🇩🇪Germany · Places to discover
What to see in Frankfurt?
24 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Frankfurt often catches first-time visitors off guard: the skyline of skyscrapers contrasts sharply with the Römerberg, that medieval square rebuilt after the war which remains the symbolic heart of the old town. A city of trade fairs and finance, it operates at its own tempo, more international than German, fed by the constant flow of business travellers and a solid cultural scene centred on the Museumsufer.
Two days are enough to grasp the essentials, ideally in spring or September before congresses saturate the hotels. The S-Bahn links the airport to the centre in eleven minutes, making it a convenient base for excursions to the Rhine Valley or Heidelberg. Avoid Sachsenhausen on a Saturday evening if you're after a decent meal: the packed terraces mostly serve rushed tourists.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
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.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
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.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
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.
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Landmark
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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Landmark
Landmark
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.
Museums
4 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
German Film Museum (Deutsches Filmmuseum)
Germany's film museum on the Museumsufer, featuring interactive exhibitions on cinema history and a cinematheque screening rare films. A living cultural space, not a static museum.
7Wikimedia CommonsMuseum
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.
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Museum
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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Museum
Museum
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.
Religious sites
1 place
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
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.
Nature
5 places
11Wikimedia CommonsNature
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.
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature
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.
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5Nature
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.
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Nature
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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Nature
Nature
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.
Parks & gardens
1 place
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Park
Park
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.
Viewpoints
4 places
17Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
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.
18Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
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.
19Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
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.
20Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
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.
Activities
4 places
21Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Activity
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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Activity
Activity
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.
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Activity
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.
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Activity
Activity
Flea Market at Sachsenhausen Quay
Saturday morning flea market on the Sachsenhausen quays, one of Germany's largest open-air markets with over 200 vendors. Vinyl records, antique books, collectibles – an unmissable destination for bargain hunters.
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