Frankfurt is a city of contrasts – home to European Central Bank and modern city skyscrapers in business district are balanced out with reconstructed Altstadt (Old Town) is the site of Römerberg with traditional half-timbered houses and Gothic Frankfurt Cathedral.
Quick facts
- Name: Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main
- Founded: 8th century
- Population: 750,000
- Area: 248.3 km²
- Known as: Capital of Germany Hesse State, “Main-hattan”
Its position on the River Main and in the intersection of German highways system and high-speed rail systems is making it transportation hub of Germany and this part of Europe. Yet, it has several neighborhoods that preserve old time style and low pace way of life – Bockenheim, Bornheim, Nordend and Sachsenhausen.
Frankfurt is also city of culture and very rich history. It’s the birthplace of famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and his former home is now very popular Goethe House Museum. Museumsufer is an entire area from both banks of River Main lined up with museums, including the Städel fine art museum and the Deutsches Filmmuseum, a film museum, to name a few.
Frankfurt is city of high-end shopping, nightlife and fine dining and expansive parks and green areas all around. With population at around 750,000, it is not that big, but it has some great attraction to offer.
Main attractions in Frankfurt
There are plenty of attractions in Frankfurt, both inside the city and its surroundings. We are listing here only the top 20-25 of them.
Römer. The Römer is a historic building located in the Altstadt of Frankfurt and one of the most significant landmarks in the region. The Römer is situated across from the Old St. Nicholas church and has been Frankfurt’s city hall for over 600 years.
Palmengarten. It is one of three botanical gardens and it resides in the district of Westend-Süd. It was privately funded and built by the architect Heinrich Siesmayer, as were many public places in Frankfurt. It was completed and opened to the public in 1871.
Goethe House. A house museum of a writer in the Frankfurt district of Innenstadt. The original building was the Goethe family residence until 1795, and a place where famous Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born.
Main Tower. A 56-story, 200 m skyscraper in Frankfurt’s Innenstadt district. It takes its name from the nearby river Main. When its antenna spire is included, the building is 240 m tall. The tower has five underground levels, and two platforms for public viewing. It is the only skyscraper in Frankfurt with an observatory for public viewing.
Städel Museum. Officially the Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, is a Frankfurt art museum, with one of Germany’s most important collections. The Städel Museum is home to 2,700 paintings and a collection of 100,000 drawings and prints and 600 sculptures as well.
Römerberg. Public space in Frankfurt. It is situated in front of the Römer building complex, since the 15th century the seat of Frankfurt city administration. As the site of numerous Imperial coronations, trade fairs, and Christmas markets, the square is the historic heart of the medieval Altstadt and a popular tourist destination today.
Alte Oper. Originally Opera House in Frankfurt, Alte Oper (Old Opera) was heavily damaged throughout WWII. It was restored and opened in 1981 as a concert hall.
Frankfurt Cathedral. Originally called the Imperial Cathedral of St. Bartholomew, is a Roman Catholic Gothic church in central Frankfurt. It is dedicated to St Bartholomew. It is the city’s largest religious building, and an old collegiate church. It is called locally the Kaiserdom or simply the Dom.
Zeil. The Zeil is a street in Frankfurt city center and its name, which dates back to the 14th century, is derived from the German word Zeile “row”. It referred originally to a row of houses on the north side’s eastern end and later expanded to the whole street. This has been one of the most popular and busiest shopping streets in Germany since the end of the 19th century.
Naturmuseum Senckenberg. A museum of natural history in Frankfurt am Main, the second-largest of this type in Germany. Very popular with children, who enjoy the extensive collection of dinosaur fossils. The museum has the largest exhibition of large dinosaurs in Europe.
MMK Museum of Modern Art. Founded in 1981 and opened to the public on June 6, 1991, the Museum für Moderne Kunst, or short MMK, in Frankfurt, is popularly called “piece of cake” because of its triangular shape.
Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt. An exhibition hall in Frankfurt, Germany, situated in the old city between the Römer and the Frankfurt Cathedral. The Schirn exhibits both modern and contemporary art and it is the main venue for temporary art exhibitions in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt Zoological Garden. This Zoo has more than 4,500 animals from 510 species on more than 11 hectares. It was established in 1858 and, after Berlin Zoological Garden, is the second-oldest zoo in Germany.
Museumsufer. The area lined up with museums in Frankfurt, on both banks of the river Main and in close vicinity. The one of the most important locations for museums in Germany and Europe.
Eiserner Steg. The only pedestrian bridge in Frankfurt and it connects the city centre with the district of Sachsenhausen. Popular with couples in love to attach locks as a symbol of their romance.
Old St Nicholas Church. A former Lutheran church in Frankfurt, situated in the old town, near the Römer city hall. It has 51 bells; it uses 4 for peals, and 47 for carillons. The first chapel was built in the mid-12th century.
Historisches Museum Frankfurt. The Historical Museum was founded in 1878 in Frankfurt am Main and showcases cultural and historical artefacts relating to Frankfurt and Germany’s history, dating back to 15th century.
Kleinmarkthalle. Market hall with more than 60 vendors selling a variety of groceries, flowers, wine and ready-made foods.
German Film Museum. Innovative film museum showcasing the workings of cinema with various artifacts and interactive displays. Opened in 1981, it is one of the six museums of this kind in Germany.
Opel Zoo. Wildlife park with elephants and hippos, offering petting zoo, animal feeding and camel and pony rides. Located north-west from Frankfurt.
Grüneburgpark. Located in the Westend district of Frankfurt this large public park features botanic gardens, open-air theatre with regular performances and Korean Garden setup. Set on the grounds of former castle of Rothschild family.
From other attractions in Frankfurt we recommend: Liebieghaus, German Architecture Museum, MesseTurm, Commerzbank Tower, Opel Zoo, Grüneburgpark and Eurotower.
Top things to do in Frankfurt
Frankfurt has many attractions to visit and many things to do, so visit to this great city should last for several days at least in order to experience most of it. Apart from visiting city attractions, it is also recommended to go for half day or full day excursions outside of Frankfurt and visit Heidelberg, Moselle Valley, Rhine Valley, Atta Cave, Greifenstein Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle.
This will give you some additional insight into Germany attractions, history and culture.
Festivals and events in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is very dynamic city and there are events and festivals happening all year around. The city is regional and also global hub for many cultural activities throughout the year. Here are some major festivals and events in Frankfurt.
Spring Dippemess (April), Wäldchestag (May/June), Opera Square Festival (June/July), Main Festival (August), Apple Wine Festival (August), Museum Embankment Festival (August), Rheingau Wine Festival (August), Autumn Dippemess (September), Jazz zum Dritten (October) and Christmas Markets (November/December).
Read more: Festivals and events in Frankfurt
Interesting facts about Frankfurt
Here are some interesting facts about this amazing city:
- Frankfurt has largest inner-city forest in Germany – The Stadtwald (‘City Forest’).
- Over a quarter of residents of Frankfurt are foreigners.
- Frankfurt airport is the largest in Germany and fourth one by size in Europe.
Read more: More interesting facts about Frankfurt
Best time for flights to Frankfurt
The peak season for flights to Frankfurt is June, July and December. The low season for purchasing tickets is January, February and November.
Frankfurt is served by these airports: Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Frankfurt – Hahn Airport (HHN). Direct flights to Frankfurt are offered by 75 airlines.
Top hotel offers in Frankfurt
These are current top hotel offers for Frankfurt. The list is updated automatically when page is refreshed.
Safe travels!
