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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.

The post Our Essential Guide To Frankfurt, Germany appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Frankfurt is well known for its commerce, banks and financial district, but beyond the suits and skyscrapers hides an excellent food scene that deserves our attention.

And yes, the legendary frankfurter (full name Frankfurter Würstchen) does come from here—in fact its heritage has been protected by law since 1860—but there’s a lot more to Frankfurt’s culinary offerings than that.

Find the best places to stay in Frankfurt at great prices here.

Here are some of the places we found and loved when Christina and I were in Frankfurt.

Oh, and if you want to know more about how the frankfurter has evolved to become the ubiquitous hotdog, click here.

Bakeries in Frankfurt

Germans love their baked goods. And I mean love, and Frankfurt is no exception. It’s impossible to walk anywhere in the city without passing a bakery packed with delicious looking pastries, breads and sweet treats.

Strahmann – this small bakery and sandwich shop has a very tempting range of tasty sandwiches, soups and salads perfect for a quick lunch snack. Strahmann has two shops, both in Frankfurt city.

Zeit für Brot – a small chain with half a dozen stores across Germany with a name that says it all: ‘Time for Bread’. If you find any of the three in Frankfurt and you’re feeling hungry for baked goods, check it out. The sandwiches they sell here are great.

But what’s even better is the Zeit für Brot website and its product page. It’s got the name in German with descriptions in English with photos and even cross sections! Helpful when you’re in any bakery in Germany.

Kaiserzeit – these big bakeries (it’s a chain with stores throughout southern Germany) have so many food options. My favourite are the breakfast bagels.

Finally, Der Bäcker Eifler. Instead of a Starbucks or Maccas on every corner, expect to see the immediately recognisable red and yellow Comic Sans signs of these bakeries wherever you go.

Der Bäcker Eifler is a huge bakery chain with almost 70 stores in Frankfurt alone. And for a chain, it’s not bad. You know what you’re going to get and it’s reasonably priced.

Cafes

We were surprised at how good the coffee in Germany is—much better than places you’d expect it to be good like France or Belgium. Most bakeries can do an ok latte, but these two coffee-focused stores really know what they’re doing.

Why! Specialty Coffee – this place, just down the road from Frankfurt’s main train station, does amazing coffee, to the point where we didn’t feel homesick for a flat white once. However, it’s only open weekdays.

Bunca – Also not far from the station, this cafe knows what it’s doing, but it’s not as good as Why!. The big difference here though is it’s open over the weekend.

Markets

If there’s one thing synonymous with Europe, it’s great markets, and Frankfurt stands out here for all the right reasons.

Erzeugermarkt – Frankfurt’s biggest farmers market (‘bauernmarkt’) set in the central square of Konstablerwache at the end of the Zeil shopping mile, Erzeugermarkt is a grown-up’s playground of craft beer and wine, but also all kinds of artisan produce, food, flowers and crafts. It’s been running every Thursday and Saturday afternoons since 1989.

Schillermarkt on Schillerstrasse – this all-day street market (8am-6pm) runs every Friday near the Frankfurt stock exchange. The market takes over at laneway lined with beautiful buildings and transforms the city’s serious, financial hub into a place of fun, food and relaxation.

Kleinmarkthalle – this big undercover market with over 60 stalls offering everything from fresh fruit, veg and meat to flowers, bread and cheese. Upstairs on the mezzanine are little bars and cafes and a full restaurant on the veranda at the back, all of which using produce from the market or their own artisanal products.

Bars

Germany is well known for its love of libations and its ability to house them in venues that make you want to stay for more time than you have. Frankfurt has more than its fair share of bars, but here are a few we really enjoyed.

Plank – this late-night bar has a real local vibe but is very friendly and sells everything from your basic beer and wine to more complex cocktails. During the day, it’s also a cafe, though we didn’t try the coffee here. Open roughly 10am-2am every day.

Eschenheimer Warte at Eschunheimer Turm – a street-side bar perfect for people-watching housed in a pretty roofed tower that dates back to 1300s when Frankfurt was a walled city.

The tower—Eschunheimer Turm—is one of only three remaining gate towers and was once a jail much like the Tower of London. It now hosts the toilets, which are up a long spiral staircase, so factor that into your timings!

Fenstergucker in Sachsenhausen district – a cosy little tavern full of locals who insist on smoking inside still. But it’s got a great atmosphere nonetheless.

One of the oldest remaining parts of Frankfurt that dates back to the 1100s, the Sachsenhausen district is right on the south bank of the river. This has become an entertainment district of sorts and the street that Fenstergucker is on (Große Rittergasse) has a great party vibe.

While you’re here, look out for venues with wreaths on the doors. These are the last remaining breweries that are allowed to make and serve their own apfelwein—a kind of cider that’s specific to Frankfurt.

Gioia – a nice little beer garden off the main drag but also close to bar-packed Sachsenhausen district, Gioia is ideal for a pitstop and served us well on our long hike through the city.

Not to be missed

Although the places we’ve mentioned so far are great, these next three were standouts for us, more for the style of food than anything.

Wirsthaus im Ostend – a modern yet typical Frankfurt eatery, Wirsthaus im Ostend serves classic German dishes without any pretension but cooked perfectly. Christina’s classic Frankfurt schnitzel was crisp yet tender, and extremely tasty and came with Frankfurt-centric grüne sosse (green sauce), while my pork knuckle was as immense as it was satisfying.

What you’d expect to be an overly touristy place is in fact more popular with locals. I think we were the only non-German speakers there.

TonBul Grill – Turkish kebabs have become hugely popular in Germany (they’re more like the English kebabs than the Lebanese style ones in Australia) and one of the most popular is TonBul Grill.

The queue snakes down the street but you’re only there for about 10mins. You choose your kebab type then order from the window along with salad, sauce etc. It’s a bit nerve-wracking when you order, but the staff are patient and friendly.

You can eat in if you can find a space or just take away. Don’t forget to grab some green chillies from the big bucket.

Die Fromagerie – Run by Frenchman Alexandre Allemany from Bordeaux, this wonderland is an ode to everything cheese, from raclette to sandwiches, this is the place you come when you’re really hungry!

The post Beyond the frankfurter – what and where to eat in Frankfurt, Germany appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.