Are you wondering how to spend one day in Frankfurt, Germany? Maybe you have a long layover and you want to leave the airport, or you’re making a stopover in between visiting other countries. Whatever the case may be, Frankfurt is a lovely city with some cool things to do.
It might have a reputation as a destination for business travelers, but there’s more to the city than meets the eye!
This one-day Frankfurt itinerary will cover all the logistics of visiting, as well as all the best things to eat, see, and do in 24 hours.
How to spend one day in Frankfurt
Römerberg
The Altstadt (Old Town) is one of the first places you’ll visit in Frankfurt. Most of the original buildings in this area were destroyed during World War II and subsequently rebuilt in the 1960s.
Römerberg (also known as Römer) is the main square in the Old Town. Here, you’ll find colorful, half-timbered houses, a 15th century City Hall, and the Alte Nikolaikirche (Old Nicholas Church). Make sure to take a stroll behind the half-timbered houses to see some more stunning Gothic architecture.
Around the Römerberg, you’ll also find plenty of traditional German restaurants and cafes. Many of them have outdoor seating, which makes for a great place to pass the time in the summer months.
Eiserner Steg (Iron Footbridge)
Eiserner Steg is Frankfurt’s most famous bridge. The iron bridge crosses over the Main River and offers wonderful views of the city’s skyline.
On a warm day, you can expect to see busking musicians playing their instruments along the bridge. You’ll also see couples placing metal locks along the bridge’s railings as a symbol of their eternal love (at least until the city cuts the locks off!).
The area around Eiserner Steg is also where a few river cruise boats depart. Most of them (like this sightseeing cruise) last anywhere from 1 to 2 hours and cover most of Frankfurt’s most popular places. Cruising the Main River is a great way to see the city from a different vantage point!
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Frankfurter Dom and Paulskirche
Several of Frankfurt’s oldest and most important churches are located just a few minutes away from the iron bridge.
Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus (also known as Frankfurter Dom or the Frankfurt Cathedral) played an important role in Germany’s history during the Middle Ages. It’s the place where the coronation ceremony for new emperors in the Holy Roman Empire would take place. You can climb to the top of the cathedral for a spectacular view over the city.
Just a short walk away, you can also check out Paulskirche (St. Paul’s Church). This redbrick church (that actually looks more pink) is a symbol of German democracy. In 1848, it was the site where the first publicly elected parliament came together. You can go inside both churches to take a look at the incredible Gothic style architecture.
Visit a museum
Frankfurt actually has a ton of fabulous museums that give you insight into the natural and cultural history of the region.
You’ll find most of Frankfurt’s museums along the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment), a cluster of museums along the banks of the Main River. Here are just a few of the important museums you can visit in the area:
- Städel Museum: Germany’s largest collection of classical art
- Museum Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Art)
- Deutsches Architekturmuseum (German Architecture Museum)
- Historisches Museum (Historical Museum)
- Museum Judengasse (Jewish Museum)
The Goethe House is another popular museum in the city center. It was the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German playwright and novelist.
If you’re planning on visiting a few museums, consider getting the Frankfurt Card. This pass gives you free access to public transportation and discounts on museum tickets and city tours. A one-day ticket for 1 person costs €11.50.
Financial District
The Financial District is where you’ll find Frankfurt’s skyscrapers and modern buildings. Locals refer to this area as Mainhattan (like Main River/Manhattan — hah). There are a few impressive older buildings in this area as well, like the Alte Oper (opera building).
The coolest thing for tourists to do in the Financial District is to go up to the top of Main Tower, a 56-story skyscraper and the 4th tallest building in Frankfurt. There, you’ll find an observation deck with great views over the city. Tickets cost €9 and can be bought from the Main Tower website.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
If you’re in town during Christmas time, hitting up the Christmas Market is a must-do activity!
The Frankfurt Christmas Market happens every year from late November through Christmas. It’s a massive event that spans most of the Innenstadt (Inner City) area. Römerberg, Paulsplatz, Mainufer, and Hauptwache are just a few of the locations where you’ll find Christmas market stalls.
Things to do at the Frankfurt Christmas Market:
- Drink Glühwein (mulled wine) and Apfelwein (hot apple wine)
- Eat some Brenten and Bethmännchen, traditional marzipan Christmas cookies
- Shop for souvenirs and handicrafts (carved figurines, Christmas houses, and hand-painted jugs are common)
Eat some traditional German food
Frankfurt is bursting at the seams with delicious restaurants and outdoor markets. You’ll find every type of cuisine under the sun, but having some traditional and/or local food is a must.
Must-try German food and drinks:
- Grüne Sosse (green sauce): A blend of fresh herbs, sour cream, and and yogurt. It’s often eaten with meat or boiled vegetables.
- Spätzle: Small egg noodles or dumplings
- Schnitzel: Thin, breaded, and fried meat
- Bratwurst: Pork, beef, or veal sausage
- Sauerkraut: Fermented cabbage
- Apfelwein: Apple wine, a type of cider
- Bier: Beer, obviously! Germany is ranked 3rd in Europe for beer consumption. Make sure to try some local brews at a Biergärten (beer garden) — the perfect sunny day activity!
How to get to Frankfurt
By plane
If you’re coming by plane, you’ll probably arrive at Frankfurt International Airport (FRA), a major transport hub within the region. The airport is large but pretty easy to navigate because it has plenty of signage. From there, it’s only a 17-minute S-Bahn (commuter train) ride into the city.
Side note: If you’re flying Ryanair or Wizz Air, you’ll arrive at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) instead. Hahn Airport is actually 120 km (75 mi) away from Frankfurt! To get to the city centre, you’ll need to take a 2-hour bus to Main Station that costs about €20.
(Budget airlines are notorious for landing in airports that are nowhere near their arrival cities. Make sure you factor in the cost of transportation from the airport before buying those cheap flights!)
By train
Taking a train is one of the best ways to get to Frankfurt from other cities in Germany and Europe. The rail network is vast and interconnected, with plenty of routes going in all directions. Trains generally run often and on time — that’s German punctuality for ya!
Getting around Frankfurt
Luckily, Frankfurt is a super walkable city! It’s easy to get just about anywhere in the city center, or Innenstadt, by foot. There are also plenty of bike rental stations and bicycle lanes around the city. Make sure to download Deutsche Bahn’s Call A Bike app before your trip if you’re planning to rent a bike.
If you don’t want to walk or cycle, there is also a network of trains, subways, and trams available within the city. You can see timetables and ticket information on the VGF website, or download their app (called “VGF”) for up-to-the-minute updates.
Best places to stay in Frankfurt, Germany
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Book a hotel in Frankfurt
Frankfurt FAQ
Can I see Frankfurt on a long layover?
Yes! I’d recommend leaving the airport during a layover if you have 5 hours or more. This will give you enough time to do a bit of exploring within the historic Old Town and make it back in time for your next flight.
To get to the city from Frankfurt Airport (FRA), you can either take a train or a taxi/Uber. By train, it takes about 17 minutes to make it to the city centre. One-way adult tickets cost €5 and can be bought from the self-service machines on the train station concourse.
Is one day in Frankfurt enough?
One day in Frankfurt is enough time to see all of the city’s major tourist attractions. Because the city is so walkable, it’s easy to check off a few things to see at once.
How long should I spend in Frankfurt?
Two days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Frankfurt. You’ll be able to see all the main attractions and explore the city a bit on your own time as well.
If you are interested in seeing other towns around the region, Frankfurt makes a good place to base yourself while taking day trips. Its location within Germany and connected network of trains and buses make it a prime transport hub.
When’s the best time to visit Frankfurt?
Any time of year is a good time to visit Frankfurt. Summers are generally hot and dry while winters are cold and wet. Temperature-wise, April, May, September, and October are the most comfortable, with temperatures between 15 and 21℃ (60 and 70℉).
If you visit during the summer, expect to see a lot of crowds. The summer months are also the time when the city comes alive with festivals, markets, and outdoor beer gardens. If you visit in the winter, you might be able to catch the Frankfurt Christmas Market, which runs from late November through Christmas.
Best day trips from Frankfurt
Baden-Baden
The spa town of Baden-Baden is located in Germany’s famous Black Forest. Baden-Baden is known for its thermal springs, but you can also visit the Fabergé Museum or stroll down Lichtentaler Allee, a luscious promenade through the park.
To get to Baden-Baden from Frankfurt, you can take one of the daily trains from the main train station. The journey takes an hour and a half and tickets cost between €27 and €50.
Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is located just over the border with France. On your day trip to Strasbourg, you can roam around the Old Quarter, visit the Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and explore the La Petit France neighborhood.
There are several daily trains that run from Frankfurt to Strasbourg. They take about 2 hours and cost between €40 and €60. This full-day tour is also an option if you don’t want to coordinate transportation yourself.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is a historic university town south of Frankfurt. On a day trip, you can visit the glorious Heidelberg Castle, get fantastic views over the city, and wander the cobblestone streets around the Marktplatz (main square).
To get to Heidelberg from Frankfurt, you can take one of the frequent trains that run from the main train station. The journey takes roughly an hour and costs around €25. Otherwise, you can join a guided half-day tour.
Rhine Valley
The Rhine Valley, or Rhine Gorge, is any section of valley along the Rhine River. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its history as a cultural site during the medieval Holy Roman Empire. It’s a gorgeous area with lots of lush forest, charming Old Towns, and a slower pace of life.
From Frankfurt, you can take a full-day or a half-day tour to the Rhine Valley. If you have your own car, the journey takes about one hour and fifteen minutes.
Take a tour in Frankfurt
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Thanks for reading! What are your favorite things to do in one day in Frankfurt? Let me know in the comments below!
xoxo Niki
