Frankfurt am Main travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
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1
Lohrberg Vineyard and Hilltop Loop
A short climb above Seckbach to Frankfurt's only working vineyard, the Lohrberg (about 185 m), with a wide skyline and Taunus panorama.
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2
Mainuferweg: Eiserner Steg to Hoechst Castle
A flat riverside walk westward along the Main from the Eiserner Steg through the Museumsufer, Gallus and Griesheim to the old town of Hoechst and its castle.
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3
GruenGuertel-Rundwanderweg Stage Walks
The waymarked GruenGuertel ring around Frankfurt links meadows, orchards, the Nidda valley and city parks; walkers take it in stages of a few hours each.
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4
Stadtwald Loop to the Goetheturm
A forest walk through the Frankfurter Stadtwald, one of Germany's largest city forests, to the wooden Goetheturm lookout tower in Sachsenhausen.
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5
Grosser Feldberg from Oberursel-Hohemark
The classic Taunus summit hike to the Grosser Feldberg (about 881 m), the highest point of the Taunus and the Frankfurt area's favourite day-trip mountain.
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6
Altkoenig Ring Wall from Kronberg
A forest climb from the castle town of Kronberg to the Altkoenig (about 798 m), crowned by the remains of a Celtic ring wall.
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7
Ruedesheim to the Niederwald Monument (Rheingau)
A vineyard climb above the Rhine from Ruedesheim to the Germania statue on the Niederwald, on the Rheingau wine-growing hills and part of the Rheinsteig region.
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8
Melibokus Tower above the Bergstrasse (Odenwald)
A forest ascent from Zwingenberg on the Bergstrasse to the Melibokus lookout tower (about 517 m) on the northern edge of the Odenwald.
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9
Saalburg Roman Fort and Limes Trail
Forest walks around the reconstructed Roman fort Saalburg, part of the UNESCO-listed Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes, on the Taunus ridge north of Bad Homburg.
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10
Enkheimer Ried Nature Reserve Circuit
A flat circuit around a protected wetland and lake at the eastern edge of Frankfurt, with birdlife and reed beds beneath the Berger Hang slopes.
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Flat or gently rolling paths of up to about 5 km on paved or compact surfaces, such as the Enkheimer Ried circuit and the Mainuferweg.
Paths of 5-9 km with climbs of roughly 90-400 m on forest tracks, such as the Lohrberg loop, the Goetheturm loop, Ruedesheim to the Niederwald and the Melibokus ascent.
Long days of 8-14 km with climbs of 540 m or more on stony forest paths, such as the Grosser Feldberg from Hohemark and the Altkoenig loop from Kronberg.
When to hike
Seasonal conditions in Frankfurt am Main.
- Overview
- Frankfurt has a temperate climate, so walking is possible all year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; summer can be hot in the Main valley, and the Taunus and Odenwald summits are noticeably cooler and may hold snow or ice from December to February.
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Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Hazard: Ticks: ticks are common in the Stadtwald, Taunus and Odenwald from March to October and can transmit Lyme disease; parts of southern Hesse, including the Odenwald area, are tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) risk zones. Wear long trousers, check skin after walks and consult the Robert Koch Institute risk map at rki.de for current FSME areas.
Hazard: Weather change: Taunus summits such as the Feldberg are colder and windier than Frankfurt, and thunderstorms build quickly in summer. Check dwd.de or the WarnWetter app before leaving and turn back if storms approach.
Hazard: Winter ice: paths on the Feldberg and Altkoenig can be icy from December to February; carry traction aids and finish before dusk (sunset around 16:30 in December).
Hazard: Shared riverside paths: the Mainuferweg is heavily used by cyclists and runners; keep to the pedestrian side and keep children and dogs close.
Hazard: Wildlife: wild boar live in the Stadtwald and Taunus; keep dogs on a lead, do not feed or approach animals.
Hazard: Navigation and signal: mobile coverage is good in the Rhine-Main area but can drop in deep Taunus and Odenwald valleys; carry an offline map or GPS track.
Hazard: Emergencies: call 112 (European emergency number, free, English spoken) for ambulance, fire and mountain rescue; state the nearest trail marker or tower.