Frankfurt am Main holidays

How to reach Frankfurt

• Flight time: Flights to Frankfurt from London and other UK airports take between 1 hour 30 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes.

• Transfer time: From Frankfurt Airport, frequent S-Bahn or Regionalbahn trains from the Regionalbahnhof in Terminal One take just 7-15 minutes to reach Frankfurt’s Hauptbahnhof.

• Price: A single S-Bahn ticket from the airport to the city centre costs approximately €5.60. Taxi fares range from €30 to €40.

Best time to visit Frankfurt

This will really depend on what you want to get out of your trip, and of course the weather might play a part in your decision.

• April to June: Average temperatures in spring range from 10°C to 22°C, rainfall is moderate, around 40–60mm, with 7–9 hours of sunshine daily.

• July to August: Although high season, Frankfurt is not a particularly touristy city, so crowds aren’t really a problem and accommodation is no more expensive than at any other time of the year. Average temperatures hover around 23°C to 28°C, rainfall is typically low, around 50–70mm, and there are up to 10 hours of sunshine.

• September to November: Cooler but still a very pleasant climate, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C, this is the best time to explore Frankfurt’s many cultural assets, as well as the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. Expect 50–80mm of rainfall and around 6 hours of sunshine.

• December to March: Frankfurt’s Christmas markets draw visitors from all over Europe. Temperatures range from -1°C to 8°C, snow is common, as is rainfall (around 30–60mm), and there are 3–5 hours of sunshine.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: German is the official language, but English is widely spoken throughout this most international of cities.

• Local habits and customs: To tip in a café, round your bill up to the next €0.50 or €1 and give the total directly to the waiter; at restaurants, you should leave around 10 percent of the bill. Jaywalking is illegal in Germany, so only cross on the green man – you could be fined if you don’t.

• Health and safety: Frankfurt is a safe city, but as with any major urban centre, keep an eye on your belongings, especially on public transport. Emergency services are efficient, and tap water is safe to drink.

• Currency: Germany uses the Euro (€), with credit and debit cards accepted in most restaurants and shops.

• Getting around: Within the city, buses, trams and U-Bahn make navigation straightforward, though frequency of service drops noticeably in the evening. If you’re only travelling a kilometre or so you can buy a Kurzstrecke ticket (€2.25), otherwise single tickets cost €3.65 and a Tageskarte €7.10 (€12.30 for city and airport).

• Electricity and plug types: Germany uses the standard European 230-volt system with two-pin plugs. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Frankfurt is in Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

• Required travel documentation: UK citizens can visit Frankfurt visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Best things to do in Frankfurt

Germany’s financial capital and the home of the European Central Bank, the city also features some of the country's best museums – no other German city spends as much on culture – and some excellent nightlife.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Main Tower: For a breathtaking view of the city, head to the Main Tower, whose 56th floor offers panoramic views of the city’s skyline and the River Main; views are most magical at sunset.

• Commerzbank: The 299m-high Commerzbank by British architect Norman Foster was for several years the tallest office building in Europe. It looks its best at night, when its pinnacles glow an unearthly yellow, creating a geometric light show.

The best districts

• Römerberg: Steep gables, half-timbered facades and the picturesque 16th-century Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen, or Justice Fountain, make spacious Römerberg, the old central square, the focal point of Frankfurt’s Altstadt and the very image of a medieval town square.

• Sachsenhausen: The modest, winding lanes of Alt-Sachsenhausen perform the “Altstadt” task of providing inexpensive eating and easy bar-hopping between unpretentious Apfelwein taverns.

Museums

• Goethe-Haus: The birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – commonly regarded as Germany’s greatest writer - is an engrossing museum, for it creates a powerful impression of bourgeois family life in 18th-century Frankfurt.

• Städel Museum: A world-class collection of fine art from seven centuries, the museum exhibits the old masters alongside works of classic modernism.

Parks and gardens

• Palmengarten: Providing a lush, green context for the Westend’s affluent streets, the Palmengarten is a splendid botanical garden of the old school, with prodigious flower beds and a series of hothouses accommodating plants of various habitats, from mangrove swamp to semi-desert and alpine.

Historical monuments

• Karmelitenkloster: 13th-century abbey complex whose refectory and cloisters contain wonderful wall paintings by the Swabian artist and revolutionary Jerg Ratgeb, portraying the Passion of Christ and the story of the Carmelites.

• St Leonhardskirche: The beautiful St Leonhardskirche escaped the worst of the wartime air raids and thus preserves the smell and feel of antiquity in a way that the other Altstadt churches don’t.

• St. Paul’s Church (Paulskirche): The circular neoclassical Paulskirche has a proud place in German history, for it was in this, the city’s principal Lutheran church, that on 18th May 1848, the first democratically elected German national assembly met.

Day trips in the area

• Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt: The spirit of Jugendstil – the German form of Art Nouveau – lingers on at Darmstadt’s remarkable artists’ colony.

• Heidelberg: Just an hour away by train, this beautiful riverside city is known for its atmospheric Baroque old town topped by a stunning castle and Germany’s oldest university.

Activities for families in Frankfurt

Despite its reputation as a centre of international finance, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to be had on your Frankfurt holidays.

• Aquariums and zoos: Home to over 4,500 animals from around the world, the star attractions at Frankfurt Zoo are the big cat house and the nocturnal animal house.

• Interactive museums: The big one for families is the Naturmuseum Senckenberg, whose dinosaur skeletons are a rainy-day godsend for parents with small children. The museum’s natural history collection is remarkably comprehensive and includes a section on fossil finds.

• Boat trips: Frankfurter Personenschiffahrt runs 1 hour 40 minute sightseeing cruises on the Main, plus longer excursions to Rüdesheim, Aschaffenburg and the Lorelei - terrific fun for all the family.

Free things to do in Frankfurt

Festivals form the backbone of free things to do on your holidays to Frankfurt, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find plenty more to do without spending very much.

• Free events: Frankfurt’s major festivals include the spring and autumn Dippemess funfairs in the east of the city, and the traditional Mainfest funfair and Museumsuferfest cultural festival, both of which take place on the banks of the River Main in August; early September brings wine tasting to Fressgass in the form of the Rheingauer Weinmarkt. The city’s Christmas market is one of Germany’s most famous, with historic Römerberg as its setting.

• Embankment walks: The riverfront area offers plenty of space for kids to run around; look out too for the many family-friendly festivals and events that take place here throughout the year.

Nature and outdoor activities in Frankfurt

The city’s proximity to the Rhine Valley makes it an attractive option for outdoor pursuits, although there’s a fair amount to do within the city itself.

• Cycling: Frankfurt’s riverbanks are perfect for cycling, with well-maintained paths running alongside the River Main. There’s also the Lahn Valley, where gentle inclines, cyclist-friendly hotels and beautiful towns and countryside make cycling here a joy.

• Hiking: There’s marvellous hiking in Naturpark Taunus, the second-largest protected nature reserve in Hesse. The highest, conifer-clad peaks are along a ridge – the Hochtaunusklamm – which runs northeast to southwest for 40km; highest of all is the 879m Grosser Feldberg.

• Water sports: Just outside Frankfurt, Lake Langener Waldsee is a popular spot for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and sailing.

Local dishes in Frankfurt

Frankfurt has its own, highly distinctive traditional food and drink culture, with Apfelwein at the heart of most of the city’s cuisine.

Some typical dishes

• Grüne Soße: A refreshing, creamy sauce made with yoghurt or sour cream, eggs and a bewildering variety of fresh green herbs, usually served with boiled meat.

• Frankfurter: Not the same as the American variety, this contains fine, lean pork with a little salted bacon. Smoked then reheated in liquid.

Street food

• Bratwurst: The common or garden sausage, served countrywide. Varies by region but usually made of finely minced pork and marjoram.

• Handkäs mit Musik: This marvellously named food is cheese marinated in oil and vinegar, which is absolutely delicious if done well – the “music” in question refers to its effects on digestive systems.

Meat dishes

• Schweinshaxe: A huge crispy knuckle which could have graced a medieval banqueting table, usually served with potato dumplings or sauerkraut.

• Wiener Schnitzel: Originating from Austria, this breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet is served with potato salad and a wedge of lemon.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Frankfurter Grüne Soße with Trout: The city’s famous green sauce is also often paired with fresh trout, offering a lighter alternative to the heartier meat dishes.

Sweets and desserts

• Apfelwein Cake: Forget the drink, try the cake: the slightly tangy flavour from the wine complements the sweet layers to perfection.

• Bethmännchen: A traditional marzipan biscuit, these sweet treats are studded with almonds.

Local drinks

• Apfelwein: Frankfurt’s signature drink, Apfelwein (apple wine) is a slightly sour, refreshing beverage typically served in a “Bembel,” a traditional stoneware jug, and best enjoyed in one of old Sachsenhausen’s traditional wine taverns.

• Ebbelwoi Spritz: A lighter version of Apfelwein, Ebbelwoi Spritz is a mix of apple wine and sparkling water - a superbly refreshing drink on warmer days.