3 days in Frankfurt

Day by day

1. Day 1: Römerberg and the Römer and Frankfurt Cathedral

   Römerberg and the Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral and New Old Town (DomRömer quarter), then Apple-wine taverns in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Frankfurt Cathedral

      The tower climb has around 300 steps and is open in fair weather; check at the entrance.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Frankfurt green sauce

      Apple-wine taverns and traditional restaurants; best from spring to autumn when the herbs are local.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Apple-wine taverns

      Order a Bembel to share and ask for Handkäs or Grüne Soße; sit where there is space at a shared table.

2. Day 2: Städel Museum and Museumsufer and Eiserner Steg

   Städel Museum, Museumsufer and Eiserner Steg and Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection, then Alte Oper in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Städel Museum

      Start with the old masters upstairs, then finish in the underground galleries, which are usually quieter.

   2. Late morning

      Museumsufer and Eiserner Steg

      The riverbank on the Sachsenhausen side is lined with museums in villas and modern buildings, from the Städel and Liebieghaus to the Film Museum and Museum of Applied Arts.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cheese with music

      Every apple-wine tavern; eat it with a knife and fork, the traditional way.

   4. Afternoon

      Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection

      Pair it with the Städel next door, and end with coffee in the villa garden.

   5. Evening

      Alte Oper

      Walk the Freßgass (Große Bockenheimer Straße) from the Alte Oper for delis, cafés and wine bars.

3. Day 3: Main Tower observation deck and Goethe House and German Romantic Museum

   Main Tower observation deck, Goethe House and German Romantic Museum and Kleinmarkthalle, then Bahnhofsviertel in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Goethe House and German Romantic Museum

      Use the audio guide in the Goethe House; the rooms make much more sense with context.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Apple wine

      Taverns in Sachsenhausen and Bornheim, and festival stands across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Kleinmarkthalle

      A covered market hall near the Zeil with stalls selling fresh produce, cheese, sausages, herbs for green sauce and ready-to-eat snacks.

   5. Evening

      Bahnhofsviertel

      Cocktail and dive bars and late-night eateries along Münchener Straße and Elbestraße.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Palmengarten (Westend): On a cold or wet day, spend most of your time in the tropical glasshouses.
• Swap in Senckenberg Natural History Museum (Westend): Start with the dinosaur hall on the ground floor before school groups arrive.
• Swap in Jewish Museum Frankfurt (Innenstadt): Visit the Museum Judengasse and the adjacent Börneplatz memorial wall on the same day.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Altstadt and Innenstadt keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Sachsenhausen ($$) suits food lovers, culture, couples and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–16 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.1 hours in December to 16.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Frankfurt
• 2 days in Frankfurt

Questions travellers ask