What to see in Frankfurt ?

Landmark

Goethe-Haus Frankfurt

The birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, faithfully restored with 18th-century furniture and objects. An intimate glimpse into bourgeois Frankfurt life during the Age of Enlightenment.

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Römerberg

Frankfurt's emblematic medieval square, featuring half-timbered houses reconstructed after the war. The city's historic heart, far more lively outside peak tourist hours.

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Jewish Museum Frankfurt

The Jewish museum housed in the former Rothschild palace, tracing 800 years of Jewish presence in Frankfurt, one of medieval Europe's most significant Jewish communities. A moving and rigorous visit, essential for understanding the city.

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Alte Oper Frankfurt

Neo-Renaissance opera house reconstructed after World War II, affectionately nicknamed 'Germany's most beautiful ruin' before restoration. Its illuminated façade at night is one of the city's finest sights.

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Paulskirche

St. Paul's Church, the symbolic cradle of German democracy where the first national parliament convened in 1848. Today a conference hall and memorial site, it hosts notably the presentation of the German Booksellers' Peace Prize.

Frankfurt Cathedral (Dom Saint-Barthélemy)

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Frankfurt Cathedral (Dom Saint-Barthélemy)

The Gothic imperial cathedral where Holy Roman emperors were elected and crowned. Climb 95 steps up the bell tower for a clear view over the entire old town.

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Liebieghaus Sculpture Museum

A sculpture museum housed in a Neo-Baroque villa on the banks of the Main, spanning 5,000 years of art history from Ancient Egypt to the Renaissance. The garden is a haven of peace often overlooked by hurried visitors.

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Städel Museum

One of Germany's largest art museums, with 700 years of European painting from Botticelli to Rembrandt via Vermeer. The modern underground extension is an architectural masterpiece in itself.

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Eschenheimer Tower

One of the few medieval towers still standing from Frankfurt's former fortified walls, dating from the 15th century. Today it stands amid modern traffic, a symbol of old Frankfurt's resilience.

Nature & parks (6)

Nature

Grüneburgpark

Frankfurt's largest park within the city limits, a former Rothschild estate, with sprawling lawns and adjoining botanical gardens. Frankfurters come here to brunch on the grass on Sunday mornings.

Nature

Nizza Park on the Main

A subtropical riverside garden on the banks of the Main, with palm trees, fig trees and lemon trees growing in the open air thanks to the river's microclimate. An improbable slice of Mediterranean in the heart of Germany.

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Palmengarten Frankfurt

An exceptional 22-hectare botanical garden featuring spectacular tropical greenhouses dating from the 19th century. In summer, open-air concerts beneath the palms make it an unmissable outing for Frankfurt residents.

Nature

Sachsenhausen

The southern bank of the Main with its pedestrian quays, apple trees and cider terraces in summer. The real popular Frankfurt, just steps away from the Museumsufer but in a completely different atmosphere.

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Stadtwald Frankfurt – Oberschweinstieg

Frankfurt's urban forest spans 4,300 hectares, one of Europe's largest. The Oberschweinstieg trail leads to clearings and streams favoured by Frankfurt joggers and families.

Nature

Frankfurt Zoo

One of Europe's oldest zoos (1858), with a remarkable primate collection and a unique Exotarium for reptiles and fish. Frankfurters frequent it like a neighbourhood park.

Viewpoints (4)

Viewpoint

Main Tower Observation Deck

Frankfurt's only public observation terrace atop a banking skyscraper, at 200 metres high. On clear days, the view across the skyline and the Hessian countryside is breathtaking.

Viewpoint

Lohrberg Frankfurt

Germany's only intra-city wine hill, with vineyards cultivated by the city and a panoramic view of Frankfurt's skyline from the heights of Bergen-Enkheim. A magical spot at sunset.

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Skyline Plaza Roof Terrace

The terrace of the Skyline Plaza shopping centre offers a 360° view of the skyscrapers in the financial district, completely free and often deserted. The best place to photograph 'Mainhattan' without paying a penny.

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Henninger Turm Viewpoint

A former grain elevator converted into a residential building with a panoramic restaurant at the top, offering an unusual view of Frankfurt from Sachsenhausen. Less known than Main Tower but with a more local atmosphere.

Activities (5)

Activity

Batschkapp Frankfurt

Frankfurt's alternative concert hall, open since 1976, which hosted major rock, punk and electronic acts before they became famous. The underground musical soul of the city.

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Berger Straße – Bornheim

The shopping street in the Bornheim district, with independent cafés, delicatessens and unpretentious wine bars. The Frankfurt of residents, far from tourist circuits.

Activity

Bahnhofsviertel – Kaiserstraße

The railway district, often overlooked but undergoing transformation, with its trendy cocktail bars, authentic Vietnamese restaurants and world groceries. The real Frankfurt melting pot to explore in the evening.

German Film Museum (Deutsches Filmmuseum)