Things to Do in Frankfurt: Top 10 Sights & 1–2 Day Itinerary
For centuries Frankfurt am Main was where German kings were elected, and from 1562 to 1792 where Holy Roman Emperors were crowned. Bombing in March 1944 destroyed almost all of the medieval old town; today the rebuilt Römer town hall, the reconstructed New Old Town completed in 2018 and the red sandstone cathedral stand in the shadow of the banking towers that earned the city the nickname Mainhattan.
On this page you will find our top 10 sights for a first visit, one- and two-day itineraries, family ideas, tips for getting in from the airport and the full list of Frankfurt attractions in our catalogue. Opening hours and prices are on each attraction's page; please confirm them with the venue before you go.
Audio guide
Explore Frankfurt with an audio guide
A narrated walk on your phone: map, GPS and stories you won't find on the signs. No app — it runs in your browser.
Why visit
- The Römerberg, the New Old Town and the cathedral – the stage for royal elections and imperial coronations – lie within a few hundred metres.
- The Main Tower is the only Frankfurt skyscraper with a public viewing platform, some 200 metres above the streets.
- The Museumsufer lines the south bank of the Main, led by the Städel with 700 years of European art.
- Families can see dinosaurs at the Senckenberg, butterflies at the Palmengarten and great apes at the zoo.
- Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe's major hubs, and the S-Bahn reaches the city centre in about a quarter of an hour.
Top 10: what to see first
Our picks for a first visit — each with a short reason why.
Old towns & squares
Römerberg (Frankfurt Town Hall Square)
Frankfurt
The Römerberg in Frankfurt is the city's historic town hall square and the most photographed spot in Germany's banking capital. Framed by the stepped gables of the Römer, Frankfurt's city hall since 1405, and a row of colorful half-timbere…
45–120 min Free entry1. The town hall square with the stepped gables of the Römer and a row of half-timbered houses. The Imperial Hall with 52 royal portraits is usually free to visit 10 am–5 pm.
Old towns & squares
New Frankfurt Old Town
Frankfurt
The New Frankfurt Old Town (Neue Frankfurter Altstadt), between the cathedral and Römerberg square, is the youngest and one of the most photographed parts of Frankfurt am Main. Built between 2012 and 2018 on the site of a 1970s concrete of…
30–180 min Free entry2. Rebuilt between 2012 and 2018: 35 houses, 15 of them faithful reconstructions, along the old coronation route and the Hühnermarkt square. Free to wander at any hour.
Churches & monasteries
Frankfurt Cathedral
Frankfurt
Frankfurt Cathedral – officially the Imperial Cathedral of St. Bartholomew (Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus) – is the largest church in Frankfurt am Main and one of the most important sites of German history. For centuries the prince-electors c…
45–150 min Free entry3. The election and coronation church of the emperors. The church is free daily 9 am–8 pm; 328 steps lead to a tower platform 66 metres up.
Museums
Goethe House
Frankfurt
The Goethe House (Goethe-Haus) in Frankfurt am Main is the family home where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's most celebrated writer, was born and grew up. Furnished with period pieces, paintings and household objects, the elegant tow…
60–180 min4. Goethe's birthplace, rebuilt after 1944 and refurnished with the original contents saved during the war. One ticket also covers the German Romantic Museum next door.
Museums
Städel Museum
Frankfurt
The Städel Museum in Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important art museums and the star of the city's Museum Embankment along the Main River. Its collection spans some 700 years of European art, from medieval altarpieces and Botticelli…
120–240 min5. Seven centuries of European art, from Botticelli and Vermeer to Monet and Kirchner, plus Tischbein's famous portrait of Goethe. Children under 12 go free.
Viewpoints
Main Tower
Frankfurt
The Main Tower in Frankfurt am Main is the only skyscraper in the city with an observation deck open to the public, which makes it the easiest way to see Germany's financial capital from above. From about 200 meters (656 feet) up, you look…
45–90 min6. A high-speed lift whisks you to the 55th floor; the open roof deck sits about 200 metres up. Adults pay 9 euros; in storms or rain only the glazed level is open.
Landmarks
Eiserner Steg (Iron Footbridge)
Frankfurt
The Eiserner Steg ("Iron Footbridge") in Frankfurt am Main is the city's best-known pedestrian bridge and one of its landmarks. The riveted steel span links the Old Town around Römerberg square with the Sachsenhausen district and the Museu…
10–30 min Free entry7. An 1869 footbridge linking the old town and Sachsenhausen, with skyline views and love locks. Sightseeing boats depart from its north bank.
Museums
Senckenberg Natural History Museum
Frankfurt
The Senckenberg Natural History Museum (Senckenberg Naturmuseum) in Frankfurt am Main is one of the largest natural history museums in Europe and a favorite with families. A replica Tyrannosaurus rex greets you outside; inside are dinosaur…
120–240 min8. A dinosaur hall featuring a Diplodocus gifted in 1907, a rare Edmontosaurus mummy with fossilised skin and fossils from the Messel Pit. Open until 8 pm on Wednesdays.
Gardens & parks
Palmengarten (Frankfurt Botanical Garden)
Frankfurt
The Palmengarten in Frankfurt am Main is one of Germany's best-known botanical gardens and a green escape just outside the city center. Spread over about 19 hectares (47 acres), it shows around 9,000 plant species outdoors and in historic…
120–240 min9. A botanical garden opened in 1871, with a vast column-free palm house, the 14 glasshouses of the Tropicarium and a butterfly house. Free for under-18s.
Zoos
Frankfurt Zoo
Frankfurt
The Frankfurt Zoo (Zoo Frankfurt) in the city's Ostend district is the second-oldest zoo in Germany and one of the most popular family outings in Frankfurt am Main. Right at the eastern end of the Zeil shopping street, you can see gorillas…
180–300 min10. Germany's second-oldest zoo, with gorillas, orangutans and bonobos in Borgori Forest, nocturnal animals in the Grzimek House and okapis. Winter hours to 5 pm from 25 October 2026.
Top sights on the map
Open the full map1-day itinerary
Morning: Römerberg and the Imperial Hall
Arrive early to photograph the half-timbered houses before the crowds. The Imperial Hall usually opens at 10 am, though it can close at short notice for city events.
Late morning: New Old Town and cathedral
Follow the coronation route past the Hühnermarkt to the cathedral, and climb the tower if you have a head for heights.
Lunchtime: Goethe House
A five-minute walk from the Römerberg. Tickets are sold only at the museum desk; allow about an hour for the house alone.
Places: Goethe House
Afternoon: Eiserner Steg and the Städel
Cross the river to Sachsenhausen and spend two to three hours in the Städel, which is closed on Mondays and open until 9 pm on Thursdays.
Evening: Main Tower
Finish with the illuminated skyline from above. In winter the deck closes at 7 pm Sunday to Thursday; the last lift goes up 45 minutes before closing.
Places: Main Tower
2-day itinerary
Day 1: Old town, Goethe and the skyline
Römerberg, New Old Town and cathedral
Spend the morning on the town hall square, the coronation route and the cathedral; with the tower climb, allow half a day.
Places: Römerberg (Frankfurt Town Hall Square) New Frankfurt Old Town Frankfurt Cathedral
Goethe House and Romantic Museum
Give the afternoon to Goethe's family home and the museum beside it – two to three hours for both.
Places: Goethe House
Main Tower at sunset
Travel light: backpacks, larger bags and bottles are not allowed on the platform.
Places: Main Tower
Day 2: Museum embankment and green Frankfurt
Eiserner Steg and the Städel
Cross the river in the morning for the Städel, then take a short detour into the old cider-tavern quarter of Sachsenhausen.
Senckenberg Natural History Museum
Take the U4 to Bockenheimer Warte for dinosaurs, Messel fossils and a cast of the early human Lucy.
Palmengarten or the zoo
Walk from Bockenheimer Warte to the Palmengarten, or ride the U6 or U7 to the zoo in the Ostend.
Places: Palmengarten (Frankfurt Botanical Garden) Frankfurt Zoo
Getting there
By air: At Frankfurt Airport (FRA), S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 leave from the regional station at Terminal 1 for Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and the city centre. ICE high-speed trains stop at the separate long-distance station, so you can continue across Germany without going into town.
By train: Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is one of the busiest hubs in the Deutsche Bahn network. From there take U4 or U5 to Dom/Römer, or walk to the Römerberg in about 20 minutes.
Getting around: The old town, riverbanks and Museumsufer are easy on foot. The U-Bahn runs to Bockenheimer Warte for the Senckenberg and Palmengarten, and U6 or U7 to the zoo. Parking in the centre is limited; the Dom Römer garage lies directly beneath the New Old Town.
When to go
Spring to autumn is best for the riverbanks, the Palmengarten and the zoo, and the Museumsufer festival takes over the south bank at the end of August. In Advent the Christmas market fills the Römerberg and old town – atmospheric but crowded. From December the Palmengarten stages its Winterlichter light trail, which needs a separate ticket.
Temporary closures in 2026: the cathedral museum is closed from 12 to 25 October, and the Kaiserpfalz franconofurd archaeological display in the old town is shut during building work nearby. From 25 October the zoo closes at 5 pm. The Städel and the cathedral museum are closed on Mondays.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Frankfurt?
One day covers the Römerberg, New Old Town, cathedral and Main Tower. Two days let you add the Städel, the Senckenberg museum, the Palmengarten or the zoo without rushing.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to the city centre?
Take S-Bahn line S8 or S9 from the regional station at Terminal 1 to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof or on to Hauptwache. For the old town, change at Hauptbahnhof to U4 or U5 to Dom/Römer.
Is Frankfurt worth visiting for more than a layover?
Yes. Within walking distance you get the coronation sites of the Holy Roman Empire, Goethe's birthplace, a world-class art museum and the only skyscraper in the city with a public viewing platform.
What can you do in Frankfurt with kids?
See dinosaurs and try the hands-on workshop at the Senckenberg, visit the butterfly house, playgrounds and pedal boats at the Palmengarten, and watch feeding times at the zoo. Under-18s enter the Palmengarten free and under-12s the Städel.
Which Frankfurt sights are free?
The Römerberg, the New Old Town, the Eiserner Steg and the cathedral itself cost nothing, and the Imperial Hall in the Römer is usually free too. You pay for the cathedral tower, the cathedral museum and the major museums.
Where is the best view of the Frankfurt skyline?
From the Main Tower platform about 200 metres up, from the cathedral tower at 66 metres, and for free from the middle of the Eiserner Steg, especially at dusk.
All attractions (15)
Old towns & squares
Römerberg (Frankfurt Town Hall Square)
Frankfurt am Main
The Römerberg in Frankfurt is the city's historic town hall square and the most photographed spot in Germany's banking capital. Framed by the stepped gables of the Römer, Frankfurt's city hall since 1405, and a row of colorful half-timbere…
45–120 min Free entry
Museums
Städel Museum
Frankfurt am Main
The Städel Museum in Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important art museums and the star of the city's Museum Embankment along the Main River. Its collection spans some 700 years of European art, from medieval altarpieces and Botticelli…
120–240 min
Landmarks
Eiserner Steg (Iron Footbridge)
Frankfurt am Main
The Eiserner Steg ("Iron Footbridge") in Frankfurt am Main is the city's best-known pedestrian bridge and one of its landmarks. The riveted steel span links the Old Town around Römerberg square with the Sachsenhausen district and the Museu…
10–30 min Free entry
Churches & monasteries
Frankfurt Cathedral
Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt Cathedral – officially the Imperial Cathedral of St. Bartholomew (Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus) – is the largest church in Frankfurt am Main and one of the most important sites of German history. For centuries the prince-electors c…
45–150 min Free entry
Viewpoints
Main Tower
Frankfurt am Main
The Main Tower in Frankfurt am Main is the only skyscraper in the city with an observation deck open to the public, which makes it the easiest way to see Germany's financial capital from above. From about 200 meters (656 feet) up, you look…
45–90 min
Museums
Goethe House
Frankfurt am Main
The Goethe House (Goethe-Haus) in Frankfurt am Main is the family home where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's most celebrated writer, was born and grew up. Furnished with period pieces, paintings and household objects, the elegant tow…
60–180 min
Gardens & parks
Palmengarten (Frankfurt Botanical Garden)
Frankfurt am Main
The Palmengarten in Frankfurt am Main is one of Germany's best-known botanical gardens and a green escape just outside the city center. Spread over about 19 hectares (47 acres), it shows around 9,000 plant species outdoors and in historic…
120–240 min
Museums
Senckenberg Natural History Museum
Frankfurt am Main
The Senckenberg Natural History Museum (Senckenberg Naturmuseum) in Frankfurt am Main is one of the largest natural history museums in Europe and a favorite with families. A replica Tyrannosaurus rex greets you outside; inside are dinosaur…
120–240 min
Old towns & squares
New Frankfurt Old Town
Frankfurt am Main
The New Frankfurt Old Town (Neue Frankfurter Altstadt), between the cathedral and Römerberg square, is the youngest and one of the most photographed parts of Frankfurt am Main. Built between 2012 and 2018 on the site of a 1970s concrete of…
30–180 min Free entry
Zoos
Frankfurt Zoo
Frankfurt am Main
The Frankfurt Zoo (Zoo Frankfurt) in the city's Ostend district is the second-oldest zoo in Germany and one of the most popular family outings in Frankfurt am Main. Right at the eastern end of the Zeil shopping street, you can see gorillas…
180–300 min
Landmarks
Alte Oper (Old Opera) Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main
The Alte Oper (Old Opera) on Opernplatz is one of Frankfurt's most photographed buildings and one of Germany's leading concert halls. Its neo-Renaissance facade stands out among the skyscrapers of the banking district. You can see it in tw…
15–120 min
Old towns & squares
Kleinmarkthalle Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main
The Kleinmarkthalle in Frankfurt is the city's best-known indoor food market, a lively hall in the old town where regional produce, sausages, cheese, spices and international delicacies are sold side by side. If you want a taste of Frankfu…
60–120 min Free entry
Landmarks
Messeturm (Trade Fair Tower)
Frankfurt am Main
The Messeturm (Trade Fair Tower) in Frankfurt is one of the city's most recognizable skyscrapers: a red granite tower topped by a pyramid, standing beside the exhibition grounds on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage. At about 257 meters (843 feet) it…
15–30 min
Museums
Museum of Modern Art (MMK) Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main
The Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK) in Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important museums of contemporary art. Its main building in the old town, Hans Hollein's wedge-shaped "slice of cake", is a landmark in itself. One thing to know befo…
60–150 min
Museums
Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main
The Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt is one of Europe's best-known venues for modern and contemporary art. Its original building between the cathedral and the Römerberg is being renovated for energy efficiency, so for now the Schirn presents it…
60–120 min