Frankfurt Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Frankfurt tours, the rebuilt Römerberg old town beneath a gleaming skyline, Main river cruises and apple-wine taverns, and spectacular day trips to the Rhine Valley, Heidelberg, Rothenburg and the Black Forest. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Frankfurt itinerary.
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Explore Frankfurt by interest
Whatever brings you to Frankfurt — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Rhine Valley
Castles and a river cruise.
ExploreHeidelberg
Germany’s romantic castle town.
ExploreOld Town & skyline
The Römerberg and Mainhattan.
ExploreRothenburg
A medieval walled town.
ExploreBlack Forest
Forests, spa and cuckoo clocks.
ExploreApple wine & food
Sachsenhausen taverns.
ExploreRiver cruises
The Main and the skyline.
ExploreDay trips
Rhine, Heidelberg and more.
ExploreTop attractions in Frankfurt
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Rhine Valley
Castles and a river cruise.
Heidelberg
Germany’s romantic castle town.
Römerberg
The rebuilt old town square.
Skyline
The “Mainhattan” skyscrapers.
Rothenburg
A medieval walled town.
Black Forest
Forests, spa and clocks.
Apple wine & Sachsenhausen
Taverns and local food.
Main river
Cruises past the skyline.
Frankfurt in 1 day
- 1Römerberg & old town
- 2Cathedral & skyline
- 3Main river cruise
- 4Sachsenhausen apple wine
Frankfurt in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & skyline
- 2Day 2: Rhine Valley
- 3Castles & cruise
- 4Apple-wine evenings
Frankfurt in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & skyline
- 2Day 2: Rhine Valley
- 3Day 3: Heidelberg
- 4Castles & wine
Frankfurt with kids
- 1Main river cruise
- 2Frankfurt Zoo
- 3Palmengarten
- 4Rhine castle day
1 hr awayRhine Valley
Castles, Lorelei and a cruise.
1 hr awayHeidelberg
Germany’s romantic castle town.
2.5 hrs awayRothenburg
A medieval walled town.
2 hrs awayBlack Forest & Baden-Baden
Forest, spa and clocks.
1 hr awayRüdesheim
A Rhine wine town and cable car.
2 hrs awayEltz Castle
A fairy-tale hidden castle.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Frankfurt visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring and summer (May–September) bring the mildest, sunniest days and lively riverbanks and day trips — the best time to visit, while December adds Christmas markets.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, blossoming days ideal for the old town, the Main and the Rhine vineyards coming to life.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively, perfect for the riverbanks, apple-wine terraces and Rhine cruises.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Golden days with the wine harvest in the Rhine Valley — a beautiful time for day trips.
Winter & Christmas
Cold but festive, with Frankfurt’s historic Christmas market on the Römerberg in December.
Apple-wine season
Autumn brings fresh apple wine (Süßer and new Ebbelwoi) to Sachsenhausen’s taverns — a local treat.
One day
Enough for the Römerberg, skyline, a Main cruise and apple wine.
Two days
Add a romantic Rhine Valley day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, the Rhine Valley, and Heidelberg.
Four to five days
Add Rothenburg, the Black Forest and more.
A week or more
Use Frankfurt as a base for Germany’s best day trips.
Travelling with kids
Mix a river cruise, the zoo and a Rhine castle at a gentle pace.
On foot
Frankfurt’s old town, Römerberg, Main riverbanks and Sachsenhausen are compact and best explored on foot.
U-Bahn & S-Bahn
An efficient U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tram network covers the city and airport cheaply.
River cruises
Sightseeing boats on the Main offer a scenic way to see the skyline and museum embankment.
Trains
Frankfurt’s huge Hauptbahnhof is one of Europe’s busiest, with fast trains across Germany and to the Rhine, Heidelberg and beyond.
Day-trip transport
Tours and trains reach the Rhine Valley, Heidelberg, Rothenburg and the Black Forest easily.
From the airport
Frankfurt Airport, a major international hub, links to the centre by S-Bahn in about 12 minutes.
Book day trips ahead
Popular Rhine Valley, Heidelberg and Black Forest day trips and small-group tours sell out — book ahead, especially in summer.
Frankfurt Card
The Frankfurt Card covers public transport and discounts on attractions — good value for sightseers.
Try apple wine
Sample tart apple wine (Ebbelwoi) and local dishes in Sachsenhausen’s traditional taverns — a Frankfurt essential.
Climb a skyscraper
Head up the Main Tower’s observation deck for sweeping views over the skyline, old town and the Main.
Use the trains
Frankfurt’s superb rail hub makes day trips easy; regional and fast trains reach the Rhine, Heidelberg and more.
Currency & tipping
Germany uses the euro; rounding up or tipping around 5–10% for good service is customary.
Rhine Valley trips
Popular Rhine Valley cruises and tours sell out — book ahead.
Heidelberg tours
Heidelberg day trips fill up — reserve early.
Rothenburg tours
Romantic Road and Rothenburg tours have limited places — book ahead.
Black Forest trips
Black Forest and Baden-Baden day trips fill up — reserve early.
Apple-wine tours
Small-group apple-wine and food tours have limited places — book ahead.
Summer & Christmas
Summer and the Christmas markets are busy — plan ahead.
Rhine Valley trips
Around €70–130 for a full-day Rhine Valley tour with a cruise.
Heidelberg tours
About €60–120 for a Heidelberg day trip with castle visit.
Black Forest trips
Roughly €85–140 for a Black Forest and Baden-Baden day tour.
City & food tours
Around €15–60 for a walking or apple-wine food tour.
River cruises
About €15–30 for a 1-hour Main sightseeing cruise.
How to save
Take cheap regional trains for day trips, walk the compact centre, and use the Frankfurt Card for transport and discounts.
Frankfurt through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh days for the old town and Rhine.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely as the vineyards come to life.
- Best for
- Warm days, riverbanks and Rhine cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy; book day trips ahead.
- Best for
- Golden days and the wine harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A beautiful time for Rhine day trips.
- Best for
- Christmas markets and cosy taverns.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- December markets are festive but busy.