Stuart Forster looks at things to do in Frankfurt am Main while visiting the German city nicknamed Mainhattan because of its Manhattan-like skyscrapers.
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Frankfurt Airport is by far Germany’s busiest. Yet compared to cities such as Munich and Berlin, Frankfurt am Main remains largely unexplored by international travellers.
That shouldn’t be the case as it’s easy to get into the city centre during a layover, making a day trip to Frankfurt feasible.
As I found, there are plenty of things to do in Frankfurt to make it an ideal getaway for a short break.
View the Frankfurt skyline
The 200-metre-high observation platform of the Main Tower is 56 storeys above street level. It provides unparalleled views of the dynamic financial centre that’s nicknamed Mainhattan because of the cluster of skyscrapers.
After passing through airport-style security checks, you’ll take an express elevator up the only accessible high-rise in Frankfurt, bypassing a potentially exhausting climb up 1,090 steps.
Designed by the Hamburg-based architects Schweger and Partners, the building weighs 200,000 tonnes, meaning it’s 10 times heavier than the Eiffel Tower.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s house
On 28 August 1749, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in a second-floor room of the building today known as the Goethe House. One of the stars of German and European literature, he wrote The Sorrows of Young Werther and drafts of Faust in the poet’s room.
The house was carefully reconstructed after sustaining heavy damage during World War II. You can visit four floors of the building before popping into the adjacent Goethe Museum, which has 14 rooms with paintings from Goethe’s era.
Frankfurt’s art and history museums
The Archaeological Museum of Frankfurt is housed in the Gothic-style Carmelite Monastery, which dates to 1246. Modern exhibition wings mean you can browse artefacts from prehistoric times, the Classical era, Roman times, the Orient and the Middle Ages. Finds from in and around Frankfurt are exhibited.
Designed by Hans Hollein, the striking Museum of Modern Art building is known in the city as the MMK (Museum für Moderne Kunst). TIt opened in 1991 and rapidly evolved into one of the world’s leading art galleries. You’ll see international works from the 1960s onwards. The museum holds a collection of 4,500 works across 40 rooms, including pieces by Joseph Beuys, Francis Bacon and Cy Twombly.
Imperial coronations and national unity
The history of Frankfurt Cathedral can be traced back to its consecration in 1239. In 1356, it became the site of the Holy Roman Empire’s elections. From 1562 to 1792, 10 imperial coronations were held in the building, which is therefore regarded as a symbol of national unity.
The building you see today is was rebuilt following a fire in 1867 and again after wartime damage, sustained in 1943 and 1944.
Frankfurt River Cruises
River Cruises along the Main are ideal for viewing Frankfurt’s principal sights while resting your legs. Sit on deck after setting sail from jetties close to the cathedral. Commentaries are provided in English and German.
You’ll pass under the famous Eisener Steg, the city’s iconic metal pedestrian bridge, along the Schaumainkai, the embankment where you’ll find a cluster of 13 museums. After passing under the Friedensbrücke you’ll see the 109-metre-tall Westhafen Tower before turning back after the Mainova power station.
Where to eat in Frankfurt
Like chocolate? Then head to Bitter und Zart an elegant shop with 1920s-style pictures. You’ll find chocolate bars in numerous flavours and employees in maid-style uniforms. The artistically arranged displays make this a pleasant place to browse. You’ll also find a café with an Art Deco touch, serving coffee, specialist teas and cakes.
Max on One Grillroom, a chic international restaurant, on the first floor of the JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt. It has an open-fronted show kitchen where you can observe the chefs at work. The stylish, high-ceilinged library section of the restaurant looks out over the
Nizza Garten
Frankfurt is a city with numerous open spaces. It is home to 48 parks and gardens but one of the most central is the Nizza Garten (Nizza Garden), on the north bank of the River Main. The park is shielded from winds and has a microclimate allowing Mediterranean plants and trees to flourish.
A riverside swimming pool was formerly located in the park. Today you can dive into the MainNizza restaurant, which has high windows, a terrace and seating under canopies.
The city’s New Old Town, is a pleasant place to wander. And, for a lively night out, the bars of Sachsenhausen have much to offer. Many of Frankfurt’s cultural attractions are within easy walking distance of each other and once you’re in the city it’s an easy place to get around. That’s great for your travel itinerary in Frankfurt, Germany.
Map of Frankfurt
The Google Map of Frankfurt am Main below shows the location of the city and its key attractions:
Travel to Frankfurt
Several of the world’s biggest airlines serve Frankfurt Airport.
Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof has good connections with railway stations across mainland Europe.
Frankfurt Airport to city
The best way to get from Frankfurt Airport to the city center is by train. One option is to catch the S-Bahn (S6 or S9 lines) to the Hauptwache station. It takes as little as 11 minutes. You can also travel on the U-Bahn (U8 or U9 lines) to Hauptwache, which takes 8 minutes.
For information on prices and tickets, visit the Frankfurt Airport website.
Hotels in Frankfurt am Main
Search for accommodation in Frankfurt via the map below:
Books about Frankfurt
Keen to know more about Frankfurt am Main? You can buy the following books from Amazon by clicking on the links or cover photos:
Walk Frankfurt: A Guide to a Short Break in Frankfurt am Main by Anne Noble.
Lonely Planet Germany guidebook.
Goethe: His Faustian Life by A.N. Wilson.
The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie.
Further information
See the Visit Frankfurt and German National Tourist Board websites for more ideas about things to do in and around Frankfurt am Main.
Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this post about things to do in Frankfurt. Planning a Frankfurt city break? You may find this post about apple wine in Frankfurt worth reading.
Stuart Forster, the author of this post, is an award-winning travel writer and speaks fluent German. His work has been published in Discover Germany, Austria and Switzerland, National Geographic Traveller and Wanderlust.
Photos in the Pinterest pins were supplied courtesy of Canva. The illustrating photos are by Why Eye Photography.
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A version of this post was initially published on Go Eat Do on 10 June 2014.
Jo Ator
June 13, 2014 at 12:23For Layovers at the Frankfurt airport, may we recommend our walking tour company, Frankfurt on Foot. We have been offering Layover Tours for almost 6 years, and we are the #1 rated tour on Trip Advisor in Frankfurt.
We also offer a Daily Tour, 365 days a year at 10:30. No reservations needed, duration of tour is 3-4 hours, cost is 12 € for adults, 10 € for all students, seniors and all military. All of our tour guides are native English speakers, so you never have to worry about understanding them.
Stuart
June 13, 2014 at 13:04In addition to the places I’ve listed are there any favourite spots you think people have to visit?
Jo Ator
June 14, 2014 at 19:17These are the highlights of Frankfurt that we think are interesting for visitors to see:
– Alte Nikolai Church, a Gothic church built in 1290.
– House Wertheim, the inner city’s only original half-timbered house left at the end of WWII.
– Eisener Steg, a pedestrian bridge on the Main River, covered with love locks and offering a great view of the skyline and the many museums lining the riverbanks.
– Teutonic Order of Knights (Deutsche Ordens) Church.
– Liebfrauen Church.
– Joerg Ratgeb’s wall paintings in the Carmelite Cloister (Karmeliter Kloster), the largest religious wall paintings north of the Alps, painted in the early 1500’s.
– Book Burning Memorial, site of the Nazi book burning.
– Farmers Markets at various locations (Konstablerwache, Schiller Strasse, Bockenheimer Warte, Berger Strasse Höchst and Friedberger Platz).
– Stumble Stones (Stolper Steine), a unique way of commemorating the many victims who lost their lives under the Nazi regime.
– Jewish Holocaust Memorial Wall, a very personal memorial that the city of Frankfurt has created, to honor the memory of the 12,000 Frankfurt Jewish citizens who lost their lives during the Holocaust, including Anne, Margot and Edith Frank.
– Medieval Jewish Cemetery, one of the oldest and largest Jewish cemeteries in Germany.
– Jewish Ghetto Wall, once part of the city’s defensive walls built in 1180, it later became one of the walls that surrounded the Jewish Ghetto.
– Klein Markt Halle. the little market hall, a wonderful produce hall filled with fruits, vegetables, chocolates, pastries, cheeses, breads, meats, fish, and delicacies from around the world. It’s closed on Sundays and holidays.
– The Bull and the Bear statues at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
– The Thurn and Taxis Palace, newly reconstructed and a lovely example of 18th Century Baroque architecture.
– Eschenheimer Turm, an original guard tower from the city’s outer defensive wall, built in the early 1400’s.
– Alte Oper, one of Europe’s classic opera houses, once known as the most beautiful ruin in Germany.
– Paulskirche, the location of Germany’s very first democratically elected parliament in 1848.
– Hauptfriedhof (Main Cemetery)
– Berger Strasse and Bethmann Park in Bornheim.
– Palmengarten.
– Hoechst, with the Justinus Church consecrated in 850, Schloss, city walls, half-timbered houses and St. Josephs.
– Film Museum, Judengasse Museum, Jewish Museum, Nov. 9th Initiative, Leather Museum, Communication Museum, Dialogue in the Dark, Architecture Museum, Schirn, Kunsthandwerk Museum and Bible Museum.
– I.G.Farben House (Goethe University).
Stuart
June 18, 2014 at 17:05Wow. Thanks for all of those tips, Jo. I’m sure they’re provide some great pointers for visitors planning a trip.
Don Brumby
January 21, 2018 at 23:33There are so many outstanding museums in Frankfurt. I had no idea until visiting for the Christmas markets.
Stuart Forster
January 23, 2018 at 09:44Yes, it’s easy to spend a day or more in those along the riverside.
Emmie Johnson
February 10, 2018 at 23:05Great post and packed with useful tips for city that looks set to thrive after Brexit!
Stuart Forster
February 11, 2018 at 19:40Frankfurt lots to offer weekenders and leisure travellers. Maybe there will be more jobs in the finance industry in the future. Who knows.
Bulgaria Beaches
August 8, 2020 at 11:29Very useful guide! We plan a trip to Frankfurt in October and we will take into consideration your tips and advice!