1300s. Known for its taverns and traditional apple wine, the district is a fun place to explore in the evening.
Our favourite is Fenstergucker (‘window gaper’), and is packed with character and all types of characters.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
Getting Around
First and foremost, Frankfurt is an exceptional walking city. With its rapid changes between traditional and modern architecture—between old European buildings, Gothic churches and low-rise areas and commercial corporate skyscrapers—it’s a city that keeps you entertained.
The river runs right through the city. And with its multitude of bridges, each with a unique view of Frankfurt’s skyline, the Main is an enjoyable landmark to explore.
Public Transport
Frankfurt, like so many European cities, has amazing PT options. There’s an overground train—the S-Bahn—which runs from the city centre to the suburbs, the U-Bahn, which is the city’s underground train that runs with blistering frequency all over Frankfurt, and a tram network, which links up very satisfyingly with the U-Bahn.
You can also use the bus system, which also takes over from the U-Bahn late at night.
For more information, ticket prices, timetables and maps, check out the official RMV website here.
Driving and taxis
We didn’t need to take any taxis or hire cars during our stay in Frankfurt, but these are both good options if you’re in a hurry or you want to get further out of the city respectively.
Roads are, as you’d expect, well maintained and clearly signed here, though traffic does get busy in rush hours.
But however you explore this fascinating yet sadly underestimated German city, you’re set for an unforgettable experience.
Prabik
Thanks for the detailed guide to Frankfurt! It’s great to see that the city offers so much beyond just being a business hub. The mix of history, food, and culture sounds like a wonderful experience, especially the Römerberg and the view from Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus. I’ll definitely keep your hotel tips in mind to avoid the red light district. And of course, I won’t miss out on grabbing a Turkish kebab! Thanks for sharing these helpful insights!