Frankfurt
THE QUICK VERDICT
Choose Frankfurt if You want Germany's most international, English-speaking, business-friendly city — a perfect first-time European stopover with a skyline, museums, and an apple-wine quarter..
- Best for
- Römerberg, Städel Museum, Sachsenhausen apple-wine taverns, Main Tower viewing deck, Goethe House
- Best months
- May–Sep · Dec
- Budget anchor
- $160/day mid-range
- Worth a look
- the Museumsufer riverbank packs 15 museums into a 20-minute walk — densest cluster in Germany
Germany's only true skyline city — home to the European Central Bank and a financial district nicknamed Mainhattan that puts a dozen 200-metre-plus towers along the Main River. The flip side sits across the river in Sachsenhausen, where Apfelwein taverns serve cloudy fermented apple wine in ribbed Geripptes glasses with handkerchief-pattern Bembel jugs. Römerberg square holds the half-timbered city hall, the Goethe House recreates the writer's birthplace room by room, and FRA airport pushes 65 million passengers a year through Europe's third-busiest hub — most travellers' first or last German city.
Tours & Experiences
Bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Frankfurt
Where to Stay
Compare hotels and rentals in Frankfurt
📍 Points of Interest
At a Glance
- Pop.
- 775,000 (city) / 5.8 million (Rhine-Main metro)
- Timezone
- Berlin
- Dial
- +49
- Emergency
- 112 / 110
Frankfurt am Main is Germany's financial capital — home to the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange — and the only German city with a real high-rise skyline, nicknamed Mainhattan
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is Europe's third-busiest hub after London Heathrow and Paris CDG, processing 65 million passengers per year and serving as Lufthansa's primary base
The Römerberg medieval square holds the Römer city hall — used for German imperial coronation feasts since the 1400s — flanked by reconstructed half-timbered Fachwerk houses; the originals burned in 1944
Apfelwein (called Ebbelwoi locally) is the city's defining drink — a tart, cloudy fermented apple wine served in ribbed Geripptes glasses with handkerchief-pattern Bembel jugs in Sachsenhausen taverns
Frankfurt is the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749) — Germany's greatest writer; the reconstructed Goethe House on Großer Hirschgraben recreates his childhood bedroom and the sitting room where he wrote Werther
The city has the highest density of museums in Germany after Berlin — the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment) on the south bank of the Main packs 13 major museums into a 1km strip including the Städel art museum, Liebieghaus sculpture collection, and the German Architecture Museum
Top Sights
Römerberg
🗼The medieval heart of Frankfurt — a small triangular square flanked by the Römer city hall (used for German imperial coronation feasts from 1356 to 1792) and the row of reconstructed half-timbered Ostzeile houses on the east side. The original buildings burned in March 1944; the current Ostzeile was rebuilt in the 1980s using original techniques. Always animated, especially during the Christmas market.
Mainhattan Skyline & Main Tower
🗼Germany's only true skyline. The Main Tower (200m) holds the city's only public observation deck — €9, accessible by a single high-speed lift to the 56th floor with panoramic views over the financial district, the Main River, and the Taunus hills on a clear day. The Commerzbank Tower (259m), the Messeturm (257m), and the European Central Bank (185m) anchor the cluster. Best photographed from the Eiserner Steg footbridge at dusk.
Sachsenhausen Apfelwein Taverns
📌The Apfelwein (Ebbelwoi) tavern district on the south bank of the Main, especially around Klappergasse and Kleine Rittergasse. Order Apfelwein in the ribbed Geripptes glass (which prevents your fingers slipping when wet) from a Bembel pitcher; pair with Handkäs mit Musik (a sour cheese in vinegar and onions) or Frankfurt's seven-herb Grüne Soße. Atschel, Wagner, and Zur Sonne are the three classic taverns.
Städel Museum
🏛️Germany's oldest privately founded museum (1815) and one of Europe's premier art collections — 700 years of art across Cranach, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso, and a stellar German modernist holding (Beckmann, Dix, Kirchner, Macke). The 2012 underground extension by Schneider+Schumacher added 3,000 square metres of contemporary galleries beneath a green meadow with skylights. €18 entry; allow a half day.
Goethe House
🏛️The reconstructed birthplace and family home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, painstakingly rebuilt from photographs, plans, and surviving original furniture after the 1944 air raid destroyed the original. Recreates his childhood bedroom, his father's library, and the room where 24-year-old Goethe wrote The Sorrows of Young Werther in 1774. €10 entry.
Kaiserdom (Frankfurt Cathedral)
📌A red sandstone Gothic church where ten Holy Roman Emperors were crowned between 1562 and 1792. Climb the 95-metre central tower (€3, 328 steps) for a closer look at the financial district skyline. Despite being called a cathedral, it has never been a bishop's seat — the title is honorary. The interior is more austere than the exterior suggests.
Eiserner Steg Footbridge
🗼The 19th-century iron footbridge linking the Altstadt to Sachsenhausen, with thousands of love locks attached to its railings. The downstream side gives you the postcard skyline shot — Mainhattan looming over the Main, with the cathedral spire on the right and the Sachsenhausen embankment on the left. Best at sunset and during the August Mainfest fireworks.
Palmengarten
🌳A 22-hectare botanical garden founded in 1868 — Germany's second-largest after Berlin's. Twenty greenhouses host tropical, subtropical, and desert plants, the centrepiece being the Tropicarium with its giant Victoria water lilies and a 700-plant orchid collection. The lakes, formal gardens, and rock garden are particularly lovely on summer afternoons. €10 entry.
Kleinmarkthalle
📌A two-storey indoor market on Hasengasse — Frankfurt's best-loved food market with 60 stalls selling regional German specialties, exotic fruit, fresh fish, butcher cuts, and an upstairs Apfelwein bar that pours from the Bembel from 10am. The Wagner Frankfurter sausage stand, the Pension Schweinske wine bar, and the freshly handmade Frankfurter Würstchen are essentials. Closed Sundays.
Museumsufer (Museum Embankment)
📌A 1km stretch of the Sachsenhausen river bank packed with 13 major museums — the Städel (art), Liebieghaus (sculpture), German Architecture Museum, German Film Museum, Museum of World Cultures, the Communication Museum, and others. The annual Museumsuferfest in late August is a free three-day festival turning the entire embankment into an open-air party.
Off the Beaten Path
Apfelwein Wagner, Sachsenhausen
A 1931-founded Apfelwein tavern on Schweizer Straße that survived the bombing and has been pouring Ebbelwoi from the same gravity barrels for nearly a century. The Geripptes glasses come in 200ml; a Bembel jug holds 1 litre and is the standard table order. Pair with Schäufelche (smoked pork shoulder), Frankfurt seven-herb Grüne Soße, or Handkäs.
Wagner is the most authentic of the Sachsenhausen taverns — Apfelwein is brewed in-house, the menu has not changed materially since the 1950s, and the regulars are mostly older Frankfurt locals rather than tourists. Reservations not accepted; share a table.
Kleinmarkthalle Apfelwein Bar
On the upstairs balcony of the Kleinmarkthalle indoor market, a small wine and Apfelwein bar pours from the Bembel from 10am Monday-Saturday. Standing only, communal counters, and a view down to the market floor. Pair with a Frankfurter Wurst from Wagner's downstairs counter for the most efficient lunch in the city.
It is one of the few bars in Frankfurt where you can drink Apfelwein at 10am without anyone raising an eyebrow, surrounded by market vendors on their breaks. Locals call this a Frühstücksviertel — a "breakfast quarter" tradition.
Lohrberg Sunset
The Lohrberg vineyard hill on the city's northeastern outskirts is the highest point in Frankfurt (185m) and the only working vineyard within city limits — Frankfurters joke that they grow their own Riesling. The Lohrberg Schänke restaurant on the summit has a beer garden with one of the best skyline panoramas in the region. Take tram 12 from Hauptbahnhof.
Almost no tourist crosses to the northeast suburbs, but locals colonise the Lohrberg hillside on warm summer evenings to watch sunset behind Mainhattan. The view rewards the trip and the wine is genuinely good.
Zoo Cocktail Bar (1932)
A speakeasy-style cocktail bar in the Bahnhofsviertel that has operated since 1932, surviving the war and decades of Frankfurt's notoriously rough red-light district transition. The bar focuses on classic cocktails — Manhattans, Sazeracs, Negronis — under low lighting and tin ceilings. The Bahnhofsviertel renaissance has made this once-edgy spot one of the city's most respected bars.
Frankfurt is not known for nightlife, but the Bahnhofsviertel's craft cocktail revival (Tiger Gym, Plank, The Parlour, Zoo) is a quiet bright spot. Zoo is the oldest of the wave by nearly 90 years.
Eiserner Steg Sunset Crossing
The 19th-century iron footbridge between the Altstadt and Sachsenhausen is busy at most hours, but in the 30 minutes before sunset the western light hits Mainhattan and turns the towers gold. Walk slowly across, then descend to the south bank for a cold Apfelwein at the Holbeinsteg riverside bars.
It is one of the few free sunset views in Germany that competes with paid observation decks. The bridge's ironwork is also a love-lock site rivalling Cologne's Hohenzollernbrücke.
Climate & Best Time to Go
Frankfurt sits in the Main River basin, sheltered by the Taunus hills to the north and the Odenwald to the south. The climate is among the warmest in Germany — mild winters with infrequent heavy snow, warm summers that increasingly produce 35°C+ heatwaves, and famously mild springs that arrive earlier here than in Berlin or Munich. The Frankfurt Trade Fair (Messe) calendar shapes hotel pricing more than weather: book around the Frankfurt Auto Show (September, odd years), the Book Fair (October), and Light + Building (March, biennial) for tripled rates and full hotels regardless of weather. Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant times to visit.
Spring
March - May41-66°F
5-19°C
Frankfurt springs arrive earlier than the rest of Germany — March can already feel mild on sunny days, the Palmengarten's magnolias bloom in early April, and by May outdoor restaurant terraces are fully operational. Apfelweinfest celebrations begin around the Mainfest in early August but the apple season actually peaks earlier.
Summer
June - August59-79°F
15-26°C
Warm, occasionally hot summers with frequent heatwaves above 35°C. The Mainfest (early August) and Museumsuferfest (late August) bring two of Germany's biggest free festivals to the riverbank. Apfelwein gardens in Sachsenhausen overflow on warm evenings; Lohrberg vineyard hill is the locals' sunset spot.
Autumn
September - November43-66°F
6-19°C
September stays warm and golden; October has the spectacular Frankfurt Book Fair and copper foliage in the Palmengarten and Stadtwald. November turns grey and damp, but the Frankfurt Christmas market opens in the third week — one of Germany's largest, sprawling across the Römerberg, Mainufer, and Paulsplatz.
Winter
December - February32-43°F
0-6°C
Winters are mild by German standards — snow falls but rarely sticks for long. Christmas markets run from late November to 22 December across the Römerberg, Paulsplatz, and Mainufer. January and February are quiet and inexpensive, with the Bahnhofsviertel cocktail scene at its cosiest. Surrounding Taunus mountains get genuine snow for short skiing.
Best Time to Visit
May, June, and September are the most pleasant months — warm enough for Apfelwein gardens and Mainufer cycling, with smaller crowds than peak summer. Late November to 22 December delivers Frankfurt's major Christmas market on the Römerberg. Avoid Trade Fair (Messe) periods if possible — Auto Show (September, odd years), Book Fair (October), Ambiente (February), Light + Building (March, biennial), and IAA all triple hotel rates and book out the city.
Spring (April - June)
Crowds: Moderate, rising into JuneFrankfurt springs arrive earlier than the rest of Germany. Apfelwein gardens reopen in April, the Palmengarten's magnolias bloom in early April, and by May the Mainufer is full of after-work picnickers. Long evenings and lower hotel prices than peak summer make this the most rewarding window.
Pros
- + Apfelwein gardens reopening
- + Palmengarten in bloom
- + Lower hotel prices
- + Long warm evenings
- + Easter market on Römerberg
Cons
- − April unpredictable weather
- − Some cool grey days
- − Light + Building biennial trade fair March
Summer (July - August)
Crowds: High — peak European holidaysPeak tourism, with the Mainfest (early August) and Museumsuferfest (late August) bringing two of Germany's biggest free festivals to the riverbank. Apfelwein gardens overflow on warm evenings. Heatwaves above 35°C have become more common.
Pros
- + Mainfest fireworks (early August)
- + Museumsuferfest (late August)
- + Apfelwein gardens at peak
- + Lohrberg sunset season
Cons
- − Highest hotel prices
- − Heatwaves possible
- − Crowded Sachsenhausen
- − Some Apfelwein gardens close in August holiday
Autumn / Trade Fair Season (Sept - Nov)
Crowds: Moderate September; high during trade fairs; lower in NovemberSeptember is among the best months — golden afternoons and warm Apfelwein evenings. October brings the Frankfurt Book Fair (the world's largest publishing trade event) which makes hotels three times normal price. November is grey and damp but the Christmas market opens in the third week.
Pros
- + Best September weather
- + Frankfurt Marathon late October
- + Book Fair (mid-October)
- + Christmas market opening
Cons
- − Hotel prices triple during Book Fair
- − November grey and damp
- − Auto Show (odd years)
- − Daylight short
Winter (Dec - March)
Crowds: Very high during Christmas markets and trade fairs; otherwise lowChristmas markets transform the Römerberg, Paulsplatz, and Mainufer from late November to 22 December. After Christmas, January and February are quiet and inexpensive — except for trade fairs (Heimtextil in January, Ambiente in February). The Bahnhofsviertel cocktail scene is at its cosiest.
Pros
- + Major Christmas market
- + Lowest hotel prices in deep winter
- + Cosy Apfelwein cellars
- + Bahnhofsviertel cocktail scene
Cons
- − Trade fair months unaffordable
- − Cold and grey January-February
- − Some Apfelwein gardens closed
- − Daylight ends by 4:30pm
🎉 Festivals & Events
Frankfurt Christmas Market
Late November to 22 DecemberSprawling across the Römerberg, Paulsplatz, and Mainufer for over a month — one of Germany's six largest. Glühwein, Bethmännchen marzipan biscuits, Apfelwein-Glühwein, hand-carved wooden ornaments. Most stalls open 10am-9pm.
Mainfest
Early August (first weekend)Frankfurt's biggest summer festival turns the Main riverbank into a five-day fair with concerts, food stalls, fireworks over the river, and Apfelwein gardens that stay open until 1am. The Saturday firework display is the headline.
Museumsuferfest
Late August (last weekend)Germany's biggest cultural festival, turning the entire Museum Embankment into an open-air party with three nights of music, all 13 museums open until midnight, and food stalls along 2km of riverbank. Free admission to the festival; small charges for some museums.
Frankfurt Book Fair (Buchmesse)
Mid-OctoberThe world's largest publishing trade event with 7,500 exhibitors from 100+ countries over five days. The first three days are trade-only; the final weekend opens to the public. Hotels triple in price citywide.
Frankfurt Marathon
Late OctoberA flat, fast course finishing at the Festhalle on the trade fair grounds — one of Europe's premier marathons with elite international fields and 27,000 runners. Often produces fast finishing times.
Wäldchestag
Whitsun Tuesday (May/June)A uniquely Frankfurt holiday — Frankfurters get the Tuesday after Whit Sunday off work to gather in the Stadtwald city forest for an open-air fair. Has run since the 1700s; Apfelwein flows from morning.
Safety Breakdown
Moderate
out of 100
Frankfurt is statistically Germany's most reported-crime city per capita — a number heavily skewed by the Hauptbahnhof and the immediately surrounding Bahnhofsviertel, which has been Germany's most established red-light and street-drug district for decades. The actual risk to tourists is much lower than the statistics suggest, but the area south of the train station around Taunusstraße and Elbestraße is uncomfortable to walk through after dark, especially alone. Beyond the Bahnhofsviertel, central Frankfurt is safe at any hour, and Sachsenhausen, Bornheim, the Westend, and Nordend are quiet residential neighbourhoods. The Bahnhofsviertel itself has gentrified into Frankfurt's best food and cocktail district by day, with a different reputation after dark.
Things to Know
- •The Bahnhofsviertel south of Hauptbahnhof has Germany's most visible street drug scene; walk briskly through Taunusstraße, Niddastraße, and Elbestraße after dark, ideally toward Kaiserstraße which is more brightly lit
- •Pickpocketing is the main tourist crime concern at Hauptbahnhof, on the U-Bahn between Hauptbahnhof and Konstablerwache, and at the Christmas markets — keep valuables in a front pocket or money belt
- •Validate your RMV transit ticket at the red box on platform before boarding — fare inspectors are frequent and the €60 fine is non-negotiable
- •The Sachsenhausen Apfelwein quarter gets rowdy late on weekends with weekend bachelor parties; the area is safe but loud
- •When using the Eiserner Steg footbridge late at night, walk in groups; petty theft incidents are uncommon but documented
- •During major trade fairs (Messe), hotel rates triple and rooms become genuinely scarce — book months ahead for Auto Show, Book Fair, IAA
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
General Emergency (Europe-wide)
112
Police
110
Fire Department
112
Ambulance
112
Non-emergency police
069 755-0
Costs & Currency
Where the money goes
USD per dayBackpacker = hostel dorm + street food + public transit. Mid-range = 3-star hotel + neighbourhood restaurants + transit cards. Luxury = 4/5-star + fine dining + taxis. How we calibrate these numbers →
Quick cost estimate
Customize per category →Estimates based on regional averages. Flight prices vary by season and airline.
budget
$80-115
Hostel bed, supermarket lunches, RMV day ticket, free Mainhattan walk, Apfelwein dinner at Wagner, Kleinmarkthalle browsing
mid-range
$140-240
Mid-range hotel, Apfelwein tavern dinners, Städel Museum + Goethe House, Main Tower observation deck, day trip to Heidelberg
luxury
$420+
Hotel Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof or Villa Kennedy, Michelin dining, Goethestraße shopping, river dinner cruise, opera at Alte Oper
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| FoodApfelwein (200ml Geripptes) | €2.50-3.50 | $2.75-3.85 |
| FoodFrankfurter Wurst at Kleinmarkthalle | €3-5 | $3.30-5.50 |
| FoodSchnitzel with potatoes at a tavern | €16-22 | $17.60-24.20 |
| FoodHandkäs mit Musik | €7-9 | $7.70-9.90 |
| FoodGrüne Soße with eggs and potatoes | €10-13 | $11-14.30 |
| FoodEspresso at a café | €3-3.80 | $3.30-4.20 |
| FoodPizza in Bornheim | €10-15 | $11-16.50 |
| AccommodationHostel dorm bed | €30-50 | $33-55 |
| AccommodationMid-range hotel (double) | €100-180 | $110-198 |
| AccommodationDesign hotel (double) | €220-450 | $242-495 |
| TransportSingle RMV ticket (Frankfurt) | €3.65 | $4 |
| TransportRMV day ticket | €7.85 | $8.65 |
| TransportS-Bahn to FRA Airport | €5.95 | $6.55 |
| AttractionsMain Tower observation deck | €9 | $9.90 |
| AttractionsStädel Museum | €18 | $19.80 |
| AttractionsGoethe House | €10 | $11 |
| AttractionsKaiserdom tower climb | €3 | $3.30 |
| AttractionsPalmengarten | €10 | $11 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •The Frankfurt Card (€12 / 24h or €19 / 48h) covers all RMV transit plus 50% off most major museums and attractions — pays for itself with two museum entries plus airport transfer
- •The Museumsuferticket (€21 for 2 days) covers entry to all 39 museums on the Museumsuferfest list — extraordinary value if you visit 3+ museums
- •Friday evenings (5-9pm), the Städel Museum offers reduced €11 entry instead of €18
- •Avoid hotel stays during major Messe trade fairs — Auto Show (September, odd years), Book Fair (October), Light + Building (March, biennial), Ambiente (February) all triple hotel rates
- •Apfelwein costs 30-40% less in Sachsenhausen taverns (€2.50-3 a Geripptes) than at Altstadt restaurants (€4-5)
- •Most Apfelwein gardens in Sachsenhausen do not accept reservations — turn up early on summer evenings or expect to wait
- •The S-Bahn from FRA Airport is cheaper (€5.95) than any taxi or Lufthansa Express bus and just as fast (12 min to Hauptbahnhof)
Euro
Code: EUR
Germany uses the Euro, and Frankfurt is the home of the European Central Bank — there is no more euro-central place in Europe. ATMs (Geldautomat) are widely available. Sparkasse and Deutsche Bank ATMs at Hauptbahnhof and Zeil charge €5 fees on foreign cards; Santander and Commerzbank tend to be lower. Card acceptance is among the highest in Germany given the financial sector, but small Apfelwein taverns, market stalls, and bakeries can still prefer cash. Always carry €20-30 in small notes.
Payment Methods
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, museums, and chain shops. American Express acceptance is patchy. Contactless (NFC) is increasingly common. Cash remains useful at Apfelwein taverns, Christmas markets, market stalls, and smaller cafés. Hauptbahnhof has Reisebank exchange offices but rates are poor — withdraw from an ATM for better value.
Tipping Guide
Round up to the nearest €5 or add 5-10%. Tell the waiter the total when paying — for a €23.50 bill say "25 Euro" and they keep change. Do not leave cash after a card payment.
Round up by €0.50-1 per round. Apfelwein staff typically work for tips and a small extra is appreciated.
Round up to the nearest euro or add €1-2 for longer trips.
€2-3 per bag for porters; €2-3 per night for housekeeping left as cash.
€5-10 per person for a 2-hour walking tour; €15-20 for a full-day private guide.
How to Get There
✈️ Airports
Frankfurt Airport (Frankfurt am Main)(FRA)
12 km southwestS-Bahn S8 and S9 run every 15 minutes to Hauptbahnhof (12 min, €5.95). Long-distance ICE trains from FRA Fernbahnhof go directly to dozens of German cities without entering downtown. Taxi €25-35, 25-30 min in light traffic. FRA is Europe's third-busiest airport.
✈️ Search flights to FRAFrankfurt-Hahn Airport(HHN)
125 km westDespite the name, HHN is in the Hunsrück hills near the Mosel River, 1h45 by Hahn Express bus to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (€16-22). Used mainly by Ryanair and budget carriers. Choose HHN only when the Ryanair price is dramatically cheaper than FRA.
✈️ Search flights to HHN🚆 Rail Stations
Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof
Bahnhofsviertel, 1km from AltstadtGermany's second-busiest station after Hamburg, with 350,000 passengers and 1,800 trains daily. ICE high-speed services run direct to Cologne (1h05), Berlin (4h), Hamburg (4h), Munich (3h10), Stuttgart (1h20), Basel (3h), Paris (3h45 by ICE direct via TGV connection), and Brussels (3h30). Book through bahn.de in advance for Sparpreis fares from €19-39.
Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof
12 km southwest at FRA airportGermany's only ICE station inside an airport, directly connected to FRA Terminal 1. Long-distance ICE trains run from here without going via Hauptbahnhof — if you're flying into FRA and connecting onward by train to Cologne, Stuttgart, or Mainz, board at the Fernbahnhof rather than transferring through the city centre.
🚌 Bus Terminals
Frankfurt ZOB
The Central Bus Station next to Hauptbahnhof, used by FlixBus, BlaBlaBus, and Eurolines. Cheap connections to Paris (€20-50, 8h), Amsterdam (€20-40, 6h), Berlin (€15-35, 7h), Vienna (€30-55, 9h), and dozens of other cities. Often the cheapest option for non-ICE destinations.
Getting Around
Frankfurt's transit is operated by the RMV (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund) under a unified ticketing system covering U-Bahn (metro), S-Bahn (suburban rail), tram, and bus across the entire Rhine-Main metro region (5.8 million people). Twelve U-Bahn lines and nine S-Bahn lines crisscross the city with central interchange at Hauptbahnhof, Konstablerwache, and Hauptwache. Trains run every 5-10 minutes during the day, with night service on weekends. The RMV app handles tickets and journey planning; Google Maps also works. Most central sights — Römerberg, Mainhattan, Goethe House, Sachsenhausen — are within a 20-minute walk of one another, but transit is essential for anything beyond the Altstadt-Bahnhofsviertel-Sachsenhausen triangle.
U-Bahn (Metro)
€3.65 single trip (Frankfurt zone); €5.95 short-trip; €7.85 day ticket; €13.95 group day ticket (up to 5)Twelve lines (U1-U9, including branches) connect the inner city to the surrounding suburbs. U4 and U5 connect Hauptwache and Konstablerwache to the inner ring. Frequent and reliable.
Best for: Cross-city travel, suburb connections, Hauptwache, Konstablerwache
S-Bahn (Suburban Rail)
Same RMV ticket as U-Bahn; airport €5.95Nine S-Bahn lines (S1-S9) run on the central Stammstrecke spine through the Hauptbahnhof. Critically, S8 and S9 connect Hauptbahnhof to FRA airport (12 minutes). S-Bahn also connects to Wiesbaden, Mainz, Hanau, and Offenbach.
Best for: Frankfurt Airport (FRA), regional day trips, Mainz, Wiesbaden, Hanau
Tram (Straßenbahn)
Same RMV ticket as U-Bahn / S-BahnTen tram lines fill in the gaps the U-Bahn misses, especially into Bornheim, the Nordend, and Sachsenhausen. Tram 11 to Schweizer Straße is the easiest way into Sachsenhausen Apfelwein quarter.
Best for: Sachsenhausen Apfelwein quarter, Bornheim, Lohrberg vineyard
Call a Bike (Deutsche Bahn)
€1 unlock + €0.10/min; €15 daily capFrankfurt's city bike-share, run by Deutsche Bahn under the Call a Bike brand. Both manual and electric bikes; pickup and return at marked stations across the inner city. Frankfurt is largely flat and cycling along the Main is one of the city's loveliest free experiences.
Best for: Mainufer paths, Westend, Bornheim, Nordend, Palmengarten
Taxi / Ride Share
€4 base + €2/km; airport to centre €25-35; nighttime supplements after 10pmFrankfurt taxis are metered and reliable. Uber, Bolt, and FreeNow operate in the city. Taxi ranks at Hauptbahnhof, Hauptwache, and the airport. Honest but expensive compared to transit.
Best for: Late nights after 1am, heavy luggage, group travel
Walkability
The Altstadt around Römerberg, the Goethe House, the Kaiserdom, and the Eiserner Steg footbridge to Sachsenhausen is highly walkable in a 20-minute radius. The Bankenviertel skyscrapers and the Main Tower are a 10-minute walk from Römerberg. Mainufer paths along both banks of the river are flat, scenic, and genuinely enjoyable on foot or bike. Beyond this triangle (Westend, Nordend, Bornheim, Lohrberg, Palmengarten), public transit is faster than walking.
Travel Connections
Heidelberg
Germany's most romantic university town — Heidelberg Castle's pink sandstone ruins overlook the Old Town, the Karl-Theodor Bridge crosses the Neckar, and the Philosophenweg path on the opposite hill offers a postcard view that has barely changed since the 18th century. A perfect day trip; one of Germany's most-visited destinations.
Cologne
The Rhineland's biggest city, anchored by the 157m Gothic cathedral. Kölsch beer culture, the Hohenzollernbrücke love locks, the Roman-Germanic Museum, and Karneval in February. The ICE corridor between Frankfurt and Cologne is one of Germany's fastest, with trains every 30 minutes.
Würzburg
A Baroque jewel on the Main River with the UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residenz palace (1720s), the Marienberg Fortress on the opposite hill, and surrounding Franconian wine country. The starting point of the Romantic Road. Ideal day trip or 1-night escape.
Rhine Gorge / Rüdesheim
The UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge between Bingen and Koblenz is the country's most dramatic river landscape, with terraced vineyards and 40 castles in 65km. Rüdesheim is the easiest gateway for a day trip — take the train then board a KD river cruise upriver to Lorelei Rock.
Munich
Germany's third city and the Bavarian capital — Marienplatz, the Hofbräuhaus, BMW Welt, the English Garden, and the Alps just 45 minutes south. The Frankfurt-Munich rail corridor is the country's busiest; trains every 30-60 minutes.
Entry Requirements
Germany is a member of the Schengen Area — an agreement covering 27 European countries with unified external border controls. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is one of Europe's most common entry points for non-EU travellers, with extensive Schengen passport control facilities. Citizens of many countries can visit Germany and the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) for visa-exempt travellers is expected to launch in 2025-2026 and will require online pre-registration before travel.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days (Schengen) | Visa-free for 90 days within any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. ETIAS pre-authorisation may be required from 2025-2026 — check before departure. |
| UK Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days (Schengen) | Post-Brexit, UK citizens are third-country nationals in Schengen. The 90/180 day rule applies across all Schengen countries combined. |
| EU/EEA Citizens | Visa-free | Unlimited | Full freedom of movement. Any EU or EEA passport grants unrestricted entry, residence, and work rights in Germany. |
| Australian Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days (Schengen) | Visa-free 90 days within the 180-day Schengen window. ETIAS may be required from 2025-2026. |
| Canadian Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days (Schengen) | Visa-free 90 days in Schengen. Same ETIAS requirements as US and Australian travellers. |
| Indian Citizens | Yes | 90 days | Schengen visa required — apply at the German consulate in India. Requires proof of accommodation, travel insurance with €30,000 minimum cover, proof of funds, and return travel. |
| Chinese Citizens | Yes | 90 days | Schengen visa required. Apply at the German consulate with hotel bookings, bank statements, and travel insurance. |
Visa-Free Entry
Tips
- •FRA passport control queues can be very long during international peak hours (06:00-09:00 and 17:00-21:00); allow extra connection time if you're transferring through Frankfurt
- •The 90-day Schengen limit is shared across ALL 27 Schengen countries — a week in Amsterdam before Frankfurt counts against your allowance
- •Travel insurance covering €30,000 medical expenses is required for Schengen visa applications and strongly recommended for visa-exempt travellers
- •German border police may ask for proof of accommodation, return travel, and sufficient funds (€45-70/day is the general guideline)
- •Keep a photocopy of your passport separately from the original while travelling
- •ETIAS, when launched, will require online pre-registration before travel (similar to US ESTA or Australian ETA) — check status at travel-europe.europa.eu before planning
Shopping
Frankfurt's shopping splits sharply between the high-end Goethestraße — one of Germany's most luxurious shopping streets, with Cartier, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany all in a 400-metre stretch — and the mainstream Zeil pedestrian zone, claimed to be Germany's busiest shopping street by retail revenue. The Westend and Bornheim neighbourhoods host smaller independent boutiques and design shops. The Kleinmarkthalle covers food shopping. The Frankfurt Christmas market (late November to 22 December) is one of the country's largest, sprawling across the Römerberg and Paulsplatz. Shops are typically open 10am-8pm Monday to Saturday with Sunday closures.
Zeil
pedestrian high streetThe 1.2-kilometre pedestrian boulevard from Hauptwache to Konstablerwache, claimed (with Cologne's Schildergasse) to be Germany's busiest shopping street. H&M, Zara, Galeria Kaufhof, MyZeil shopping centre, the Galeria Frankfurt department store. Mainstream and busy.
Known for: High street fashion, electronics, mid-range retail, MyZeil mall
Goethestraße
luxury boulevardA 400-metre upscale street running west from the Alte Oper, lined with the most prestigious names in luxury — Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Prada, plus the Tigerpalast supper club. Window shopping is free; a coffee at Café Hauptwache nearby completes the morning.
Known for: Luxury fashion, fine jewellery, haute couture, premium watches
Bornheim Berger Straße
neighborhood shoppingA 2-kilometre street running through the Bornheim neighbourhood — independent boutiques, vintage stores, second-hand bookshops, weekly farmers' market on Saturdays at Bornheim-Mitte square. The Apfelwein gastropub Solzer is mid-route. Where Frankfurters shop on Saturday mornings.
Known for: Independent fashion, vintage, second-hand books, organic food
Kleinmarkthalle
indoor food marketA two-storey covered market on Hasengasse with 60 stalls. Frankfurt's most-loved food destination — Wagner Frankfurters, Dario's Italian deli, the upstairs Apfelwein bar, fresh fish, exotic spices, fresh pretzels. Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm; closed Sundays.
Known for: Frankfurter sausages, Frankfurt's seven-herb Grüne Soße, Apfelwein
Frankfurt Christmas Market
seasonal marketsLate November to 22 December, sprawling across the Römerberg, Paulsplatz, and Mainufer. Glühwein, Frankfurter Bethmännchen marzipan biscuits, Apfelwein-Glühwein, hand-carved wooden ornaments, Magenbrot lebkuchen. One of Germany's six largest Christmas markets.
Known for: Glühwein, Bethmännchen, Apfelwein-Glühwein, lebkuchen
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •A Bembel — the traditional grey-and-blue ceramic Apfelwein pitcher in handkerchief pattern; sold in 1L, 2L, and 5L sizes
- •A Geripptes glass — the ribbed Apfelwein tumbler that the Bembel pours into
- •Frankfurter Würstchen — vacuum-packed; the original from Wagner at the Kleinmarkthalle
- •Frankfurt seven-herb Grüne Soße kit — fresh herbs for the cold green sauce that defines local cuisine, sold dried for travel
- •Apfelwein in a corked bottle — Possmann or Höhl brands; major brands sell at the airport
- •Bethmännchen marzipan biscuits — the rounded Frankfurt Christmas specialty topped with three almond halves
- •A Frankfurter Schnitzel pin or skyline brooch from a Galeria Kaufhof gift counter
- •A small Goethe House replica or Faust-themed gift from the Goethe House gift shop
Language & Phrases
Standard German (Hochdeutsch) is universally understood in Frankfurt, though you will hear the Hessian dialect — particularly in Apfelwein taverns, where regulars switch to dialect for jokes and toasts. English fluency is the highest in Germany given the international banking sector — most younger Frankfurters are fully bilingual, hotel and restaurant staff are reliably proficient, and the city's expat population reaches 30%. A few words of German always earn warmth at an Apfelwein bar.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo | HAH-loh |
| Cheers | Prost | PROHST |
| An Apfelwein, please | Ein Apfelwein, bitte | EYN AP-fel-vine BIT-teh |
| A Bembel, please | Ein Bembel, bitte | EYN BEM-bel BIT-teh |
| Thank you | Danke | DAHN-keh |
| Please / You're welcome | Bitte | BIT-teh |
| Where is...? | Wo ist...? | VOH ist...? |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Entschuldigung | ent-SHOOL-dih-goong |
| Do you speak English? | Sprechen Sie Englisch? | SHPREH-khen zee ENG-lish? |
| The bill, please | Zahlen, bitte | TSAH-len BIT-teh |
| It's fine, keep the change | Stimmt so | SHTIMT zoh |
| Goodbye (informal) | Tschüss | CHUSS |
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