This old imperial city on the River Main - hence Frankfurt am Main is the full name - it has long been an important commercial and economic center. Dominated by the large cluster of high-rises in the banking district, Frankfurt's impressive skyline has a distinctly North American twist, a fact that has earned the city its nicknames 'Mainhattan' and 'Chicago on the Main'.
Frankfurt is also known for its exceptional number of fine art, science, and history museums. It's also a lovely city to explore on foot. A highlight of a walking tour is crossing the Main via the Eiserner Steg, a pedestrian bridge originally built in 1911 (and rebuilt since) that connects the Sachsenhausen district to the inner city.
Frankfurt is considered a metropolis - it is often in the top 10 of the best cities to live and do business - and has long been an important center for cultural and tourist activities. The huge exhibition complex, Messe Frankfurt, hosts important events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's most important publishing event.
To find out about the best places to visit along the way, be sure to read our full list of the top tourist attractions in Frankfurt in Main, Germany.
Read also the sight in germany top 10 most popular
1. Staedel Museum
| Staedel Museum |
The Städel Museum (Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie), with its excellent collection of paintings from the 14th century, is the most important of the world-class museums that make up Frankfurt's museum district.
Of the many collections, the most important are works by old masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Goya, and by Monet, Degas, Beckman, and Picasso into the later centuries. More contemporary works include those by Bacon and Baselitz. The collection also includes prints and drawings from Durer and Cezanne to Pollock and Ernst.
English-language guided tours are available, along with audio guides for those who prefer to go on their own. For those with extra time, there are also workshops and lectures, along with a research library. There is also a cafe and bookshop on site.
Address: Schaumainkai 63, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2. Römerberg: the old city center of Frankfurt
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| Römerberg |
Located in the heart of Frankfurt's Old Town (Altstadt), the Römerberg is an irregularly shaped square with the Justice Fountain (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen) in the center. Not only is it Frankfurt's most picturesque public square, but it's also the city's busiest pedestrian zone and home to plenty of tourist attractions and fun things to do, including Christmas markets and other events.
Sights here include the many open shops, which were once common in the old town, and the Römer. This cluster of 11 historic buildings together made up the medieval Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), which was faithfully reconstructed in 1954 from original floor plans dating from the 15th to 18th centuries. Special is the elegant Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal), once the scene of beautiful banquets.
Other notable buildings in the Römerberg are the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) from 1908; the 14th-century Gothic Church of St. Leonhard; and St Nicholas' Church, with its carillon.
Also of interest here is the Historical Museum (Historisches Museum Frankfurt). Founded in 1878, the interesting collections cover Frankfurt's rich cultural history, from the Middle Ages to the modern-day, and the six traditional buildings of the Ostzeile.
The historic Wertheim House (Haus Wertheim), the only building to survive the 1944 air raids that destroyed much of old Frankfurt, can also still be seen and is now home to a restaurant.
Address: Römerberg 26, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
3. Museum District: Museumsufer
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Museum District: Museumsufer |
Frankfurt's Museum District (Museumsufer) on the southern and northern banks of the River Main is a first-class collection of some 16 separate museums, many of them of international stature. Besides its centerpiece, the Städel Art Museum, a highlight is the excellent Museum of World Cultures (Museum der Weltkulturen), considered one of Europe's best ethnological museums. Founded in 1904, the collections include more than 65,000 artifacts from Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
The Museum of Ancient Sculpture (Städtische Galerie Liebieghau) is another important museum here. Located in the 19th-century Liebieghaus, the museum houses a large collection of Asian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sculptures, as well as pieces from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque.
Also worth a visit, the Icon Museum (Ikonen-Museum der Stadt Frankfurt am Main) is a rare institution housing a treasure trove of over a thousand Christian Orthodox images from across the Orthodox diaspora.
Other notable museums include the German Architecture Museum (Deutsches Architekturmuseum), which focuses on architectural design and offers over 200,000 plans, drawings, and models; the Filmmuseum (Deutsches Filminstitut), with exhibitions on the Lumière brothers and the history of cinema; and the Museum of Applied Art (Museum Angewandte Kunst), or MAK for short, with its exhibitions of more than 30,000 objects representing European and Asian decorative arts.
Try visiting the Frankfurt Archaeological Museum (Archäologisches Museum Frankfurt), located in a former monastery, and dealing with the city's history from its founding to the present. Even a short visit is time well spent.
Address: Schaumainkai, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
4. Main Tower
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| Main Tower |
Located in the heart of Frankfurt's Inner City (Innenstadt) district, the 200-meter-high Maintower should be high on your list of fun things to do. Completed in 1999, this impressive 56-story skyscraper is one of the largest in Germany and was built with a beautiful rooftop observatory that is open to the public.
Two public viewing platforms are located on the upper floors and the view from here is simply breathtaking. As well as enjoying panoramic views of the Old Town (Altstadt) and many other Frankfurt landmarks on your must-see list, the river views alone make the quick glass elevator journey to the top worthwhile worth.
If you're visiting on a Friday or Saturday, you may want to plan your visit for after nightfall. The viewing platforms will be open later on these days, providing a unique opportunity to view the city from above at night.
Better yet, combine your visit with a meal at the popular restaurant on the 53rd floor of the building. Be sure to check out the art installations and mosaics in the building's lobby.
Address: Neue Mainzer Strasse 52-58, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
5. Natural History Museum Senckenberg
| Naturmuseum Senckenberg |
Located in Frankfurt's Senckenberg Gardens, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum (Naturmuseum Senckenberg) is one of the most modern natural history museums in Europe and the second-largest of its kind in Germany.
In addition to numerous exhibits on our planet's biodiversity and the evolution of organisms, the museum houses Europe's largest display of large dinosaurs, making it particularly popular with families (several life-size replica dinosaurs greet guests in the museum's forecourt).
It is also home to the world's largest collection of stuffed birds, along with an extensive exhibit depicting the development of mankind. English-language guided tours are available and you can hire audio guides if you want to tour on your own. Educational workshops and lectures are also held regularly. A bistro and souvenir shop are also located on-site.
Address: Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
6. Frankfurt Cathedral
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| Frankfurt cathedral |
Frankfurt's Roman Catholic Cathedral (Frankfurter Dom) – or to give it its full name, St. Bartholomew's Cathedral (St. Bartholomäus Dom) – certainly stands out for its beautiful color.
Built of red sandstone in Gothic style between the 13th and 15th centuries, with a 95-meter tower, the cathedral still manages to stand out in this city of skyscrapers. It is one of the few churches in Germany to be designated an Imperial Cathedral, and it was here from 1562 to 1792 that the coronation of emperors took place in the Election Chapel.
Below the tower is the beautiful crucifixion by Hans Backoffen, sculpted in 1509, while in the Marienkapelle is the Maria-Schlaf altar from 1434. Other highlights include the tomb plaque of King Günther von Schwarzburg, who died in Frankfurt in 1349, as well as numerous carved side altars from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The most important relic of the cathedral is the skullcap of St. Bartholomew, preserved in the late Romanesque Bartholomew's choir. Many of the cathedral's most important artifacts can be viewed at the Frankfurt Cathedral.
Address: Domplatz 1, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
7. The Palm Garden
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| The Palm Garden-Frankfurt's |
Located on Bockenheimer Landstrasse, the beautiful 54-acre Palm Garden (Palmengarten), the largest botanical garden in Germany (and one of three in Frankfurt), was an instant hit with the public when it opened in 1871. The attraction attracted some of the top performers of the era from around the world, including Buffalo Bill, who came to visit in 1890 with his Wild West show.
Highlights of a visit today include the beautiful outdoor botanical exhibits classified according to their geographic location, along with some glasshouses that house subtropical and tropical plant species. The gardens also have boating, a children's play area, and picnic areas, and guided tours are available.
The Europaturm - a 337 meter high telecommunications tower also known as the "Tower of Europe" - is just a short walk away and is worth a visit for its viewing platform and restaurant. You can also enjoy fantastic views from the viewing platforms of the city's main tower, one of the tallest skyscrapers.
Other interesting parks in Frankfurt include the 72-hectare Grüneburgpark and the even larger Nidda Valley People's Park (Volkspark Niddatal), which covers some 415 hectares on the outskirts of the city and is a pleasant place to stroll.
Address: Siesmayerstrasse 61, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
8. Kleinmarkthalle
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| Frankfurt's Kleinmarkthalle |
Markets are always a good place to get a sense of a city, and Frankfurt's Kleinmarkthalle, where many locals shop daily, is no exception. The current hall dates from 1954 and covers an area of 1500 square meters with 150 market stalls selling some of the best food in Germany.
This is a good place to try the famous Frankfurter "Green Sauce" (Frankfurter Grüne Soße), a traditional seasoning made from seven spices, sour cream, and egg. You can also enjoy local specialties such as sausages, cheeses, and pastries.
Address: Hasengasse 5-7, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
9. Goethe House and Museum
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Goethe House and Museum |
Next door is the Goethe Museum, a 14-room gallery of works of art from the writer's time, including masterpieces from the late Baroque and Romantic periods. Family tours of both properties are available.
An upscale shopping area with many fine boutiques, art galleries, and cafes, Goethestrasse is another Frankfurt attraction that bears witness to the writer's fame and importance.
Address: Grosser Hirschgraben 23-25, D-60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
10. The Hauptwache
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| the Hauptwache |
Located in the middle of the city and one of Frankfurt's busiest pedestrian areas, the Hauptwache - literally translated as the "Main Guard" - is known for its mix of fine historic buildings and modern structures. The most notable building here is the old Baroque guardhouse after which the square is named. Built in 1730, it once housed the town's militia, a prison, and later a police station (it now serves as a cafe).
The square itself is one of Frankfurt's main shopping areas, complete with a large underground shopping mall. It is also the point from which the main shopping and high streets of the city radiate. The pedestrian-friendly Zeil heads east and the Kaiserstrasse, with its many nightlife spots in the side streets, runs southwest past Rossmarkt and Kaiserplatz to the Hauptbahnhof. Built-in 1888, this is the city's main train station and one of the largest train terminals in Europe.
Address: An der Hauptwache 15, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
11. Museum of Modern Art
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| The Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art |
The Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art (MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt) is widely regarded as one of Europe's most important contemporary art galleries. Opened in 1991 in a beautiful postmodern building in the heart of the city, the museum contains some 5,000 fine examples from more than 450 leading artists in its extensive collection. Works from the 1960s to the present are by artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Francis Bacon.
The museum also operates MMK Zollamt, a satellite exhibition space featuring works by younger and as-yet-unknown artists; the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Art (Museum für Angewandte Kunst), with more than 30,000 items of European and Asian applied art, including furniture, tapestries, glass, ceramics, and books; and Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, featuring both modern and contemporary art.
Also of interest is the Caricatura Museum, which is known for its exhibits and displays related to comic book art.
Address: Domstrasse 10, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
12. Frankfurt Zoo
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| the Frankfurt Zoo |
Home to more than 4,500 animals representing at least 510 different species, the Frankfurt Zoo covers 32 hectares near the city's old Friedberger Tor. Founded in 1858, it is Germany's second-oldest zoo and is known for its excellent animal enclosures, including the unique Grzimek House with exhibits of Madagascar's diverse fauna.
Also of interest is the Exotarium, which features animals from different climatic regions, including marine life, reptiles, and crocodiles. The Borgore forest has a beautiful monkey house in an authentic jungle setting.
Other highlights include the Nocturnal Animals House and the Bird Hall. A variety of events and programs are offered, including family festivals, exhibitions, and themed tours.
Address: Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1, 60316 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
13. Jewish Museum Frankfurt
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Jewish Museum Frankfurt |
Displays in the main collection at the Rothschild Palace location focus on the more than 900-year history of Jewish life and culture in Frankfurt. Highlights include an Anne Frank exhibit at the Frank Family Center and a state-of-the-art research library.
The second location - Museum Judengasse - is also worth a visit. Of paramount importance here are the foundations of 19 houses dating back to the founding of Europe's first Jewish ghetto in the 14th century. Artifacts and interesting exhibits from this period provide a fascinating glimpse into Jewish culture during this period of European history.
Address: Untermainkai 14-15, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
14. The Old Opera House
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| the old opera house |
Located in the heart of Frankfurt's Opera Square (Opernplatz), the old opera house (Alte Oper) was built in 1880 in the Italian High Renaissance style. Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1981 as one of the city's main concert halls.
The city's new opera house, Oper Frankfurt, and drama theater, Schauspiel Frankfurt, share a contemporary, state-of-the-art venue known as Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt.
Address: Opernplatz, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
15. Eschenheim Tower
| The Eschenheim Tower |
The Eschenheim Tower (Eschenheimer Turm) was built in the early 14th century and is still the most beautiful remnant of Frankfurt's old city walls. standing at 47 meters high, it is also still astonishing with its size dominating the Eschenheimer Gate district.
Today, the tower houses a cafe and meeting rooms used by local historical societies. Also of interest is the nearby Stock Exchange, built-in 1879 and the largest in the country.
Address: Börsenplatz, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany