Index:
Getting started: A few notes about Frankfurt
Historical sites and museums in Frankfurt
Popular places to visit in Frankfurt
Practical information about Frankfurt
Let’s go: About Frankfurt
Before we begin our tour of Frankfurt, here are a few notes about this remarkable city.
- Frankfurt is ranked seventh in the 2022 Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index. (Vienna, Austria, is the top-ranked city).
- Frankfurt’s historical atmosphere is complemented by its modern skyscrapers. For this reason, Frankfurt is referred to as the “Manhattan of Europe” and is considered the most American-like city in Europe.
- Considered Germany’s economic and financial center, Frankfurt has a significantly improved rail system.
- Frankfurt International Airport is Germany’s largest airport, with around 70 million passengers each year. Turkish Airlines operates five or six direct flights per day from Istanbul to Frankfurt, depending on the season. Click here for İstanbul-Frankfurt flight tickets.
- Visitors to Frankfurt can purchase a Frankfurt Card. The card offers free travel on all public transport in Frankfurt including Frankfurt International Airport (FRA), as well as up to 50% discount on city tours, museum admissions and other attractions.
When to visit Frankfurt
In general, the weather in Frankfurt tends to be on the cooler side, with spring and summer temperatures rarely exceeding 26 degrees celsius. Winters are windy and very cold – with temperatures sometimes dropping below freezing.
Places to go in Frankfurt
Historical sites and museums in Frankfurt
Städel Museum
Established in 1815, the Städel Museum (Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie) contains one of the most important permanent collections in Frankfurt and Germany, featuring seven hundred years of European art from the early fourteenth century to the present. The collection focuses on works from the Renaissance, Baroque, and early Modern eras. In addition, the Museum hosts temporary exhibitions focusing on various artists and periods. The Städel Museum is the center of the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment), which includes a number of museums along the north and south banks of the Main River.
Römerberg
Set along the Main River, Frankfurt’s Altstadt (Old City) suffered major damage during the Second World War II. The restoration was completed in 2017, and the area is now open to visitors. The Altstadt contains many of Frankfurt’s historical structures, including St. Nicholas Church and Haus zum Römer, as well as archaeological sites featuring the ruins former Roman settlement and an imperial palace dating back to Carolingian times. Römerberg Square is the centerpiece of the Altstadt.
Frankfurt Cathedral
The Gothic-style Frankfurt Imperial Cathedral is the city’s largest religious structure. Erected in the fourteenth century, the Roman Catholic church is among the restored structures in the Altstadt. In addition to the artworks in the Cathedral and the adjacent museum, visitors can climb the 95-meter-high Cathedral belfry tower, containing a 11,950-kilogram bell.
Goethe Home and Museum
German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in this house in 1749 and lived there until 1795; among others, he wrote The Sorrows of Young Werther in this home. The Goethe House is in the Innenstadt district and displays items such as Goethe’s work desk and other personal belongings.
German Architecture Museum
Set in an early 20th-century mansion along the south bank of the Museum Embankment on the Main River, the striking German Architecture Museum (Deutches Achitekturmuseum – DAM) presents a comprehensive survey of the architectural evolution of Frankfurt and Germany. Featuring permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Museum also hosts conferences and symposiums and is involved with numerous prestigious architectural awards.
Old Opera House (Alte Oper)
Originally opened in 1880, this stately performance hall was destroyed during the Second World War and reopened in 1981. The Alte Oper’s programs include themed festivals along with films and musical performances from a variety of genres and artists. Guided tours of the venue are also available.
Popular places to visit in Frankfurt
Fotografie Forum Frankfurt
The Fotografie Forum hosts four to six exhibitions annually, spotlighting the works of top photographers and photojournalists, as well as various aspects of photography. The Forum also hosts workshops, discussions and lectures.
Zeil Strasse (Zeil Street)
This lively – and mainly pedestrian-only – street is one of the city’s main shopping districts, featuring a wide range of stores from boutiques to popular brands.
Goethestrasse
Goethestrasse is known for upscale shopping, featuring luxury and high fashion brands.
The Palmengarten and Botanical Garden
Palmengarten, one of Frankfurt am Main’s two botanical gardens, is in Westen-Süd. Extending across area of 22 hectares, the Garden houses around 13,000 plant species in indoor and outdoor spaces. There’s also a butterfly garden!
What to eat in Frankfurt
Some local specialties in Frankfurt:
- Frankfurter sausage is named after the city. The pork version is quite popular, but beef versions are also available.
- The crown cake, also named after the city and known as “Frankfurter Kranz”, is a creamy and fruity cake, as you can see in the image above,
- Another traditional Frankfurt delicacy is grüne sosse, or green sauce. Made with various green herbs and garlic, the sauce is often served with potatoes.
Transportation in Frankfurt
In Frankfurt, you can reach Römer and many inner city addresses by using the U-Bahn (underground) and the tram. S-Bahn lines usually operate routes for suburban areas outside the city. Visitors can buy single or multiple use tickets from machines at the stations; most of these machines have various language options, including Turkish.
Practical information about Frankfurt
Official Language: Deutsch
Currency Unit: Euro (EUR)
Socket Type: F, C
Important Phones
Area Code: +49
Frankfurt International Airport: +49 180 63724636
Emergency Aid: 112
Turkish Republic Consulate General in Frankfurt: +49 69 713 773
