An itinerary for one day in Frankfurt

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If you’re planning to spend one day in Frankfurt and it’s your first time in the city, my guide will help you!

Known for its mix of historic landmarks and sleek modern skyscrapers, Germany’s Frankfurt sits on the River Main and offers plenty to explore, even if you only have a short amount of time.

In my one-day Frankfurt itinerary, you’ll find a guide to the must-see sights and experiences that will give you a true feel for the city. It’ll ensure you’ll make the most of your brief stay in Germany’s fifth-largest city.

Read on to learn more about the top things to do in one day in Frankfurt.

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Where is Frankfurt?

Frankfurt is in the central, western half of Germany. It lies along the Main River, which flows through the city and merges with the Rhine River in nearby Mainz and Wiesbaden. Its position on the Main River is why it’s often called Frankfurt am Main to distinguish it from another Frankfurt on Germany’s Polish border.

The city’s location makes it ideal for day trips to other nearby places. The beautiful university town of Heidelberg is around one hour and 20 minutes away by train; the hilltop university town of Marburg is approximately an hour away, while the spa city Wiesbaden is 35 minutes.

Fast trains to Cologne take just over an hour. Dusseldorf is slightly further away by train, but is still doable in a day (around an hour and a half).

Why spend just one day in Frankfurt?

As a base for day trips

Frankfurt is an excellent place for a short break.

There are loads of things to do here and if you have a few days, you could spend one day in Frankfurt and then use it as a base to do day trips to other places in Germany using the network of regional trains (note that these are cheaper than using the intercity ICE trains). This is what we did.

As part of a layover or stopover

You may also be in Frankfurt as part of a long layover en route to other places. Frankfurt International Airport is one of Europe’s busiest airports, which means it’s a convenient stopover for many international travellers.

So, if you have a stopover here and enough time, I’d recommend heading into the city. Even though you may only have one day, it would still be possible to see the main sights in Frankfurt.

And with the airport being just 12 minutes by train from the centre, you can easily pop in for an overnight stop, or even for just a few hours if you are selective about what you see. This will allow you to break a long flight time, and experience Frankfurt before moving on to your next destination.

How to get to Frankfurt from the airport

Frankfurt airport is not that far from the city’s centre: around 10 kilometres. You can catch several S-Bahn trains into the centre which take around 12 minutes. Note that train tickets for this are about a third of the price of the ICE train, so given the short duration of the S-Bahn journey, I can’t see there’s much advantage in the taking the train.

You will arrive in Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, the main train station. This is about a 15-minute walk to the main sights.

The top things to do in Frankfurt in a day

Below is my one-day itinerary for Frankfurt, based on my recent trip. It only includes a handful of key sights and things to do, given that with just one day, you won’t have much time. However, it does cover the best things to do here. 

I’ve also included a few extra things at the end if you want to swap anything or have a bit longer here.

Alternatively, if you prefer to explore with a tour guide who will give you more information about the history of Frankfurt, you could book this two-hour walking tour, which will take you around the city’s main sights.

Or you could get around the different sights via the hop-on hop-off city bus.

One day in Frankfurt: a one-day itinerary

Stroll around the new old town

At the heart of Frankfurt is the new old town. This small area features historic buildings centred around a square and a few adjoining streets.

Assuming you are arriving at the main station, you can cross over the road and walk straight up Kaissestrasse to the old town.

As an ‘historic old town’, Frankfurt’s is young (hence the name ‘new old town’). It is in fact a reconstruction of the buildings that were destroyed as part of the extensive bombing raids of Frankfurt that took place during the Second World War.

The main part of this district centres around Romerberg, a lively area buzzing with life that seems to attract both locals and tourists.

The square has the City Hall on one side and the eye-catching Old St. Nicholas Church on another. In front of the church is the Fountain of Justice, which has a sculpture of the Goddess of Justice in the middle.

On the other side of the square is a row of buildings with cafes and restaurants, and outdoor seating.

You can then wander beyond this to some of the small adjoining streets and squares, where you’ll find more restaurants and bars. I particularly liked the small square (Huhnermarkt) with the sculpture of Friedrich Stoltze at the entrance. This is just off Markt, between Romerberg and the Cathedral.

I thought the new old town was a lovely area to wander around. It offers a real contrast to the modern buildings that dominate so much of the city centre skyline like a mini Manhattan.

Visit Frankfurt Cathedral

At one end of the new old town, you’ll find Frankfurter Dom, the Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew.

This impressive Gothic church was built in the 14^th century and, miraculously, largely survived the bombing in World War II that destroyed so much of the city.

If you go inside the cathedral, you’ll see a black and white photo of the cathedral standing almost alone in the bombed-out, city ruins. It tells you that only one of the city’s half-timbered buildings – of which there were over 2,000 at the time – was not damaged, and most of Frankfurt’s churches were destroyed. It’s worth stopping and looking at this.

You can also climb the Cathedral Tower (this involves over 300 steps) and look out over the area. This was the city’s tallest building until the 1950s.

Explore the Goethe House

From the cathedral, I’d suggest you head to the Goethe House, a short walk away. If you only have time to go into one museum, I’d say this should be high on your list.

Goethe’s House is a small historic building where the German poet and writer was born in the mid 18^th century and spent his youth. He wrote his early work here, and started ‘Faust’, which is often regarded as to be among his most famous works.

To get to the house, you need to exit the museum’s foyer and go through a small garden. You then walk through the house’s back door and into the ground floor of a four-story building where the rooms have been painstakingly reconstructed to represent the time when Goethe lived there (the original house was, unfortunately, another casualty of the wartime bombing).

Inside Goethe’s House

When you walk into the house, you’ll see an information stand. Make sure you pick up one of the laminated information sheets here – it’s really informative and provides the background to all the rooms you go in.

On the ground floor, there is the ‘Yellow’ or ‘Weimar Parlour’ reception room with a portrait of Goethe in his youth, the ‘Blue Room’ dining room, and the kitchen. Walking up to the first floor, you find the ‘Red Room’ or ‘Peking Room’, which the information leaflet tells you was used for entertaining important visitors. There’s also a music room on this level.

The second floor has what is thought to be the room Goethe was born in, as well as a room where his parents lived and slept. On the other side of the landing is his sister Cornelia’s room. There is also a library and a room housing art.

At the top of the house, there is ‘The Poet’s Room’. This is the room where Goethe was said to have worked on his law, literature, and art studies, as well as written some of his early work. Next door is the ‘Puppet Theatre Room’ with the original puppet theatre that Goethe and his sister were given by their grandmother.

The house is a fascinating place to wander around. There many interesting facts to take in – both in terms of the rooms themselves and the artefacts within them and the information you pick up as you go along.  

The Deustches Romantik-Museum

Your ticket to Goethe’s House also includes entry to the Deustches Romantik-Museum.

So, after your tour around the house, you can head up the stairs in the entrance foyer to this small art museum which is dedicated to German Romanticism.

View Frankfurt from the Main Tower

Just a couple of streets from Geothe’s House is the Main Tower. In stark contrast to the house, this is a modern skyscraper that bills itself as ‘Frankfurt’s highest vantage point’.

If you fancy experiencing the panoramic views on offer, you can book a ticket and ride the lift up to a 200 metre high observation deck. It is open every day – until 9pm during the week in the summer (7pm in winter) and until 11pm at weekends in the summer (9pm in winter).

Although I didn’t do this, I imagine visiting at sunset would be great. There is a restaurant on the 53^rd floor if you want to stop for a bite to eat.

Wander along the banks of the Main River

From the Main Tower, you can walk down Neue Mainzer Strasse, through the William Brandt Platz with its massive sculpture of the Euro, and down to the river. When you get to the river, turn right and walk through Manufer Park, with the river to your left until you come the Holbein-Steg bridge.

This suspension footbridge is an ideal place to cross over the Main River and take a stroll. For a major city, it’s quite peaceful walking along this stretch which is known as Museum Embankment (Museumsufer) because of the large number of museums located here and close by.

Walk in the direction of Eiserner Steg bridge and you’ll go past museums on your right that include the Stadel Museum Art Institute, the Museum for Communication, the German Architecture Museum, and the German Film Museum.

On the opposite bank, there is the Jewish Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Junges Museum.

You can either stop off and visit a museum (discounts are available with the Frankfurt Card) or walk to the Eiserner Steg bridge.

Cross over the Eiserner Steg bridge

Once you’ve wandered along the river, you can cross back via the Eiserner Stag iron footbridge. Built in the late 1860s, this pedestrian bridge has been brought up to the modern day with the addition of scores of love locks clamped to its sides.

There are some great views from this bridge. In one direction to your right, you can see the Old St. Nicolas Church and Frankfurt Cathedral in the new old town; in the other, the modern Manhatten-style skyscrapers.

Facing Frankfurt Cathedral on the opposite bank of the river is the impressive Dreikonigskirche church.

Boats are docked in the water alongside the bridge. Once you leave the bridge, you’ll see a small booth selling tickets for 50-minute sightseeing tours on the Main River (alternatively, you can pre-book boat tours here).

Try some traditional food

Once you’ve crossed the iron bridge, you’ll be back at the side of the new old town. You can then head back there for a bite to eat and to try out some of the food local to Frankfurt.

Among these are Frankfurter sausage dishes, handkäse mit Musik (a sour cheese dish), and a unique dish that consists of hard-boiled eggs, sprouts, and a local green sauce with herbs in it.

I didn’t get around to trying any of these – partly because I didn’t have enough time in the city to try lots of things, and partly because I don’t eat red meat.

However, I did try the city’s apple wine. This was more like apple cider and was served in a patterned/ribbed glass, which I’ve read is traditional.

Other things to do in Frankfurt

If any of the above don’t take your fancy, there are plenty of other things to do in Frankfurt. Or you could add these in if you have longer in the city.

Go to a museum

As mentioned above, Frankfurt has many museums, a fair few of which are dotted along its ‘Museum Embankment’ on the banks of the Main River.

They cover various interests, including art (which also includes a Museum for Comic Art), history, film, advertising, communication, transport, music, and archaeology. Unsurprisingly, given that Frankfurt is the site of the Central Bank of Germany (as well as the financial centre of Europe), there’s the Money Museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank.

There is also the Goethe House and Goethe Museum covered above.

You can get discounted entry to many of these museums with the Frankfurt Card.

Sail along the river

If you don’t have much time on your one day in Frankfurt, a great way to see some of the city is by boat on a river cruise. You can find river cruises moored by the iron bridge near the new old town.

Alternatively, you could pre-book this panoramic boat trip down the Main River. Lasting one hour, you’ll see the city from the water and learn more about it via the onboard audio commentary.

Take a day trip

If you’re using Frankfurt as a base, there’s no shortage of fabulous places to visit in the surrounding area. Many of these were largely untouched by the Second World War, so they arguably offer a more authentic experience of traditional Germany.

Below are four places and trips to consider.

Heidelberg

Top among the best places to take a day trip from Frankfurt is probably Heidelberg.

Just over an hour by train, this beautiful city has a massive castle on a hill. This is largely a ruin, but in the part you can go into, you can see the world’s largest wine barrel!  There is also a fascinating pharmacy museum here.

You can also walk around the castle grounds and take in stunning views of the city centre and the River Neckar below. Once you’ve descended the funicular to the old town below, you’ll find a delightful chocolate-boxy collection of old streets and squares with lots of shops and eateries to stop at.

You can catch the train from Frankfurt’s central train station to Heidelberg main train station (Hauptbahnhof). Then switch to the bus into the centre and up to the castle.

There are also day tours to Heidelberg that will take you by bus from Frankfurt and that include the services of a tour guide.

Other tours combine a trip to Heidelberg and Rothenburg, the latter often described as a ‘fairytale town’.

See our separate post on the best things to do in Heidelberg.

Rothenburg and the Romantic Road

If you want to focus more on Rothenburg, you can book tours that take you here via what is known as the ‘Romantic Road’. This route covers over 400 kilometres and runs through many medieval towns.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the most well-known places along the route.

If you want to check out one of the great places along the Romantic Road, you could book this tour. It includes visits to Rothenburg, Rottigen, and Weirkersheim Castle.

The train journey from Frankfurt to Rothenburg is not direct (it involves two changes), so it driving here is quicker. If you don’t have a car during your trip and don’t want to use the local buses, then an organised tour may be the best way to visit Rothenburg.

Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden is closer than the two options above: it is just 35 minutes by regional train from Frankfurt and rail services are more frequent.

It’s a charming place to wander around with lots of stately buildings. These include the domed Kurhaus, which looks fantastic when lit up at night, with the two old fountains in front.

There is also a huge neo-gothic cathedral (the Market Church), whose main tower (there are five) is the tallest structure in the city. The cathedral is an eye-catching red/ orange brick colour. Next door is the City Hall.

Being a spa town, Wiesbaden also offers lots of attractions for rest and relaxation where you can benefit from the thermal water (there are 26 springs here).

And if you love funiculars, head up to Neroberg (you can walk here or take the number 1 bus) where, between April and October, you can ride on Germany’s oldest water-powered funicular.

Dating from 1888, this small funicular takes you to the top of a hill where you can walk around, admire the Russian Orthodox church, and take in the views. You can then stop off for some food in the restaurant.

We loved this. On the way down, we stood in the outside carriage, where we learned more from the driver about how a water-powered funicular works. You can also look out from the train and admire the many beautiful villas in the city.

Marburg

Marburg is another place we visited when we based ourselves in Frankfurt for our recent Germany trip. It is around an hour north by train from Frankfurt main station.

Once you arrive, catch a bus from the station to the centre. If you get off after the Elisabeth Church, you’ll find a lift that will take you to the old town perched on a steep hill.

Marburg is only small – so you could probably see all the main sights in half a day – but it’s a lovely place to spend some time. It has small quaint streets lined with medieval half-timbered buildings and a square with an attractive city hall dating back to the 14^th century. There’s a great eatery in this square with outdoor seating.

There’s also a small 11^th century castle that you can walk up to with a small cultural history museum inside. You can wander around the castle, take in the views of the surrounding countryside from here, and stroll around the small adjoining park. The old botanical garden is also in the centre, right next to the university.

Marburg is worth a visit. We loved it (and apparently, so did the Brothers Grimm who studied here!).

Is Frankfurt worth visiting for just one day?

If you’re on a stopover to somewhere else or using Frankfurt as a base, then I’d say it’s worth a short visit here.

I’ll be honest, if you’re looking for a ‘chocolate-box’ destination full of beautiful, historic architecture, then you may be disappointed with Frankfurt (if this is the case, you might want to consider other European cities such as Bruges, Tallinn, Leuven or Heidelberg).

However, there is a lot going for Frankfurt. If you like visiting museums and having a convenient base from which to travel to lots of other places, then Frankfurt is a must-visit destination.

The best time to visit Frankfurt

The best time to visit Frankfurt very much depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for on your trip. The summer months, from June to August (when temperatures can peak in the mid-twenties in Celsius), are ideal to enjoy warm weather and outdoor activities. You can wander around the old town, stroll along the riverbank, or cruise along the river.

If you visit during the winter months, it’ll be quite cold in the city (temperatures can drop to 1 or 2 degrees Celsius in December and January).

However, it’s still a wonderful time of year to visit, especially in December when the famous Frankfurt Christmas market takes place in several places across the city. The fact that Frankfurt has so many fabulous museums to visit also means there’s always something to do if it’s too cold to be outside for long.

Other ideas for short break in Germany

Click into the links below for information on other great breaks or day trips in Germany. For ideas and inspiration for Europe more widely, go to my website.

• One day in Cologne

• The top things to do in Heidelberg

• Things to do in one day in Berlin

• The top things to do in Nuremberg

• 2 days in Munich

Written by Emma Marshall

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