Frankfurt – sightseeing and insider tips

Frankfurt City Center: Attractions between the old town and modern architecture

Frankfurt’s city center is lively, international, and especially busy on weekends. This is where many of the city's most important attractions are located.

Eiserner Steg

The well-known pedestrian bridge connects the old town with Sachsenhausen and offers one of the most beautiful views of the skyline. The view over the Main is particularly impressive at sunset.

Dom-Römer Quarter: The New Old Town

The Dom-Römer Quarter was completed in 2018 and closely follows Frankfurt’s historical architecture. The area is small but conveys the character of the old trading city very well.

Zeil and MyZeil

The Zeil is Frankfurt’s main shopping street. Particularly noteworthy is the MyZeil building with its spectacular glass architecture and impressive escalator design.

Fressgass and Goethestraße

A more elegant atmosphere can be found along Fressgass and Goethestraße, where you will find high-end shops, restaurants, and cafés.

Old Opera House

The neoclassical Old Opera House is one of the architectural highlights of the city center and provides a pleasant contrast between the banking district and shopping streets.

Frankfurt from above: Maintower View

If you want to truly understand Frankfurt, you should see it from above. The observation deck of the Maintower offers a spectacular view over the skyline, city center, and the entire Rhine-Main region.

The visit is especially impressive during the so-called “blue hour”, when the city lights gradually come on after sunset. The building also houses an upscale restaurant with a panoramic view as well as a television studio of Hessischer Rundfunk.

Along the Main – the Deutschherrenufer Tour

One of the best ways to explore Frankfurt is a walk along the river Main.

The Deutschherrenufer Tour runs from the Westhafen to the Osthafen and offers a varied perspective of Frankfurt over approximately five kilometers. From the north side of the Main, you look across to the famous Museumsufer on the opposite bank. The walk can easily be divided into two shorter sections:

Western route:
From Römer to Westhafen. The Westhafen area is considered one of Frankfurt’s most interesting residential districts, featuring modern architecture and high-quality restaurants. At the western end, you’ll find places like the restaurant Druckwasserwerk.

Eastern route:
From Römer to Osthafen. In recent years, this area has developed into an urban mixed-use district with modern architecture and close proximity to the European Central Bank.

Highly recommended is the restaurant Oosten, located directly on the Main. From its terrace, you get an impressive view of the skyline.

Another great photo opportunity can be found at the Flößerbrücke or again at the Eiserner Steg, both offering classic postcard views of Frankfurt.

Experience culture: Museumsufer

The Museumsufer is one of Frankfurt’s most culturally interesting areas.

Several important museums line the riverbank, including the Museum of Applied Arts, the Architecture Museum, the Museum for Communication, and the renowned Städel Museum. Between the buildings, spacious green areas and riverside paths invite you to stroll.

A particularly pleasant stop is the café at the Museum of Applied Arts, quietly located in a park.

Another architectural highlight is the Liebieghaus, a historic building with a beautiful garden and café.

Vibrant districts: Sachsenhausen, Bornheim and Ostend

Beyond the classic city center, it is also worth visiting some of Frankfurt’s districts.

Sachsenhausen around Schweizer Straße is lively yet cozy, with many restaurants, cafés, and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Alt-Sachsenhausen feels very different: one bar follows another. In the evenings, tourists and a younger crowd dominate. Be sure to try the original Frankfurt “Grie Soß”.

In the Ostend along Hanauer Landstraße, you will find numerous car dealerships, furniture stores, and restaurants – a more urban and bustling part of the city.

A more relaxed atmosphere can be found in Bornheim along Berger Straße, characterized by small shops, restaurants, and lively street life.

More Frankfurt tips

In addition to the major attractions, there are many individual highlights worth integrating into your visit.

A sightseeing tour on a double-decker bus is highly recommended for a quick overview of the city.

The Palmengarten is one of Germany’s most beautiful botanical gardens and a special highlight for plant lovers. Nearby, the café Siesmayers offers a lovely view of the gardens.

The Chinese Garden is also a शांत and historically interesting park.

At Römerberg, you will find historic buildings, St. Paul’s Church, and access to the Eiserner Steg.

Book lovers should visit Hugendubel near Hauptwache – a large bookstore with an excellent selection. Outdoor enthusiasts will find an impressive range of equipment at Globetrotter near the ECB.

A particularly nostalgic café is Café Laumer, a Viennese-style café with baroque charm and a wide selection of cakes.

Excursions around Frankfurt

There are also many worthwhile destinations around Frankfurt.

The Main-Taunus-Zentrum (MTZ) in Sulzbach is one of Germany’s oldest and largest shopping centers and has recently been modernized.

The Lohrberg offers sweeping views over the Rhine-Main region and a park-like landscape.

The historic towns in the Taunus are particularly recommended:

Kronberg impresses with its old town, castle, and many historic villas.

Königstein, home of BOTTA, offers a charming town center, the park around Villa Borgnis, and an impressive castle ruin.

The district of Falkenstein is also architecturally interesting, including the historic Asklepios clinic.

You can enjoy one of the best views over the Rhine-Main plain from the Hardtberg Tower, as shown in our video about the equinox.