gray concrete bridge over river during daytime

Frankfurt

Frankfurt pairs a financial district of skyscrapers with a rebuilt old town and a row of museums on the Main. Many central sights are a short walk from the station.

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Frankfurt am Main is Hesse's largest city. It sits on the Main river in western Germany and at the center of the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest, is the main Lufthansa hub, and Frankfurt Central Station is the country's second-busiest railway station, so the city is easy to reach by air or rail.

Tall office towers earned the city the nickname Mainhattan, a blend of the Main and Manhattan. The old town was largely destroyed in World War II, but the Römer city hall, the Römerberg square and the cathedral stand close together, and the Dom-Römer Quarter was rebuilt between 2012 and 2018. Across the river, a row of museums lines the Main bank, and the Palmengarten botanical garden, open since 1871, is among the best known in Germany. Spring and September are the most comfortable seasons for walking the city, and two days covers the main sights.

Frankfurt in five

Use the S-Bahn from the airportThe S-Bahn suburban trains link the airport and outlying areas with the city centre. The U-Bahn is a deep underground light rail that can also run above ground.Getting around
Leave the car at the hotelMany central sights are a walk from the station, so a car adds little. Expect heavy traffic at the Frankfurter Kreuz, the most heavily used motorway interchange in the EU.
Climb the cathedral tower for the old town viewThe viewing platform is at 66 m, up a narrow spiral staircase of 386 steps. Skip it if tight stairs bother you.
Set up mobile data before you landFrankfurt Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. An eSIM set up before the flight means you can use maps and tickets from the first minute.Phones and eSIM
Go up the Main Tower for the skylineThe Main Tower is about 200 m tall and is the only skyscraper in Frankfurt with a public observation deck. The Commerzbank Tower, at 259 m, is the second-tallest building in the EU.

Things to do in Frankfurt

See all attractions in Frankfurt

Market · FrankfurtRömerbergCome by day to see the gables and timber framing up close, then return after dark when the buildings are lit.

Zoo · FrankfurtZoo FrankfurtBook a time slot online in advance, as the zoo recommends.

Sight · FrankfurtBurg Trifels

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to FrankfurtPut the places you like in Frankfurt on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Euro (EUR)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for many passports; Schengen rules apply Read more
Emergency: 110 police, 112 fire and ambulance
Tipping: Not required; round up or leave about 5 to 10% in restaurants
Time: UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 with daylight saving (CET/CEST)

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Cold, grey
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, damp
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Early spring
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Apple blossom
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, sunny
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, long days
JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Hot spells
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Summer heat
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, dry
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Autumn color
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Market season
DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Frankfurt, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Mar Luminale · Jul Heinerfest

Right now in Frankfurt

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 7°
Humidity: 59%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Frankfurt

09:43 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue10°2°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed11°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri8°0°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat9°1°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sun9°2°21%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 21%.

Updated 06:52 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Frankfurt

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarMainz carnivalWiesbaden, a day trip
MarLuminaleFrankfurt
Apr–JunSchwetzingen FestivalHeidelberg, a day trip
MayInternationale Maifestspiele WiesbadenWiesbaden, a day trip
JunRock am RingKoblenz, a day trip
Jul–AugNibelungenfestspiele WormsMannheim, a day trip
JulHeinerfestFrankfurt
AugRheingauer WeinwocheWiesbaden, a day trip

Day trips by train

WiesbadenShort train rideThe Hessian state capital, with the Rheingau wine region within reach.
MainzShort train rideA cathedral city on the Rhine, at the edge of Rhenish Hesse wine country.
Taunus hillsShort trip out of the cityHiking hills north-west of the city, with more rain and snow than the centre.

Before you go to Frankfurt

eSIM for FrankfurtData on landing for the cityRead the guide

Insurance for a city breakCover for a fall or a missed trainRead the guide

Cards and cash in GermanyCash and card use, day costsRead the guide

Where to stay in FrankfurtCompare the four base areasRead the guide

Rules for Frankfurt, checked

Many passports allow visa-free Schengen short stays. Check the entry rules on the German Foreign Office site before you book.Source
A low emission zone covers much of the city, and vehicles need an emissions sticker that meets the rules. Check before you drive in.
Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, so buy food and essentials on Saturday or on a weekday.

Plan around Frankfurt

Getting around Frankfurt

S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and the trains from the airport

Read the guide Where to stay

Four base areas compared for sights, cost and transit

Read the guide Money and costs

What a day in the city costs in euros, by budget

Read the guide Visas and entry

Who needs a visa for Germany and the Schengen area

Read the guide All of Germany

Other cities, rail routes and regions for a longer trip

Read the guide Christmas markets in Europe

Frankfurt's market beside other Christmas markets in Europe

Read the guide

Frankfurt FAQ

Is Frankfurt worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a skyline of tall towers, a rebuilt old town and museums along the Main. It suits a city break of two or three days and works well as a base for rail trips in Germany.

How many days do you need in Frankfurt?

Two days covers the old town, the Main museums and the skyline. Add a day for the Taunus hills or a trip to Wiesbaden or Mainz.

Why is Frankfurt called Mainhattan?

The name mixes the Main river with Manhattan, after the city's cluster of tall skyscrapers. Signs also use FFM, and the airport code is FRA.

How do you get from Frankfurt Airport to the city centre?

Take the S-Bahn from the airport station to the centre. Driving in at rush hour can mean a long wait around the Frankfurter Kreuz.

When is the best time to visit Frankfurt?

April, May, September and October are the most comfortable months. Winters are grey and damp, and summer days can go above 30 °C.

When is the Frankfurt Christmas Market?

It runs in the month before Christmas, on and around the Zeil. It is one of Germany's largest and oldest Christmas markets.