Frankfurt am Main, as it’s officially known, is the fifth most populous city in Germany and one of continental Europe’s most important financial hubs. But there’s much more to Frankfurt than the towering skyscrapers of its banking district. Impressive modern architecture sits alongside medieval buildings, and its abundance of museums, theaters and opera houses compliment a vibrant bar, club and restaurant scene. Walk through lush green parks or step into exclusive luxury boutiques; and dine out on Michelin-starred menus or hearty local dishes. Come December, bundle up in winter wear and enjoy hot drinks and regional specialties at one of the city’s magical Christmas markets.
Frankfurt isn’t affectionately known as “Mainhattan” for nothing, and the city has emerged from the pandemic even more vibrant and creative than before, offering new design hotels, a wealth of exhibitions and, reflecting its burgeoning fashion scene, its very own Fashion Week. Here’s just some of what you can experience when you visit.
1. Immerse yourself in history
At the heart of the city’s historical center is the Römerberg, a cobbled square lined with half-timbered medieval buildings including the Römer, which has served as Frankfurt’s city hall since 1405. Close by is the recently reconstructed, so-called “New Old Town”, the Dom-Römer Quarter, which features the remains of a former Roman settlement, an imperial palace dating back to Carolingian times, and a selection of charming independent shops and cafés housed in immaculately-reconstructed historical buildings.
2. Soak up art and culture
Frankfurt offers a remarkable variety of museums and galleries, 13 of which are located on the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment) along the southern bank of the Main river. Unmissable is the Städel Museum, Germany’s oldest museum foundation, which houses European art spanning some 700 years, and whose permanent collection features works from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Families will enjoy the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, home to Europe’s biggest collection of large dinosaurs, including its only diplodocus; a must-visit for literature fans is the Frankfurter-Goethe Haus (Frankfurt Goethe House), where the German poet and author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in 1749.
3. Enjoy international cuisines
Thanks to Frankfurt’s vibrant international community — with residents from some 177 different countries around the world — the city’s culinary offerings are deliciously diverse. Head to Ramen Muku for excellent homemade ramen; stylish Bar Shuka for Middle Eastern classics such as sabih and shakshuka made with regional ingredients; and enjoy the German afternoon coffee and cake tradition at Bitter & Zart with a mini Frankfurter Kranz cake, comprising layers of sponge, buttercream, jam and almond croquant.
4. Explore the green city
Home to Germany’s largest urban forest and no fewer than 40 parks, and surrounded by a ring-shaped green belt, more than half of Frankfurt’s urban area is composed of natural landscapes. Relax on the northern bank of the Main at the Nizzagärten (Gardens of Nice), an oasis of Mediterranean plants, and fig, palm and citrus trees; or for a more educational experience, visit the Palmengarten, Frankfurt’s botanical gardens, to explore the rainforests, humid mangroves and dry deserts of the Tropicarium.
5. Shop and splurge
If you’re looking for a retail high, you’ve come to the right place. Head to Brückenstraße for clothes, jewelry and accessories from creative local designers; the busy Zeil shopping promenade for department stores, global retail chains and the MyZeil shopping mall; and Goethestraße for exclusive boutiques stocking iconic designer labels including Hermès, Cartier and Chanel. Food lovers should make a beeline for the Kleinmarkthalle indoor market, a local institution offering both regional delicacies and global gourmet specialties.
6. Pamper yourself
A city with its fair share of luxury hotels is inevitably home to some seriously exclusive spas. At the award-winning spa of the historic Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof hotel, you’ll find a range of premium spa and beauty treatments and relaxation therapies to choose from, as well as a candlelit spa suite with private sauna and bathing area, and a Turkish steam bath. At the inhouse Gentleman Barber Shop, both modern and traditional grooming services can be enjoyed from the comfort of an elegant vintage barber’s chair.
7. Sample the local cider
Traditional Frankfurt cuisine largely revolves around a sour, flat cider called Apfelwein. Head to a rustic, lively Apfelweinstube (cider tavern) — Apfelwein Wagner and Zum Gemalten Haus on Schweizer Straße are both good options — to try a glass alongside local specialties such as boiled eggs with cold green herb sauce or cured pork chops with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Apfelwein is potent stuff, but you can order it diluted with sparkling water or lemonade.
8. Enjoy a Michelin-starred meal
Among Frankfurt’s seemingly endless dining options are 10 restaurants that among them have earned a total of twelve Michelin stars. Head to Seven Swans, the world’s first Michelin-starred vegan restaurant, for an exceptional multi-course, meat-free menu; or enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the city from the 53rd floor at the Main Tower Restaurant & Lounge, where set menus include dishes such as wild bluefin tuna with Imperial Gold Caviar, dashi and cucumber.
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