Top Activities to Do in Frankfurt: A Travey Club Guide

Frankfurt is often treated as a quick stopover city, but that misses what makes it interesting. It is not a city that reveals itself in one big postcard moment. Its charm comes from contrast — medieval squares beside glass towers, quiet river walks beside financial streets, apple wine taverns beside Michelin-level dining, and museums that can easily fill a whole day.

For Travey Club, Frankfurt works best when it is not planned like a checklist. Give the old town time, use the river as a soft pause, and finish at the skyline when the city starts to glow.

Walk Through Römerberg and Frankfurt’s New Old Town

Start with Römerberg, the historic heart of Frankfurt. This is where the city feels most old-world, with the Römer town hall, the Fountain of Justice, colourful reconstructed façades, and café-lined edges around the square.

But the visit should not stop at Römerberg alone. A proper old-town walk should also include St Paul’s Church, the reconstructed New Old Town, Hühnermarkt, and Goldene Waage. The New Old Town sits between Römer and Frankfurt Cathedral and was completed as a major reconstruction project in 2018, bringing back the feel of Frankfurt’s old lanes and historic house fronts. Visit Frankfurt

Travey Club tip: Walk this area slowly in the morning before it becomes busier. Römerberg gives you the grand square, but Hühnermarkt and Goldene Waage give you the finer detail.

Visit Frankfurt Cathedral

Frankfurt Cathedral adds depth to the old-town experience. Its red sandstone tower rises above the surrounding lanes and gives the area a stronger sense of history. The cathedral is closely linked with Frankfurt’s imperial past, especially the coronation history of the Holy Roman Emperors.

Even if visitors do not spend long inside, it is worth stepping in for the Gothic architecture, quiet interior, and sense of scale. If the tower is open and travellers have the energy, the climb gives another angle on the city.

Walk Along the Main River and Cross Eiserner Steg

The Main River is one of Frankfurt’s easiest pleasures. After the compact streets of the old town, the riverside opens the city up. The skyline appears on one side, museum buildings line the other, and Eiserner Steg gives one of the most recognisable views back toward the city.

This is not a complicated activity, but it is one of the best ways to feel Frankfurt’s rhythm. Walk from the cathedral area down to the river, cross Eiserner Steg, and pause for photos from the bridge.

Travey Club tip: Do this between lunch and late afternoon. It creates a natural break before museums or the Main Tower.

Go Up Main Tower for the Skyline View

Frankfurt is one of the few European cities where the skyline is part of the identity. Main Tower is the best place to understand that. From the viewing platform, visitors can see the financial district, the Main River, the old town, and the wider city layout from above. Visit Frankfurt

This is especially strong around sunset or early evening. The city looks more dramatic when the office towers start catching the light.

Travey Club tip: Do not treat Main Tower as just a viewpoint. It helps connect the whole itinerary — old town, river, museums, and modern Frankfurt all become easier to understand from above.

Spend Time at Städel Museum

Städel Museum is Frankfurt’s strongest cultural stop. It covers more than 700 years of art, from old masters to modern and contemporary works, making it one of the city’s most important museums. Städel Museum

This is a good activity for travellers who want something calm, thoughtful, and indoors. It also works well if the weather is cold, rainy, or too hot.

Travey Club tip: Do not try to rush the entire museum. Pick a section that matches your interest — classic European painting, modern art, or temporary exhibitions — and give it proper time.

Explore Museumsufer

Frankfurt’s Museumsufer, or Museum Embankment, is one of the city’s best areas for culture. The riverbank is home to a cluster of major museums covering art, film, architecture, design, communication, sculpture, and world cultures. The area is recognised as one of Europe’s notable museum landscapes. Museumsufer Frankfurt

For a short trip, choose one or two museums rather than trying to fit too many into one day. Städel pairs well with Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection. Museum Angewandte Kunst is another good option for travellers interested in design and applied arts.

Relax at Palmengarten

Palmengarten gives Frankfurt a completely different mood. It is a large botanical garden with greenhouses, landscaped paths, tropical plants, seasonal displays, and peaceful outdoor areas. The official visitor information lists opening hours and practical details, making it easy to fit into a morning or afternoon plan. Palmengarten

This is a good stop for couples, families, solo travellers, or anyone who wants a break from streets, museums, and shopping.

Travey Club tip: Pair Palmengarten with Opernplatz or the Westend area. It makes the day feel softer and less city-heavy.

Experience Sachsenhausen and Apple Wine Culture

Sachsenhausen is where Frankfurt becomes more local. The old quarter is known for apple wine taverns, cobbled streets, traditional food, and a more relaxed evening atmosphere.

This is the place to try Frankfurt-style apple wine, green sauce, schnitzel, sausages, or simple tavern dishes. It is not polished in the same way as the financial district, and that is the point. It gives the itinerary a warmer, more lived-in side.

Travey Club tip: Visit Sachsenhausen in the evening, not too early. It works best after museums or a riverside walk.

Visit Kleinmarkthalle

Kleinmarkthalle is one of the best food-focused stops in Frankfurt. It is an indoor market with fresh produce, local specialities, baked goods, cheese, flowers, snacks, and small places to eat.

It is ideal for travellers who like markets because it gives a quick taste of everyday Frankfurt life. You can stop for coffee, browse stalls, or try simple local bites without making it a formal meal.

Travey Club tip: Go before lunch. It feels more active earlier in the day and works well between Hauptwache, the old town, and the cathedral area.

See Goethe House

For travellers who enjoy literature, culture, or historic interiors, Goethe House adds another layer to Frankfurt. It is the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and gives a look at 18th-century domestic life, with period rooms and exhibits connected to one of Germany’s most important writers.

This is not a must for every visitor, but it is a worthwhile stop if the trip already includes the old town and cultural sites.

Walk Around Opernplatz and Alte Oper

Opernplatz is one of Frankfurt’s most elegant squares. The Alte Oper building gives the area a grand, classical feel, while the surrounding streets connect easily to cafés, shopping areas, and the financial district.

This is a good short stop between Palmengarten, Main Tower, and the city centre. It does not need a long visit unless travellers are attending a performance.

Travey Club tip: It is especially nice in the late afternoon or evening when the square feels more atmospheric.

Browse Zeil and MyZeil

Zeil is Frankfurt’s main shopping street and shows the city’s modern, everyday side. It is busy, commercial, and practical, with department stores, international brands, casual food options, and the striking MyZeil shopping centre.

This is not the most romantic part of Frankfurt, but it is useful and lively. It works well as a flexible stop near Hauptwache or after Eschenheimer Turm.

Travey Club Insights

Frankfurt works best when the itinerary balances its contrasts. Do the old town properly, including Römerberg, St Paul’s Church, the New Old Town, Hühnermarkt and Goldene Waage. Then let the river soften the day, use Städel or Museumsufer for culture, and finish with the skyline from Main Tower or a tavern evening in Sachsenhausen.

For a short Frankfurt trip, the best base is around Innenstadt, Altstadt, Hauptwache, or the edge of the Hauptbahnhof area if transport convenience matters. From there, most of the city’s strongest activities can be connected without wasting too much time in transit.

 Travey Club is your personal travel planning partner, dedicated to crafting truly bespoke itineraries shaped around how you travel. We believe every journey is unique—no single template, and no purely AI-generated plan, can fit all travel needs. Rather than booking flights or hotels, we focus on thoughtful, human-led planning for our members, working alongside trusted travel agents who manage reservations. Our itineraries highlight key experiences, while Travey Club brings them together through personalized insight, expertise, and attention to detail—ensuring every trip feels intentional, seamless, and distinctly yours.

Look at our three days Frankfurt Itinerary: Travey Club