Travel guide · Germany
Frankfurt travel guide
Skyline, riverside museums and apple-wine taverns on the Main
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Frankfurt am Main is Germany's financial centre, with the only true skyscraper skyline in the country rising behind a reconstructed medieval core around the Römerberg and the cathedral where Holy Roman Emperors were crowned. Across the river, the Museumsufer lines the Sachsenhausen bank with more than a dozen museums, led by the Städel, while the old taverns of Sachsenhausen and Bornheim still serve apple wine and green sauce. Its airport and rail hub make it an easy first or last stop on a German trip, and the Rhine Valley and Heidelberg are about an hour away. Plan 2 days for a first visit; the best months are May–September and December.
Key facts
- Country
- Germany
- Best time to visit
- May–September and December
- Ideal stay
- 2 days
- Main airports
- FRA, HHN
- Mid-range daily budget
- $170–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Skyline, Römerberg, Städel Museum and Apple wine
Why visit Frankfurt
- The Städel holds seven centuries of European art, from Botticelli and Vermeer to Monet and Beckmann, on the Museumsufer.
- The Römerberg and the rebuilt New Old Town show the half-timbered city that stood here before 1944.
- The Main Tower's open-air platform, about 200 metres up, looks across the skyline, the river and the Taunus hills.
- Apple-wine taverns in Sachsenhausen and Bornheim serve Grüne Soße, Handkäs and cider poured from stoneware jugs.
- Heidelberg, the Rhine Gorge, Mainz and Würzburg are all within about an hour by train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Landmark · Altstadt
Römerberg and the Römer
Frankfurt's old main square is framed by the stepped gables of the Römer, the city hall since the 15th century, and a row of half-timbered houses rebuilt in the 1980s, with the Justice Fountain in the middle.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Altstadt
Frankfurt Cathedral
The red sandstone Gothic Cathedral of St.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Iconic
Museum · Sachsenhausen
Städel Museum
Founded in 1815, the Städel covers seven centuries of European art: Botticelli, Holbein, Rembrandt and Vermeer's Geographer, Tischbein's portrait of Goethe in the Roman countryside, French Impressionists and German Expressionists, with contemporary art in underground galleries lit by round skylights.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Innenstadt
Main Tower observation deck
The Main Tower is the only skyscraper in Frankfurt with a public viewing platform, an open-air terrace about 200 metres up with a 360-degree view over the skyline, the river and the Taunus hills.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- Couples
- Photo spot
Experience · Sachsenhausen
Apple-wine taverns
Traditional taverns serve Ebbelwoi, the local tart cider, from grey-and-blue stoneware jugs (Bembel) into ribbed glasses at long shared tables.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours (evening)
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- History
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Neighbourhood · Altstadt
New Old Town (DomRömer quarter)
Completed in 2018, this small quarter between the Römer and the cathedral recreates part of the medieval town destroyed in 1944, with reconstructed half-timbered houses and new buildings on the old street plan.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Altstadt and Innenstadt is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and couples
Altstadt and Innenstadt
Römerberg, the cathedral and the Zeil shopping street between the river and the old walls
$$ · Best for food lovers, culture, couples and nightlife
Sachsenhausen
Museum mile on the riverbank, cobbled tavern lanes and the Schweizer Straße
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and families
Westend
Villa-lined streets, bank towers and the Palmengarten
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Bahnhofsviertel
Station quarter of bars, international restaurants and a visible street drug scene
What to eat
- Frankfurt green sauce — A cold sauce of seven fresh herbs — borage, chervil, cress, parsley, salad burnet, sorrel and chives — blended with sour cream or yoghurt, served with halved boiled eggs and potatoes, or with schnitzel or boiled beef.
- Cheese with music — A small, tangy sour-milk cheese marinated with chopped onions, vinegar, oil and caraway and served with bread and butter.
- Apple wine — A dry, tart cider of around 5–6% alcohol poured from a stoneware Bembel into a ribbed glass.
- Frankfurt sausages — Long, thin smoked pork sausages heated in hot water rather than grilled, served in pairs with mustard and bread or potato salad.
- Cured pork chop with sauerkraut — A cured and cooked pork chop served with sauerkraut, mashed potato or bread and mustard; a hearty tavern staple.
- Frankfurt crown cake — A ring-shaped sponge cake layered with buttercream and red jam and coated in caramelised nut brittle; its shape is said to recall the crowns of the emperors crowned in the city.
When to go
The best time to visit Frankfurt is May to September, when riverbanks, beer gardens and festivals are at their best, or December for the Christmas market. Check the trade-fair calendar before booking: during big fairs such as the Book Fair in October, hotel prices can double or triple.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild, changeable weather, the spring funfair and the return of fresh herbs for green sauce. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm to hot days, riverbank festivals and evenings in tavern gardens; occasional thunderstorms. |
| Autumn | September–November | Pleasant September, new apple wine and autumn colour, but trade fairs push up hotel prices. |
| Winter | December–February | The Römerberg Christmas market in December, then cold, quiet weeks good for museums. |
Getting there and around
Frankfurt Airport is about 12 km south-west of the centre; S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 reach the Hauptbahnhof in about 12–15 minutes, and long-distance trains leave from the airport's own station. Hahn Airport, used by some low-cost flights, is about 120 km away and served by coach.
Central Frankfurt is compact: the Römerberg, cathedral, Museumsufer, Zeil and Main Tower are all within 20 minutes on foot. The RMV network of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses covers the rest, including the airport.
Plan your days
One day covers the Römerberg, the cathedral, a walk across the Eiserner Steg and an evening in an apple-wine tavern. Two days adds the Städel and other Museumsufer museums and the Main Tower; a third or fourth day suits Heidelberg or a Rhine cruise.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- German
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (fire and ambulance), 110 police
- Tipping
- Round up or add about 5–10% for table service, telling the server the total when you pay; leaving coins on the table is less common.
Frankfurt is generally safe for visitors, but pickpockets operate at the Hauptbahnhof, on the Zeil and on crowded trains. The Bahnhofsviertel has a visible drug scene around Taunusstraße and Niddastraße; it is busy rather than dangerous, but stay aware, especially at night.
Flights to Frankfurt
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Frankfurt?
One day covers the Römerberg, the cathedral, a walk across the Eiserner Steg and an evening in an apple-wine tavern. Two days adds the Städel and other Museumsufer museums and the Main Tower; a third or fourth day suits Heidelberg or a Rhine cruise. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Frankfurt?
The best time to visit Frankfurt is May to September, when riverbanks, beer gardens and festivals are at their best, or December for the Christmas market. Check the trade-fair calendar before booking: during big fairs such as the Book Fair in October, hotel prices can double or triple.
+What is Frankfurt known for?
Skyline, Römerberg, Städel Museum, Apple wine, Green sauce, Frankfurt Book Fair and Goethe. The Städel holds seven centuries of European art, from Botticelli and Vermeer to Monet and Beckmann, on the Museumsufer.
+Is Frankfurt expensive?
Frankfurt is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $170–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Frankfurt?
No. Public transport is fast and parking is expensive. A car is only useful for rural areas such as the Taunus, the Odenwald or wine villages in the Rheingau.