Frankfurt Hidden Gems: The Best Tips from a Local

Tips and Info for a Trip to Frankfurt

Before we get to our interview, here’s the most important information you need before traveling to Frankfurt.

Location

Frankfurt is located in southwestern Germany in the state of Hessen — and it’s the largest city in the state.

Within under an hour by car, you can reach the state capitals of Hessen and Rhineland-Palatinate: Wiesbaden and Mainz in Rheinhessen.

In nearly every direction, cities well worth a visit are within easy reach. In under 1.5 hours, you can get to Koblenz to the west, Heidelberg to the south, and Würzburg to the east.

Our Hotel Recommendations

Here are our hotel picks in Frankfurt for every budget:

Interview with a Local: The Best Insider Tips for Frankfurt

Our Expert

My name is Yvonne and I’m a Frankfurt native.

I grew up in a suburb, then moved to Mannheim, Freiburg, and Sweden for my studies, before returning home to Frankfurt for two years after my round-the-world trip in 2018.

I’m a travel blogger, author, and photographer.

On my blog Lovelyforliving, I’ve been sharing tons of tips for backpacking trips, long-term travel, and independent adventures since 2010.

You’ll also find great advice for solo travelers, more sustainable travel, and outdoor adventures! For more, follow me on Instagram, on Pinterest, or stop by my blog.

Frankfurt in Three Words

Diverse, open, honest.

Why Go There?

Frankfurt has so much more to offer than its reputation suggests and has become a city with a seriously high quality of life.

There are plenty of cozy bars, traditional Hessian apple wine taverns, family-run restaurants, a lively arts scene, lots of neighborhoods to explore, and a great selection of cafés serving food from all over the world.

What Makes Frankfurt Unique

Frankfurt has an impressive skyline unlike anything else in Germany.

If you arrive by train, you’ll catch a glimpse of it right away. Otherwise, I’d recommend a boat tour in Frankfurt, a walk along the Main to the Eiserner Steg, or the hop-on/hop-off bus in Frankfurt.

Watching the sunset with that skyline as a backdrop is really something special. You can do it relaxed from the Main riverbank or from the bar Oosten at the Osthafen.

Things to Do in Frankfurt

Must-Sees

Frankfurt was completely rebuilt after the war, but that makes the historic areas that survived all the more special.

A walk to the Römerberg, through the old town and the new old town all the way to the cathedral is absolutely worth your time.

You also need to see the skyline from the Eiserner Steg and stroll past the Alte Oper.

Our tip: A private walking tour with a local

When It Rains

Frankfurt has a huge number of museums covering all kinds of topics — perfect for a rainy afternoon.

Well worth visiting are the Schirn Kunsthalle, the Museum für Kommunikation, and the Museum für Moderne Kunst.

And since Frankfurt is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s birthplace, a visit to the Goethe House is really not to be missed.

For something more hands-on, you can tackle a mission in one of Frankfurt’s escape rooms or catch a show at the Alte Oper, the Schauspielhaus, or the English Theatre.

With Kids

With kids in tow on a sunny day, head to the skatepark at the Osthafen for swings and skating, or spend the afternoon at the Palmengarten.

When the weather turns, there’s black-light mini golf, swimming at the Rebstockbad, or a trip to the Senckenberg Natural History Museum.

One place we’d really recommend for families is the Dialogue Museum, where blind and visually impaired guides lead groups through a pitch-dark obstacle course — a genuinely eye-opening experience that sharpens all your other senses.

In winter, there’s also an ice rink for skating.

Best Day Trip Destination

Frankfurt is surrounded by great natural areas that make for a perfect day out. Top of the list: a hike in the Taunus.

Whether it’s a loop trail to Königstein, a walk through the forest, or a hike up the Feldberg — the nature and the views are stunning.

There are also great cycling routes for a longer ride. A trip along the Main to Seligenstadt, Eltville, or all the way to the wine route at Rüdesheim or Nierstein is absolutely worth it.

For Relaxation

On a nice day, the Palmengarten is a great place to unwind — its green spaces, greenhouses, and lovely views of Frankfurt are really inviting.

You can also spread out a blanket right by the water near the Maincafé with views of the skyline, ride a bike along the Grüngürtel, relax at Lilu by the water, or take a side trip to the Schwanheimer Düne nature reserve.

Best Viewpoint

For a magnificent panorama over Frankfurt, head up the MainTower — it stands nearly 200 meters tall and the views are seriously impressive.

Or get a great vantage point for free from the top floor of the Myzeil shopping center, right in the heart of the city on the Zeil.

Personally, my favorite overlook in Frankfurt — offering a beautiful view across the entire city — is from the Frankfurt Cathedral.

Best Photo Spot

A really cool spot for photography is the Klassikstadt in Fechenheim. By S-Bahn, you’ll reach Hanauer Landstraße in about 15 minutes, then it’s a short ten-minute walk to the Klassikstadt.

You’ll find not only a great backdrop for photos, but you can also check out the vintage car museum while you’re there.

If you’d rather stay central, the Goethe University campus in the Westend is another great option for some striking shots.

For sunset photography with the skyline in frame, the Osthafen or the Lohrberg are your best bets.

Craziest Activity

In summer, you can ride the Äppler-Bike with eight to sixteen people and a (sober!) tour guide through Frankfurt. It’s super popular with groups and bachelor/bachelorette parties, so book well in advance — there’s only one of these bikes in all of Frankfurt!

Alternatively, the Ebbelwei-Express sightseeing tour is a fun way to see the city while regional specialties are served on board.

Our tip: Book a sightseeing boat tour of Frankfurt

Best Event of the Year

Probably the best and most-loved festival in Frankfurt is the annual Museumsuferfest, held on the last weekend of August. Over three days, along the northern and southern banks of the Main, you’ll find food from around the world, countless stages with music for every taste, and you can visit the museums along the Museumsufer late into the night.

Best Museums

For photography and film lovers, a visit to the German Film Museum — housed in a historic villa on the Museumsufer — is definitely worthwhile, as is a guided tour at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt (FFF) on Braubachstraße. The Städel Museum, which spans contemporary, classical, and modern art, is also highly recommended.

Favorite Neighborhood

Lots of people love the Sachsenhausen neighborhood. But personally, my favorite is Bornheim — or Bernem, as locals call it — and the adjoining Berger Straße. It sometimes feels like a small village there, and in summer, like a little escape on vacation.

You can walk from the upper to the lower Berger Straße all the way into the city center. In Bornheim Mitte there’s a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and along Berger Straße you’ll find traditional Ebbelwei taverns (apple wine pubs), a variety of small restaurants and cafés, and plenty of shops to browse.

Food and Drink in Frankfurt

Local Specialty

Anyone visiting Frankfurt has to try these: local apple wine (straight, mixed sweet with lemonade, or mixed sour with sparkling water), Mispelchen (apple brandy Calvados with a pickled medlar), and of course Grüne Soße — a cold sauce made from seven different herbs in a yogurt base.

Favorite Restaurants

One of my favorite spots is Vevay — a vegan restaurant in the city center. I’d go for the ravioli and the daily-changing vegan cake. The vegan coconut-based crème brûlée is also seriously good!

A coworker tipped me off about the Italian restaurant Pasta Davini. Book ahead — it’s almost always packed. They use fresh seasonal ingredients, the menu changes regularly, and the atmosphere is super cozy. I had bruschetta to start and homemade gnocchi for mains — absolutely blown away.

And when you’re in Frankfurt, you really can’t skip an apple wine tavern. I’d recommend Apfelwein Solzer in Bornheim or Ebbelwoi Unser in Sachsenhausen. Order the Grüne Soße and the apple wine served in a Bembel (a traditional clay jug).

Best Burgers

Frankfurt has no shortage of great burger joints: you’ll find excellent ones at Bully’s Burger, Die Kuh, die lacht, or Traumkuh. Nearly all of them offer solid vegetarian and vegan options too.

Best Ice Cream

Many people swear by Eis Christina in the Nordend — though in summer on a sunny day, expect a queue.

For me, the best ice cream in the city is at Mint on Berger Straße (the mango coconut flavor is a must). Yvonne has also written up a full guide to Frankfurt’s ice cream scene on her blog.

Best Breakfast

Frankfurt has a seriously impressive café scene for breakfast and brunch.

My personal favorite for a weekend morning or an afternoon coffee is the Glauburg Café on Glauburgstraße.

The owners and staff are warm and attentive even on the busiest days. They serve Frankfurt’s Wacker’s coffee, a generous brunch buffet, and in good weather there’s outdoor seating. Reserve ahead!

Going Out at Night?

Every Friday evening from 5 PM, an after-work party kicks off at Friedberger Markt.

Grab drinks from the kiosk around the corner or wine from a stand and meet new people. Things wind down around 10 PM.

After that, AMP is a great option — an alternative bar at Willy-Brandt-Platz with great DJs and a large outdoor area.

For dancing, I’d recommend Pracht in the Bahnhofsviertel for excellent electronic music, or Silbergold. Drinks are a bit pricier, but there’s no cover charge. For mainstream music, Legends, Gibson, or Berliner Keller are your best bets.

Where to Stay in Frankfurt

Our Hotel Recommendations

I’d recommend the Scandic Hotel on the Museumsufer. You’re a quick trip from the train station but in a much nicer area — very close to the center and less than five minutes from the Main.

The Motel One is also a great pick, with its stylish and cozy vibe right next to the Römer. It’s perfectly placed for exploring the city on foot.

Time to discover Frankfurt!