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Traditional timbered houses, Frankfurt

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Things to see in Frankfurt

Tourist information: 

Tourismus+Congress GmbH Frankfurt am Main
Hauptbahnhof
Tel: (069) 2123 8800.
Website: www.frankfurt-tourismus.de
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-2100, Sat and Sun 0900-1800.

A second tourist information centre is located at Römerberg 27. It is open Mon-Fri 0930-1730, Sat and Sun 0930-1600.

Passes: 

The Frankfurt Card, available as a one- or two-day ticket, group or individual, offers free travel on all RMV transport within the city and to the airport, as well as a 25% reduction on guided city tours, 50% reduction on admission to major attractions and 21 museums, and a 20% reduction on the Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt Rhine and Mosel river tours and a free city map.

The card is available from tourist information offices (tel: (069) 2123 8703), the DB Reisezentrum at the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station), and at the Frankfurt airport hotel reservations desk in terminal one. It can also be booked online via the tourist information website (see above).

Frankfurt Zoo

Frankfurt's zoo is one of the most attractive in Europe and is very popular with both locals and visitors. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008 and is Germany's second oldest after Berlin. There are 13 different areas in these 14 hectares (35 acres) of land, where thousands of animals from all over the world, including eight endangered species, can be observed. The obvious highlight is the Grzimek Haus, where artificial darkness is created in order to observe nocturnal animals going about their business.

Opening Times: Daily 0900-1900 (summer); daily 0900-1700 (winter).
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 2173 3735.
Website: www.zoo-frankfurt.de
Geldmuseum der Deutschen Bundesbank (Money Museum of the German Federal Bank)

Reflecting Frankfurt's central financial role both in Germany and Europe, the museum features collections of historic coinage and notes, together with explanations of the roles of money through the ages. The museum also explains the complex nature of monetary policy (especially the new European system) using films, challenging computer games and interactive teaching programmes. Guided tours available.

Opening Times: Thurs-Tues 1000-1700, Wed 1000-2100.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Wilhelm Epsteinstrasse 14, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 9566 3073.
Website: http://www.geldmuseum.de
Goethe-Museum and Goethe-Haus

Completely destroyed by Allied bombers in 1944, the house where Goethe (1749-1832) was born and spent most of his youth was rebuilt after the war, in 1951, and restored to its former 18th-century glory. Visitors can see the family music room, library, living room and Goethe's own puppet show and study. Next door, the Goethe-Museum displays German paintings and sculpture from the late baroque period up to early Romanticism. There are daily guided tours (in German) of the house at 1400 and 1600, and audio-visual guides are available to hire in several languages. Tours of the museum can also be arranged on request.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1000-1730.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Grosser Hirschgraben 23-25, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 138 800.
Website: http://www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de
Historisches Museum (Historical Museum)

The Historical Museum is housed in a complex of imperial buildings on Römerberg, overlooking the Main, which also includes the 12th-century palace chapel. The museum traces the story of Frankfurt (including its destruction in WWII) and visitors can learn about the traditions of ebbelwei (apple wine) in the museum cafe. There are guided tours on the last Saturday of each month.

Opening Times: Tues-Sun 1000-1800, Wed 1000-2100.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Saalgasse 19, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 2123 5599.
Website: http://www.historisches-museum.frankfurt.de
Jüdisches-Museum (Jewish Museum)

Until the Holocaust, Frankfurt was home to Germany's second largest Jewish population, many of whom played a key role in the city's financial and cultural success. The story of this important community from the 12th to the 20th century, is told in the Jewish Museum, housed in the Rothschild Palais (a mansion that was the former home of the Rothschilds). The remains of Mikvah (women's ceremonial baths) in the former Jewish ghetto and special exhibitions are displayed in the supplementary Judengasse Museum (Jewish Alley Museum) on Kurt-Schzumacher-Strasse .

Opening Times: Tues, Thurs-Sun 1000-1700, Wed 1000-2000.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Untermainkai 14-15, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 2123 5000.
Website: http://www.juedischesmuseum.de
Museum für Moderne Kunst (Museum of Modern Art)

The outside of the Museum of Modern Art alone would count as one of the city's major attractions. It is therefore a bonus that this museum, designed by Viennese architect Hans Hollein, is filled with a superb collection of post-war art, predominantly by German and American artists, including Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys. There is also a cafe-restaurant.

Opening Times: Tues, Thurs-Sun 1000-1800, Wed 1000-2000.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Domstrasse 10, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 2123 0447.
Website: www.mmk-frankfurt.de
Palmengarten (Palm Garden)

The Palm Garden is a wonderland of tropical plants and exotic birds. Hidden away from the bustle of the city centre, the attractions of this botanical garden include glasshouses, some 300 different palms and a boating lake. There are concerts staged here in summer, as well as a number of exhibitions and events. Free guided tours (in German) are available on Sundays.

Opening Times: Daily 0900-1600 (Nov-Jan); daily 0900-1800 (Feb-Oct).
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Siesmayerstrasse 63, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 2123 3939.
Website: www.palmengarten-frankfurt.de
Römerberg

In 1240, this low hill was the site of the city's first official trade fair. It is bordered by half-timbered houses, reconstructed after total destruction in 1945, and the former court chapel - the Nikolaikirche (Church of St Nicholas). The main attraction, however, is the Rathaus Römer (Frankfurt's city hall since 1405) with its Gothic stepped gables made of red sandstone. The coronation of German emperors was celebrated in the Kaisersaal (Emperor's Hall) on the upper floors. Portraits of 52 emperors hang on the walls. It is a working town hall, however, and there are currently no tours. A Christmas market takes place every December, one of the best in Germany, and has taken place since the late 14th century.

Opening Times: 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Römerberg, Römer, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 2123 8800.
Website: www.frankfurt-tourismus.de
Sankt Bartholomäusdom (Cathedral of St Bartholomew)

Between 1562 and 1792, German emperors were crowned in the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, hence its other name - the Kaiserdom (Emperor Cathedral). In the 1950s, this was Frankfurt's tallest building, at 96m (315ft), which illustrates just how much the city has developed since then. The cathedral has a red sandstone facade and interior and is one of Frankfurt's most recognisable landmarks. The present structure was rebuilt after WWII but contains a number of original carvings. There are also great views of the city from the tower. A museum, the Dom-Museum, is attached to the cathedral and is packed full of ancient archaeological findings.

Opening Times: Mon-Thurs and Sat 0900-1200 and 1430-1800, Fri and Sun 1430-1800, until 1700 in winter (cathedral); Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1100-1700 (museum).
Admission Fees: No (except for the museum)
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Domplatz 14, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 297 0320.
Website: www.dom-frankfurt.de
Senckenberg Naturmuseum (Natural History Museum)

Covering some 6,000 sq. m, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum tells the story of four billion years of life on Earth, from its earliest beginnings to the dinosaurs and the modern period. It also covers the planet's non-biological processes, including geology and meteorology, and features many rare and impressive exhibits. A new annexe behind the main building stages regular specially-themed exhibitions.

Opening Times: Mon-Tue and Thu-Fri 0900-1700; Wed 0900-2000, Sat-Sun 0900-1800.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 75420.
Website: http://www.senckenberg.de
Städelsche Kunstinstitute und Städtische Galerie (Städel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery)

An exemplary and comprehensive collection of European painting from the 14th to the 20th centuries is housed in this museum (commonly known as just Städel) on Frankfurt's legendary Museumsufer (Museum Embankment). German masters, such as Cranach, Holbein and Beckmann, are displayed alongside the likes of Botticelli, Rembrandt and Rubens. Around 500 sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries are also on show, including works from artists such as Rodin, Kirchner and Picasso. There is also a café, and an excellent bookshop. Ambitious plans are currently afoot to extend the gallery with 3,000sq m of extra exhibition space, whose focus will be on post-1945 art.

Opening Times: Tues, Fri-Sun 1000-1800, Wed and Thurs 1000-2100.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Schaumainkai 63, Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: (069) 605 0980.
Website: www.staedelmuseum.de
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