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Half-timbered houses on the Römerberg in snow, Frankfurt

No. 37 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Frankfurt

Germany

Skyscrapers above the Main, a rebuilt old town, riverside museums and apple wine taverns.

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Photo: Thomas Wolf (Der Wolf im Wald), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Frankfurt is No. 37 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Frankfurt am Main is one of Europe's major financial centres, home to the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and its towers give it a skyline unlike any other German city.

It is also the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and a major trade-fair city, hosting events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair.

The Frankfurt skyline above the River Main
The Frankfurt skyline above the River Main. Photo: Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Best time to go

May to September is the best time, with outdoor drinking along the river and in Sachsenhausen.

The Christmas market on the Römerberg runs from late November. Hotel prices rise sharply during big trade fairs, so check the fair calendar before booking.

Top sights

  • 1

    Römerberg

    The old town square, with the Römer, the city hall since 1405, and a row of half-timbered houses.

  • 2

    New Old Town

    The DomRömer quarter between the cathedral and the Römer was reconstructed with historic-style houses and opened in 2018.

  • 3

    Frankfurt Cathedral

    The Gothic Cathedral of St Bartholomew, where Holy Roman emperors were crowned from 1562 to 1792. Its tower can be climbed.

  • 4

    Museumsufer

    A row of museums along the south bank of the Main, including the Städel, with European art from the Middle Ages to today.

  • 5

    Goethe House

    The writer's birthplace, furnished in 18th-century style.

  • 6

    Main Tower

    An open-air observation platform about 200 metres up, with views over the skyline.

  • 7

    Sachsenhausen

    The south-bank district is known for taverns serving Apfelwein (apple wine) and local dishes.

Getting there

Frankfurt Airport (FRA), one of Europe's busiest, is about 12 km south-west of the centre. S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 reach the Hauptbahnhof in about 15 minutes, and the airport has its own long-distance station.

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is a major hub for ICE trains across Germany and to neighbouring countries.

Getting around

The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses are run under the RMV network. The centre and the riverbanks are easily explored on foot.

Practical tips

Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted, but some taverns and small places prefer cash.
Language
German. English is widely spoken.
Safety
Frankfurt is generally safe; take care at night in the area around the Hauptbahnhof. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Germany is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.

Official information: Frankfurt Tourismus (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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