Choose from 26 Fun Things to Do in Frankfurt
Hauptwache
Museumsufer
Eiserner Steg
Atta Cave
You’ll be immersed in a bizarre yet beautiful world of stalagmite and stalactite striped curtains, pillars and forest, with the highlight being the otherworldly Kristallpalast (crystal palace) chamber. The startlingly beautiful natural attraction is thought to be over 400 million years old, formed when impure carbon dioxide-rich waters covered the water-soluble rocks. Interestingly, Atta Cave is thought by some to have therapeutic properties for certain ailments like asthma, bronchitis and insomnia.
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Bockenheimer Warte
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Goethe House & Museum (Goethehaus)
The Goethe House & Museum is the site where the great German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in 1749. Goethe’s former house is a fantastic and tangible example of the living style of the 18th century Frankfurt's gentry. The house was technically Goethe's parents', and he lived here until moving to Weimar where he died in 1765.
Main features include Goethe's original writing desk and the library on the fourth floor, where Goethe composed his famous epistolary, The Sorrows of Young Werther, and where he began writing Faust. The rooms are decorated with a charming mix of reproduction and original furnishing. The museum is a picture gallery dedicated to the Age of Goethe. The Goethe House & Museum offer an intriguing a peek into 18th century lifestyles and Goethe’s early years.
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The Goethe Haus, birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, is a must-see for German literature fans. Get there from the U-Bahn or S-Bahn via Hauptwache.
Black Forest
With its stunning scenery, clean air, dozens of mineral spas, plentiful wineries, and numerous small towns, travelers can easily spend a day, a week, or a month exploring this region between the Rhine River and the Alpine foothills of Switzerland. The Black Forest Railway is a popular activity within the forest, stretching for 93 miles (150 km) through the region and passing several magnificent waterfalls along the way.
- A visit to the Black Forest is perfect for spontaneous travelers and outdoor adventurers; you'll find ample hiking and biking in the area.
- Keep in mind that Black Forest area highways are often steep and winding; give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place.
- To avoid having to drive yourself, book a Black Forest bus tour.
- Don't forget to pick up a tourist map of the area with attractions, cycle routes, and hiking trails marked.
The Black Forest region is tucked into Germany's southwest corner, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The beautiful university city of Freiburg im Breisgau is an ideal starting point for your exploration, as well as a must-see attraction in its own right. The Frankfurt Airport is the closest international airport, while the Strasbourg Airport in France is also conveniently close. Between local and regional lines, it's easy to reach just about any corner of the Black Forest by bus or train, but some visitors opt to rent a car for self-guided tours.
When to Get There
Many travelers consider early fall and late spring the ideal time to visit the Black Forest, when the weather is temperate and the region—one of the most-visited mountain areas in Europe—is less crowded. If visiting between June and August, be sure to book your hotels and spas well ahead of time. Also keep in mind that some hotels and restaurants in the area close for about a month during winter.
Marksburg Castle
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Frankfurter Dom
Frankfurter Dom is the main church of Frankfurt. From the 14th century onwards, kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected in this Catholic church. From the mid-16th century to the late 18th century, emperors were crowned here.
The cathedral has been damaged in the past by fire and warfare, most recently during the WWII. It was reconstructed in the 1950s and has undergone periodic renovation since then. It has been widely recognized as an important national symbol for Germany. The museum has an impressive collection of reliquaries and ceremonial objects.
The people of Frankfurt used the Frankfurter Dom's integral role in imperial politics to justify use of the technically improper term 'cathedral' since the 18th century, even though the church has never been a bishop's seat. Daily tours of the Cathedral are conducted by the museum. To get there via public transportation, take the U4 from Central-Station and get off at Römer.
Romer
Loreley Rock
In the romantic Rhine Valley near the town of St. Goarshausen, a siren named Loreley was said to bewitch sailors from upon her granite rock, causing them to ground their boats or lose control of them and sink. The area around the massive granite outcrop which rises vertically 433 ft (132 m) about the river, is indeed dangerous - the narrowest part of the Rhine between Switzerland and the North Sea surrounded by reefs and rapids which are a major threat to shipping. These days a safe channel is marked by buoys and no one admits to hearing the siren song of Loreley. (The translation of the name Loreley is 'murmuring rock')
The area is also important for wine-making. Since 1395, the Counts of Katzenelnbogen have had vineyards here and it was this dynasty of winemakers who invented Riesling. The whole Rhine River area, of course, became famous for Rieslings but they were first developed here, under the siren spell of Loreley. These days, due to the noise of modern life, it is hard to hear the murmuring of Loreley, but we can still drink the Riesling!
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The Loreley Rock is located in the Rhine Valley, near the town of St. Goar. It is 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Frankfurt airport.
Old Opera House (Alte Oper)
Old Sachsenhausen
Plauen
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Lake Titisee
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Frankfurt Main Tower
- Discounted entry is available for Frankfurt Card holders.
- Free Wi-Fi is available on-site.
- Large items, backpacks, and strollers are prohibited inside the tower.
- The Main Tower is wheelchair accessible.
Frankfurt Zoo (Zoologischer Garten)
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You can reach the Frankfurt Zoo stop by underground line U6/U7, tram line 14 or bus line 31. It lies in the eastern part of the inner city.
Palm Garden (Palmengarten)
The Palm Garden (or Palmengarten) is the largest garden of its kind in Germany. The botanical exhibitions are organized according to their geographic origin in open air or climate-controlled greenhouses. The Palm Garden is famous worldwide for its ample collection of native, tropical, and subtropic flora. In addition to the plants, it offers a variety of activities including guided tours, summer concerts, evening festivals and exhibitions.
The Frankfurt Palmengarten is a public site, financed and implemented by the architect Heinrich Siesmayer. The garden was completed in 1871 and subsequently opened to the public. The Palm Garden was revamped in the 1960s when a major reconstruction effort was begun to develop and expand the existing structures.
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The Palm Garden is located about a kilometer and a half (almost a mile) from the Frankfurt Opera House in the northwest direction. The gardens also offer recreational facilities for boat trips, a children's playground, and mini-golf.
Drosselgasse
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Greifenstein Castle
A major highlight of a visit to the Greifenstein Castle is its German Bell Museum, where you can view about 50 beautiful bells, some dating back to the ninth century. Bells have descriptions about how they were produced, and visitors have the chance to create their own music by chiming them. Don’t leave without also having a meal in the onsite restaurant, which is reminiscent of old times with scroll menus, knights providing entertainment and traditional meals you eat with your hands. If you have time, you can explore the hiking trails in the nearby forest.