Last Updated on 1 month by traveldrafts
Frankfurt am Main isn’t one of Germany‘s biggest cities, it is only the 5th largest city (behind Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, and obviously Berlin) with less than 750,000 people living there. Neither is it the most touristy; we don’t know anyone who has the lifelong dream of going to Frankfurt… Yet, it’s a city of huge importance.
It is the major financial center of Europe, home to the European Central Bank and the German Federal Bank. It has one of the busiest airports in Europe, so there is a significant probability that you will need to do a stopover in Frankfurt or have business in Frankfurt.
Plus, due to Brexit, even more international banks and companies are moving their headquarters to Frankfurt. Thus, Frankfurt will be the center of attention in the following years to come… We’ve compiled a list of the top things to do in Frankfurt am Main to help you make the most of your visit.
We decided to visit Frankfurt in winter, drawn by the opportunity to experience its Christmas Market, which would also allow us to get to know the city. Surprisingly, Frankfurt is a charming city with a certain charm. It is located on the banks of the Main River, which is reflected in its full name.
Similar to many other European cities, the river has an essential influence on the town and several Points of interest in Frankfurt.
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Things to do in Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt walking tour
A great way to discover a city and its main attractions is to do a free walking tour, especially if you’re short on time, like during a stopover. We discovered free walking tours a few years ago, and now we try to do one in almost every city we visit.
It gives us a notion of the city’s history, its points of interest, and an idea of what we want to explore more. Normally, free walking tours take 1 to 2 hours, while the guide walks you through the city, explaining and exploring the main attractions. At the end of the tour, you can (should) offer a tip as a sign of gratitude for the visit. We took this tour in Frankfurt and highly recommend it.
Or, if you prefer you can book a guided tour!
Frankfurt Christmas market
One of the reasons we wanted to visit Frankfurt was to see the Christmas Market. We heard so many good things about Germany’s Christmas markets that we needed to go, and it was well worth it. Frankfurt Christmas market is one of the largest and oldest in Germany, dating back to 1393. So it isn’t a recent thing…
In those days, the market existed to provide the essential supplies to the locals before winter. Over time, it became more Christmas-oriented. The Market extends from the Zeil Shopping mall to Romerberg square and the river Main. In Romerberg Square, you will find a giant Christmas tree and a big merry-go-round.
So, why are Christmas Markets so cool…? They are essentially markets offering a wide variety of food, Christmas art, and crafts. How cool is that? For foodies like us, it’s a paradise where you can try plenty of street food.
You can discover cool gifts in a Christmas atmosphere, hear Christmas carols, and hear the chiming of the Church bells. For kids, there are a good deal of activities, like Christmassy merry-go-rounds and abundant sweets.
What should you eat in the Frankfurt Christmas market?… Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Flammkuchen (similar to a pizza), woodfired salmon (definitely a must), Wurst with bread and mustard (any kind of wurst), Lebkuchen (Gingerbread), and a vast variety of sweets and nuts.
Frankfurt’s Christmas market starts at the end of November and ends in January.
Romerberg Square and Romer
The Romberg square is the old town center, where you will find the typical half-timbered houses and the Romer, the city hall. In the past, Frankfurt had the largest medieval city center in Germany, but during World War II, the city was almost destroyed.
The houses in Romerberg Square and the Romer are all replicas of the originals that were rebuilt in 1980. So Romerberg Square is just a sample of how the city was. A few other landmark buildings were reconstructed, like Saint Paul Church and Goethe’s house. The rest of the town was rebuilt in a modern style.
One of the buildings that wasn’t destroyed was the train station in the city center, which is quite beautiful and a reminder of Frankfurt’s past.
Kaiserdom Frankfurt Cathedral
Kaiserdom, or the Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew, is the main church of Frankfurt, but today’s church is a reconstruction made in the 1950s. It was the site where the kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected and coronated.
The Kaiserdom is a Gothic Church with red stone, and it has a tower that is 95 m high and has 324 steps, which you can visit. Compared to other European Cathedrals, it has a simple but still charming design.
- Tower Price: 3,50€. The Cathedral is free.
- Timetable: Winter (11h-16h); Summer (11h-17h).
Saint Paul’s Church
Saint Paul’s Church holds the utmost importance in Germany’s history, serving as the seat of the first democratic parliament and the site where the constitution for a united Germany was elaborated.
This was a Protestant Church, which has now been partially rebuilt. The interior is modern and mainly used for exhibitions. The coolest part of the church is a big auditorium on the top floor, which is used for official municipal functions.
It is a calming place where you can sit, rest, and even warm up while contemplating the flags of each of Germany’s regions hanging on the walls. This is particularly useful to know if you are traveling to Frankfurt in Winter.
Eiserner Steg Bridge, aka the Iron Bridge
Eiserner Steg Bridge (iron bridge) is a pedestrian bridge across the Main River. From here, you can take fantastic photos and enjoy the view of the city’s skyscrapers, Romerberg Square, Saint Paul’s Church, and Frankfurt’s Cathedral.
The bridge, located near Romerberg Square, is an excellent spot for a stroll along the riverbanks and crossing the other bridges over the River Main, weather permitting.
Alte Opera
The old Opera house and concert hall in Frankfurt is a beautiful building with a delightful square; it was rebuilt in the 1970s after its destruction in 1944. Besides being stunning, one of the most interesting facts about it is that the citizens of Frankfurt directly financed it. It is a lovely place to take photos, and if you wish to attend a concert.
Museums
Frankfurt has a substantial variety of museums, most of which are on the banks of the Main River. Like the Studel Museum (art museum), the German Architecture Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the German Film Museum.
German Film Museum, Deutsches Filmmuseum
We visited Frankfurt in December, and it was freaking cold (and snowing), so we decided to spend the afternoon at the German Film Museum. The museum is very interactive, allowing you to explore and interact with various features of the cinema world. From very early objects to playing with green screen and mixing sounds & music.
It was an enjoyable experience, and we also got to watch film excerpts on a giant screen. It’s more than 100 film excerpts, including a 40-minute program dealing with image, sound, editing, and acting… It is well worth it if you have the time and like the Cinema. And if it’s snowing or raining, even more!
- Price: 7,00€
- Timetable: Monday closed; Tuesday-Sunday (10-18h); Wednesday (10-20h)
Goethe House
Have you ever heard about Goethe?… The German writer and philosopher, the author of Faust, was born in Frankfurt. And you can visit his house, rebuilt in 1947 according to the original.
We didn’t visit the house museum, but fans can visit the house where he was born and lived. The museum has a gallery of paintings illustrating his life and the portraits of Goethe, his friends, and his contemporaries.
- Price: 7€
- Timetable: Monday-Saturday (10-18h); Sunday and holidays (10-17h30).
Frankfurt skyline
Frankfurt boasts one of the most impressive skylines in Europe, earning it the nickname Mainhattan. All this happened after World War II, when the Americans set up their headquarters in Frankfurt, and in 1949, Frankfurt was nominated the provisional capital of West Germany.
These facts held fundamental importance in the city’s reconstruction. As Frankfurt became the financial center of Western Germany, it sought to demonstrate its economic power, and due to the need for space for banks, it started building skyscrapers.
In 1970, there were nine buildings over 110 meters. Nowadays, Frankfurt has 77 buildings over 100 meters. And the second-tallest building in the European Union, the Commerzbank, is only surpassed by the very recent Varso Tower in Poland.
You can only visit two skyscrapers in the Main Tower (200m) and the Commerzbank (but tours are only available on the last Saturday of each month). We visited the Main Tower, and we highly recommend it.
Unfortunately, it was snowing on our visit, so we couldn’t see clearly or take proper photos. Although it was pretty cool, literally! 🙂
- Price: 7,50€
- Timetable: Sunday-Thursday (10-19h); Friday, Saturday (10-21h), in summer, they close later (until 21 or 22h).
Kleinmarkthalle food market
In every city we go, we try to visit the local market, in Frankfurt’s case, it was the Kleinmarkthalle! This is always a great spot to soak up the city vibe. Local markets are also excellent places to eat and discover the local cuisine. 🙂
This market didn’t disappoint; it was a bit too expensive (well, it’s Germany…), but it had plenty of German and international food.
- Timetable: Monday-Friday (8-18h); Saturday (8-16h).
Frankfurt red-light district
Frankfurt’s red-light district is an integral part of the city because it’s situated right in the middle of the city, just between the financial district and the train station.
And when we say between, we really mean it is on the other side of the street in the financial district. On one side, you have shiny, high-rise buildings, and on the other side, you have the brothels, sex shops, and so on. Some people could argue it fits just well…
In the past, this was a dangerous district, and people were afraid to cross it to go to the city center and the financial district. It’s said that one of the reasons Frankfurt built the subway was so people could avoid this part of the city.
Nowadays, it is peaceful, with no robberies, and plenty of hostels for tourists. In fact, we stayed in a hotel located within the red-light district of Frankfurt.
Note that prostitution is legal in Germany.
Where to stay in Frankfurt in Winter?
Budget-friendly hotel:
- B&B HOTEL Frankfurt-Hbf — pleasant, clean, cheap, with a good breakfast and excellent location near the central station and city center.
Luxury hotel:
- Adina Apartment Hotel Frankfurt Neue Oper — central location, spacious rooms, great bathrooms, rooftop swimming pool & sauna, and excellent views.
Airport hotel (for stopovers):
- Park Inn by Radisson Frankfurt Airport — walking distance from the terminals, perfect for a short stay. The beds even have colorful LED lights!
From the airport to Frankfurt Central Station
Frankfurt’s airport has two Terminals, normally, Ryanair flies to terminal 2. These are connected by a free Sky Train and a free bus shuttle, with a combined travel time of 15 minutes. Frankfurt’s airport train station is located in Terminal 1, allowing you to catch a train to the city center, which is only 12 km from the airport, though it takes almost 30 minutes to get there.
The train is the cheapest and easiest way to get to the city center. You have to catch the S-Bahn, S8, or S9, in the direction of Offenbach Ost and Hanau. Get off at Frankfurt Hauptwache, and you will be in the city center. It costs 4,65 €/ ticket.
Overall, Frankfurt in winter is a great place to do a city break or a long stopover. It’s a city that’s easy to visit, offering a rich blend of history, museums, contemporary architecture, and an exciting mix of old and modern.
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