Things to Do in Frankfurt: Our Top 22 Attractions

All Frankfurt Highlights on One Map

For a first orientation, we’ve marked the most important things to do in Frankfurt on a map. This lets you see at a glance where each attraction is located.

You can also easily download the map and view it offline.

Landmarks and Icons

Eiserner Steg

The Eiserner Steg connects the Sachsenhausen neighborhood with the Old Town. From the bridge you get a fantastic view of the Main River, the late 19th-century buildings, and the financial district with its massive skyscrapers rising up behind them.

Frankfurt is also called Mainhattan — and when you stand on this pedestrian bridge, you immediately get why. Frankfurt’s skyline will make you do a double take, wondering whether you’ve somehow landed in New York and are gazing at Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Römer

Frankfurt’s city hall is called the Römer. It sits on the Römerberg square and has become the landmark of Frankfurt largely thanks to its charming, picture-perfect appearance.

The building’s facade is decorated down to the smallest detail. With the half-timbered houses lining the square alongside the Römer, the whole scene looks seriously stunning. It’s also a great spot to take a little break at one of the many restaurants.

Inside the Römer you can visit the magnificent Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall) free of charge. It’s worth checking in advance, though, whether the hall might be closed for a private event.

Our Tip: Just a few steps from the Römer, stop in at the Japanese bakery IIMORI. It serves not only sweet Japanese and French treats, but also savory noodle dishes, ramen, and sushi — delicious!

Kaiserdom

Peeking out from behind the half-timbered houses is the pointed tower of the Kaiserdom. This Frankfurt landmark was once the election and coronation church of the Holy Roman Emperors.

From the outside, the Kaiserdom is an imposing Gothic cathedral. The interior is no less impressive, with red brick elements and tall windows that flood the space with light.

From Friday through Sunday, you can join a public guided tour of the Cathedral Museum at 3 PM. The tour takes you through the medieval high choir and the 15th-century wall paintings.

A visit to the Kaiserdom is especially worthwhile because you can climb the 95-meter-tall church tower. At the top, you’ll enjoy a fantastic panorama over Frankfurt’s historic center. At just 3 euros, this view is a real bargain!

Note: Don’t expect a large observation deck — it’s a narrow walkway around the tower. If you’re afraid of heights, this could be a problem.

Main Tower

The striking silhouette of the Main Tower is visible from far away, so this Frankfurt attraction is hard to miss. It’s one of the absolute highlights of any visit.

You can reach Frankfurt’s highest observation point for 9 euros. In summer, the Main Tower stays open until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, making it the perfect spot for a view of the illuminated city — a seriously great photo opportunity.

At 187 meters up, on the 53rd floor, you’ll find the Main Tower Restaurant if you’d like to dine while taking in the impressive vista. Prices are on the higher side, with dishes like Wagyu beef and veal sweetbreads on the menu.

Alte Oper

The Old Frankfurt Opera House is a genuinely spectacular sight.

But it’s not just classical music performed here — Broadway musicals are staged regularly as well.

The 19th-century building was complemented after the war by an extremely modern structure near the main train station, as the reconstruction of the Alte Oper wasn’t completed until 1981.

All around it you’ll find several parks and green spaces, such as the beautifully landscaped Taunusanlage — perfect for a stroll.

Winx Tower

The 110-meter-tall tower in the banking district turns heads with its 11-meter-high glass lobby and a wide range of dining options.

Our favorite is the White Rabbit. It’s not just a pretty cool bar — it also doubles as a stylish breakfast spot and is perfect for lunch with a view over the Frankfurt skyline.

Paulskirche

No sightseeing trip to Frankfurt is complete without the Paulskirche. Even from the outside it stands out with its distinctive round design.

The Paulskirche is an exhibition, memorial, and assembly venue and a symbol of democracy. Between 1848 and 1849, it served as the meeting place for the first German national parliament.

You can visit the church daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. The digital exhibition in the rotunda is free of charge and tells the story of the building’s remarkable history.

Frankfurter Börse

Securities have been traded at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange for nearly five centuries. It is the largest of Germany’s trading venues and is housed in an imposing mustard-yellow building.

Much like on New York’s Wall Street, you’ll find the figures of the bull and the bear in front of the building. The proud bull represents the upswing in the market, while the crouching bear symbolizes the downward trend in stock prices.

Our Tip: Not far from the two animal figures is the burger restaurant Die Kuh die lacht. Here you’ll find endless options to build your own custom burger — with plenty of vegan choices, too. The zucchini burger is outstanding!

Johannes-Gutenberg-Denkmal

Against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers, the Roßmarkt square is home to a beautiful monument honoring the inventor of the printing press.

It’s not just Johannes Gutenberg and the printers and publishers Johannes Fust and Peter Schöffer depicted here. As you walk around this Frankfurt landmark, you’ll discover four animal heads representing the continents and four allegorical figures standing for science, industry, poetry, and theology.

ASTOR Filmlounge

Film fans will be in heaven here: at the ASTOR Filmlounge, you can kick back in reclining seats with plenty of elbow room and watch not only blockbusters but also broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House.

And there’s table service with delicious snacks and drinks delivered right to your seat.

The ASTOR Filmlounge is located on the top floor of the MyZeil shopping center in downtown Frankfurt.

The Best Museums

MuseumsuferTicket – 39 Museums, 2 Days, 21 Euros

The MuseumsuferTicket opens up the full diversity of Frankfurt’s art and cultural scene. 39 museums are waiting for you to explore over two days.

Whether it’s the international contemporary art at the SCHIRN, the collections of the MMK, the Icon Museum, or hidden treasures at the Klingspor Museum — everywhere you go, you’ll encounter images, objects, and stories that move and inspire.

Imagine strolling from exhibition to exhibition. One moment you’re immersed in the present, the next you’re tracing the past — between pop and poetry, inspiration and wonder.

For a weekend, a short break, or a spontaneous day of discovery: the MuseumsuferTicket turns Frankfurt into an open stage for art lovers.

Book the MuseumsuferTicket online

Schirn Kunsthalle

The Schirn Kunsthalle is absolutely worth your time in Frankfurt. Even just the domed ceiling inside is incredibly beautiful — and then there’s the art itself! The Schirn presents art and cultural history themes across a variety of rotating exhibitions.

Our Tip: Every Wednesday and Thursday evening is Date Night — two tickets for the price of one. Cute date idea!

Museum für Moderne Kunst

If you’re into modern art, don’t skip the MMK. The building’s architecture alone is one of a kind.

The niches, columns, and offset walls provide a perfect setting for the more than 5,000 artworks. You get an especially cool perspective from the upper floor when you look down into the rotunda!

With the combination ticket for 12 euros, you can also visit the exhibition at the Zollamt across the street. For 5 euros more, the third MMK location, the Tower, is included as well.

Our Tip: On the last Saturday of every month, the MMK takes part in SaTOURday. On that day, you can visit the museum free of charge. On top of free admission, there are also workshops and other special events — especially exciting for kids.

Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum

The very first German film was shot in Frankfurt — so there’s a good reason why the German Film Museum (DFF for short) is located right here.

At the DFF, you can check out interesting rotating exhibitions on special film topics for 6 euros, or take part in an extraordinary film night.

The permanent exhibition lets you dive deeper into the topics of image, sound, editing, and acting for 9 euros.

If you want to see both exhibition areas, you’ll pay just 12 euros.

Städel Museum

The Städel Museum is one of the most important art museums in Germany, so it simply can’t be left off this list.

From special exhibitions and Renaissance paintings to photography, over 6,000 square meters of space offers almost more than you can take in during a single visit. A ticket costs 10 euros.

The view from the opposite bank of the Main onto this Frankfurt landmark is also stunning — the Städel is a truly impressive building!

Frankfurter Goethe Haus

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in this stately house and lived here until 1775. It was here that the early drafts of the classics Faust and The Sorrows of Young Werther were later written.

The Goethe House was faithfully reconstructed after the war, including the beautiful stucco ceilings. During your visit, there’s unfortunately no audio guide available — just an overview sheet of the individual rooms to take with you.

However, your admission ticket also gets you into the Romanticism Museum next door, where you’ll find even more personal belongings of Goethe as well as items from his contemporaries such as Joseph von Eichendorff.

Neighborhoods and Beautiful Spots

Sachsenhausen

This neighborhood is where all the cool stuff converges: charming buildings house independent boutiques, traditional apple wine taverns, modern fusion restaurants, cool clubs, and cozy bars.

The whole vibe of the district is very relaxed and laid-back. The Museum Embankment is a particularly great place to unwind.

If you’d rather hop from bar to bar, you can also join a tour of the coolest pubs in Sachsenhausen.

Book the pub crawl through Sachsenhausen
Our Tip: Grab a seat inside or outside Café Mola, work your way through their great lemonade selection, and watch the buzz of activity in front of the Südbahnhof.

Gutleutviertel

The Gutleutviertel is totally up and coming and is giving Sachsenhausen a run for its money.

It’s also home to the Gutleuthafen, with its inland vessels, river cruise ships, hotel boats, and private motorboats.

A stroll along the harbor between the Flußkrebssteg and the Westhafenbrücke offers a wonderful view. The harbor is like a little canal right in the middle of the city!

Our Tip: Momi serves a divine breakfast right in the heart of the Gutleutviertel! The decor is vintage yet minimalist, and your breakfast comes with fresh and varied ingredients.

Kleinmarkthalle

The Kleinmarkthalle is a little gem in Frankfurt. Spread across two floors, you’ll find spices and gourmet foods from around the world. French truffles sit alongside Spanish tapas — all at their respective price points, of course.

The Hoos butcher shop sells Frankfurter Schnitzel with a Hessian specialty: green sauce. And take a look at the massive line that always forms at Wurst-Ilse. Here, naturally, only one thing is sold: sausage.

The Kleinmarkthalle is a Frankfurt see-and-be-seen scene. On weekends, people-watching starts in the morning with a glass of wine in hand — regional apple wine is the ideal choice.

The market hall is open Monday through Saturday.

Getting Out into Nature

Mainufer

Among the best things to do in Frankfurt, there are also some green spots where you can relax or get active. It’s especially lovely here during cherry blossom season in early April, when the trees along the bank burst into pink.

The Main riverbank is a favorite meeting spot for cyclists, joggers, and rollerbladers looking to get their daily dose of exercise.

If you’re not in the mood for sports, we recommend Main Nizza for a glass of white wine. To go with it, there’s steak, lamb, or the regional specialty Handkäse. There are also plenty of outdoor seats with a lovely view of the excursion boats. It’s best to reserve online in advance, though.

Our Tip: Look closely during your walk along the Main riverbank — you’ll spot old, disused rail tracks. A great photo backdrop among the tall trees!

Skyline Garden

This green oasis is located on the roof of the Frankfurt Plaza shopping center near the Frankfurt fairgrounds.

The 5th floor is green year-round. The rooftop planting has positive effects on the climate, filtering particulate matter from the air, for example.

The rooftop terrace is freely accessible and the perfect place to recharge your batteries. You get a great view over the city from up here. And for food and drinks, there’s a restaurant on-site as well.

Palmengarten

Frankfurt has several parks, but the Palmengarten is an absolute institution. For 150 years, visitors have been able to explore its vast grounds and soak up the flora and fauna.

The Palmengarten is also a great option for a vacation with kids. There are exhibitions where little ones can learn about butterflies and insects, plus playgrounds to burn off some energy.

You’ll walk through all the vegetation zones, from desert to rainforest, and can admire a total of 13,000 plant species. The butterfly house is an absolute spectacle, especially during Flatterzeit (starting in early March for about two months).

Across the expansive grounds there are also numerous restaurants with a wide variety of options.

A ticket to the Palmengarten costs 7 euros.

City Beach Frankfurt

Does lounging by the pool with a homemade iced tea sound like heaven? Then book yourself a spot at the City Beach! This urban beach is perched on the roof of a parking garage with a great view of the city buzz below.

From 5 PM onwards, admission to City Beach is 5 euros. Per table, a minimum spend of 20 euros per person applies (35 euros for a daybed).

Our Top 3 Activities in Frankfurt

Not in the mood to tick off museums and old buildings? No problem — there are plenty of cool things to do in Frankfurt waiting for you.

Visiting the Frankfurt Book Fair

The Frankfurt Book Fair isn’t just for bookworms! Everyone else will have a blast too, especially watching the parade of cosplayers — book fans dressed up as their favorite characters.

The Book Fair was founded in 1949 and takes place at the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. Up to 7,500 exhibitors come to Frankfurt during the fair to showcase the latest releases and trends in the world of books.

A day ticket without a discount costs 79 euros and you can book it directly on the official website.

Our Tip: Book your hotel early — it’s a must!

Celebrating at the Japanese Summer Festival Main Matsuri

Frankfurt is extremely international. In addition to Germany’s largest Korean community, the proportion of Japanese residents living here is also very large.

Every year, the Japanese community organizes the Japanese summer festival, known as Matsuri. Held along the Main River, the Main Matsuri in mid-August features street food, performances, and plenty of vendor stalls.

A day ticket costs 5 euros.

Catching an English-language show at the English Theatre

The English Theatre has been staging plays in English since 1979.

Comedies, thrillers, and musicals all find a home here. Outside the regular season, the stage also hosts readings and poetry slams. A really fun activity in Frankfurt for a relaxed evening out.

General Tips for Your City Trip to Frankfurt

Before you start packing your bags and heading to Frankfurt, we have a few more useful pointers for your visit to Frankfurt am Main.

If you want to dive even deeper into the city, we recommend the book Frankfurt Walking, full of quirky short stories set during a stroll through the city on the Main.

#1 Find a Centrally Located Hotel in Frankfurt

It makes the most sense to stay close to Frankfurt’s best attractions. We’ve picked out a few great hotels for every budget for you here.

The Blasky: Affordable accommodation with a superb location in Sachsenhausen. The hotel rooms are just as stylish as the rooftop bar, which offers a fabulous view of the Frankfurt skyline.

Scandic Frankfurt Museumsufer: An eco-conscious hotel in the city center. There’s a fully equipped fitness center, and every morning a breakfast buffet with gluten- and lactose-free options is laid out.

Steigenberger Hotel Metropolitan: Located in the historic part of Frankfurt. A magnificent building with designer rooms, a steam bath, and the option to book massages.

If you’re just making a brief stop in Frankfurt before flying on to your next destination, you can also stay right at Frankfurt Airport. We’ve written a dedicated article for that:

Our tips for staying overnight near Frankfurt Airport

#2 Get the Frankfurt Card

If you’re mainly planning to visit points of interest that aren’t necessarily within walking distance, the Frankfurt Card might be worth it for you: at 11.50 euros, it’s only 6 euros more than a standard day pass for public transit.

But with the Frankfurt Card, in addition to using public transportation, you also get up to 50% off attractions such as boat tours, museum admissions, and guided tours.

That said, it’s a math problem you’ll need to work out based on your individual travel plans. For example, the Main Tower only offers a 20% discount on admission, and the zoo’s discounts are similarly modest — so run the numbers before you buy.

Here’s where you can buy the Frankfurt Card
Our Tip: If you find yourself in Frankfurt frequently, the MuseumsuferCard might be worth it for you — it gives you access to 39 museums and exhibition venues. At 89 euros, you can visit as often as you like within a year.

#3 Getting Around Frankfurt

You can easily reach all of Frankfurt’s major attractions on foot. From the main train station, for example, you’re in the historic center in about fifteen minutes.

Public transportation in Frankfurt is a bit complex, so we recommend downloading the RMV app. Even then, it can happen that the app shows a different final stop than the screen on the platform. When in doubt, always check the network overview posted on the station board.

The price for a day pass is a very reasonable 5.50 euros, but it goes up to 10.90 euros if you need to travel to the airport.

#4 Join a Guided City Tour of Frankfurt

You can take a hop-on/hop-off bus tour through Frankfurt to quickly get your bearings around the city. We’re also big fans of unique tours for getting to know a city even better. These are our favorites among Frankfurt’s tours:

Tour #1: Panoramic Boat Trip on the Main

On this panoramic boat trip, offered in German and English, you’ll learn how Frankfurt became Germany’s financial capital — all while enjoying a wonderful view of the lively riverbank and the skyline.

Book the 1-hour panoramic boat trip on the Main

Tour #2: Sightseeing Tour by Hotrod

Through Getyourguide, you can have an experience you may have seen on TV, where people dressed as Mario and friends race through Tokyo in go-karts.

In Frankfurt, you can choose the same costumes from the Nintendo universe and take a joyride in hotrod vintage cars for one or two hours.

Book the 1- or 2-hour sightseeing tour by hotrod

Tour #3: Spooky Tour with the Executioner

Professional actors lead you through Frankfurt at night and tell you about the city’s creepy past and the profession of the executioner. You absolutely have to check this out — if you dare!

Book the spooky tour with the executioner