One day in Frankfurt itinerary – Top things to do in Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is an ancient city on the Main in Germany. It is ideally located and considered to be the gateway to other important German cities in the east, Southern Europe, France in the west, and Scandinavia in the north. With such importance, it’s no wonder that Frankfurt has become one of the biggest financial centers on the continent. However, this city is not only known for its financial and strategic influence and power. It is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. From historical landmarks to scenic parks, high-rise skyscrapers, museums, and business centers, Frankfurt is truly a vivid and cultural place to see. Spending one day here is therefore going to be quite a treat!

GUEST POST BY YOUGESHWAR HARI

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Frankfurt has always enjoyed an important status as a great tourist destination in Europe. It has some of the finest museums in the world that showcase its history, art, architecture, culture, and the tradition of people who have lived here from the very beginning.

This city is also rich in bars, pubs, DJ clubs, restaurants, and everything else you need for a great night out. So if you want to get a complete package when it comes to entertainment, Frankfurt am Main is the place to visit. And with the help of a good itinerary, you can see the best of it in just a single day. For this reason, tourism in Frankfurt is at an all-time high. There’s always something going on and there is always plenty to experience.

What’s the best time to visit Frankfurt?

The best time to visit Frankfurt am Main is from spring to late autumn. The weather is best during this part of the year, and you can enjoy the different colors of this enchanting city. However, summers and the early autumn season are also periods of huge crowds.

Therefore, if you want to avoid tourists, see everything closely, and save some time and energy, visit Frankfurt in early spring or late autumn. The crowds will be minimal, and you will be able to have a great time in the city. The weather will also be mild, so you won’t feel excess cold, wind, or heat.

Spring is the best season, and we recommend you go there at this time as the gardens are all coming alive. Although you may get some rain, it won’t trouble you much. But visiting in the autumn season is a great choice, too. These two kinds of weather are ideal for a visit, and everything seems tailor-made for you. Prices of hotels, transportation, and accommodation are all very reasonable compared to the peak season of late spring and summer.

Frankfurt also hosts some of the best cultural festivals and fairs, including:

• Berger Strassenfest
• BruckenWall Fest
• Dippemess (autumn)
• Dippemess (spring)
• Rotlintstrassenfest
• Museumsuferfest
• Jazz zum Dritten
• Shisha Messe Fair
• Marathon Mall
• Frankfurt Apple Wine Festival

A Few Facts about Frankfurt

Frankfurt is an ancient city that was founded even before it became an important Roman settlement. But due to the destruction in World War II, much of the city has developed with new buildings and structures all around. So, it is a mixture of old and new architecture and heritage. This leads to some very interesting facts about the city.

1. Frankfurt enjoys a huge stock market.
2. Buchmesse is the largest book fair in the world.
3. The city’s Opera House was a ruin before being fully restored to its glory.
   

   

4. Due to tall skyscrapers, it is also known as Manhattan.
5. As an economic hub of Europe, Frankfurt is also known as Bankfurt.
6. Frankfurt am Main means fort of the Franks beside the River Main.
7. Due to its matchless strategic location, Frankfurt has become an emerging transportation hub.
8. The first Wikimania was held in Frankfurt.
9. Frankfurt has the largest inner-city forest in Germany.
10. Frankfurt was one of the biggest cities in ancient Europe and was used as a coronation place for emperors and kings.
    

    

One Day in Frankfurt Itinerary

Spending one day in this city of wonder will require some planning. Thankfully, with some thorough research and planning, we are able to share a great one-day trip itinerary for Frankfurt. So, follow it and we guarantee you will get a great taste of this city and want to make another trip soon. These are the top sights and things to do during your one day in Frankfurt.

Visit Romerberg and the iconic Town Hall

Romerberg is a historical market square in Frankfurt and a great place to start your day. Translated from German, Romerberg stands for “Roman Mountain”.

This place has great historical importance because it is surrounded by administrative buildings, medieval houses, and landmarks such as Frankfurt’s Town Hall from 1405, the Renaissance Fountain of Justice from 1543, and on the opposite side of the square is the old St Nicholas Church dating back to the 15th century.

Visit the Goethe House and a Museum

The Goethe House is considered to be the birthplace of the German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who lived here until moving away permanently in 1775. It was in this house that he wrote his masterpiece – The Sorrows of Young Werther. Right next to the house, lies the Museum of German Romanticism where you can learn more about the history of literature.

Visit different museums on Museumsufer

This Museum Embankment, known as the Museumsufer, is a cluster of 12 museums on the banks of the river Main. Be sure to get yourself a Frankfurt card – it provides discounts for the museums AND public transport.

The Museum of World Cultures is one of Europe’s top ethnological museums with more than 65,000 artifacts. Another important museum, the Museum of Ancient Sculpture, is home to a large collection of Asian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sculptures. 

The Icon Museum houses more than a thousand Christian Orthodox images. German Architectural Museum focuses on architectural design, German Film Museum on the history of cinema and the Lumière brothers, and the Museum of Applied Art displays more than 30,000 objects of European and Asian decorative art.

Furthermore, the Städel Art Museum houses a remarkable collection of paintings from the 14th century. These include works by old masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Goya, but also modern painters like Monet, Degas, Beckman, and Picasso.

Pick your favorite museum or just stroll around and enjoy this lovely area.

Look at the horizon from the observation deck of the Main Tower

The 200-meters high Main Tower is one of the highest skyscrapers in Germany and the only one in the city with a viewing platform. Enjoy the spectacular view with all the high-rise towers, the Main River, and the horizon from its observation deck. It really is quite a sight to behold and a must for your Frankfurt itinerary.

Pro tip – come here in the evening if you can and marvel at the city lights from above!

Make a stop at St. Paul’s Church

Once you’re done admiring the view, make a stop at St. Paul’s Church, an 18th-century church of great significance for the Germans. The church began as a Lutheran church with a circular plan that made a perfect space for the first democratically elected parliament in Germany in 1848. Even though the building has since returned to its original function, it still represents the birthplace of German democracy.

Taste the local flavors at Kleinmarkthalle

Kleinmarkthalle is a 1,500 square meters indoor market located in the hangar-like hall that dates from 1954. It is also the perfect place to stop for lunch.

Nearly 160 market stalls sell everything from freshly prepared food and local products to flowers every day of the week except Sunday. In addition to gourmet treats from around the globe, you can easily find traditional regional specialties such as sausages, cheeses, pastries, and the famous Frankfurt “Green Sauce”.

Be enchanted by the Frankfurt Cathedral

St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral is one of the most magnificent structures in Germany built in Gothic style between the 13th and 15th centuries. During the Holy Roman Empire, it hosted the coronation of emperors that took place in the Election Chapel.

If you decide to enter the Cathedral, don’t miss the magnificent Crucifixion by Hans Backoffen from the beginning of the 16th century, many numerous carved side altars dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, and the most important relic – pieces of Saint Bartholomew’s skull!

Wander through Palmengarten

Wander through the beautiful Palmengarten, the 54-acre botanic garden first opened in 1871. You can find plant species from all parts of the globe, including subtropical and tropical plant species inside the greenhouses. It’s a great place to stop for a bit, enjoy the lush nature or relax in the sun.

Take a few snaps of Europaturm

Europaturm is one of the tallest telecommunications towers in the world, only a short walk from Palmengarten. Although the deck is closed, it is still a great landmark to visit and take a few pictures.

Treat yourself to a wonderful evening

After a long day of sightseeing, your one day in Frankfurt should end with a nice dinner. And maybe a drink or two after that. This is indeed a multicultural city, so you will find all types of cuisines, especially in the city centre.

El Dorado, for example, is an excellent Mexican restaurant, whereas Bidlabu is a cozy little place with good wines and beautifully styled food. But the offer goes way beyond that! Im Herzen Afrikas will provide you with Eritrean dishes, while Medici focuses on fine dining. There’s also Ariston, an excellent Greek restaurant.

When it comes to bars, rest assured there’s plenty of options in that respect, too. After all, Germans really love their beer. Helium, for example, is extremely popular, and Embury offers great cocktails at a reasonable price. You can also go on  a pub crawl (on Fridays and Saturdays) and make the most of your night.

As for nightclubs, Tanzhaus West is a good choice in the wider city centre, as are Freud and The Cave. Therefore, when it comes to evenings in Frankfurt, you will have plenty to choose from.

Where to stay in Frankfurt?

 

Day trips from Frankfurt

Thanks to its unique position in the heart of Europe, Frankfurt is ideal if you would like to enjoy some wonderful day trips. So, provided that you’re spending more than one day here, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Don’t know which way to turn? Here are a few choice you definitely won’t regret making.

Rhine Valley

Visiting the Rhine Valley is probably the most beautiful and relaxing day trip you can make from Frankfurt. The place is under the protection of UNESCO because of the numerous castles in the area, and there are plenty of stunningly beautiful villages around where you can relax and rejuvenate. The trip is especially beautiful if you hop on a boat and just cruise the river and enjoy the scenery. Whatever the case, you will love every second and the memories will last you a lifetime.

Cologne

Thanks to Germany’s excellent infrastructure, it’s easy to get around from one city to another. Ideal if you want to explore the country a bit. So, why not spend one day in Cologne if you have the time? This remarkable city is full of fascinating churches, chief among them being the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. It is also the place where the largest carnival in the country is held! Walk around, do some sightseeing, and sit down for a glass of the famous Kölsch beer!

Mainz

If you don’t want to travel too far to get to another city, why not choose Mainz? Just 45 minutes away, this beautiful city also has plenty of historical heritage you can explore and also an incredibly impressive cathedral. There are also many great museums you can visit, or just enjoy a nice walk along the Rhine. And if you don’t have a car, the train from Frankfurt is quick and affordable. A nice, simple day trip that will surely enrich your time in Germany.

Strasbourg

Oh yes, you can take a day trip to France from Frankfurt, too! Just two and a half hours away is the city of Strasbourg where the European Parliament is located. But that’s just one of the things to see – the city centre is incredibly beautiful and under UNESCO’s protection, and you’ll see why as soon as you get there. It’s very much like a fairytale! Add to that the city’s canals which can be toured on a boat and you get a wonderful day trip to another country.

Extra tips for visiting Frankfurt

– You can start your one day in Frankfurt by taking a ride on the sightseeing bus. This way, you can cover a lot of sights and buildings in a single ride. After the tour, you can make a lunch stop at one of the many top restaurants or Kleinmarkthalle and spend your afternoon wandering the Palmengarten or any other city park.

– When in restaurants, you don’t have wait to be seated – just go ahead and sit wherever you see a free table.

– There are several options for you if you want to save on museums other sights: Frankfurt Card and MuseumsuferTicket are probably the most comprehensive ones.

– Most shops around here will be closed on Sundays.

– While this destination can really be considered very safe if you want to plan for any and all eventualities you should check the offer of World Nomads. With them, you can get your travel insurance without the slightest problem, and the whole process will be completed in a matter of minutes. They will help you protect your stuff, resolve the problems that arise in case of any delays and even help you with a toothache among other medical issues. So, getting insured by them means being able to fully focus on your trip. Don’t let anything get in the way of you having a great time!

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