Things to do in  Frankfurt

Set in the Black Forest region near the border between France and Germany, Baden-Baden offers a charming blend of cultures with grand Art Nouveau villas, modern boutiques, and chic cafés. The town’s thermal waters and ancient Roman baths are its main attractions, including the famous Friedrichsbad spring and Trinkhalle pump room.

Inaugurated in 1880, Frankfurt’s Old Opera House (Alte Oper) was among Germany’s elite opera houses during its 20th-century heyday. Left in ruins after WWII, it finally reopened in 1981 and is now one of the city’s leading concert venues, hosting around 300 classical and popular music events throughout the year.

Frankfurt’s most important public square, Römerberg is a highlight of the city’s Old Town (Altstadt) and one of its top tourist destinations. A major gathering place since the 15th century, and host to bustling markets and festivals, Römerberg Square is known for its heritage architecture and for being the seat of the local government.

Although the Black Forest is located in one of the sunniest areas of Germany, its name dates back to a time when thick trees shielded the forest floor from light. While there are more clearings now, the country's largest and most renowned forest remains a real-life Grimm fairy tale dotted with gingerbread villages and serene wood-fringed lakes.

That St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche) was one of the first buildings to be rebuilt post WWII says a lot about its importance. The landmark church is not only a center of worship; it also played a significant role in Frankfurt’s history, serving as the seat of the 1848 Frankfurt Parliament, the first freely elected German parliament.

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof is many visitors’ first look at this historic city. In fact, it’s many visitors’ first look at the region. Thanks to its location in the center of Europe, it’s widely regarded as not just Frankfurt’s Central Station, but Germany’s. With 120 tracks and service from Amsterdam to Paris, this is where Frankfurt adventures begin.

The looming steel peaks of the Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg) have framed Frankfurt’s skyline since 1869; a homage to the city’s industrial age. The only footbridge across the Main River, the Iron Bridge links the Old Town and Römerberg Square on the north bank, with Old Sachsenhausen and the Museum Embankment on the south bank.

One of Germany’s grandest and most important cathedrals, Frankfurter Dom dates back to the 13th century and dominates the city’s skyline. The landmark was once where Holy Roman Emperors were crowned and today exhibits several major artworks, including the Lamentation of Christ by Antonius van Dyck and Job by Emil Schumacher.

This Frankfurt attraction is popular among literary pilgrims. It combines the Goethe House—the restored birthplace of famed writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe—with a 14-gallery museum, which displays art and objects from Goethe’s era.

Standing proud on the western edge of Frankfurt’s central Römerberg square, Frankfurt City Hall (Romer) is both the city’s administrative headquarters and one of its most memorable landmarks. Characterized by its pink three-peaked façade, stepped gables and domed bell tower; it’s a regal feat of medieval architecture.

At 660 feet (200 meters), the Frankfurt Main Tower is only the fourth tallest building in Frankfurt, but it’s the still the city’s highest observation deck. Standing at the heart of Frankfurt’s central business district, the tower’s rooftop observation deck affords spectacular views over the city and the Main River.

One of Rüdesheim am Rhein’s top sights—and one of Germany’s most famous streets—Drosselgasse has long been associated with the region’s winemaking traditions. Measuring just 472 feet (144 meters) long and 6.5 feet (2 meters) across, this historic cobbled street is full of wine bars, restaurants, and other entertainment venues.

Driving along the Romantic Road is like flipping through a postcard book of Bavariaó: you'll see fairytale castles, picturesque medieval villages, and elegant walled towns all set against the dramatic backdrops of the Bavarian Alps and the Franconian vineyards. The 220-mile (355-km) tourist route runs all the way from Wurzburg in the north to Fussen in the south, passing through some of southern Germany's most scenic towns.

The view along the tree-lined banks of the Main River is Frankfurt’s most famous, looking out across the skyscraper-studded skyline. Running through the heart of Frankfurt, the Main River is the longest within Germany, flowing 327 miles (527 kilometers) from Bamberg to Mainz, and traversing three German states before joining the Rhine River.

With a string of world-class museums lining the banks of the Main River; Frankfurt’s Museum Embankment (Museumsufer) is one of Germany’s most important cultural hubs. Over a dozen museums call the Museumsufer home, housed in a series of beautifully restored 18th-century villas.