A trip to Frankfurt, Germany sort of feels like you’re visiting two different cities at once. On the one hand, it’s a major European financial hub with massive modern skyscrapers. On the other it’s also a city filled with historic German architecture. It’s full name is actually Frankfurt am Main, so as not to be confused with the much smaller Frankfurt an der Oder (located east of Berlin). If you’re like me, this was news to you!
Another thing we discovered is that almost everything shopping-related in Germany is closed on Sundays, including grocery stores. The only real exception seems to be stores located in an airport or train station. I know so many people in the US that ONLY go grocery shopping or run errands on Sundays, so walking by closed storefronts felt so strange. For our trip it couldn’t be helped, but I’d recommend if you’re only planning to spend 2 days here to try and avoid one of them being a Sunday.
We wanted to maximize our two days, so we splurged on our first business class flight which landed first thing in the morning. Unfortunately getting through customs wasn’t quite as smooth as our flight. It took almost an hour and a half to get through the customs line! Unbeknownst to me, Frankfurt Airport is one of the busiest in all of Europe. Once we were finally able to leave the airport, it was just an easy 25 min train ride into the city center.
Make it all the way to the end for a map of all the stops we made on this Frankfurt, Germany trip!
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Where to Stay: Hotels in Frankfurt, Germany.
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Like hard cider? Check out where to drink Apfelwein in Frankfurt!
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Looking for a caffeine boost? Check out the coffee shops I’ve visited in Frankfurt.
Attractions
The Kleinmarkthalle – an indoor market located in the heart of the city – was our first stop after dropping off our bags at the hotel. Maybe not the best decision ever. Even with the lay flat business seats I was still pretty jetlagged and became super overwhelmed. There are over 50 stalls, with so many different things to choose from! Downstairs is a mix of produce/meats/honey/grab and eat items and upstairs is a number of restaurants and a wine bar. We mainly just window-shopped, but if I lived nearby I could see this easily becoming my go-to grocery spot.
I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon the Mainuferpark – a waterfront promenade located on the Main River. It somehow didn’t come up during my pre-trip research!
At one point we noticed a lot of emergency services on the water. The next day we learned that two people had drunkenly jumped off one of the bridges and what we’d seen was the search team. One of the men died the next day. Do not jump into this river.
After grabbing breakfast on day two, we made our way over to the Städel Museum. This renowned art museum is located in the heart of the Museumsufer – a grouping of museums along the banks of the river Main. We went as soon as they opened on a rainy Sunday morning, so it wasn’t very crowded. We’re not the type to stop and read everything, but it still took about 2.5 hours to see the whole museum. Don’t skip the huge modern artwork section downstairs! We would’ve totally missed it if we hadn’t needed a locker for our umbrella. Speaking of the lockers, be aware you will need euro coins to lock them. (You’ll get it back when you retrieve your items). A warning for my fellow overheating girlies: if you’re visiting in the summer, know that it’s only half air conditioned. The other half was HUMID.
Following the art museum (and a stop for apfelwein and lunch!) we spent the afternoon at the PalmenGarten. Entrance tickets can only be purchased at the gate. This 22-hectare botanical garden was gorgeous, even with the not so great weather. Once again, the intermittent rain and it being a Sunday likely helped thin out the crowds a bit. We practically had the place to ourselves! But this also meant that some things weren’t open/available, like renting a pedal or rowboat on the pond. The Palmenhaus and Tropicarium reminded me so much of the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens. If you visit during the right season (we didn’t, boo) they even have a butterfly room!
Other things to see and do in Frankfurt:
- We didn’t get a chance to, but for views of the city you can climb to the top of the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew bell tower.
- Add a lock to the Eiserner Steg – an iron footbridge also known as “Love Lock Bridge”.
- Take a stroll through the Römerberg – Frankfurt’s historic market square.
Looking to add more to your Frankfurt, Germany trip itinerary?
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Food and Drinks
While it seems to be less common post-COVID, there are still a number of restaurants in Frankfurt (and Germany in general) that are cash-only. They will usually give you a heads up before they seat you, but its a good idea to always have at least some cash on hand just in case!
Breakfast/Coffee
On big trips we usually save the larger meals for later in the day, so breakfast is usually just pastries and coffee. If it were only me, there’s a good chance it’d just be a LOT of coffee, but Jasper is a bit of a grump if he doesn’t eat something! (He also doesn’t drink coffee…the weirdo.)
The best cold brew I’ve possibly ever had was at Bunca. I forgot to ask for oat milk, and I didn’t even need it! I am NOT a black coffee girl so this was huge. The cafe is on the smaller side so its a good option if you’re looking for something to-go.
For a sit down option, head to Hoppenworth & Ploch Altstadt. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, depending on the weather and your preference. Unlike other places, they are actually card only instead of cash!
Restaurants
I think my favorite part of traveling is getting to try new food. Compared to the amount of planning that goes into the rest of the trip, I do an excessive amount of research into wherever we are going to eat. I don’t want to accidently end up at the Olive Garden equivalent of whatever country we’re visiting. (No shade to Olive Garden, I LOVED that place as a kid.)
Der Fette Bull – Burgers – Multiple Locations
This burger chain has 2 full restaurants plus 1 to-go location – which is where we stopped for a quick lunch. The quality reminded me of Five Guys in the US, and I really liked the chili-mayo sauce!
Wirtshaus im Ostend – Traditional German – Rückertstraße 22, 60314 Frankfurt am Main
Be aware they are cash only! They’re a little more expensive than the area average, it cost us about 62 euro for 2 meals and 2 drinks. The schnitzel and green sauce was delicious, so I was okay spending a bit more.
Klaane Sachsehäuser – Traditional German + Apfelwein – Neuer Wall 11, 60594 Frankfurt am Main
A great casual option for lunch, dinner, or even just drinks! You can’t go wrong with cheesy spaetzle or a frankfurter and sauerkraut.
Apfelwein
While Munich is widely considered to be the beer capital of the world, Frankfurt is known for its apfelwein – “Apple wine” in English. Unlike the hard cider you’ll find in the United States, apfelwein is still instead of carbonated, and dry instead of sweet. You can drink it straight, but often people will mix it with sparkling water, lemonade or orange Fanta. It’s an acquired taste, but it’s definitely something you should try at least once while in Frankfurt. Personally, I like it! I will say we were maybe a bit overzealous in our attempt at an afternoon apfelwein tour…
Zur Buchscheer – Schwarzsteinkautweg 17, 60598 Frankfurt am Main
This one is a bit further off the beaten path than the others, but it’s worth venturing into a not so touristy area. They’ve been making their own apfelwein since 1876! Only one of the staff really spoke English, likely because of its location.
Apfelwein Wagner – Schweizer Str. 71, 60594 Frankfurt am Main
Looking for something a little more tourist-friendly? Apfelwein Wagner is a good option as they have a separate English menu available along with plenty of seating.
Zum Gemalten Haus – Schweizer Str. 67, 60594 Frankfurt am Main
Located just down the street from the previous spot, Zum Gemalten Haus felt more traditional decor-wise. They also have plenty of seating options, both indoors and out.
Daheim im Lorsbacher Thal – Große Rittergasse 49, 60594 Frankfurt am Main
They are very popular/famous, so you will need a reservation. Don’t make the mistake of taking a “quick” jetlag nap before dinner on day one and miss your dinner reservation like we did.
Hotel
While in Frankfurt, we opted to stay at the Motel One Frankfurt-Romer. Aptly named because it is just around the corner from the Römerberg! It’s central location was perfect for getting around, whether by walking or the tram stop located just outside. Check out Where to Stay in Frankfurt, Germany for a more in-depth overview of the Motel One as well as a comparison of some of the other hotels we considered for this trip.
What‘s a must-see for my next Frankfurt, Germany trip? Let me know in the comments!
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