How to get to Frankfurt by train
Frankfurt is one of the country's main rail hubs, with excellent links across Germany and beyond. For example, you can get from Stuttgart to Frankfurt in about 1h 20m and from Nuremberg to Frankfurt in 2 hours on Deutsche Bahn trains. Most trains into the city arrive at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Central Station).
From further afield, journeys can be as short as 1h 45m from Strasbourg to Frankfurt or a bit longer (3h 40m) from Luxembourg to Frankfurt. This makes Frankfurt an excellent destination for an international day trip, offering the sights of a true German cosmopolitan gem.
Things to do in Frankfurt for a day
Make the most of the metropolis on a short trip
If you've only got a day to spend in Frankfurt, check out these sights. Take the lift up to the top of the Main Tower, one of Germany's tallest buildings. You'll get breathtaking views of Frankfurt's glittering skyline from 200 metres up high! Palmengarten is another great attraction – it’s a gorgeous botanical garden with a network of greenhouses.
For a look at historic Frankfurt, check out the Aldstadt, the old town. Sights include the Römer, the medieval town hall which dates back to 1405. Also here is the gorgeous Old St Nicholas Church, and a number of old winding streets perfect for an afternoon stroll. This is also an excellent place to stop for traditional Frankfurt cuisine. Naturally, this includes Frankfurter sausages, either as hot dogs or served with herbed mashed potatoes.
Tour Frankfurt's best museums
If you fancy a culture vulture, check out the world-class institutions that call Frankfurt home. The Städel Museum is one of the most important art museums in Germany. It houses thousands of sculptures and paintings, including works by Vermeer and van Eyck. The MMK Museum of Modern Art offers a look at more contemporary masterpieces.
Also worth seeing is the whimsical Caricatura Museum, which contains a wonderful collection of comic art. Another top visitor site is Frankfurt's Carmelite Monastery, dating all the way back to 1246. It now serves as the Institute for City History, housing important records dating from the medieval era. Tour the inside for a look at one of Germany's oldest buildings in one of its most modern cities.
Things to do in Frankfurt with kids
Come face-to-face with animals and experience hands-on exhibits
As Frankfurt is a major city, there's plenty of visitor attractions which are particularly suited for families. One is the fabulous Zoo Frankfurt. Highlights here include the nocturnal Madagascar zone and the Exotarium, which is a combined reptile house and aquarium. The Senckenburg Natural History Museum is another sure-fire hit with kids. Come up close with mighty dinosaurs, and learn about the history of Germany and our planet over millions of years.
Experiminta is a special hands-on museum, focused on science and technology. Kids and grown-ups are encouraged to touch and experiment with the exhibits while learning about the fields of IT, maths, natural sciences and more. If travelling to Frankfurt in the autumn or winter, the Eissporthalle arena offers ice skating and curling. Year-round, it's the place to see professional ice hockey matches.
A day of play, indoors or out
You don't need to leave the city for a family day out in Germany's glorious natural environment. The Scheerwald Forest Playground is a fantastic place to visit in summer, offering a huge array of activities, including a roller rink and basketball court, as well as ping-pong tables. There's even an 18-hole minigolf course, providing fun activities for everyone in the family.
Young kids will also adore a day at the Minischirn. This innovative indoor play centre stimulates curious minds with colourful playrooms full of puzzles, things to climb, and opportunities to make new friends. The centre is suitable for children aged three to eight. There are also art exhibitions held here, making it an interesting place for parents to visit too.
Things to do in Frankfurt on Sunday
Find Frankfurt's best photo opportunities
Although it's traditionally a day of rest, there's so much to do out and about in Frankfurt on Sundays. You can wander around the downtown business district, which is much quieter on Sundays than during the week. Keen urban photographers will find plenty of interesting buildings to snap on their visit. The Eiserner Steg is a scenic footbridge over the Main River. It's always open and offers a romantic spot for a walk, and a popular photography locale in Frankfurt.
Rothschildpark is one of the most beautiful in the city. It's right off the central business district, so you won't have to go far to find a serene green spot for a stroll or picnic. There's a children's play area here, too. Nearby is the smaller Bethmannpark, which features a sublime Chinese garden with a magnificent gate guarded by lion statues. It's yet another perfect spot to snap some enviable photos in Frankfurt!
Go on a culinary tour
While Frankfurt is somewhat quieter on Sundays, you'll still find plenty of superb places to eat and drink. You've probably already tried a Frankfurter sausage or two, but how about some Rippchen? This sumptuous dish consists of pork cutlets served with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes with mustard. For dessert, try a slice of Kranz, which is a delicious cherry or strawberry sponge cake with buttercream icing.
For a drink, head to one of the traditional ale houses, where the beers are served in huge steins. Pfungstädter and Schmucker are two local favourite brands. Apple wine is another local delicacy. If you're looking for a local soft drink, try a non-alcoholic Schorle, often made with apple juice and sparkling mineral water. It's a marvellous thirst quencher on warm days in Frankfurt.
Things to do in Frankfurt at night
Go partying in the city
Frankfurt caters well to its professional crowd, who frequent its chic cocktail bars after work and at the weekend. The large downtown area is a safe bet for finding great places to drink, along with the Sachsenhausen suburb. You'll also find an abundance of pubs and more relaxed bars catering to the city's student population.
Alt-Sachsenhausen (‘Old Sachsenhausen’) is a particularly traditional part of the neighbourhood, perfect for finding traditional German ale houses. These are also excellent places to eat, so they're not necessarily just for a night of partying. If you're heading for a big night out, you'll find many clubs specialising in electronic dance music, particularly in the downtown area.
A night of high culture
This city isn't all about bars and clubs – there's a lot to uncover in its performing arts scene too. The English Theatre is a superb place for travellers to Frankfurt, with plays and comedy in English. This theatre is continental Europe's largest English-speaking theatre, so you're bound to find something that catches your fancy.
The modern Frankfurt Opera House puts on classical music and opera performances, which everyone can enjoy no matter what language they speak. For something on the silver screen, the CineStar Metropolis is a huge cinema in the centre of town. Look out for 'OF' or 'OV' on the listing, which means that the film is shown in the original (usually English) version with German subtitles.
Frankfurt is famous for being one of the major driving forces of the German economy. Yet, it also boasts urban and natural beauty, with plenty for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Dive into the sightseeing and activities Frankfurt has to offer, and check out our website for great fares for your train travel to Frankfurt.
Need more information on the German rail network? Check out our dedicated page to trains in Germany.