You might think that Europe's largest financial and banking centre wouldn't offer much to tourists, but Frankfurt in western Germany has so much to offer, from fine dining to history and culture. Here's our essential guide to Frankfurt.
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The western German city of Frankfurt, in the heart of the state of Hesse, is one of Western Europe's lesser-known travel hubs. A center for business, banking, and trade, Frankfurt Airport is the sixth-busiest airport in Europe (and the busiest in Germany).
This means there are plenty of flights and great deals on airfare.
But don’t think of Frankfurt as just a transit point (or just a business trip), there’s real value in spending a few days here. The food, culture and architecture are all worth exploring.
Click on each heading to jump to the sections:
– of Frankfurt properties
– Where to eat in Frankfurt
– Frankfurt Attractions
– Transport in Frankfurt
The Essential Guide to Frankfurt, Germany
of Frankfurt properties
While inbound flights are a good deal, accommodation can be expensive due to the high level of business travel in Frankfurt, but like every city, you can find great deals on flights.
What matters more is where you are in the city.
Some of the cheapest hotels are located in the Red Light District. While this area of many towns is the center of the city's nightlife and can be fun to stay in, Frankfurt's Red Light District is different. It's rough and a little scary. That being said, this area is very local. We stayed one street away and felt very comfortable.
this Mercure Hotel Kaiserhof Frankfurt City Center Perfect for our needs.
This Mercure was an ideal choice for comfort, proximity to the train station (we took the train from here to travel through Europe), central location and reasonable price. However, be aware that there is another Mercure hotel nearby in the red light district. Do not confuse the two!
Check here for some of the best hotel deals in Frankfurt.
Where to eat in Frankfurt
Food and Germany are best friends, and Frankfurt is no different from the rest of the country.
There are bakeries and cafes on almost every corner in Frankfurt. Our favorite coffee shop is –Why! Specialty Coffee– It's near our hotel. If you can't find it, Age of Empires or Der Bäcker Eifler bakery, you are no longer in southern Germany.
There are also platea really cool corner bar at night and a nice little cafe during the day.
If you missed the chance to try kebab while in Frankfurt, now you have the perfect reason to do so again!
For a full guide to where to eat, drink and be merry in Frankfurt, click here.
Frankfurt Attractions
Frankfurt is a very walkable city. On our first night, we walked over 25,000 steps without even noticing. Here are some of our favorite places to visit:
– Römerberg – This is a historic square on the Main River that captures the essence of Frankfurt’s old town. Some of the buildings are replicas of what was once considered “the most beautiful square in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation”, but this does not take away from the quaintness of this square. There is also a beautiful little Gothic church here – the Old Nikolaikirche – which is worth a visit.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew the Emperor – Climb up the Gothic spire for the best view of the city. Entry is only a few euros. Tickets are purchased in the small kiosk to the right of the small wooden door on the south side of the cathedral.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Food and Wine Markets – Like many cities in Europe, Frankfurt has great markets. We were here for a short time and discovered two markets in the city center.
Small Market Hall— The Kleinmarkthalle near Romerberg is a huge three-story indoor market open Monday to Saturday at 8 a.m. Inside are rows of stalls selling everything from fresh mushrooms to Persian spices, sausages to baked goods.
Upstairs are some cafes and bars where you can also try some of the products produced downstairs. Aside from the museums and galleries, the Kleinmarkthalle is probably the best place to go on a rainy day in Frankfurt, it is a haven for food vendors.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
Bern Market Constable Wahrheit A great farmers market in the city center. Constable Wach is a large pedestrian central square that dates back to at least the mid-16th century.
But since 1989, market stalls have appeared every Thursday (10am-8pm) and Saturday (8am-5pm), selling beer, wine and delicious food, connecting the countryside to the city.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
Schiller Street Weekend Market Located in the heart of the financial district, the Wockenmarkt (literally “weekly market”) is located on Schillerstraße and is open every Friday (9am-6:30pm). This market has more fresh produce, but also has stalls selling food and drinks.
It's not as interesting as the Bauernmarkt Konstablerwache, but there's still a lot to enjoy here, and being open on Fridays means it'll be busier too.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Old Opera House (Alte Oper) – This grand 19th century building with a beautiful fountain, trees and wide square in front is a popular gathering place and perfect for people watching. Of course, you come here to see operas and shows, but it's also a great place to sit and relax.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Sunset Flosser Bridge— The view from the floating bridge over the city is stunning as the sun shines over the Maine River and then drops below the horizon of Frankfurt’s cityscape. Another unusual thing about this bridge is that it crosses the river at a strange angle.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
– Sachsenhausen District – Not far from the Flusser Bridge, in the southern part of Maine, is the Sachsenhausen District, which was a village as early as the 1300s. The area is famous for its taverns and traditional cider and is a great place to visit in the evening.
Our favorite was Fenstergucker (“window gapper”), which was full of personality and all kinds of characters.
This link will take you to a Google Maps pin.
Travel
Firstly, Frankfurt is a very walkable city. With a city whose architectural styles change rapidly between traditional and modern – from old European buildings, Gothic churches and low-rise buildings to commercial skyscrapers – it’s a city that you can enjoy.
The river runs right through the city. There are many bridges over the Main River, each offering a unique view of the Frankfurt skyline and a landmark worth exploring.
Public Transportation
Like many European cities, Frankfurt has an amazing public transportation option. There is the S-Bahn, a ground train that runs from the city center to the suburbs, and the U-Bahn, a city underground train that runs frequently throughout the city, as well as a tram network that connects perfectly with the U-Bahn.
You can also use the bus system, which also replaces the U-Bahn late at night.
For more information, fares, timetables and maps, please see RMV official website.
Driving and taxis
We didn’t need to take a taxi or rent a car during our stay in Frankfurt, but they are great options if you’re in a hurry or want to get further out of the city.
As you would expect, the roads here are well maintained and clearly signposted, although traffic does get busy during rush hour.
But no matter how you explore this charming yet underrated German city, you’ll have an unforgettable experience.
