Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!
Frankfurt am Main certainly has a lot to offer for anyone looking for something. But when you’re short on time because you decided to make the most out of a short layover in Frankfurt, then you need to cut through hogwash and get right to the point. So here are my top 5 things to do in Frankfurt as quickly as possible while still enjoying the most the city has to offer!
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Check out the Kaiserdom
This imperial cathedral is one of the most important cathedrals in Germany, which was used from 1356 to 1562 for the coronation of German kings and Holy Roman Emperors, similar to Aachen’s Pfalzkapelle. Built between the 13-15th centuries, the cathedral houses some priceless masterpieces such as the high alter.
Walk along the Main River
Nothing makes for a more enjoyable day than a stroll along a beautiful river, lined with beautiful churches and buildings, with a mixture of historic and modern architecture blending into one.
Take a stroll over the Eiserner Steg bridge
A small footbridge which crosses the Main offers lovers a chance to strap on a love lock as a way to profess their never-ending love for one another. Not that I encourage this, they do make for some pretty pictures, plus the bridge offers a great view of the city skyscrapers.
Fall in love with the Römerberg
My absolute favorite thing about Frankfurt is the historic town square which includes a group of half-timbered houses commonly called the Ostzeile which dates back to between the 15-18th centuries, as well as the Rathaus (Town Hall). Today, you can find several touristy restaurants and shops, as well as the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice). The square was practically destroyed during the war, but was rebuilt to its former glory and is today one of the most popular things to see in Frankfurt.
Check out the views of Frankfurt
A little secret from one traveler to another, many Galleria Kaufhof shops in Germany are located in the city center, which all have a restaurant at the top of the building which usually offer some pretty astounding views. So, as soon as I spotted one, I knew I had to go up! Here, you can see the blending of historic and modern architecture from above! And the best part is: IT’S FREE!
While I am sure there is a lot more to see of Frankfurt, these were the easy and free things to see and do while in Frankfurt that offered the biggest reward for such little time there.
40 of the BEST Day Trips from Frankfurt
How to Get to Frankfurt from Frankfurt Airport QUICKLY
Upon arriving at the Frankfurt Airport, head to the Frankfurt Regionalbahnhof (Region Train Station) where you can catch a Regional train with DeutscheBahn to go to/from the city center, getting off at Frankfurt HBF (Hauptbahnhof) (Main Train Station). The S8 and S9 and regional trains come about every 10-15 minutes and are cheaper than catching an IC or ICE.
Your COMPLETE Guide to Using the DeutscheBahn in Germany
Where to Stay in Frankfurt:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hilton Frankfurt Airport – Located directly at the Frankfurt Airport, this futuristic hotel is incredibly comfortable before you catch your flight. I always stay here before flying out!
⭐⭐⭐ B&B My Place – An adorable and cozy little hotel directly in the city center, not far from the Römer and from the Frankfurt Central Station.
If you’re interested in visiting Germany and are looking for more information, I highly recommend using the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide! Without these guides, I would be lost! This is my travel Bible!
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!
Be sure to check out the Top Places to Visit in Germany!
Check out other easy day trips from Frankfurt:
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Thank you for the tips. I´ve been in Franfkurt many years ago, there is one interesting botanical garden “Palmgarten”, otherwise there is not too many things what to do. It is better to rent a car and go for a trip out of the city along the river towards Cologne. There is a beautiful vineyard area and a lot of castles around the river.
That’s a great tip about the Kaufhof rooftop restaurants. Another thing I do in Frankfurt, have a refreshing Apfelwein in Sachsenhausen.
Beautiful photos! I love free ideas for trips!
I’ve only been in Frankfurt for transit, but I’ll have to stop and visit this beautiful city one of these days. There seems to be so much to do and see there!
Those are some lovely suggestions for exploring Frankfurt. I particularly liked Römerberg, which looks beautiful! #CityTripping
Reblogged this on Wander Mum.
Great tips! Very handy for a mini break to Frankfurt. The main square looks absolutely stunning. I love all those half-timbered buildings! Thanks for linking to #citytripping
I’m addicted to half-timbered houses! That’s the best part of living in Europe!
The historic town square is soooo charming! It’s a good enough reason to make me want to visit Frankfurt, haha
Interesting post and lots of great tips in the comments too! Apparently I need to add Frankfurt to my bucket list! 🙂
All this sounds perfect! I am monitoring flights to Europe and so far, Frankfurt seems the most economic way to get to the continent. I would like to send at least a day exploring the city.
I’m going this weekend – thanks for the tip about the footbridge! (you know I’m always looking for love locks!)
You’ll have fun! It’s such a pretty city center!
Be sure you bring a lock to leave on the Eiserner Steg bridge. Most have names and dates engraved on the locks. We left our Lock with name and date so we can someday return to see it. Be ready and bring yours! ❤️
I don’t believe in doing that. While it may be pretty, it does a lot of damage to the bridge that no one seems to notice until it’s too heavy and it breaks – look at Paris for example.