Eiserner Steg

The Eiserner Steg, or Iron Footbridge, is a pedestrian-only bridge across the Main that links the Römerberg and Altstadt on the north bank with the Sachsenhausen quarter on the south bank. Opened in 1869 after construction from 1868, it is one of Frankfurt's best-loved landmarks in the state of Hesse. The current structure is a steel suspension-style bridge rebuilt in 1946 after the original was destroyed in the war, and its green-painted iron frame has become an icon of the city. Crossing takes only a few minutes on foot, but most visitors linger in the middle of the span, where the classic Frankfurt panorama opens up: the Gothic cathedral tower and the Römerberg roofs to the north, the museum embankment to the west and the glass towers of the financial district rising behind them. The bridge is also known for the thousands of love locks fastened to its railings and for the buskers who play on summer evenings. The riverside promenades on both banks, the Nizza gardens and the Museumsufer, are easily reached from either end, which makes the crossing a natural link between the old town and the Apfelwein taverns of Sachsenhausen. A visit usually lasts 15 to 30 minutes, longer if combined with a river walk. Photographers do best at sunrise, sunset and the blue hour, when the skyline lights up and the water reflects the towers. Midday on sunny weekends is the busiest period, when walkers, cyclists pushing bikes and tour groups share the narrow deck, and the best viewing spots are often crowded. The bridge is free and open at all times, and good lighting at night makes an after-dinner stroll pleasant.