Just a few hours’ drive from the Netherlands, this German metropolis is an emerging city when it comes to city breaks. It has a lot to offer. The city is beautifully situated on the River Main and is known for its half-timbered houses. Germany’s main financial center is located here. With a bit of exaggeration, you could call it Manhattan. This city is also well worth a short city break from a historical and cultural perspective. To help you prepare for your city trip to this city, here’s what to do in Frankfurt.
What is there to do in Frankfurt?
- Visit the Cathedral;
- Visit the ECB building;
- Visit a museum;
- Stroll through the shopping streets;
- Enjoy local specialties;
- Discover the fascinating history;
- Take a bike tour.
Visit the Cathedral
When you’re on a city break, it’s always nice to check out the city’s cathedral. Especially when you’re in Frankfurt, because you can see this gigantic cathedral, also called the Dom, from afar. The old cathedral dates back to the 15th century with a beautiful tower 96 meters high. You can climb this tower from April to November, after which you’ll have a magnificent panoramic view over the city. You’ll reach a height of 66 meters via 328 steps, so brace yourself!
Visit the ECB building
This building is the reason Frankfurt is also called Manhattan. The home of the European Central Bank is 185 meters high and entirely made of glass. This building was completed in 2014 with the aim of creating not only comfortable office spaces, but also a meeting place in Frankfurt. You can visit the ECB and learn all about price stability, purchasing power, savings, and much more.
Visit a museum
Frankfurt is known for its museums along the River Main, so this can’t be missing from our list of things to do in Frankfurt. Along the River Main you’ll find impressive museums where there’s plenty to experience. You’ll find the Goethe Museum here where you can learn a lot about the Renaissance. But you can also visit the Film Museum or the Museum of Applied Arts where various exhibitions can be visited.
Stroll through the shopping streets
If you love shopping, then Frankfurt is the right place for you. From expensive brands like Versace and Armani to H&M and flea markets, it’s all there. In the gigantic shopping mall Zeil you can shop to your heart’s content. This shopping mall has 8 floors with the most popular brands, something for everyone. You can also go here for a coffee or food break, as there are many restaurants. Do you prefer something more luxurious? Then Goethestraße, just a stone’s throw from Shopping mall Zeil, is the place for you. Here you’ll find shops like Chanel, Tiffany & Co and many more. Walking through Goethestraße is fun enough without buying anything at all.
Enjoy local specialties
Frankfurt is of course famous for its sausage, which is actually called the Frankfurter. If you come across this somewhere outside Frankfurt, this sausage really does come from Frankfurt, because since 1929 this name may only be used for sausages that come from the city. Besides these sausages, you can also eat delicious green sauce in the city, which is served with beef. This sauce consists of eggs, mayonnaise and garden herbs and is eaten a lot here. Besides the food, there’s also an alcoholic specialty: apple wine. You can try this wine in many places in the city and it’s said to have a positive effect on health, so definitely worth a taste!
Discover the fascinating history
Timeride Frankfurt is an innovative concept that takes you on a virtual time journey through the city’s history. Using advanced technologies such as virtual reality and motion simulators, you’re immersed in different historical periods of Frankfurt. You literally step back in time and experience what it was like to wander through narrow streets in the Middle Ages, or how it felt to ride in an elegant 19th-century carriage.
During the Timeride experience, you can explore some of Frankfurt’s most important highlights. For example, you can visit the medieval Romerberg, where you witness the hustle and bustle of the market and admire the beautiful half-timbered houses. You can also see Frankfurt’s imposing cathedral, the Kaiserdom, up close and experience the majestic atmosphere it radiates.
In addition, you get the chance to explore the historic Sachsenhausen district, famous for its traditional Apfelwein houses and lively atmosphere. Here you can immerse yourself in Frankfurt’s rich cultural heritage and enjoy local specialties while virtually strolling through the charming streets.
Tickets: Buy online
Things to do in Frankfurt: a bike tour
The Frankfurt Bike Tour along the main sights with a guide is highly recommended. Are you visiting this city and don’t want to miss anything? Then this Frankfurt bike tour: the Highlights is perfect for you. You’ll see all the highlights of the city in 3 hours, at a relaxed pace on a bike with a local guide. Cycle past Goethe’s house, the ECB building, the Cathedral, the River Main and much more.
Tip: plan this Frankfurt bike tour at the beginning of your city trip, so you can get to know the city well in just 3 hours!
