Best Things To Do in Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt am Main, also known as Frankfurt, is one of those cities you should visit at least once in your life. It combines modern buildings with medieval streets and is one of Germany's best-hidden gems. A variety of things to do await you there, such as a stroll through the oldest part of the city or a look at Mainhattan, the financial district.

The city's gastronomy is also a delight for the palate. In particular, you should try a Frankfurter Rippchen with Apfelwein wine in a cosy pub in the Alt-Sachsenhausen district. In fact, there are so many things to do that you should set aside at least three days to get to know its fascinating history and culture. This guide tells you what not to miss.

When I think of Frankfurt am Main, the first thing that comes to mind are its medieval streets. Most of them are in the old Altstadt area and here you can tick off the main attractions such as Römerberg Square and Frankfurt Cathedral, which is famous for its Renaissance murals.

Many were restored or rebuilt after the wars to maintain the essence of the city. In fact, you can see Gothic architecture and historical landmarks such as the Fountain of Justice, which dates back to 1543 and witnessed events such as the coronation of the emperor. Something very peculiar is that as the tour progresses you will start to see a mixture of old and modern buildings, an indication that you are moving through the Neue Altstadt or the New Altstadt.

It is a popular area for tasting Apfelwein which is a typical apple wine from Frankfurt, I warn you that it is often confused with cider, but it has a different flavour and ingredients.

A good alternative to enjoy this tour is to book a guided tour of Frankfurt am Main This way, you can learn more about the history and curiosities of the city, as well as the only building that survived the Second World War, a 15th century monastery, and the Jewish Holocaust Memorial Wall.

Interesting details

• Price: some monuments require entrance fees, but you can walk around the area on your own. Guided tours start from €28 per person.
• How to get there: the city has an extensive public transport network to make your visit easier, such as the Frankfurt tram.

Frankfurt is a huge city and you'll want to make the most of your time. The open-top sightseeing bus offers around 13 stops covering the main local attractions. You can hop on and off wherever you like and enjoy a scenic tour on board. You can also stay on the lower deck for the whole tour (which lasts 90 minutes) and take advantage of the air-conditioned air, or sit on the upper deck and feel the breeze, the local scents and absorb every detail.

In addition, the informative commentary will help you understand the history of the city. As you enter the historic centre you will be greeted by the hustle and bustle and see such wonders as the Frankfurt Opera House, St Paul's Church, the Palm Garden and the Sachsenhausen quarter up close. There is usually a 24-hour ticket on offer and for the size of the city I reckon you'll have plenty of time to get to know it thoroughly.

. Consider that buses usually run every 30 minutes or so. Also, although you can buy your ticket at the last minute, it is more convenient to book the Frankfurt sightseeing bus in advance.

Interesting details

• Price: from €21 per person.

When night falls, Frankfurt is transformed into lively streets where cocktails are the order of the day. Alt-Sachsenhausen is home to most of the Apfelweinwirtschaften bars, whose speciality is apfelwein, or German apple wine. You can't leave without trying it because it has a low alcohol content and is very cheap.

It is served in a Schoppen, which are large, special jugs for sharing this liqueur. Moreover, there is a whole ritual around it because Germans usually raise their glass and shout Prost! Then you should drink it slowly to feel the fermented combination and, if you like acidic and refreshing flavours, you will enjoy this wine. Otherwise, you can lower its intensity by adding a little sparkling water.

In general, the festive and multicultural atmosphere of this district is characterised by live music and a contagious energy that makes you feel part of the city. You'll also love the diversity of nightlife, ranging from cosy and quaint bars to clubs with live DJs.

Some tourists' secret is to book a pub crawl around Frankfurt to take advantage of free shots and glasses of craft beer at various trendy bars. They usually pass through the Alt-Sachsenhausen district and are a great way to explore the nightlife. If you're up for it, you can meet tourists from all over the world and dance the night away.

Interesting details

• Price: You can book a guided pub crawl in Frankfurt from €25 per person.

The Goethe House is another unmissable stop in Frankfurt, at least if you want to explore the life of German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. As you enter, you'll find the walls decorated with old portraits and countless objects that transport you back to the years of his life.

You don't have to be a fan of his stories to enjoy the atmosphere, as the exhibition is designed so that everyone can get to know the author and understand the artistic development of the time. In fact, it's a gateway to Frankfurt in the 18th century, showing you how noble families lived and the impact of Romanticism.

From the outside it is also impressive and I would take advantage of the museum's location to visit other highlights such as Frankfurt Cathedral, the Städel Museum, the MesseTurm Tower, the kinetic sculpture Hammering Man and the historic Römerberg Square which are also regular stops when booking a bike tour of Frankfurt.

Interesting details

• Price: from €7 per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00-18:00 (Thursdays open until 21:00), Sundays 10:00-17:30.
• How to get there: easy to get to by metro.

When it comes to gastronomy, a Frankfurter Rippchen is a must. This dish is a speciality of the city, with slow-cooked pork chops on a bed of sauerkraut.

A good Frankfurter Rippchen is served hot and the meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth. The meat is so soft that it melts in the mouth and has a particular blend of fresh and sour flavours. It is also often served with mashed potatoes and mustard. Not to be confused with Kasseler, another German version of the cutlet, which is smoked.

On the streets of Frankfurt, the aroma of food draws you in, so don't be surprised if you end up sitting in its restaurants, even when you feel you can't eat any more. Of course, you can also try other German dishes, and take the opportunity to continue drinking apple wine.

Interesting details

• Price: A plate of Frankfurter Rippchen can range from 15 to 25 €, depending on the garnishes and the place chosen. If you prefer to join a gastronomic tour, you can get options from €68.

If you find the old Altstadt area interesting, you'll probably like the TimeRide exhibition. It's like a time machine that sends you back in time to different contexts of Frankfurt's history. For 45 minutes you will enjoy a multi-sensory virtual reality experience and see vintage carriages, traditional costumes and the re-enactment of historical events such as the first National Assembly.

In this adventure time seems to fade away, suddenly you are on the streets of 19th century Frankfurt and then you can see citizens celebrating the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

But it's not just about the good times, you also have to be prepared to see difficult moments of the Second World War, such as attacks and bombings. Booking online is often cheaper and buying tickets for TimeRide Frankfurt gives you access to the exhibition as well as the rest of the museum.

Interesting details

• Price: from €20 per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00.
• How to get there: You can take the U4 or U5 underground line to Dom station or Römer station.

If you'd like to see Frankfurt from above, then you can take advantage of a visit to the Main Tower. It's a 200-metre high observation deck that allows you to see the city and part of the Main River. The combination of medieval streets and skyscrapers reflects how the past and the present coexist in a surprising way.

From here you can sense the vibrant energy of the financial district. It's known as Mainhattan, a play on words alluding to the River Main and the mighty New York. Far from cobblestone houses, this area is all about skyscrapers towering over people.

In addition, you can find some of the main tourist attractions that show why Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany. Not to be missed:

• The main headquarters of the European Central Bank.
• The Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
• The twin towers of Deutsche Bank.
• The Commerzbank Tower, the tallest tower in Germany.

Interesting details

• Price: Climbing the Main Tower costs approximately €9 per person, with discounts for children, families and groups. Please note that when the weather affects visibility, a reduced entrance fee of €4 is offered.
• Opening hours: The Main Tower is open Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00. Please note that opening times may change according to the season.

From the Main River the skyscrapers glitter and you can get a better view of Frankfurt's famous Museum Bank, which is made up of 26 museums. It's an ideal experience to sip a craft beer and relax as an informative audio guide tells you about the history of the city.

Depending on the experience you choose, you'll be treated to a mix of culture, gastronomy and history on board, and you might even be surprised by a music show. Don't miss the Main Tower from another perspective and get a glimpse of the financial district, but away from the hustle and bustle.

There are countless legends surrounding this river, but it was mostly used as a military point and it is believed that Charlemagne sailed its waters during one of his battles.

Details of interest

• Price: boat experiences are available from €15 per person.

If you're looking for a quieter but still iconic place to visit, make the most of a visit to Frankfurt's Jewish cemetery, a solemn space steeped in history. Most of the gravestones have inscriptions in German and Hebrew, and it's remarkable that they remain intact despite the bombings of World War II.

Of course, it has a deep connection to the Nazi era, as many Frankfurt Jews were persecuted, deported and killed in concentration camps. In addition, you can visit the Judengasse Museum which documents the entire Jewish history and is located inside the cemetery.

If you want to enjoy Frankfurt outdoors from a quieter perspective, I invite you to relax in Palmengarten Frankfurt or the Palm Garden. It's ideal for meandering along paths decorated with plants from all over the world, taking in the scents and colours of the Rose Garden and the Palmenhaus Orangery or gazing at the scenery in front of the Great Pond.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission to the cemetery is free, but the museum costs around €6 per person. For the Palm Garden you can get passes from €7.
• Opening hours: The cemetery is open 24 hours a day, but I suggest you visit it during the day to appreciate all the details and visit the museum, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (although this may vary depending on the season). The garden can be visited every day from 10am, although closing times vary.
• How to get there: these places are connected by public transport, but are located in different parts of the city. The cemetery and museum are located in Rat-Beil-Straße and the garden in Siesmayerstraße 61.

Frankfurt am Main's surroundings are spectacular and you have a wide range of options: charming villages, ancient castles and fortresses, spa resorts and small border towns - I'll tell you everything you need to know!

Excursion to Heidelberg

Booking an excursion to Heidelberg takes you within an hour of Frankfurt to lose yourself in its imposing castle and see the vine-covered mountains. Depending on which itinerary you opt for, you may even see the Great Barrel which was used to store thousands of litres of wine. All in all, it's a small medieval town with surprising secrets such as the German Pharmacy Museum, which houses pharmaceuticals from centuries past.

Excursion to the Black Forest, Baden Baden and Strasbourg

If I were you I wouldn't miss the opportunity to book a trip to the Black Forest, Baden Baden and Strasbourg. Away from the local hustle and bustle an adventure awaits you where you can make the most of it:

• The vibrant atmosphere of the Black Forest. This mountain town is famous for its country houses, smoked ham production, canoeing and craft beers.
• The thermal baths and the spa and casino complex in Baden-Baden, a spa town near the Black Forest.
• A train ride through the historic centre of Strasbourg, a French city with Germany in its veins, as they share a border.

Excursion to Rothenburg

It's crazy to be so close and not book a trip to Rothenburg. It's a city with a romantic feel, perfect for unwinding. Walk along the city walls, through narrow streets and take time to see medieval armour.