User:Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Frankfurt am Main

Skyline, apple wine and a rebuilt old town

Frankfurt am Main is Germany's financial centre, with a cluster of skyscrapers on the river that locals call Mainhattan. Close to the towers is the Römerberg, a rebuilt old town square. A row of museums lines the riverbank. Visitors can go up the Main Tower for views, see the Paulskirche where Germany's first parliament met in 1848 or drink apple wine in Sachsenhausen. Cologne is just over an hour away by train and the airport is one of the busiest in Europe. A day or two fits well into a longer route through the Rhine-Main region.

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City in Germany

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

Most people in Frankfurt speak English, especially in tourist areas, hotels and restaurants. In local markets or smaller shops, basic German phrases might be useful, but you can generally get by in English.

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Last update: 22 Oct 2026

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Frankfurt am Main Summary

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Strong in modern skyline and business culture. Visit museums along the river, enjoy city viewpoints, explore historic squares and experience lively nightlife.

Place score

8.0

Best at:

Large cities

Museums

Architecture

Art

Theatre

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

🐕 9

With dogs

Germany – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cards are widely accepted, especially in urban areas, but small establishments may prefer cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in restaurants, typically 5-10%. For taxis, it is customary to round up to the nearest euro. Tipping in cash is more common than adding it to card payments.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in most parts of Germany, especially in beer gardens and public events, but some local regulations may restrict it in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places such as restaurants, trains, and buses. Designated smoking areas are available outside many buildings.

Oktoberfest (September)	Huge crowds in Munich. Expect high hotel rates and crowded transport.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets are popular, expect crowded cities and higher prices.
Labour Day (May)	Many shops are closed, and there are celebrations throughout the country.

Emergency contact:	Police: 110, Emergency Number: 112 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, myTaxi
Other:	Germany is well-equipped for tourists, with good public transport and high-quality facilities. However, be prepared for language barriers in some rural areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Frankfurt am Main, Germany

❄️

Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

☁️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Christmas market runs late November to 22 December

Major trade fairs, especially the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid October, push hotel prices up and can book out the city

Don't miss

🌆 Climb the Main Tower for sweeping panoramic views of Frankfurt
🏘️ Stroll through the Römerberg and admire its medieval houses
🖼️ Visit the Städel Museum and explore centuries of European art
🚶🏻 Walk along the River Main and stop at the Museumsufer
🛍️ Shop and dine on the busy Zeil shopping street
🍏 Try a glass of local Apfelwein in Sachsenhausen

You've been here?

Why travel to Frankfurt am Main?

Frankfurt is worth visiting for the contrast between its skyline and its old streets. The skyscrapers around the Main make it unlike any other German city. The Main Tower has a public viewing platform. A few minutes away, the Römerberg and the Römer, the old town hall, face a rebuilt old town (the Neue Altstadt) with timber-framed houses. The Paulskirche, where the first German parliament met in 1848, is close by. The museums are a main reason to come. Many of them stand along the Main riverbank on the Museumsufer, including the Städel. Goethe's birthplace is also in the centre and the Palmengarten is a large botanical garden. The Kleinmarkthalle is a covered market with local food stalls. Sachsenhausen on the south bank is the place for apple wine (Äppelwoi), served in traditional taverns. In late November the Christmas market opens between the Roßmarkt and the Römerberg while festivals like the Museumsuferfest fill the riverbank in summer. The city also hosts large trade fairs and the Frankfurt Book Fair in autumn. One or two days cover the main sights. The city also works as a base for day trips to Heidelberg, Mainz and the Rheingau.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Eiserner Steg
2 Main Tower
3 Palmengarten
4 Kleinmarkthalle
5 Römerberg
6 Städel Museum
7 Goethe House

🎡Places for activities

1 Zoo
2 Historical Museum Frankfurt
3 Kasteler Museumsufer

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Grüneburgpark
2 Parkstraße
3 Günthersburgpark
4 Frankfurt City Forest
5 Ostpark

🛍️Shopping

1 Skyline Plaza
2 Kleinmarkthalle
3 Schillermarkt
4 Hessen-Center
5 Goethestraße
6 Berger Straße
7 Sinan Metzgerei & Lebensmittel Markt

🎈Events

Frankfurt Book Fair (October)
Museumsuferfest (August)
Christmas Market (December)
Osthafen Festival (July)
Rheingau Wine Festival (September)
Dippemess Fun Fair (Spring & Autumn)
Apple Wine Festival (August)
Luminale Light Festival (biennial)
Ironman Frankfurt (July)
Main Festival (August)

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Knowledge before you go

Many riverside museums close on Mondays, so check opening days.
The Frankfurt Card includes local public transport and discounts at many museums and other attractions.
Apple wine is served in a grey patterned jug called a Bembel and drunk from a ribbed glass.
Bethmännchen, small marzipan pastries with almonds, are a Frankfurt Christmas treat sold at the market and in bakeries.

How to travel to Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the main gateway, with flights from all over the world. The S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 reach the main station in about 15 minutes. The airport also has its own long-distance train station with ICE connections to Cologne, Stuttgart and Munich. By train, Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is a major hub. The fastest ICE from Cologne takes about 1 hour 7 minutes, with around 80 connections a day. Berlin takes roughly four hours while Munich and Hamburg take about three and a half. Regional trains reach Wiesbaden, Mainz and Heidelberg in under an hour. By car, the A3, A5, A66 and A661 meet around the city. A low-emission zone applies in the centre and traffic is heavy at rush hour and around the airport.

Access summary

From Frankfurt Airport (FRA): S8/S9 S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof, about 15–20 minutes.
From Berlin: High-speed ICE trains to Frankfurt Hbf, usually around 3.5–4.5 hours.
From Munich: Frequent ICE trains to Frankfurt Hbf, typically about 3–3.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Frankfurt am Main

Most visitors stay near the main station or in the centre, where hotels of all sizes are close to the U-Bahn and the Römerberg. The station district has many hotels but can feel rough late at night. Streets around the Zeil and the Römerberg are calmer and better for walking. Sachsenhausen on the south bank has smaller hotels, bars and apple wine taverns and suits you if you want nightlife. The Westend is a quiet residential area near the Palmengarten. Nordend and Bornheim have cafés and apartments and feel more local. Hotels near the airport suit early flights. Frankfurt is a business city, so rooms are expensive on weekdays and during trade fairs and the Book Fair, when many sell out. Weekends are often cheaper. Staying in Mainz or Wiesbaden can cost less and is an easy train ride away.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

IntercityHotel Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof

8.9

Toyoko Inn Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof

9.0

Motel One Frankfurt-Hauptbahnhof

8.5

Savoy Hotel

7.4

The Cloud One Frankfurt-Metropolitan

8.8

Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport

Flemings Selection Hotel Frankfurt-City

8.7

Flemings Hotel Frankfurt Main-Riverside

8.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt's centre is compact, with the station, the old town and the Museumsufer all within a short walk or tram ride. One transport network, the RMV, runs the U-Bahn, trams, S-Bahn and buses and a single ticket works on all of them.

Walking:
The Römerberg, the Zeil shopping street and the Museumsufer are all close to each other. It's about a 20-minute walk from the main station to the old town while the riverbank is pleasant for longer strolls.

U-Bahn and trams:
The U-Bahn and trams connect the station, the centre, Sachsenhausen and the trade fair grounds. Stations are mostly step-free and trains run frequently until around midnight.

S-Bahn:
The S-Bahn runs under the centre and links the airport and the suburbs. Regional lines also connect the centre with Wiesbaden, Mainz and Hanau.

Bikes:
Hire bikes are available at stations across the city and the flat riverbank paths along the Main are easy to ride.

Car:
A car isn't needed in the city since parking is limited and costly in the centre and roads are busy at rush hour.

Food in Frankfurt am Main

Food in Frankfurt is Hessian cooking, served in apple wine taverns and traditional restaurants, with a wide range of international food in a city with many nationalities. The Kleinmarkthalle and bakeries suit snacks and picnics. Traditional taverns lean towards meat, but vegetarian options are easy to find elsewhere.

Grüne Soße:
A cold herb sauce made with seven herbs and sour cream or yogurt, served with boiled potatoes and eggs. It's a local favourite in spring and summer.

Apple wine:
Äppelwoi is a tart, still cider poured from a Bembel jug into ribbed glasses. It's the classic drink in the Sachsenhausen taverns.

Handkäse mit Musik:
A sour-milk cheese marinated in oil and vinegar with onions, eaten with bread. It's a standard tavern snack to go with apple wine.

Bethmännchen:
Small marzipan pastries decorated with almonds, sold at the Christmas market and in bakeries as a sweet souvenir of Frankfurt.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+9 %

Daily expenses in Frankfurt am Main are around 9% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£79	£155	£391
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£34	£68	£135
🍝 Food per day	£32	£74	£213
🚕 Transportation per day	£14	£14	£43

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£31
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£24
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£80
🤧 Cold medication	£8.50
💇 Basic haircut	£19

Safety information overview

General safety

Frankfurt is generally safe for visitors. Pickpockets work at the main station, on the Zeil and at the airport. The station district has a visible drug scene and feels rough late at night. Bike theft is common, so use a good lock.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with a large university hospital and many clinics and pharmacies in the city. English is widely spoken. No special vaccinations are needed for a visit and the emergency number is 112 across the EU.

Accessibility

The centre is mostly flat and most U-Bahn stations have lifts or ramps and trams are low floor. The old town has cobblestones around the Römerberg. Older buildings and the Main Tower platform have stairs or lifts, while the Museumsufer is mostly accessible.

Tap water

Tap water in Frankfurt is safe to drink and monitored under strict German rules. It's moderately hard, which leaves limescale but doesn't affect safety. Restaurants usually serve bottled water, so ask for tap water if you prefer it.