How many days · Frankfurt · Germany
How many days do you need in Frankfurt?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
2 days is the sweet spot for Frankfurt, and 1 day is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 2 days
- Minimum
- 1 day
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 8.1 h (Dec) to 16.4 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Good | Römerberg and the Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral, Städel Museum and Main Tower observation deck |
| 2 days | Ideal | Main Tower observation deck, Apple-wine taverns and New Old Town (DomRömer quarter) |
| 3 days | Relaxed | Museumsufer and Eiserner Steg, Goethe House and German Romantic Museum and Palmengarten |
| 5 days | Plenty | The highlights plus a day trip to Heidelberg |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Heidelberg and Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Frankfurt add up to roughly 16–22 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Städel Museum (2–3 hours), Apple-wine taverns (2–3 hours (evening)) and Palmengarten (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Römerberg and the Römer | 45 minutes | Altstadt |
| Frankfurt Cathedral | 1 hour | Altstadt |
| Städel Museum | 2–3 hours | Sachsenhausen |
| Main Tower observation deck | 45 minutes | Innenstadt |
| Apple-wine taverns | 2–3 hours (evening) | Sachsenhausen |
| New Old Town (DomRömer quarter) | 45 minutes | Altstadt |
| Museumsufer and Eiserner Steg | 1–2 hours | Sachsenhausen |
| Goethe House and German Romantic Museum | 1.5–2 hours | Innenstadt |
| Palmengarten | 2–3 hours | Westend |
| Senckenberg Natural History Museum | 2–3 hours | Westend |
| Kleinmarkthalle | 45 minutes | Innenstadt |
| Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection | 1.5 hours | Sachsenhausen |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 2 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 1 day | Focus on Römerberg and the Römer and Frankfurt Cathedral |
| With children | 3 days | Slower days and time for Senckenberg Natural History Museum |
| With day trips | 4 days | Add Heidelberg and Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 8.1 hours of daylight) than in June (about 16.4 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Frankfurt with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 1 day enough in Frankfurt?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 2 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Frankfurt?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Heidelberg and Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge.