Is Frankfurt Worth A Visit?
If you’re planning a trip to Germany (or even Europe as a whole)—maybe for Oktoberfest—you probably realized that the easiest airport to fly into is Frankfurt. It’s one of the largest hubs in Europe (and the largest in Germany) and a great place to kickstart your European adventure before heading elsewhere. (It’s also one of the best European airports to fly into if you’re like me and play the points and miles game; a number of airlines fly direct from the U.S. to Frankfurt!)
You might be wondering whether it’s worth actually staying in Frankfurt and exploring the financial capital of Germany. Most people plan to visit Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, and/or Munich during their time in Germany and overlook Frankfurt. Even though it’s not everyone’s first choice as a city to visit in Germany, I hope this post encourages you to maybe think twice about skipping the city of Frankfurt am Main!
Is Frankfurt Worth A Visit?
After visiting Frankfurt myself (along with Berlin, Füssen, and Munich during our two weeks in Germany), I do think Frankfurt is worth a visit! I honestly would have liked to spend another day in Frankfurt because we only had time to explore the city on the day we arrived in Germany and it was ROUGH trying to stay up all day following a long overnight flight.
Frankfurt has a bad reputation for being relatively boring, grungy, and unsafe. It’s the financial capital of Germany, and you’ll see a mix of historical buildings and modern high-rises that make it look maybe less appealing compared to other cities in Germany (and even Europe as a whole). It’s an interesting visual contrast you don’t see many places in Europe, and that’s what makes Frankfurt so cool! It can feel uninspiring at first glance but Frankfurt is actually quite a vibrant city.
Frankfurt is also known for its nightlife…namely, its red light district (known as Bahnhofsviertel). Locals have said the area has cleaned up quite a bit over the years. I personally didn’t feel any less safe walking around in Frankfurt than I did in any other city in Germany or any of the major cities in the U.S. There are a wide variety of other cultural delights to experience (as well as culinary!), and I doubt you’ll feel bored during your time in Frankfurt!
To help you out, below I rounded up 12 things to do in Frankfurt, Germany. You definitely won’t be able to hit up everything in one day; it’s worth spending a couple of days in Frankfurt to really get a feel for the city and appreciate its charm. You can do almost everything on this list year-round! (Consider grabbing a Frankfurt Card for longer stays.)
10 Things to Do in Frankfurt Germany
1. Free Walking Tour
My number one recommendation if you visit Frankfurt (and especially if you’re only there for a short time like we were) is to do a free walking tour! (They really are free tours, but it’s nice to grab cash and tip your tour guide at the end!) Walking tours are fabulous in any city but especially in a place like Frankfurt that doesn’t have the appeal of the other German cities.
Our tour guide was fabulous and extremely passionate about and proud of the city he called home, and it made us appreciate Frankfurt for what it was! There are various public tours offered (we did a public tour; ours started at 2 pm and lasted about two hours) as well as private tours if you have a large group or speak/understand a language other than English and Spanish.
Our walking tour took us through the historic city center of Frankfurt and included the cathedral, river, and a stop on the Wall Street of Frankfurt, among lots of stops in between, including a look at a piece of the Berlin Wall. (Frankfurt is the financial capital and home to the European Central Bank.)
2. Römerberg (St. Nicholas Church/Alte Nikolaikirche, Town Hall/Römer)
Römerberg was the start of our walking tour in Frankfurt, but if you opt not to do a walking tour, it’s still worth visiting this cute little square. St. Nicholas Church (Alte Nikolaikirche) is on the southern end and Frankfurt’s city hall (Römer) is on the opposite side. We learned on our walking tour that much of the buildings in this area were destroyed in the war but have since been reconstructed to look like the originals.
3. Shopping on/around Goethestraße
There is GREAT shopping to be had in Frankfurt! If you’re looking to zone out and browse some beautiful things, head to Goethestraße and the shops in the surrounding area. There are a bunch of designer shops, but if those aren’t your speed, there are also a variety of more affordable options. One of my favorite clothing retailers is & Other Stories, and I always make it a point to stop in if I’m near a store since we don’t have one near us in Boise! I definitely had to browse while we were in Frankfurt.
4. Kleinmarkthalle
Kleinmarkthalle is a large covered market in the Frankfurt city center with tons of stalls offering everything from fresh fruits and veggies to prepared foods, nuts, flowers, desserts, local specialties, and the list goes on. You’ll find goodies from all over the world here! Stop in, grab some fresh food (be sure to try something new!), and head to a nearby park for a picnic and people watching. Kleinmarkthalle is open every day except for Sundays.
5. Frankfurt Historical Museum (Historisches Museum)
There is no shortage of museums to explore in Frankfurt! For the history buffs, don’t miss the Frankfurt Historical Museum. It’s the oldest museum in Frankfurt and one of the largest museums in all of Europe. It walks you through an extensive history of the city, and reviews mentioned that it’s been updated to include diverse perspectives, which is so important. This architecturally stunning museum is located in the historic city center between Römerberg and the River Main.
6. Main Tower Observation Deck
If you love city views from above, head to the Main Tower for sweeping views from the highest outdoor observation platform in Frankfurt. (Note that the platform closes in inclement weather.) From here, you’ll really get an up-close view of the contrast between old and new that Frankfurt is known for. There’s also a restaurant and lounge located on the 53rd floor offering a high end culinary experience. This was on my Frankfurt to-do list and we unfortunately ran out of time!
7. Dialog Museum
Located in the heart of Frankfurt, Dialog Museum recreates the experience of the visually impaired for those of us that are not visually impaired. In small groups, you are guided by blind experts through various experiences and darkened rooms that are designed to heighten your other senses and teach empathy. This museum looked SO interesting, but we opted not to do it because I thought the total darkness would be impossible to stay awake in after not sleeping much on our flights to Germany!
8. Nizza
Nizza is a popular park in Frankfurt located along the north bank of the River Main. It’s a short walk from the main train station and is known for its unique microclimate; it’s south-facing (towards the sun) and is affected by the urban heat island, making it one of the warmest spots in the city and in Germany as a whole! Relax in the park, let the kiddos play on the playground, and grab a bite to eat in a nearby cafe or restaurant. It’s a beautiful spot for an afternoon stroll!
9. Botanical Gardens (Botanischer Garten, Palmengarten)
If you want to get away from the hustle of the city center, head north a bit to the botanical gardens. (They are accessible from the light rail and bus lines.) Botanischer Garten used to be maintained by the nearby university and is now maintained by the city and is considered a part of Palmengarten. About 5,000 species (including native species) are contained over two large areas. Free tours of the garden are available.
Palmengarten consists of a variety of greenhouses, including a palm house, tropicarium, flower and butterfly house, subantarctic house, and alpine houses. This garden is one of only two places in the world that features a greenhouse containing flora that are native to subantarctic regions (the other being in Tasmania, Australia). The alpine house features flora from mountainous regions in the northern and southern hemisphere! In addition to the greenhouses, concerts and other events are also held at Palmengarten.
10. Frankfurt Christmas Market
If you’re visiting Frankfurt during the holiday season, you must stop by the Frankfurt Christmas Market and enjoy some glühwein (mulled wine) and shopping! The Christmas markets in Germany are well-known for their charm and nostalgia, and every city and town has their own version of this holiday mainstay. The market in Frankfurt is one of the oldest (its origins date back to 1393!) and draws millions of visitors each year.
