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Destinations / Germany

Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main

Skyscrapers, apple wine and a riverside of museums

arthistoryfoodfirst-timers
Plan your trip to FrankfurtSee the top 10
773,000Population
5.8 millionMetro area
GermanLanguage
EURCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$170-280Typical day

Frankfurt is Germany's financial hub, with a skyline of towers and a rebuilt old town. The Museum Embankment and apple wine taverns add culture and charm. The Rhine Valley is close.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. The Romerberg is Frankfurt's old town square, lined with reconstructed half timbered houses and the stepped gables of the Romer, the city hall for six centuries. It hosts one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Come early for photos, then walk through the rebuilt New Old Town toward the cathedral.
    See on the map

  2. The Main Tower is a 200 meter skyscraper with a public viewing platform. It offers views over the skyline nicknamed Mainhattan and the river.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $10-12Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Go on a clear day, and check that the platform is open in bad weather.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. The Stadel is one of Germany's major art museums, with works from the Middle Ages to the present, including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Monet. It stands on the Museum Embankment.

    2.5 hoursTime needed
    about $12-22Cost
    noBook ahead

    Regular ticket 19 EUR; 10 EUR on Tuesdays 3 to 6 pm (2026).

    Tip. Allow at least two hours, and take the audio guide.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. Sachsenhausen is the district across the river, known for its apple wine taverns with long wooden tables. Locals drink apple wine, called Ebbelwoi, from a stoneware jug.

    EveningTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Try apple wine with green sauce, a local herb dish.
    See on the map

  5. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO landscape of castles, vineyards and riverside villages. It is about an hour west of Frankfurt.

    Full dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Boat cruise extra.

    Tip. Take a boat between Rudesheim and St. Goar.
    See on the map

  6. Heidelberg is a university town with a ruined castle above the Neckar river and a Baroque old town. It is about an hour south.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Castle ticket is rough; the old town is free to walk.

    Tip. Take the funicular to the castle, and walk the Philosophers' Path.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. The Goethe House is the restored birthplace of writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It shows how a wealthy family lived in the 18th century.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $10-12Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Combine with the German Romantic Museum next door.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. Frankfurt Cathedral is a Gothic church where Holy Roman Emperors were elected and crowned. Its tower has views over the old town.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $0-5Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entering the church is free; the tower costs a small fee.

    Tip. Climb the tower for views.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. The Kleinmarkthalle is a covered food market with local and international stalls. It is a favorite of locals for lunch.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Try green sauce or a sausage at the upstairs wine terrace.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. The Palmengarten is a large botanical garden with greenhouses of tropical and desert plants. It was founded in the 19th century.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $7-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. A good choice on rainy days.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Frankfurt in three days

Add the Rhine Valley and Heidelberg.

  1. Romerberg1 hour · Free
  2. Main Tower1 hour · about $10-12
  3. Stadel Museum2.5 hours · about $12-22
  4. SachsenhausenEvening · Free
  5. Rhine ValleyFull day
  6. HeidelbergFull day · about $10-15
  7. Goethe House1 hour · about $10-12
  8. Frankfurt Cathedral45 minutes · about $0-5
  9. Kleinmarkthalle1 hour · Free
  10. Palmengarten2 hours · about $7-10
Beyond the city

Day trips

Wiesbaden

Spa town.

25 mi · S-Bahn about 40 minutes

Mainz

Gutenberg Museum.

25 mi · S-Bahn about 35 minutes

Rüdesheim and the Middle Rhine

Vineyards, castles and a famous river valley.

43 mi · Train or drive, about 1h15 each way

Heidelberg and Castle

Romantic university town featuring the red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle overlooking the Neckar River.

56 mi · Direct DB ICE or regional train from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in 50 minutes.

Rhine River Gorge and Rüdesheim

UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley featuring vineyard hills, castles, and boat cruises past the Lorelei rock.

40 mi · VIAS regional train to Rüdesheim am Rhein in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: May to September. Warm and outdoor terraces.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

38°F
Typical daily high
Average33°F
Rain2.2 in
About7 rainy days
Sun strength0.8 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Aug

Museumsuferfest

Late August

A big riverside festival of culture, food and music along the Museum Embankment.

Oct

Frankfurt Book Fair

October

The world's largest book trade fair, which also fills hotels and raises prices.

Nov

Christmas Market

Late November to December 22

A traditional market on the Römerberg and nearby squares.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Germany at Level 2 (increased caution) for terrorism; Frankfurt is generally safe, but avoid the station area at night.

4/5
Walkability

The center is compact.

5/5
Public transport

S-Bahn, U-Bahn and trams with RMV tickets.

Sources disagree on: population.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
1234

1. Altstadt

$$$

Best for: first-timers

Central.

2. Sachsenhausen

$$

Best for: foodies

Apple wine taverns.

3. Westend

$$$

Best for: couples

Quiet.

4. Bahnhofsviertel

$

Best for: budget travellers, late arrivals

Cheap and well connected by train, but gritty at night.

Getting there and around

Main airportFrankfurt Airport (FRA), 7 mi from the center
To the centerS-Bahn trains take about 15 minutes.
Around townWalk and use transit.
Ride appsUber, Bolt, FreeNow
Taste it

What to eat

Gruene Sosse

Green herb sauce.

Apfelwein

Tart cider.

Frankfurter Wurstchen

Sausages.

Grüne Soße

A cold herb sauce usually served with boiled eggs and potatoes.

Handkäse mit Musik

Sour milk cheese marinated with onions and vinegar.

Handkäs mit Musik

Sour milk curd cheese marinated in vinegar, oil, onions (the music), and caraway seeds, eaten with crusty rye bread and butter.

Good to know

PlugsType C and F, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingRound up or add 5 to 10 percent in restaurants, telling the server the total.
PaymentsCards are now widely accepted, but some bars and bakeries prefer cash.
EtiquetteGermans value punctuality and order; greet with Guten Tag. Keep quiet on public transport, and do not cross on a red light.
  • The S Bahn links the airport with the city center.
  • Most shops close on Sundays.
  • Trade fairs raise hotel prices sharply, so check the fair calendar.
  • Cash is still common in small places.
  • Shops are closed on Sundays, so plan museums and walks then.
  • Most museums close on Mondays; check hours before you go.
  • Keep valuables close around the main station.
  • Apple wine is served in a ribbed glass called a Geripptes; the Sachsenhausen taverns are classic.

A short history

Frankfurt hosted the election and coronation of Holy Roman emperors. Goethe was born here in 1749. Bombing in World War II destroyed the old town. The European Central Bank is based here.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Frankfurt