Specialty drinks in secret restaurants, unusual museums amongst the crowd, hidden sellers between the mainstream shops: let us guide you with our recommendations of things to do in Frankfurt.
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Fernando Monteiro
Specialty drinks in secret restaurants, unusual museums amongst the crowd, hidden sellers between the mainstream shops: let us guide you with our recommendations of things to do in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt is the fifth largest German city in terms of population, but ranks number one as the financial capital of the country. It’s home to the headquarters of the Central European Bank, the stock exchange and the Bundesbank as well as some other major German banks – making it a truly international city. In fact, about one third of its population isn’t even of German descent. If you’re traveling there, follow our recommendations of things to do in Frankfurt.
Located in the center of the country on the banks of the Main River, Frankfurt am Main hosts thousands of conferences, trade shows, meetings and events each year – some of them world-renowned such as the International Motor Show or IMEX Frankfurt.
It’s quite possible that if you’re heading there on business, your work may take you to the Messe Frankfurt, the city’s convention center. One of our hotels are conveniently located nearby: the NH Frankfurt Messe, where you’ll find all of the amenities and comforts for rest and relaxation in your downtime. This cosmopolitan city offers a wide variety of entertainment, museums, restaurants and walking tours among other things to do in Frankfurt to enjoy during your trip.
OK, so we start with something that may, at first glance, not appear to be off the beaten track. But stay with me. The impressive Mainufer, also called Museumufer, can be reached by foot from the hotel in just 20 minutes. This is a rather well-known stretch of museums that line the embankment of the Main River which runs through the city (and well beyond) but it is the diversity of the museums that make it worthy of appearing in this list.
Leaving aside for a moment the world-renowned Städel art gallery, the choices open to you include a collection of works by local 19th century artists, an exhibition giving the tale of Frankfurt’s Jewish community, and the history of the German movie industry among many others. Not the items at the top of everyone’s hit list when they visit, but definitely gives you another side of the city.
If you have two hours to spare and are wondering what to do in Frankfurt, get to know the great ambiance of the historical center of the city. Start at the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew and wander around until you come to two nearby squares: Paulsplatz and Römerberg Square.
The latter dates from the twelfth century, although the ancient buildings you see were rebuilt, as was virtually the entire city after the bombing suffered during World War II. If you’d like to know more about the famous German poet Goethe, nearby you can find his home and museum. Continue down Fahrtor Street until you reach the picturesque Wertheim House.
If you have an evening with no plans for what to do in Frankfurt head along to the English Theater on Gallusanlage. No matter your taste, you’re likely to find something you’ll enjoy and the professionalism shown by all those that work there is exemplary.
As an added bonus, the onsite bar, called James – the Bar, is an integral part to the atmosphere they create and includes a gallery as part of its stylish two-floor layout.
One of the main things to do in Frankfurt is visiting the Financial District. Known as “Mainhattan” Frankfurt has twelve buildings that are 150 meters or more in height. You’ll need at least an hour to see this area. Begin at the picturesque Alte Oper (Old Opera) building. Go south to explore the streets with skyscrapers. Make a stop at the Main Tower, a building measuring 200 meters. If you have time (and the day isn’t very cloudy), it’s worth stopping by the panoramic terrace to enjoy the amazing views of the city. There’s a restaurant and a bar if you feel like grabbing a bite to eat or a drink.
Continuing on Neue Mainzer Strasse, you’ll go pass the headquarters of some of Germany’s major banks such as Commerzbank and the twin towers of Deutsche Bank. Also, in front of one of the headquarters of the European Central Bank, you can take a picture with the giant image of the euro – the symbol of the power that unites this city.
From here, you can head to Frankfurt’s prime shopping area. On and around Zeil Street, a pedestrian zone, you’ll find all kinds of shops: from luxury brands (on Goethestrasse) to the more accessible retail chains. Shopping centers like Galeria Kaufhof and MyZeil, a futuristic architectural masterpiece of glass and steel, can also be found in this area.
For garden and plant lovers, one of the top things to do in Frankfurt is visting the Palmengarten in the Westend district, which is open all year round and offers constantly changing exhibitions. With plantlife from all over the world, the botanical gardens delight those that visit and there are tours to enhance your knowledge of what you see.
Depending on the time of year that you will be visiting there are rowing boats on the lake, miniature golf courses and even a small railway to entertain you. But, it truly is the collection of flowers, shrubs and plants, all set in wonderful landscaping, that capture the imaginations.
The Sachsenhausen district is the area where you can find excellent local bars and taverns. The nightlife is fantastic in many of the restaurants along Schweizerstrasse and Elisabethenstrasse where you will be able to try typical German cuisine. For example, Atschel is one of the many historic taverns for casual dining.
Try the Würstchen sausages or the ones that are typical of Frankfurt, called Brühwurst (made from smoked pork). Another typical dish is the Frankfurter Rippchen or the Frankfurt chop, a cured pork cutlet cooked in beef broth and served with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and mustard.
For a traditional Frankfurt dessert, ask for a bethmännchen – a delicious treat made of marzipan and almonds or hazelnuts. And don’t forget to have Apfelwein (cider) with any local dish! If you are looking for a place to have a business lunch or dinner, make a reservation at the restaurant at the Main Tower. From the 56th floor you’ll enjoy privileged views accompanied by a dining experience at the same level.
Another option for a business lunch or dinner is the Restaurante Français. It’s located in the business district and has one Michelin star.
If you want to have a drink with spectacular views, you can visit the NFT Skybar at 185 meters above the city. Enjoy beautiful sunsets or get carried away by the cities night lights.. And if you like jazz, visit the Jazz Keller Club, where many stars have appeared since 1952. Frankfurt is a large city full of surprises that you’ll discover as you walk around and hopefully these tips can help you get off to a great start.
Operations Manager at nhow Frankfurt
My Name is Fernando Monteiro and I've been part of nhow Frankfurt since October 2023. After 15 years of hospitality experience, I got the opportunity to be the Operations Manager of what currently is Germany´s highest rooftop bar, the NFT Skybar. 185 meters above the city of Frankfurt our goal is to offer our guests a unique drink and culinary experience. You had a bad day or just a stressful one? Ask me for a recommendation and our team will create a perfectly balanced drink that will change your mood. This is why hospitality is my passion – the chance to make the guests smile and remember you always.
nhow Frankfurt is a major part of the famous skyline of Frankfurt’s financial district. Located inside the ONE by CA Immo skyscraper, it impresses with its unusual architecture and imposing stature. The hotel building itself suits split purposes. While the bottom half of the skyscraper serves as the hotel, the top part functions as office space. The hotel’s signature space is located on the 47th floor, where the NFT Sky Bar serves delicious cocktails and offers stunning views of the city from a height of 185 meters.
The superior 4 star hotel, Avani Frankfurt City Hotel, formerly known as NH Collection Frankfurt City Center, ticks all the boxes for (millennial minded) business travelers, as well as those simply looking to explore the city for leisure. We’re only 5 minutes from Frankfurt’s world-famous exhibition hall, while the center of town is just a few minutes’ walk away.
Located at the main junction of the banking district, the trade fair and Europaviertel, NH Collection Frankfurt Spin Tower is ideally located for both leisure guests and business travelers. Top corporations including PwC, Reuters and Microsoft are within the immediate vicinity, as are the Messe Frankfurt trade fair and the Kap Europa Convention Center. Meanwhile, leisure guests can make the most of the nearby Skyline Plaza Lifestyle Center. This is home to more than 120 shops, Frankfurt's largest roof garden, numerous restaurants and the Meridian Spa fitness/wellness oasis.
The NH Frankfurt Messe hotel is in the ideal location for business users – the Frankfurt Messe fair and trade show grounds is practically a neighbor. There are plenty of public transport options for getting around, with the subway taking you into town in around 10 minutes.
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