Frankfurt is Germany's financial heart, where gleaming skyscrapers rise above a historic old town on the banks of the Main River. You can explore museums, leafy riverside paths, and a compact centre that is easy to enjoy in a few days.
Discover Frankfurt
Discover Frankfurt
Why visit Frankfurt?
What to expect
You will find a modern skyline, efficient transport, and quiet neighbourhoods with traditional timbered houses around Römerberg and Sachsenhausen. The city feels businesslike on weekdays, then relaxed along the riverfront and in its parks on evenings and weekends.
Plan your trip
Frankfurt makes a convenient base for exploring the Rhine Valley, wine towns, and other German cities thanks to its major rail hub and airport. Stay a few nights to see the highlights, then connect easily by train or air to the wider region.
Top sights in Frankfurt
Römerberg and the Old Town
Stroll the cobbled Römerberg square, lined with reconstructed half-timbered houses and the historic Römer city hall at the heart of Frankfurt's Old Town.
Frankfurt Main River Promenade
Walk or cycle along the leafy Main River promenade, with skyline views, riverside cafés, and easy access to bridges, parks, and neighbourhoods on both banks.
Museum Embankment (Museumsufer)
Explore the Museum Embankment, a cluster of renowned museums along the south bank of the Main, covering art, film, architecture, and cultural history.
Frankfurt Cathedral (Kaiserdom)
Visit the red sandstone Frankfurt Cathedral and, if open, climb its tower for sweeping views over the Old Town rooftops and modern skyline.
Main Tower Observation Deck
Ride the lift up Main Tower to its open-air viewing platform, where you can see Frankfurt's skyscrapers, the river, and surrounding countryside.
Palmengarten
Unwind in Palmengarten, a spacious botanical garden with glasshouses, lakes, and themed landscapes from tropical climates to alpine meadows.
Zeil and Hauptwache
Head to Zeil and the historic Hauptwache square for busy pedestrian shopping streets, street performances, and quick access to cafés and department stores.
Experience Frankfurt's everyday rhythm
Getting around
Use Frankfurt's U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and tram network to move quickly between the airport, Hauptbahnhof, and inner districts. For a scenic view, take a river cruise along the Main, then complete shorter trips on foot or by bike in the compact city centre.
Local life & culture
You will feel a mix of international business energy and relaxed local life in neighbourhoods like Sachsenhausen, Bornheim, and Nordend. Cafés, cultural venues, and small galleries sit alongside traditional pubs, with events and fairs throughout the year.
Where to unwind
Relax in riverside parks along the Main or in the green spaces of Grüneburgpark and Palmengarten, especially in the late afternoon. On clear evenings, find a quiet spot by the river to watch the city lights come on across the skyline.
A taste of Frankfurt
Street food & local specialties
Try local favourites like green herb sauce, sausages, and apple wine in traditional tavern areas such as Sachsenhausen and around the Old Town, where many spots offer hearty, simple dishes.
Casual & modern dining hubs
For casual meals, look to food courts and eateries around Zeil, the banking district, and near the main station, where you will find international flavours and portions that make it easy to sample a variety of dishes.
Signature & scenic dining
For memorable evenings, choose restaurants or bars with skyline views near Main Tower or along the riverfront, where terrace seating lets you dine while looking across the water and city lights.
Retail therapy in Frankfurt
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Explore central shopping centres such as MyZeil and nearby malls along Zeil, where international brands, local designers, cinemas, and eateries turn shopping into a social outing.
Markets & local crafts
Visit weekly markets like Kleinmarkthalle for regional produce and speciality stalls, and wander through Bornheim, Nordend, and Sachsenhausen streets for boutiques, independent labels, and small design shops.
Evening retail scene
After dark, Zeil and the streets around Hauptwache stay lively with illuminated shopfronts, cafés, and late-opening stores on selected days, all easily reached via U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines that run frequently into the evening.
Best time to visit Frankfurt
Spring shoulder season (April to June) brings mild weather, with average temperatures around 10–20°C (50–68°F) and blooming parks, ideal for sightseeing and river walks. Summer peak season (July to August) is warmer at about 18–26°C (64–79°F), popular for outdoor events and long evenings by the Main. Autumn and winter low season (November to March) are cooler, from roughly 0–10°C (32–50°F), with crisp days, occasional snow, and festive markets adding atmosphere in late November and December.