History · Frankfurt · Germany
8 historic sites to see in Frankfurt
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Römerberg and the Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral and Apple-wine taverns. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–14 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 12–14 hours
- Areas
- Altstadt, Sachsenhausen and Innenstadt
Historic sites in Frankfurt
Landmark · Altstadt
1.Römerberg and the Römer
Upstairs in the Römer, the Kaisersaal is lined with portraits of the Holy Roman Emperors.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Altstadt
2.Frankfurt Cathedral
Bartholomew is where Holy Roman Emperors were elected and, from 1562, crowned. Its 95-metre tower can be climbed for one of the best views over the old town and skyline, and the cathedral museum holds coronation-era treasures.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Iconic
Experience · Sachsenhausen
3.Apple-wine taverns
A pine wreath over the door traditionally shows that the house makes its own. The best are on and around the Schweizer Straße and in Bornheim.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours (evening)
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- History
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Neighbourhood · Altstadt
4.New Old Town (DomRömer quarter)
The Hühnermarkt square at its centre has a fountain dedicated to the local dialect poet Friedrich Stoltze.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Innenstadt
5.Goethe House and German Romantic Museum
Next door, the German Romantic Museum covers the art and literature of the Romantic era.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Westend
6.Senckenberg Natural History Museum
One of Germany's largest natural history museums, famous for its hall of dinosaur skeletons, plus fossils from the nearby Messel Pit UNESCO site, mummies, whales and an exhibition on human evolution.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Museum · Sachsenhausen
7.Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection
Its garden café is one of the calmest spots on the river.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Innenstadt
8.Jewish Museum Frankfurt
The associated Museum Judengasse shows the excavated foundations of the medieval Jewish lane.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | Römerberg and the Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral and New Old Town (DomRömer quarter) | 45 minutes + 1 hour + 45 minutes |
| Sachsenhausen | Apple-wine taverns and Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection | 2–3 hours (evening) + 1.5 hours |
| Innenstadt | Goethe House and German Romantic Museum and Jewish Museum Frankfurt | 1.5–2 hours + 2 hours |
| Westend | Senckenberg Natural History Museum | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 1 low cost, 4 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Apple-wine taverns; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Altstadt): Römerberg and the Römer → Frankfurt Cathedral → New Old Town (DomRömer quarter), at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Sachsenhausen): Apple-wine taverns → Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Innenstadt): Goethe House and German Romantic Museum → Jewish Museum Frankfurt, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Westend): Senckenberg Natural History Museum, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still wintry; trade fairs such as Ambiente can make hotels expensive in some weeks.
- January: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and grey but quiet; a good time for museums, with low hotel prices outside trade-fair dates.
- March: highs of 11°C (52°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Changeable spring weather, with the first café terraces and blossom in the parks.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Altstadt and Innenstadt — Römerberg, the cathedral and the Zeil shopping street between the river and the old walls
- Sachsenhausen — Museum mile on the riverbank, cobbled tavern lanes and the Schweizer Straße
- Westend — Villa-lined streets, bank towers and the Palmengarten
More of Frankfurt
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Frankfurt?
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.
+Which of these are free in Frankfurt?
Römerberg and the Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral and New Old Town (DomRömer quarter).