The first city that comes to mind when you think of an urban vacation is most definitely not Frankfurt. {Frankly, it might not even be the tenth in line ?} For some reason the German city is thought of as dreary and boring. The kind of place you go to for a business convention, or a short stopover on your way to somewhere way more interesting… as if there is not much to do there.

 

To be honest, I’m pretty sure Frankfurt never came to mind as worth visiting before this trip, and when Daniel mentioned he’d be going for work, I thought twice about whether I should join him or not. I was stuck with a prejudice I had about Frankfurt, even though I had never been there… But, if you know me, you know I’ll pretty much take up any opportunity to go abroad, so before vetoing the destination, I decided to take a quick look online, which is what caused me to want to get to know the city from up close. 

Frankfurt is an ancient city situated along the Main river in Germany. Unlike many other European cities, Frankfurt was badly bombed during WWII, the reason why it has since been rebuilt with new buildings and modern skyscrapers. This also explains the interesting blend of restored German architecture and the modern-urban skyline that the city has today.

 

 

Its skyline, unique among its kind below the European skies, is what generated the name “Mainhattan” – a combination of the Main river and New York’s Manhattan borough. There happens to more similarities than one between the two cities, I was surprised that the “dull” Frankfurt, very much like Manhattan,  has quite a few “green lungs”, parks, large and small, spread throughout the city, and a magical botanical garden, which was completely different than what I had in mind.

 

 

 

Bottom line – I discovered that Frankfurt’s dull reputation was clearly uncalled for.

 

From its historic landmarks, through the beautiful parks, high skyscrapers, museums and restaurants – there are lots of things to see and do in Frankfurt, and it’s not only for business trips. So if you happen to be planning a trip to Frankfurt and all you’ve been hearing is how boring and dull it is, I guarantee  you this guide will turn your trip into no less than perfect.

What are you waiting for? Let’s go!

Click here to download my map of Frankfurt.

Click here to watch the Stories I posted while I was in Frankfurt.

 

 

GET AROUND

 

Flight to Frankfurt

This year, I joined forces with the Israeli airline El Al, who now has 2 flights a day to Frankfurt, in order to create a perfect city guide, and show that Frankfurt has so much to offer and is not at all as gloomy as it is made out to be.

We arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport around noon, and after a quick stroll around Duty-Free, we decided to have refreshments in El Al’s King David lounge. We were enjoying the quiet and the treats in the lounge so much, that we didn’t notice time passing and we almost didn’t board our flight! We ran to the gate, and enjoyed a four and a half hour flight, which flew by thanks to Elal’s excellent app – DreamStream – with amazing movies and TV series. 

 

 

In Frankfurt – How to get from the airport to the city

Train The easiest and least expensive way to reach Frankfurt city center is with the S-bahn. The train leaves every 15 minutes or so, and you can purchase tickets at the ticket counters or automatic machines. To find out if you should take the S8 or S9, simply type in your hotel/Airbnb address into Google maps and you’ll get the exact route. The train costs 4.90 Euros, and takes about 15 minutes to reach the city. 

Taxi Another way to reach the city is taking a taxi, which can cost anywhere between 30-40 Euros, depending on the final destination. 

Getting around the city

Public transportation in Frankfurt is typically German – very convenient and highly accurate. You can travel by bus, tram and subway, and you can purchase a one-way ticket, a full-day ticket or weekly tickets. Keep in mind that tickets must be purchased before boarding. You can find all the information on tickets and prices on the RMV website.

 

 

STAY

 

Because of Frankfurt's boring industrial image, I was very surprised to find that the super-cool hotel chain – 25 Hours Hotels, has 2 hotels in town! If you've read my winter vacation guide about Berlin, you already know that Daniel and I have stayed in a hotel by the same chain, and enjoyed every minute. So this time, we had to take advantage of the pleasure of having two hotels in the city, and after a short deliberation, we decided to go for The Trip Hotel, its designed based on worldwide traveling.

 

 

From lobby to rooftop, every one of the floors in this hotel is inspired by different destinations around the world, ornamented with elements from the world of travel, placed with finest attention to detail. One thing I love about this chain of hotels is that their approach to design is full of textures, materials and colors, and they create spaces that are simultaneously super-urbanc-cool, and also cosy and comfortable. 

At the entrance to the hotel is a grand lobby with a number of small seating areas and a large table fit for a meeting, or just working with a laptop computer. There is also a cafe, a small gift shop selling souvenirs, books and other cool products – all fitting with the hotel’s concept and style. The lobby opens up to a beautiful patio that leads to the hotel restaurant, and to complete the picture – the front desk is operated 24/7 by a warm and welcoming staff.

 

 

Our room was on the top floor, inspired by South America. We stayed in a medium sized room, which was not very big, but still functional and comfortable. The eclectic design is made up of travel equipment and various elements from the world of travel, a WiFi speaker, a rain shower and excellent bath products, books and magazines, and a stuffed animal sits on the bed – which is apparently one of the hotel’s signature moves 🙂

 

 

From our window we could see the view of the hotel rooftop, equipped with seating areas, sun-beds and umbrellas, an outdoor gym and a sauna – which feels so good at the end of the day.

 

 

Finally, I can’t write about the hotel and leave out the culinary aspect – especially when it is such a success! So just like the hotel in Berlin, this hotel restaurant is super trendy and serves Middle Eastern cuisine. Breakfast is served in a rich buffet style, and eggs are served at the table. I especially liked that, matching with the nature of the restaurant, breakfast was served with special dishes like hummus, arisa, and shakshuka {which was really good!}. We also enjoyed an excellent dinner at the restaurant one evening . Read more about the restaurant's menu in this guide’s section dedicated to food.

 

 

 

EXPLORE

 

Römerberg – The most classic and European area of ​​Frankfurt is by far the old city. Colorful buildings with rooftops like in the German countryside, Römerberg is exactly the picture that comes to mind when thinking of a classic German city. But the truth is, Romerberg is not at all ancient, nor classic…. As I mentioned before, the historical part of the city was destroyed during WWII and the buildings’ facades were reconstructed in a project titled Dom Römer executed in the 1950s aimed at returning to the bombed buildings their original, historical look. I personally think they did a great job and that the old city really does feel nice, but I must say, there’s something about that feels more like a movie set or a Disney park than a truly old city. While the colors are beautiful, there is something a little bit too “new” about them.

 

 

Frankfurt’s old city home to some of the city's most famous landmarks – where the Romberg Square, the central square of the old city, City Hall {The Romer, named after the old city}, the Fountain of Justice, Frankfurt Cathedral, and St. Paul's Church are located.

As in many main squares across Europe, Romerberg square is filled with cafes, restaurants, gift shops, and bars. An annual christmas fair is held as well as many other fairs throughout the year. Lucky for us, we arrived in Frankfurt just in time for the last day of a festival called “Main Festival” and enjoyed a colorful, fun summer fair that stretched from the river to Romerberg Square. Check out the city's website for events in Frankfurt during your visit.

 

Paulsplatz and St. Paul’s Church – Paulsplatz is one of Frankfurt’s famous squares in the old city. The square is the abode of St. Paul's Protestant church built in the 18th century, which at the time served as the seat of the first elected parliament in Germany. Today, the church building has returned to its original function, but it is still considered as a representative historical structure of German democracy. This square also hosts various markets and fairs during the year, including the Frankfurt Christmas Market.

 

 

 

Frankfurt Cathedral – Frankfurt Cathedral, or by its official name St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, is the official church of Frankfurt and is considered to be one of the most magnificent Gothic buildings in Germany constructed between the 14th and 15th centuries. The 95 meter high cathedral, which today stands out in Frankfurt’s skyline, was badly hit during WWII and was reconstructed in the 50s to match its original Gothic style. The entrance to the cathedral is free of charge, but there is a small entrance fee to visit the convent museum. 

 

 

The Main River and the Iron Bridge – South of Romerberg is Main river, which crosses the city {hence the city’s full name Frankfurt am Main which translates to Frankfurt on the Main}. One of the best places to see the city in all its glory is the famous Iron Bridge, the oldest pedestrian bridge in Frankfurt. The bridge is also called “Love Lock” because of the locks that adorn it, just like the famous romantic bridge in Paris. Besides the beautiful view of the city, there are nice restaurants and bars by the river, and I read that on Saturdays there is a flea market that runs along the southern bank of the river.

 

 

Kleinmarkthalle – Every major city in Europe has at least one famous food market and Frankfurt is no exception. Frankfurt’s food market is an indoor market with nearly 160 stands selling fresh produce, fish, cheese and meat, baked goods, flowers, and of course also food stands and small restaurants. Good to know – the market is closed on Sundays. 

Hauptwache Square – Hauptwache, Frankfurt’s main square is a 5 minute walk from the indoor food market. The square is named after the  18th-century Baroque-style building in its center, formerly used as a guard house, and today houses a local coffee shop. Hauptwache is the most vibrant square in the city due to the fact that 8 S-bahn lines and 6 U-bahn lines pass through it and stop at the Hauptwache station. The Kaufhof department store and Zeil street, Frankfurt’s main shopping street, are both located near the square. 

 

 

Main Tower – If you follow my blog, you probably know how much I love a good observation point that allows to view the city from high above – in this case,  the Main Tower is no disappointment. It is truly amazing to see the entire “Mainhattan” from 240 meters high. An entrance fee must be paid to go up the tower, click here for more information. 

 

 

Palmengarten – Frankfurt's beautiful botanical garden, built in the late 19th century, is, in my opinion, a must-see – not to be missed when visiting the city. Palmengarten is one of Germany’s largest botanical gardens, with over 5,000 different species of plants from different climates, some even tropical or desert plants. With a bench on every corner, extremely beautiful gardens, and a charming lake, this is the place to detach from the city and enjoy the wonders of nature.

 

 

Europaturm – A short walk from the botanical garden is the Frankfurt TV building, which is the tallest building in the city and one of the world's highest communication towers. Since it is impossible to enter the building, we didn't bother going, but I liked spotting its unique presence in the city skyline several times during our trip, including our visit to the Palmengarten and from the Maine Tower.

 

 

Eschenheimer Turm – A rare medieval tower that used to serve the city as one of the 42 guard towers around Frankfurt’s old city walls. The 15th century tower stands in stark contrast to its architectural environment constructed around it throughout the years.  

 

 

Alte Oper – Frankfurt’s original opera house, built by Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany in 1880. The opera house was almost completely destroyed during WWII, and was restored and reopened only a century later. We didn’t see a show, and were satisfied by taking a tour around the square in front of the building, and taking in the impressive structure from the outside.

 

 

Museum District – On the river’s left bank is the city’s museum district, home to 12 museums of different fields. Among the various museums you will find the Judisches Museum dedicated to the history of the Jewish community in Frankfurt before the war, the Museum of World Cultures, considered to be one of Europe's leading ethnological museums with more than 65,000 objects from indigenous cultures worldwide, and the Stadel Art Museum, featuring an impressive collection of 14th-century paintings, with works by artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Goya, but also modern painters such as Monet, Degas, Beckmann, and Picasso.

 

 

Old Sachsenhausen – Adjacent to the museum district is the old, quiet Sachsenhausen, famous for its calm historical atmosphere, and the many beer gardens that fill its cobblestone streets {weather permitting, that is}.

Hedonistip – If you’re short on time, or just feel like getting in as many attractions in one day, I highly recommend that you get yourself a 1 or 2-day ticket with the Hop-on Hop-off bus company, to easily get around Frankfurt’s main attractions and hear interesting anecdotes and explanations about the city. Click here for more information. 

If you intend on visiting plenty of museums it is probably best to buy yourself the Frankfurt Card which allows you to enjoy free rides on the city’s public transport, up to 50% discount on museum tickets, and additional special offers for other attractions. Click here for more information. 

 

 

SHOPPING

 

Zeil Street – Frankfurt’s main shopping street where you will the best of Europe’s famous brands such as H&M, Zara, Sephora and many more. In the heart of the street is a nice shopping mall named MyZeil. 

Goethestraße – Right near Hauptwache square is Goethestraße, the street where all the elite fashion brands can be found – Chanel, Prada, Burberry and more. Even if you don’t plan on spending all that you have on fashion, don’t pass up the opportunity to do some window shopping – the vitrines are art in themselves! And besides, a girl can dream, right? 🙂

 

 

 

FOOD

 

Bitter & Zart – A charming cafe in the old city that serves crazy cakes {we ordered a fruit tart and licked every one of our fingers!}. While you’re there, don’t miss a visit to the chocolate shop next door, perfect for gift shopping!

 

 

BALANCE DELI – Near the Eschenheimer Tower is this delightful little cafe, located inside a yoga studio {but open to the public}. The menu is all about pure, healthy food – a variety of hot and cold drinks, freshly squeezed juices, perfect smoothie bowls, avocado toast and more… I really liked the relaxing natural design, the local ambiance, and the excellent service.

 

 

Góc Phố – If you’re into Vietnamese cuisine you should definitely check out this excellent restaurant located in on the old city alleyways. The restaurant has a wide variety of authentic dishes – spring rolls and egg rolls, great salads, noodles and rice dishes, and of course a lot of traditional variations of the Phố soup. There is usually a line at the entrance to the restaurant, so if you don’t have the patience to wait, you better make a reservation {by phone – because there is no online option}.

 

 

Bar Shuka – The restaurant at the hotel where we stayed operates under the motto “Israel meets Palestine” and serves a trendy menu primarily influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurant's website states that it draws inspiration from vibrant Tel Aviv, a vibe which is completely felt restaurant. Trendy Israeli songs play in the background of the vibrant space, and on the menu you will find a selection of small dishes such as tahini, olive paste, arisa, labneh, falafel and pita alongside main dishes such as cubana tartar, shawarma entrecote, and a disassembled sabich. Dessert is another opportunity to encounter Middle Eastern flavors like Tahini flavored ice-cream and knafeh. Keep in mind that prices are a bit higher than other restaurants in town, and this place is also usually fully booked so making a reservation would be helpful. 

 

 

Bangkok – A very authentic Thai restaurant located a short drive from the city center. We arrived at the restaurant quite late {around 9 pm} and realized that Frankfurters are used to eating a lot earlier, so there were hardly any people in the restaurant, which to be honest didn’t do too good for the atmosphere, but the food was excellent and the kitchen even prepared a special Thai dish for Daniel which was not on the menu.

 

 

Spots we didn’t make it to that seem cool…. 

PLANTS AND CAKES – A sweet cafe that serves cakes, smoothie bowls, and fresh juices.

SAKURA SUSHI CAFE –  A sushi restaurant about with great reviews.

AROYDEE – An authentic Thai restaurant.

 

 

 

If you liked this post share it on facebook and save to pinterest!

Know someone going to Frankfurt soon? Be a dear and send her this link! 

Have other ideas about what to do in Frankfurt? Leave me a comment below ♡

The guide was written in collaboration with El Al Airlines. All opinions in the article are mine.

PIN FOR LATER 🙂