5 Places to Visit in Frankfurt

Looking for places to visit in Frankfurt?

Most people know it as Germany’s big financial center, but there’s so much more to it than that.

It is true that this city is popular for those impressive skyscrapers in the banking district (which is also known as “Mainhattan”). But what really makes Frankfurt special is how it mixes old-world charm with modern city life.

In Frankfurt, you’ll find its incredible culture, art, and about this warm German hospitality that everyone talks about.

Therefore, in this guide, we will be sharing with you the most famous tourist attraction spots that you can find in Frankfurt.

So, if you are a traveller or someone who is interested to know about the beauty of Frankfurt, this post is for you.

Römerberg: Step Back in Time

Right in the middle of Frankfurt’s Old Town (Altstadt), you’ll find the Römerberg market square.

This square has been the center of city life since the 1200s, and it’s where you’ll see the famous Römer.

Operations of this city hall have been running things for more than 600 years.

What’s interesting is that everyone wants to take pictures of its unique three-peaked front with all that beautiful Gothic architecture.

Around the square, you’ll see some beautiful timber-framed houses that were carefully rebuilt after World War II to look just like they did in old times.

If you are a photogenic, you must come early in the morning or during the sunset as the sunlight makes everything look amazing.

And if you’re here during Christmas, you’re in for a special experience.

The whole square turns into a magical Christmas market. And you can smell mulled wine and roasted chestnuts everywhere that you go.

Here’s a local secret: Take a short walk to Café Hauptwache and try their traditional Frankfurt apple wine and green sauce. It’s absolutely worth trying.

Main Tower: Frankfurt’s Best View

The Main Tower has a height of 200 meters and gives you the most best views of Frankfurt.

It’s actually the only skyscraper in the city where you can go up to an observation deck. And from up there, you can even see the Taunus mountains in the distance other than the whole city.

The tower, with its blue-glass exterior, has been part of the skyline since 1999.

The observation deck is 198 meters up, and the best time to visit is during the sunset.

That’s when you’ll see the city lights coming on and long shadows stretching across Frankfurt.

However, if you are on a date or with your partner. There’s a restaurant on the 53rd floor that serves modern versions of German dishes. 

Museumsufer: Culture Along the River

It’s basically a whole street of museums along the Main River.

There are 13 museums that you can walk between, and each one shows you something different about art, history, and the culture.

The Städel Museum is the most popular among others, with art from the past 700 years, from really old medieval paintings to modern art aspects.

On every August, you can see a huge cultural festival called Museumsuferfest.

During the festival, the whole riverbank comes alive with performances, food stands, and special exhibits.

In addition to that, if you want to explore this area. Start at the Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg), walk past the German Film Museum, where you can learn all about movie history, and check out the Icon Museum. Which has some amazing collections of Eastern Christian art.

Here’s a money-saving tip: Get the MuseumsuferCard. It lets you visit all the city museums for a whole year. And it costs about the same as visiting just a few museums separately. 

Goethe House: Literary Legacy

This is where Germany’s most famous writer, who goes by the name Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, was born and grew up.

They’ve restored the five-story house to look exactly like it did in the 1700s.

The most coolest part in here is that you can see the actual study where Goethe wrote his early work, including with his original desk and books.

Once you are there, you can take tours in different languages to learn about Goethe’s family life and how growing up in Frankfurt influenced his writing.

Next door, there’s the Goethe Museum, which has changing exhibits about the writer and his time period.

So if you’re really into literature, you should also check out Goethe University nearby and the Literary House. Where they often have readings and cultural events.

Kleinmarkthalle: Culinary Paradise

Kleinmarkthalle is where you can find and taste the most unique and famous dishes and sweets.

This modern building was built in 1954 that has over 150 food vendors, and it’s been feeding locals since 1879 (although they had to rebuild it after the war).

In here, you’ll find everything from local specialities to international food that will hold your soul.

Here’s something for you, if you are a foodie, try their famous Frankfurt sausages (Frankfurter Würstchen), the marinated cheese (Handkäs mit Musik), and some traditional apple wine at the wine bar upstairs.

This is something that you can only try in Kleinmarkthalle.

Note: Come around mid-morning on weekdays when it’s busy but not too crowded. Don’t be shy when it comes to trying samples – even if you don’t speak German, the vendors are usually happy to tell you all about their food.

Practical Tips

The best times to visit Frankfurt are during the spring (April-May) or early autumn (September-October).

The weather’s nice then, and you won’t have to deal with too many tourists.

If you are thinking about the budget, get yourself a Frankfurt Card—it covers all your public transportation and gives you discounts at museums, which is useful if you’re planning to see a lot.

Getting around is really easy as well.

Their public transportation system is great – the U-Bahn and S-Bahn can take you to all these places, and in the city center, you can walk between most sites.

Conclusion

These five spots will give you the real experience that you can get in Frankfurt.

You could visit them separately, but here’s a perfect way to see them all in one day: 

Start at Römerberg in the morning, see the Goethe House before lunch, spend your afternoon by exploring the Museumsufer, grab some food at Kleinmarkthalle, and finish your day by watching the sunset from the Main Tower.

Remember that spring and autumn are great times to visit, and make sure to explore the neighbourhoods between these spots.

This is because, sometimes, the places you discover by accident become your favourite memories of the trip.

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