Frankfurt, Germany (AKA Frankfurt am Primary) is a significant hub in Europe for each the monetary world and for flights coming into/leaving the continent. In truth, the Frankfurt Worldwide Airport (FRA) is often one of many high 5 busiest airports in Europe.
So, likelihood is chances are you’ll end up flying by way of Frankfurt (if you have not already). And when you have an extended layover or maybe resolve to remain an evening in Frankfurt both earlier than or after a global flight, you could be questioning if there’s something to *do* in Frankfurt for simply sooner or later.
In spite of everything, massive monetary facilities aren’t typically probably the most thrilling locations to discover.
However there ARE issues you are able to do with sooner or later in Frankfurt, as my husband Elliot and I found on an in a single day keep of our personal!
(Need a straightforward solution to see a bit a Frankfurt in only a couple hours? This Frankfurt walking tour is all the time a great wager, and takes plans within the afternoon for anybody arriving on a morning flight.)
Arriving in Frankfurt on an extended layover
We arrived in Frankfurt early within the morning, and had been leaving on a practice the next morning – that means we had virtually precisely 24 hours to squeeze in some exploration in Germany’s Fifth-largest metropolis.
We began by taking a practice from the Frankfurt airport to town heart. You’ll be able to take the S8 or S9 S Bahn (suburban/regional practice) from the airport practice station at Terminal 1 to both the primary practice station in Frankfurt (Hauptbanhof), or go a bit of additional into to metropolis to the Hauptwache station, relying on the place you are staying. That is probably the most economical solution to get from Frankfurt airport to town heart (it prices lower than 5 euros), and takes about 10-Quarter-hour.
There are additionally taxis and rideshares, however the practice actually is the quickest and most cost-effective solution to get into town.
From the practice station, you’ll be able to then take an additional U Bahn (metro) practice, tram, taxi, or stroll to your lodging. If you happen to arrive early like we did, you in all probability will not be capable of verify into your resort but. However you’ll be able to nonetheless go away your baggage so you’ll be able to exit and discover!
Issues to do in Frankfurt in 1 day
Listed here are all of the issues you’ll be able to squeeze into sooner or later of sightseeing in Frankfurt:
1. Stroll alongside the River Primary
The River Primary flows 326 miles (525 kilometers) by way of Germany, and is the longest tributary of the Rhine. Frankfurt am Primary straddles this river, and strolling alongside its banks is effectively value it, particularly through the hotter months.
In the summertime particularly, you may discover individuals picnicking within the park-like areas on each side of the river, alongside pop-up cafes and bars. There are floating eating places and beer gardens alongside each side of the Primary in the summertime, too, particularly between the Friedensbrücke and Ignatz-Bubis-Brücke (bridges).
The Primary Terrasse beer backyard is relaxed and gives up good views of Frankfurt and the Eiserner Steg, whereas the Freigut Frankfurt Summer season Lounge is a seasonal cocktail bar.
2. Cross the Eiserner Steg
Talking of the Eiserner Steg (fairly actually “Iron Footbridge”), this pedestrian bridge connecting the 2 sides of the Primary is effectively value a stroll throughout.
Together with providing nice views of each Frankfurt’s trendy skyline and Outdated City church steeples, the bridge’s sides are additionally lined in colourful love locks.
3. Discover Frankfurt’s New Outdated City
My favourite a part of Frankfurt is the tiny Outdated City, centering across the Römerberg, or historic market sq. in entrance of the Römer (Metropolis Corridor). And whereas this a part of town seems to be fairly genuine and previous, it is really model new – building was solely accomplished in 2018!
The “New Outdated City” resembles Frankfurt’s unique Outdated City, which was certainly previous. Earlier than Germany was Germany, Frankfurt existed as a metropolis state, and was one of the crucial necessary cities within the Holy Roman Empire. The unique Römer served as an indoor market for Roman retailers, and Frankfurt Cathedral served because the coronation web site of kings and emperors.
Frankfurt was once the biggest timber body city in all of Germany. However the overwhelming majority of the Outdated City was destroyed throughout WWII in an Allied air raid in Could 1944.
Reconstruction of the Outdated City consisted of 15 buildings being rebuilt utilizing unique blueprints, together with 20 new buildings following in the identical architectural model. If you happen to visited with out realizing that it was all completely new, you’d in all probability by no means guess! (It jogs my memory a whole lot of how they reconstructed Warsaw’s Old Town after WWII!)
Just a few issues to take a look at within the New Outdated City embody:
- Römerberg – The historic market sq. is as soon as once more surrounded by half-timbered buildings, and is iconic!
- Alte Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church) – At one finish of Römerberg, this small Gothic church dates again to the Center Ages.
- Paulskirche (St. Paul’s Church) – Sitting on Paulsplatz, the pink brick church is immediately a monument to democracy in Germany. Entry to see the displays inside is free.
- A museum – Museums just like the Historisches Museum Frankfurt (an ideal metropolis historical past museum), Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (trendy and modern artwork museum), Frankfurter Kunstverein (artwork museum), and Caricatura – Museum for Comedian Artwork are all in Outdated City.
- Neue Altstadt – This sq. of restored townhouses is now dwelling to a number of fashionable bars and cafes.
Wish to see all of it? Think about a Frankfurt walking tour when you have time.
4. Go to Frankfurt Cathedral
Marking the far finish of the New Outdated City, the Frankfurt Cathedral (the Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus) is value stopping in to see. The Gothic-style cathedral is centuries previous, and is the location the place German kings after which Roman emperors had been coronated beginning within the 1300s.
The cathedral was broken in WWII, however not utterly destroyed. It has seen a whole lot of revisions and renovations through the years, although. Notably, the inviting pink inside of the cathedral is due to a paint job within the Nineteen Nineties!
You’ll be able to go to the cathedral totally free, however there’s additionally a cathedral museum to go to (3 euros) and the cathedral tower you could climb (328 steps).
5. Store on the Kleinmarkthalle
Not removed from the New Outdated City, the Kleinmarkthalle is a big indoor market corridor courting again to the Nineteen Fifties. Inside, greater than 150 stalls promote every little thing from contemporary meals to flowers.
Even should you needn’t purchase something, it is a enjoyable native spot to see.
6. Go to a museum
If you happen to’re visiting Frankfurt on a wet day, or in any season apart from summer time, you may want extra indoor actions! And museums are all the time an ideal go-to. Frankfurt has an entire row of museums on the south aspect of the Primary (within the Sachsenhausen neighborhood) known as “Museumsufer.”
I already talked about some museums within the Outdated City just like the Historisches Museum Frankfurt and Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt. However a pair others you may get pleasure from embody:
- Städel Museum – This artwork museum in alongside the Museumsufer has a big European assortment of works from the Center Ages to the current day.
- Liebieghaus – A museum devoted to sculptures, with a powerful assortment of 5000+ items.
- DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum – The German Movie Museum is an modern museum devoted to movie and cinema.
- Jüdisches Museum – Frankfurt’s Jewish Museum consists of interactive displays that inform the historical past of Jewish individuals in Frankfurt in additional trendy historical past.
- Goethe Home – The home the place German author/statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born and grew up. The within is now a museum, representing life when Goethe was rising up right here.
7. Take a ship cruise
If you happen to nonetheless have time, think about a sightseeing cruise down the River Primary to see Frankfurt from a distinct perspective. This Frankfurt cruise may be both 50 or 100 minutes lengthy, and consists of full commentary as you sail. (Book a cruise here)
The place to remain in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is a big metropolis, however should you’re planning to play vacationer there, you may wish to keep someplace between the primary practice station and the japanese finish of the Outdated City so you’ll be able to simply attain all the primary sights and museums – both on foot or by tram/U-bahn.
Just a few resort choices vetted by me embody:
- Scandic Frankfurt Museumsufer – Strolling distance to the primary practice station and the River Primary, this resort consists of every little thing I count on from the Scandic resort chain: cozy rooms with Scandinavian design, and a great resort breakfast buffet. We selected a room with a view of Frankfurt’s metropolis heart, too, which was cool!
- Motel One Frankfurt-Römer – If you wish to be nearer to the Outdated City, that is the resort for you. It is completely situated only a quick stroll to the Römerberg. The rooms are on the small aspect, however have. a pleasant modern design.
- Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof – If you happen to’re searching for extra of a luxurious possibility, the Steigenberger Icon actually is an icon, courting again to 1876. It is in an ideal location, and even gives Afternoon Tea!
When to go to Frankfurt
Folks fly by way of Frankfurt year-round, and when you end up there may depend upon different journey plans.
Nonetheless, late spring by way of early fall (late April-early October) is whenever you’ll discover the most effective climate in Frankfurt, and likewise numerous out of doors eating and consuming choices. (The floating beer gardens alongside the Primary keep open no less than by way of September.)
The Introduction season (late November up till Christmas) can be a enjoyable time to go to Frankfurt, as numerous Christmas markets flip the Outdated City space into a vacation wonderland.
Have you ever ever frolicked exploring Frankfurt?
