City of Frankfurt on the River Main

Visitors to Germany do not find much to make them linger in the sprawling city of Frankfurt on the River Main, unless their purpose is business rather than pleasure. For most visitors to the country, however, Frankfurt's huge showpiece airport is the point of arrival and departure. The city is a major transport hub and an industrial and financial metropolis that ensures it is the economic powerhouse not only of Germany, but central Europe. Frankfurt is home to Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank and Europe's most important stock exchange, which has been trading since 1585.

For tourists Frankfurt does offer many sights, some intriguing restaurants in the Nordend, a variety of artistic and cultural events, and excellent shopping opportunities. Sightseeing attractions are mostly confined to the historical core of the city, known as the Romerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in medieval times. Most of the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, but some have been reconstructed, including the home of Goethe, Frankfurt's famous son who became Germany's greatest writer. For shopping it is hard to beat the Zeil, Germany's equivalent of New York's Fifth Avenue.

With its excellent rail connections and Autobahn system, Frankfurt is the natural hub for travellers wishing to explore the surrounding towns and countryside. It is also the venue for numerous trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses, drawing about 12 million visitors a year to these events. The largest and best known is the annual International Book Fair, which is attended by thousands of publishers, writers and avid readers.

Frankfurt Attractions

Frankfurt has some beautiful attractions, both historic and cultural and there is also a lot to see for the trendy traveller hungry for fashion and contemporary thrills. Sightseeing in Frankfurt is best done in the summer months, when the weather is warmer and the days longer but as the city boasts some truly wonderful museums and galleries Frankfurt is essentially a year-round destination.

Eschenheimer Turm

The Eschenheimer Turm is one of the few remaining towers of the medieval fortifications that encircled the city of Frankfurt. The 154 foot high (47m) gothic tower was built as part of the medieval wall which encircled the city in the 15th century...  see full details

Goethe-Haus

The house where Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's world-famous poet and writer, was born in 1749 is now a shrine to his memory, preserved as an example of how the well-to-do lived in Frankfurt in the late Baroque era. The house, which is...  see full details

Frankfurt Botanical Gardens

The well-ordered and interesting Botanical Garden in Frankfurt is administered by the university and is really a beautiful place to spend a few hours. The gardens are designed to take visitors on a journey through different areas of the plant kingdom, from the hardwood...  see full details

St Bartholomew Cathedral

The St Bartholomews Cathedral, or Dom Sankt Bartholomäus, dominates the Frankfurt skyline with its imposing 311-foot (95m) spire, contrasting sharply with the modern skyscrapers in the downtown area. The Cathedral was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, and has seen the crowning of...  see full details

Liebieghaus

Situated on the south bank of the river Main, the Liebieghaus was built in 1896 for Czech Baron Heinrich Liebieg, but today is the home of Frankfurt's Museum of Sculpture. The building itself is gorgeous and castle-like and adds a great deal to...  see full details

Historical Museum (Historisches Museum)

The Historical Museum (Historisches Museum) has many permanent exhibitions on display featuring objects and works of art ranging from the Middle Ages to present day. The museum's changing exhibitions cover a range of themes such as cultural history, art history and general history. Collections...  see full details

Stadel Gallery

Frankfurt's most important art gallery is the Städel Gallery which contains a fantastic collection of most European schools of painting. The first floor features the works of German painters of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as famous French Impressionists such as Renoir...  see full details

Frankfurt Zoo

The Frankfurt Zoo, located in Ostend, was nearly totally destroyed in World War II, with only 20 animals surviving. It was rebuilt in the early 1950s and since then has grown to include several innovative new sections such as the highly popular Big...  see full details

Senckenberg Museum of Natural History

One of the biggest natural history museums in Germany and housed in a building which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History in Frankfurt features extensive exhibits showcasing biodiversity and the evolution of the planet and of life on...  see full details

Frankfurt Day Trips Heidelberg The historic university town of Heidelberg, about 55 miles (89km) south of Frankfurt, is billed as a city of music and romance. It is one of the few German cities that escaped relatively unscathed from air raids during World War II, and still has numerous buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance to explore, especially some beautiful historical churches. The university was established in 1386, and features some picturesque buildings on its campuses. A good way to enjoy scenic views of Heidelberg is along the Philosopher's Walk, a path alongside the Heiligenberg (the path is so named because university professors would walk along the path when they needed to think). The city is built along the banks of the Neckar River, and has a colourful atmosphere lent by its large student population, particularly in the student quarter with its narrow streets and lively inns. The modern part of the city around the Bismarckplatz has some good hotels and restaurants, and enticing shopping plazas. The weather in Heidelberg is famously sunny and warm compared to much of Germany, and this is a major draw for the nearly 3.5 million tourists who visit each year. The Fairy Tale Road The Fairy Tale Road follows a meandering 370-mile (595km) route that traces the path of famous storytellers the Brothers Grimm. Many people don't realise that the Brothers Grimm didn't simply invent their famous stories, but recorded and collected local legends and folk tales from their homeland near Frankfurt. Between charming villages and well-preserved medieval towns, Germany's Fairy Tale Road wanders through lush forests and Gingerbread houses that were the original homes of well-loved characters like Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. Starting in the town of Hanau, where Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm were born, visitors can explore attractions like the Brothers Grimm monument in the town square, the Puppet Museum at Williamsbad, the Marienkirche where Jakob was married, and the Phillippsruhe Palace, which hosts performances of the fairy tales (though mostly in German). The next town on the journey is Steinau, where the brothers spent their youth; and Marburg, a university town where they began to research local legends for their collection. Further on the town of Kassel is home to the Brothers Grimm Museum; nearby Baunatal was the home of Dorothea Viehmann, who told the Brothers Grimm many stories, and visitors can have a beer in the Knallhüt brewery, which occupies the building she was born in. From there the Fairy Tale Road follows the Weser River to Hameln, the famous town of the Pied Piper; in nearby Bad Oeynhausen is the Fairy Tale Museum. The road ends in the town of Bremen, home of both the mythical Little Nienburg Girl and the very real Rathaus, a vibrant marketplace filled with town musicians and the famous Ratskeller Restaurant. Wiesbaden Wiesbaden is arguably Germany's most favoured spa resort and it lies about 25 miles (40km) west of Frankfurt in a valley between the Rhine River and Taunus Mountains. This charming and ancient town makes for the perfect excursion from Frankfurt. The town has been a spa resort since the time of the ancient Romans, with its 26 hot springs averaging temperatures of around 122°F (50°C). Besides being known for its luxurious spa hotels, Wiesbaden is also a cultural centre, its events being concentrated around the major Kurhaus concert hall complex. The complex includes a casino and restaurant, conference and exhibition facilities. There are many quality restaurants in the village and Wilhelmstrasse is a good starting point for explorations of the town because it is the best shopping street and boasts some wonderful architectural landmarks. A walking tour is a nice way to take in the historical and cultural attractions of Wiesbaden. Another great activity is a visit to the Greek Orthodox Church on the hill which has beautiful views and can be reached by the Nerobergbahn, a water-powered train which has been running since the late 1800s. There are also obstacle courses, a swimming pool and a cafe on the top of the hill. Frankfurt Events Museum Quay Festival (Museumsuferfest) The spectacular festival of art and culture on the banks of the River Maine is one of Frankfurt's most popular outdoor attractions and arguably the city's most popular festival. The Museumsuferfest attracts artists and musicians from all over the world and there are a...  see full details Frankfurt Book Fair The Frankfurt Book Fair is the largest international book fair in the world receiving visitors and book dealers from over 100 countries. The event is largely focused around trade, distribution, and selling though the fair has quite a heritage to it with some 500...  see full details Christmas Fair The Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of the biggest and oldest in Germany, dating back to the 14th century, and traditionally Germans used to buy all their children's presents, as well as their decorations and seasonal foodstuffs, solely from the market. The entire old...  see full details