10 Things to Do in Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main, also known as Frankfurt, is one of those cities that you must visit at least once in your life. It combines modern buildings with medieval streets and is one of Germany's best-kept secrets. There are a variety of unmissable activities awaiting you there, such as a stroll through the oldest part of the city or a visit to Mainhattan, the financial district.

This city also seduces the palate with its cuisine. In particular, you should try a Frankfurter Rippchen accompanied by 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 discover its fascinating history and culture. In this guide, I'll tell you what you can't miss.

When I think of Frankfurt am Main, the first thing that comes to mind is its medieval streets. Most of them are located in the old town of Altstadt, where 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 preserve 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 begin to see a mixture of old and modern buildings, an indication that you are moving through Neue Altstadt or New Altstadt.

This is a popular area for tasting Apfelwein, a typical Frankfurt apple wine. I should 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 World War II, a 15th-century monastery, and the Jewish Holocaust Memorial Wall.

Details of interest

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

Frankfurt is a huge city, so it's best to make the most of your time there. 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 entire tour (which lasts 90 minutes) and enjoy the air conditioning, or sit on the upper deck and feel the breeze, take in the local aromas and soak up 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 wonders such as the Frankfurt Opera House, St. Paul's Church, the Palm Garden and the Sachsenhausen district up close. A 24-hour ticket is usually offered, and given the size of the city, I think you'll have enough time to get to know it thoroughly.

Keep in mind that buses usually run approximately every 30 minutes. Also, although you can buy your ticket at the last minute, it's more convenient to book the Frankfurt tourist bus in advance.

Useful information

• Price: from €21 per person.

When night falls, Frankfurt transforms into lively streets where cocktails take centre stage. Alt-Sachsenhausen is home to most of the Apfelweinwirtschaften bars, which specialise in 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 jugs specially designed for sharing this drink. There is also a whole ritual surrounding it, as Germans usually raise their glasses and shout Prost! (Cheers!). You should then drink it slowly to appreciate the fermented combination, and if you like tart and refreshing flavours, you will enjoy this wine. Otherwise, you can tone down its intensity by adding a little sparkling water.

In general, the festive and multicultural atmosphere of this district is characterised by live music and contagious energy that makes you feel part of the city. You will also like its diversity of nightlife venues, ranging from cosy and picturesque bars to nightclubs with live DJs.

Some tourists' secret is to book a pub crawl in Frankfurt to take advantage of free shots and glasses of craft beer in several 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 spend the night dancing.

Interesting details

• Price: you can book a guided tour of Frankfurt's pubs from £25 per person.

Goethe's house is another must-see in Frankfurt, at least if you want to explore the life of German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Upon entering, you will find the walls decorated with old portraits and countless objects that transport you back to his lifetime.

You don't have to be a fan of his stories to enjoy the atmosphere, as the exhibition is designed to give everyone an insight into the author and the artistic development of the period. In fact, it is a gateway to 18th-century Frankfurt, showing you how noble families lived and the impact of Romanticism.

It is also impressive from the outside, and you can take advantage of the museum's location to visit other highlights such as Frankfurt Cathedral, the Städel Museum, the MesseTurm Tower, the Hammering Man kinetic sculpture 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 from 11:00 to 18:00 (open until 21:00 on Thursdays), Sundays from 10:00 to 17:30.
• How to get there: easy to reach by underground.

When it comes to gastronomy, the most important thing is to try a Frankfurter Rippchen. This dish is a city speciality that delights you with pork chops cooked over a low heat and served on a bed of sauerkraut.

A good Frankfurter Rippchen is served hot and its meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth. It also has a unique blend of flavours ranging from fresh to tangy. It is usually accompanied by mashed potatoes and mustard. It should not be confused with Kasseler, another German version of the chop that is smoked.

The aroma of food draws you in on the streets of Frankfurt, so don't be surprised if you end up sitting in one of its restaurants, even when you feel you can't eat any more. Of course, you can 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 side dishes and the restaurant you choose. If you prefer to sign up for a gastronomic tour, you can find options starting at €68.

If you find the old town (Altstadt) interesting, you'll probably like the TimeRide exhibition. It's like a time machine that sends you to different periods in Frankfurt's history. For 45 minutes, you'll enjoy a multi-sensory virtual reality experience and see period carriages, traditional costumes and recreations of historical events such as the first National Assembly.

In this adventure, time seems to vanish. Suddenly, you are in 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 from the Second World War, such as attacks and bombings. I should mention that booking online is usually cheaper, and purchasing tickets for TimeRide Frankfurt gives you access to the exhibition as well as the rest of the museum.

Details of interest

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

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

From here you can feel the vibrant energy of the financial district. It is known as Mainhattan, a play on words referring to the River Main and the imposing New York. Far from the cobbled houses, in this area everything boils down to skyscrapers towering over people.

In addition, you can find some of the main tourist attractions that demonstrate why Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany. Don't miss:

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

Interesting details

• Price: admission to the Main Tower costs approximately €9 per person, with discounts for children, families and groups. Please note that when visibility is affected by weather conditions, admission is reduced to €4.
• 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 hours may vary depending on the season.

From the Main River, the skyscrapers sparkle and you can get a better view of Frankfurt's famous Museum Embankment, which is made up of 26 museums. It's an ideal experience to enjoy 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 can enjoy 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 a different perspective and take a look at the financial district, but far from the hustle and bustle.

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

Details of interest

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

If you are looking for quieter but still iconic places, you can visit the Jewish cemetery in Frankfurt, a solemn place steeped in history. Most of the gravestones have inscriptions in German and Hebrew, and it is surprising that they remain intact despite the bombings of World War II.

Of course, it has a deep connection to the Nazi era, as many Jews from Frankfurt were persecuted, deported and murdered in concentration camps. You can also visit the Judengasse Museum, which documents the entire Jewish history and is located within the cemetery.

If you want to enjoy Frankfurt outdoors from a more peaceful perspective, I invite you to relax in Palmengarten Frankfurt or the Palm Garden. It is ideal for meandering along its paths decorated with plants from all over the world, delighting in the scents and colours of the Rose Garden and the Palmenhaus greenhouse, or contemplating the landscape in front of the Great Pond.

Details of interest

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

The surroundings of Frankfurt am Main are spectacular and offer a wide range of options: charming villages, ancient castles and fortresses, spas and small border towns. I'll tell you everything you need to know!

Excursion to Heidelberg

Booking an excursion to Heidelberg takes you an hour from Frankfurt to lose yourself in its imposing castle and see the mountains covered with vineyards. Depending on the itinerary you choose, you may see the Great Barrel that was used to store thousands of litres of wine. Overall, it is a small medieval town with surprising secrets such as the German Pharmacy Museum, where you can find pharmaceutical products from centuries ago.

Excursion to the Black Forest, Baden Baden and Strasbourg

If I were you, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to book an excursion to the Black Forest, Baden Baden and Strasbourg. Far from the local hustle and bustle, an adventure awaits you where you can enjoy:

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

Excursion to Rothenburg

It would be crazy to be so close and not book an excursion to Rothenburg. It is a city with a romantic atmosphere, perfect for unwinding. You can walk among its walls and narrow streets and take time to see armour from the Middle Ages.