Main Tower

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 down on the bank towers of "Mainhattan," the rebuilt Old Town, the cathedral and the Main River, with the Taunus hills on the horizon on a clear day. It is one of the top things to do in Frankfurt, especially on a short stopover.

Where it is and how to get there

The tower stands at Neue Mainzer Strasse 52–58 in the banking district, right in the city center. From Frankfurt Airport, take S-Bahn line S8 or S9 to Taunusanlage station, then walk about ten minutes – it is a quick add-on to a layover. From Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) it is only one S-Bahn stop on any of the lines S1 to S9. The Deutschlandticket is valid on the S-Bahn. The tower has no public parking; use the Junghofstrasse garage around the corner.

A short history

The building is the Frankfurt headquarters of Helaba, the state bank of Hesse and Thuringia. Hamburg architects Schweger + Partner designed it, construction ran from 1996 to 1999, and it opened in January 2000. The structure is 200 meters tall, or 240 meters including its antenna mast. From 2005 to 2013 the weekly German lottery draw was held inside the tower. Since 9/11, all visitors pass through an airport-style security check in the lobby.

What you will see

Elevators running at up to 7 meters per second, among Germany's fastest, serve a deck on two levels:

• 55th floor: an enclosed, glass-walled level with a small outdoor area, reachable by elevator
• 56th floor: the open-air rooftop platform, reached by stairs
• The view: Commerzbank Tower, the European Central Bank, the trade-fair tower, Frankfurt Cathedral, the river bridges
• Free AR app: point your phone at the skyline to see cities, distances and directions overlaid on the camera image

The public lobby displays a video installation by Bill Viola and a huge wall mosaic.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, an adult ticket costs €9, reduced tickets €6 (students, seniors, kids under 16), and a family ticket €20. Children under 6 go free. Only adult tickets are sold online (plus a €0.50 fee); they are not date-specific and do not give priority entry. With the change to winter time in late October, the deck is open Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m. (summer: until 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.). The last elevator goes up 45 minutes before closing. In strong wind or rain the open deck closes, and only the enclosed level is sold at €4.

Practical tips

• Plan on 45 minutes at the top; that is the standard visit time from the security check.
• Backpacks, larger bags, suitcases and bottles are not allowed, and strollers stay on the ground floor.
• Kids under 16 must be with an adult. Wheelchair users need a companion and can reach the 55th floor, but not the open roof.
• Dogs are not allowed, except service dogs.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you want the classic skyline view in one easy stop. For the full picture, combine it with the nearby Old Opera House and Goethe House, then walk about 15 minutes to Römerberg square, the New Old Town and the cathedral, and cross the Eiserner Steg footbridge to Sachsenhausen.