IO things to do in Frankfurt
It’s Germany’s thriving, uber-modern city but it also showcases fantastic museums, fine foods and beautiful history
ISpend days at museums
Lace up your well-worn New Balances for a mind-expanding marathon in Frankfurt’s district of museums. A staggering collection of 39 museums and art galleries straddles both sides of the River Main, uniting everything from traditional masters to caricatures, to ancient history, film and modern electronica. It’s a lot to absorb in one day, so grab the MusemsuferTicket, which allows you access over two consecutive days. museumsufer.de
2 Hike the city forest
Tilting your neck skywards to observe Frankfurt’s razor-sharp skyscrapers, you wouldn’t guess the city is also one of Germany’s most wooded urban areas. Just 15 minutes southward, you’ll find a 5000ha, 450km network of green that was once an imperial forest. The city bought the forest from Kaiser Karl IV in 1372, and, today, it’s a natural playground for exercising AirPodded Frankfurters.
3 Visit the new old town
This slice of Frankfurt’s old town (Alt Stadt), between the Emperor’s cathedral and the medieval Romer building, has been recreated from historic blueprints in an effort to summon one of Germany’s most beautiful timber-framed towns from the fogs of history. Using materials and techniques of a bygone era to reforge the area decimated by war, the DomRomer Quarter project was opened in 2018 and includes 20 new buildings and 15 conscientious replicas.
4 To market
Food markets are usually a good barometer for determining community spirit and Kleinmarkthalle pegs Frankfurters as jovial purveyors of produce paired with an enthusiasm for afternoon wines. In this undercover marketplace, you can source all manner of local food specialties, fruits and vegetables, and enjoy dine-in delicacies and a glass, or three, of wine, which seems especially popular on a Saturday. kleinmarkthalle.com
5 Historic dining
Days of ping-ponging between Frankfurt’s sights will trigger a hunger than can only be vanquished by Germanic portions of meat and potatoes. You may as well slingshot back in time to one of the city’s oldest restaurants. The traditional, burgundy-carpeted Zum Storch was apparently frequented by beloved poet Goethe and dates back to 1317, and among their specialties is a local herb sauce and marinated beef with cabbage. zumstorch.com
6 Sip apple wine
Put the bier stein down, in Frankfurt, it’s all about apple wine. You will encounter iterations of the tipple on just about every corner, but to really lean into the fermented beverage, head to Alt Sachsenhausen. This historic area of timber-framed houses and cobbled laneways is rife with pubs pouring apfelwein, which apparently came about when 16th -century climate change cued a pivot from vineyards to fruit orchards. 7
Whenever you enter a river-set city, you’re obliged to tour it by boat. So hop aboard a River Main scenic cruise to absorb Frankfurt’s skyline and riverside precincts heading toward the West Harbour. It’s lovely at night-time, when the skyscrapers of this finance-focused city are lit up.
Cruise the River Main 8 Level up to look down
If you’re the type who simply must locate the best vantage point from which to assess a city, you’ll want to elevate to the observation deck of the glass-facaded Main Tower. It’s not the tallest skyscraper in Frankfurt at 200m high, but €9 buys you a lofty perspective of the city.
maintower.de
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At some stage, you’ll need to cross the Main River. When that time comes, head to the Eiserner Steg footbridge. This neo-gothic bridge has been providing sturdy passage for pedestrians since 1869, connecting the Old Town with Sachsenhausen.
Snap a bridge selfie IO Michelin-starred meal
Frankfurt doesn’t coddle a reputation as a food city, rather, its somewhat derisive nickname “Bankfurt” details its economic pursuits. Still, it’s home to a few Michelin-starred restaurants and Frankfurters consider food on equal footing with art. To understand modern German fine dining, head to Gustav.