During one of my multi-country trips to Europe, I started with a 21-hour layover in Frankfurt, Germany so I took the opportunity to explore the city and have a quick stay overnight in the smallest, bustling metropolis in the world. The Frankfurt airport is a main hub for travelers with many connections to other destinations in Europe – my flight alone had 75% of travelers with connecting flights. For those who are adventurous and don’t want to spend all your time waiting at the airport for your next flight or maybe just want to be able to get a good night’s rest at a hotel, here are the best things to do during your layover in Frankfurt. This is also the perfect amount of time spent to appreciate Frankfurt’s rich history, try the local foods, and take in their traditional architecture.
Important Things To Keep In Mind If You Plan To Explore The City During A Layover
- Ensure you have enough time to get back to the airport.
- Check if you need a visa to visit this country with your passport.
- Check the operating hours of the places you plan to visit to ensure they’re opened on the day you’re visiting.
- Make sure to have some Euros on you as some places only accept cash, but it’s always a good idea to have some cash on you anyway!
- Keep it light with your bags as you’ll either need to store your carry-on in a locker, or take it with you around the city. The best way is to just have a backpack (personal item bag) or if you’re staying overnight, to leave your belongings at the hotel.
How To Get Around Frankfurt, Germany
Getting around Frankfurt, Germany is relatively easy. They have a good train system that can take you to the City Centre and from there, you can pretty much just walk to the main areas during your layover.
From the airport, you can hail a taxi (minimum €28) or you can simply take Frankfurt’s Metro System for a fraction of the cost at €6.30 per person. The S-bahn, specifically the S8 train on Platform 1 will get you to the City Centre in 4 stops and takes about 15 minutes or less and you’ll want to get off at the Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbanhof.
Where To Stay In Frankfurt, Germany
If your layover in Frankfurt is long enough for you to stay overnight, the best area to stay is Zentrum-Altstadt (Old Town), which is central to all the major attractions you’ll want to visit in the short time you have.
We stayed in the area close to the Frankfurt (Main) train station as we wanted quick and easy access to the train station as we had a really early connection the next day, but I highly do not recommend the area as it’s unsafe and you just wouldn’t want to be around a crowd like that, to put it nicely.
Best Places To Visit During Your Long Layover In Frankfurt, Germany
Panoramic City Views
If you don’t get to see skyline views of major cities often, you can visit either one of the below. Otherwise, if you’re tight on time I can say it’s safe to skip if you’ve been to cities like Tokyo, Japan, New York, USA or Toronto, Canada.
Skyline Garden at the Zeil Shopping Mall
Time Spent – 30 minutes to 45 minutes
Why You Should Visit – If you have a lot of time, you can feel free to walk around the mall, but the main attraction is the rooftop garden which has great views of Frankfurt’s Skyline – and it’s free!
Main Tower
Time Spent – 20 minutes to 1 hour
Why You Should Visit – The Main Tower is another perspective of the Frankfurt skyline but it does required pay entrance and here you can see panoramic views of the city on their observation deck.
History And Sightseeing
With a modern yet historical charm, you can really get the traditional German feel in the following places.
Dom-Romer-Quartier
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This area of Frankfurt has reconstructed historical buildings that were destroyed during the World Wars, hence being called the ‘new’ old town as it was developed in 2018. They did use some original materials of the historic buildings during the reconstruction though. Now you can find cafés, shops, and museums.
Frankfurt Cathedral
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – Frankfurt was targeted during World War 2 and nearly all the churches in the city were destroyed except this Cathedral, which only suffered minor damages – and thank goodness for that as it’s a stunning church! It has a Gothic structure and it is also a historical and religious landmark. You can also climb the tower for panoramic views of the city, but we weren’t able to get access when we visited.
Römerberg
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Why You Should Visit – This has been Frankfurt’s town hall for over 600 years and it’s the heart of Frankfurt’s Old Town. With the medieval buildings, the Holy Roman Empire considered it as the most beautiful square in the in the 16th century. It was also the main location for many political decisions as well as other festivities.
Kleinmarkthalle
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This indoor market has almost 160 stalls that include food, drinks, produce, and other small shops. Here you can find local specialties from cured meats to dried fruits, cheese and wine, and more. Not only will you find regional foods here, you can also find a lot of imported food from all over Europe.
Iron Footbridge / River Walk to Museumsufer (Museum Embankment)
Time Spent – 1 to 3.5 hours
Why You Should Visit – Enjoy a nice stroll along the river and you can also walk across the iron pedestrian bridge (also known as the Eiserner Steg) over the River Main which offers picturesque views of the city skyline along the water. At the other end of the bridge, you can walk along the Museum Embankment which is the home to 39 museums and you can spend your time visiting a few.
Other Locations To Visit
If you have more time or have other interests, these locations are a bit farther from the main attractions but may be worth visiting.
Palmengarten
Time Spent – Up to 3.5 hours
Why You Should Visit – This is one of the largest botanical gardens in Germany and covers 20 hectares of land with 13,000 plant species. It has both indoor and outdoor gardens as well as seasonal displays and exhibitions.
Frankfurt Zoo
Time Spent – 2 to 4 hours
Why You Should Visit – It was founded in 1858 and is one of the most important zoos in Europe. Their motto is to experience animals and to preserve nature, and here you can visit the home of over 4,500 animals and 400 species from all continents.
If you like the idea of maximizing your layovers and travel more, here’s How To Visit More Destinations In One Trip.