This guide to the best things to do in Frankfurt is great for those looking to experience the many sights of Germany’s financial hub. The city is known for its international offices, towering skyscrapers, and multicultural population, but there are also many interesting spots for curious travellers. 

History buffs can marvel at 15th-century buildings and sculptures, while fans of classic literature can retrace the footsteps of renowned German writer, Johann Wolfgang Goethe. Some of Europe’s largest museums are found in Frankfurt, one of which displays Germany’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. Plan a memorable holiday with our compilation of Frankfurt’s most famous sightseeing spots. 

What are the best things to do in Frankfurt?

  • 1

    St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral

    Climb 324 steps up the church tower for panoramic city views

    St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral
    • History

    St Bartholomew's Cathedral is a Gothic-style stone church that was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. It’s home to a number of impressive relics and sculptures, including St. Bartholomew’s skullcap, a 16th century statue of the Crucifixion by Hans Backoffen, and a gravestone of King Günther von Schwarzburg. The cathedral is also known for its 95-metre-tall tower. You can climb over 300 steps to the top to see Frankfurt from an impressive height. Note that to enter the tower you are charged a fee of around €3 and it's only open between April and October. 

    Location: Domplatz 1, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Phone: +49 (0)69/297032 -0

    Map
  • 2

    Goethe House

    See the early life of German’s beloved author at his personal residence

    Goethe House
    • History

    The Goethe House is the restored home of renowned German poet and author Johann Wolfgang Goethe. The 17th century building is divided into 4 floors, each of which are decorated with many original artefacts, furniture and family portraits collected during his early years. The writer’s studio is located on the 1st floor, where Goethe wrote his best-selling novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther. There’s also an onsite museum that features 14 rooms displaying busts and paintings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

    Location: Großer Hirschgraben 23-25, 60311 Frankfurt, Germany

    Open: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 5.30 pm

    Phone: +49 (0)69/138800

    Map

    photo by Dontworry (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 3

    Römerberg Square

    Strike a pose in front of the 16th-century Fountain of Justice

    Römerberg Square
    • History
    • Photo

    The Römerberg is a large, open square in Frankfurt's Old Town, featuring picturesque buildings and statues dating back to the 15th century. This pedestrian-friendly space is such a pretty and interesting space, you can spend hours exploring and photographing its many attractions. On the eastern side of the Römerberg is Ostzeile, a row of 11 faithfully reconstructed buildings that were destroyed back in 1944. Another popular landmark is the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice), which was built in 1543. It’s set in the middle of the square and depicts goddess Justitia holding the scales of justice.

    Location: Römerberg 27, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Map
  • 4

    Berger Straße

    One of Frankfurt's major shopping streets

    Berger Straße
    • Shoppers

    Berger Street (Berger Straße) stretches for 3 km, from Bethmannpark out to Bornheim. Lower Berger Street – around Merianplatz metro station – is one of Frankfurt’s best spots for independent boutique shopping. You’ll find unique homeware, factory outlet stores, 2nd-hand shops, and an authentic local vibe.
    There are plenty of bars, restaurant and coffee shops running the entire length of Berger Straße, but if you’re looking for a night out, head the area around Höhenstraße metro station. On Saturdays, don’t miss the Farmers’ Market next to Bornheim Mitte station. This is also where you’ll find larger department stores.

    Location: Schaumainkai 41, D- 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesday from 10 am to 8 pm (closed on Mondays)

    Map
  • 5

    Kleinmarkthalle

    Discover local specialities at one of Frankfurt’s oldest markets

    Kleinmarkthalle
    • Food

    Kleinmarkthalle is an indoor marketplace, where you can shop for fresh produce and experience the local lifestyle. Set along Hasengasse Street in central Frankfurt, it houses over 60 stalls selling local specialities such as sausages, cheese, and fresh produce. You can also find exotic food items imported from Europe and Asia. The ground floor houses a spacious dining section, where you can find food vendors selling grilled seafood, made-to-order sandwiches, bratwursts, and currywursts. Carry cash with you as most vendors don’t accept credit card payments. 

    Location: Hasengasse 7, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Monday–Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +49 (0)69 21233696

    Map
  • 6

    Palm Garden

    Enjoy spectacular parades and fireworks at its annual Rose and Light Festival

    Palm Garden
    • Budget
    • Couples
    • Families

    Palm Garden (Palmengarten) is a massive botanic landscape in central Frankfurt, spanning 54 acres of winding paths, greenhouses, playgrounds, and colourful gardens. The park also hosts educational talks, exhibitions, and festivals throughout the year. Its most popular event is the Rose and Light Festival, which has been held every June since 1931. On this day, the garden is illuminated with tea lights, candles and lanterns. Visitors can also enjoy live music and dance performances, plus an impressive fireworks display at the end of the night. 

    Location: Siesmayerstraße 61, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm

    Phone: +49 (0)69/21236689

    Map

    photo by Anna16 (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 7

    Städel Art Museum

    Join a guided tour of the museum to learn about the history of European art

    Städel Art Museum
    • History

    The Städel Art Museum boasts an impressive collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures dating back to the early 14th century, as well as contemporary artwork and photographs. It was founded in 1815 by the banker and businessman Johann Friedrich Städel, and has since become one of the world’s top-ranking museums. Celebrating over 700 years of European art, you’ll find 3,100 paintings, some of which were by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, Picasso, and Goya. Audio guides in English and German are available at the museum’s cashier desk, and you can also arrange for a guided tour if you want to learn more about the museum’s impressive history. 

    Location: Schaumainkai 63, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Tuesday–Wednesday and Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, Thursday–Friday from 10 am to 9 pm (closed on Monday)

    Phone: +49 (0)69/605098200

    Map
  • 8

    Frankfurt Main Tower

    Enjoy expansive city views from the Observation Deck

    Frankfurt Main Tower
    • Food
    • Luxury

    The Frankfurt Main Tower is a 56-storey skyscraper with an open-air observation deck, where you can see the entire city of Frankfurt. This modern structure was completed in 1999, and currently houses a number of offices and businesses. It’s also a prominent tourist attraction thanks to the observation deck on the highest floor. If the observation deck is closed (usually due to bad weather), head to the 53rd floor to enjoy a satisfying view of the city during a meal at the luxurious Main Tower Restaurant.

    Location: Neue Mainzer Str. 52-58, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Summer: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm, Friday - Saturday from 10 am to 11 pm. Winter: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm, Friday– Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm

    Phone: +49 (0)69/36504878

    Map
  • 9

    Senckenberg Natural History Museum

    See life-sized replicas of dinosaurs at one of Europe’s largest museums

    • Families
    • History

    The Senckenberg Natural History Museum is where you can find the largest exhibition of dinosaur fossils and replicas in Europe. Located within Senckenberg Gardens, the 3-storey museum was founded in 1821 and has since become one of Frankfurt’s most visited museums, especially for families with young kids. One of its most impressive exhibits is the Messel Pit fossil site, which is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany. Here, you can see well-preserved fossils of horses, turtles, and frogs that are over 50 million years old. Audio guides in German and English are available for a few euros if you want to learn more about the exhibits.

    Location: Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Monday–Tuesday and Thursday–Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Wednesday from 9 am to 8 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm

    Phone: +49 (0)69/7542-0

    Map
  • 10

    Alte Oper

    The old opera house of Frankfurt

    Alte Oper
    • Couples
    • History
    • Photo

    Alte Oper, meaning “Old Opera”, is an aesthetic former opera house in Frankfurt’s inner city of Innenstadt. The former opera house was destroyed in 1944 and was rebuilt as a concert hall that opened in the 1980s. Because of its history, the wide open square with its impressive fountain is still called Opernplatz, meaning “Opera Square”.

    These days, the beautiful building is a major venue for classical concerts and opera. But even if you don’t have time to go inside, the outside is an unmissable tourist spot for the architecture alone. And at night, the building is lit up in an impressive photo-worthy display of lights.

    Location: Opernpl. 1, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Open: Showtimes vary

    Phone: +49 (0)691 3400

    Map
Penny Wong | Compulsive Traveller