Römerberg
Frankfurt's medieval market square, rebuilt after 1944, with the gabled Ostzeile houses, the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen fountain and the Römer town hall.
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About Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main is Germany's financial capital and the largest city in the state of Hesse, with about 775,000 residents, on the Main river in the centre of the country. Its skyline of bank towers, nicknamed Mainhattan, sits beside the rebuilt medieval Römerberg, the Kaiserdom where emperors were crowned and the Goethe-Haus, birthplace of Germany's best-known poet. The Museumsufer on the south bank holds the Städel and a dozen more museums, while the Palmengarten, the Zoo and Grüneburgpark offer green space inside the city. Sachsenhausen serves Apfelwein (apple cider) in traditional taverns, and the Kleinmarkthalle sells Frankfurter Würstchen and Handkäs mit Musik. Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the country's busiest, and the main station make the city a hub for day trips to Heidelberg, Mainz, Wiesbaden, the Rheingau and the Taunus, and the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and tram network makes a car unnecessary.
- Capital
- Berlin (national capital); Wiesbaden is the capital of Hesse, and Frankfurt am Main is the state's largest city
- Largest city
- Frankfurt am Main (largest city of Hesse and Germany's fifth largest)
- Population
- About 775,000 (city of Frankfurt am Main); over 5 million in the wider Rhine-Main region
- Languages
- German
- Currency
- Euro
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin (UTC+1, summer UTC+2 CEST)
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Best places to visit in Frankfurt am Main
The 21 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus (Imperial Cathedral)
Gothic Imperial Cathedral where Holy Roman emperors were elected and, from 1562, crowned, with a 95-metre tower, a public viewing platform and the Dommuseum.
Städel Museum
One of Germany's leading art museums, with 700 years of European painting from the Italian Renaissance and Dutch Golden Age to Impressionism and contemporary art.
Palmengarten
One of Germany's largest botanical gardens, with glasshouses from tropical rainforest to desert, a rose garden, a lake and open-air collections on 22 hectares.
Zoo Frankfurt
Historic city zoo founded in 1858, known for the Exotarium, Borgori-Wald ape house and nocturnal Grzimek-Haus, with about 4,500 animals.
Main Tower Observation Deck
The only skyscraper in Frankfurt with a public rooftop platform, 200 metres up, giving 360-degree views of the skyline, the Main river and the Taunus.
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Frankfurt am Main Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Frankfurt am Main, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Frankfurt am Main
- Days 1-2Frankfurt am Main city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Frankfurt am Main
- Days 1-3Frankfurt am Main comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Frankfurt am Main, departure
Where to stay in Frankfurt am Main
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget EUR 100 (~$115)
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range EUR 220 (~$253)
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury EUR 520+ (~$598+)
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof
Grand 19th-century hotel on Kaiserplatz, a short walk from the Hauptbahnhof, Goetheplatz and the Fressgass.
Check rates on Booking.comJumeirah Frankfurt
Five-star hotel in the Palais Quartier next to the Zeil shopping street and Eschenheimer Tor.
Check rates on Booking.comVilla Kennedy
Rocco Forte hotel in a restored 1901 villa with a garden, close to the Museumsufer and the Main riverbank.
Check rates on Booking.comRoomers Frankfurt
Design hotel on Gutleutstraße known for its dark styling, rooftop pool and bar; about 10 minutes on foot from the Hauptbahnhof.
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Frankfurt am Main
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Zum Gemalten Haus
Painted-facade Apfelwein tavern at Schweizer Straße 67 in Sachsenhausen, serving Rippchen mit Kraut, Handkäs mit Musik and Grüne Soße with house cider. Mains run about EUR 12-20 (~$14-23). Opening days vary between sources, so check before going.
Apfelwein Wagner (Adolf Wagner)
Long-running Apfelwein tavern at Schweizer Straße 71, next door to Zum Gemalten Haus, known for schnitzel with Grüne Soße and Rippchen. Typical mains EUR 12-22 (~$14-25); a glass of Apfelwein is about EUR 2-3 (~$2.30-3.45).
Lorsbacher Thal
Traditional Apfelwein tavern at Große Rittergasse 49 in Alt-Sachsenhausen with Hessian dishes and a courtyard. Mains about EUR 12-22 (~$14-25).
Fichtekränzi
Apfelwein tavern at Wallstraße 5 in Sachsenhausen, a short walk from Schweizer Straße, serving Hessian plates and house cider at tavern prices of about EUR 10-20 (~$12-23).
Kleinmarkthalle
Frankfurt's covered market hall at Hasengasse 5-7 with about 150 stalls of Hessian sausage, cheese, fish, bakeries, spices and lunch counters. Closed Sunday.
Metzgerei Schreiber (Kleinmarkthalle)
Butcher stall inside the Kleinmarkthalle known for Frankfurter Würstchen and hot sausage and soup lunches eaten standing at the counter. A sausage with bread is roughly EUR 3-6 (~$3.45-6.90).
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Getting around Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main is a compact city of about 770,000 people with the best-connected transport hub in Germany: Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is 10-15 minutes from the centre by S-Bahn, and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof sends ICE high-speed trains to Cologne, Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Basel and Paris. Inside the city the RMV network (U-Bahn, tram, S-Bahn and bus, run for the city by traffiQ) covers everything a visitor needs, and the Altstadt, the Museumsufer and the Main riverbanks are walkable on foot. A single Frankfurt city fare is EUR 3.80 (~$4.37) and a day ticket is EUR 7.75 (~$8.91) in 2026; the Deutschlandticket (EUR 63 per month, ~$72) also covers every S-Bahn, regional train and local bus around Hesse.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in EUR, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | EUR 55 (~$63.25) | EUR 130 (~$149.50) | EUR 320 (~$368) |
| Food (per day) | EUR 25 (~$28.75) | EUR 50 (~$57.50) | EUR 120 (~$138) |
| Transportation | EUR 8 (~$9.20) | EUR 10 (~$11.50) | EUR 30 (~$34.50) |
| Activities | EUR 12 (~$13.80) | EUR 30 (~$34.50) | EUR 50 (~$57.50) |
| Daily total | EUR 100 (~$115) | EUR 220 (~$253) | EUR 520+ (~$598+) |
Best time to visit Frankfurt am Main
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Visit in May-June or September to mid-October for mild weather, open terraces and festivals, and check the Messe Frankfurt fair calendar before booking so that rooms are not three times the normal price.
Spring and early autumn have mild temperatures of 15-24 C, open terraces, apple-wine gardens, the Museumsuferfest in late August and the least rain disruption. Frankfurt is a business city, so weekdays during fairs are the most expensive and weekends and mid-summer are the cheapest times for hotels. Christmas market weeks are atmospheric but cold (highs around 5 C) and busy. January and February are quiet and cheap except during Ambiente in February.
Essential travel tips
- Download the RMV app or buy RMV tickets at U-Bahn machines; the Frankfurt Card (visitfrankfurt.travel) bundles transport and discounts
- The MuseumsuferTicket costs EUR 21 (~$24.15) for two days at 39 museums; museums are free on the last Saturday of each month
- Most museums close on Monday and shops close on Sunday; supermarkets and many stores are shut on public holidays
- Order Apfelwein by the Bembel (jug) or glass and try Grüne Soße, Handkäs mit Musik and Frankfurter Würstchen
- Book hotels well ahead during trade fairs; the Frankfurt Book Fair in October and Messe weeks double prices
Safety information
Keep phones, passports and wallets in zipped inner pockets in the Hauptbahnhof, on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn (especially lines S8/S9 to the airport, U4 and U5), on the Zeil, at the Hauptwache and in the Christmas market crowd
In the Bahnhofsviertel, walk on the main streets (Kaiserstraße, Münchener Straße, Moselstraße by day), avoid Taunusstraße and Elbestraße's drug-dealing blocks after dark, do not photograph people, and step around discarded syringes without touching them
Call 110 for police and 112 for ambulance or fire; use 116 117 for non-emergency medical on-call care when a doctor's surgery is closed
Carry a photocopy or photo of the passport and keep the original in the hotel safe; German police can ask for ID, and a photo on a phone is accepted for a short check but a copy helps
Check the RMV fare rules: tickets from the machine are valid on printing, strip tickets must be stamped before boarding, and travelling without a valid ticket carries a €60 (~$69) fine
Use the official taxi rank or a ride-hailing app that shows the fare, and insist on the meter; avoid unlicensed drivers offering rides at the Hauptbahnhof or airport
Cross at pedestrian lights and watch for cyclists on the red-surfaced bike lanes on pavements, which are common and fast; stay out of bike lanes to avoid collisions
Withdraw cash only at ATMs inside bank branches, cover the keypad and check the card slot for skimming devices, especially around the Hauptbahnhof
On Eintracht Frankfurt match days (Deutsche Bank Park in the Stadtwald) and during large demonstrations, avoid fan groups and follow police instructions; weekend nights in Alt-Sachsenhausen are loud and alcohol-fuelled
In summer heat waves, drink water, avoid midday exposure, and use the shade of the Palmengarten, Grüneburgpark and the riverbank; tap water is safe to drink
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Frankfurt?
Entry follows Germany/Schengen rules. EU citizens need only a national ID card or passport; visitors from many non-EU countries may stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days; others need a Schengen visa. Check auswaertiges-amt.de or the nearest German embassy before travelling.
What currency is used in Frankfurt?
Frankfurt uses the Euro (EUR). Card payments are common, but many Apfelwein taverns, small shops and market stalls prefer or require cash, so carry some euros. Cash machines are on the Zeil and at Hauptbahnhof.
What language is spoken in Frankfurt?
German is the main language, with Hessian dialect (Frankfurterisch) in taverns. English is widely understood in hotels, museums and restaurants; greeting with 'Guten Tag' is expected.
What are the top attractions in Frankfurt?
The top attractions are the Römerberg, the Kaiserdom, the Städel Museum, Main Tower, the Palmengarten, the Zoo, the Goethe-Haus and the Museumsufer.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to the city centre?
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is about 12 km southwest of the centre. Take S-Bahn S8 or S9 from the Regionalbahnhof to Hauptbahnhof in about 11-15 minutes; check rmv.de for the fare, roughly EUR 5-6. A taxi costs roughly EUR 35-45 and takes about 20-30 minutes.