22 October 2026

Frankfurt

2 days in Frankfurt

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Frankfurt is Germany's city of skyscrapers and banks, but it also has a rebuilt old town, museums along the river and a neighborhood that lives on apple wine. We spent two days here.

Tip: The prices and opening hours here are the ones we noted when we planned the trip. Check them before you go.

Day 1 - The old town and the skyline

1. Eiserner Steg

The iron footbridge over the river Main, with the best view of the skyline.

2. Römerberg and the Altstadt

The prettiest square in Frankfurt, lined with half-timbered houses, at the heart of the rebuilt old town.

3. Frankfurt Cathedral and Paulskirche

The red sandstone cathedral where emperors were crowned, and St Paul's Church, where Germany's first parliament met in 1848.

4. Kleinmarkthalle

A historic indoor market, great for a quick lunch, with fresh produce, nuts, spices and meat.

5. Goethestrasse and the Alte Oper

Frankfurt's luxury shopping street, a few minutes from the beautiful old opera house.

6. The Bull and Bear

The two statues outside the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

7. Eschenheimer Turm and Goethe House

A medieval gate tower, one of the city's landmarks, and the house where the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born, now a museum.

8. Main Tower

An observation deck on the 55th floor, best just before sunset.

Day 2 - Parks, museums and apple wine

1. Palmengarten

A botanical garden from 1868, with 50 acres of gardens and greenhouses.

2. Bethmannpark

A small, peaceful park behind wooden gates, with a Chinese garden.

3. Zeil

Frankfurt's main shopping street.

4. Museumsufer

A row of museums along the river. If you only have time for one, make it the Städel, one of the best art museums in Germany.

5. Sachsenhausen

The old neighborhood across the river, with cobbled streets and traditional apple wine taverns. Start with a glass of apfelwein at Adolf Wagner or Dauth-Schneider, with handkäse mit musik, a marinated cheese, or schnitzel with Frankfurt green sauce.

A quick stop in Heidelberg

We also made a quick stop in Heidelberg, about an hour south of Frankfurt: an old town of red sandstone on the river Neckar, with its castle on the hill above it.