Frankfurt am Main: Top 15 attractions in the heart of Germany

Römerberg Square

Römerberg Square is where all the trails in Frankfurt lead to. The locals simply call it Römer. The square got its name in honor of the 600-year-old Römer Rathaus, whose name translates as Roman. It is its stepped pediment, decorated with statues of Emperors Charles IV, Friedrich Barbarossa, Ludwig II and Maximillian II, that can be found on magnets, postcards and souvenir plates.

In addition to the town hall, there are a huge number of other historically and culturally important points of interest. For example, the 13th century Frankfurt Cathedral, where Holy Roman Emperors were once crowned. You can also see 14th- and 15th-century houses with quirky names like "Little Badger Hole," "Big Angel," and "Golden Vulture." Like the town hall, the cathedral and all the houses were meticulously restored after the war.

Städelöw Art Institute

The Städelöw Art Institute is the best option for art lovers to visit in Frankfurt am Main. It is this museum that houses the largest and most valuable collection of graphics, sculptures and paintings in the country. Thanks to this fact, the object is included in all lists of the main attractions in Germany.

The institute was named in honor of I. Städel — its founder and famous banker. The building houses not only an art museum, but also an art school.

Frankfurt Cathedral

Frankfurt Cathedral or St. Bartholomew's Imperial Cathedral is located near the Remerberg Square. The giant Gothic building with its red facade and 95-meter tower is hard to miss. This is where German kings have been chosen and crowned since 1356. Frankfurt Cathedral is a national symbol due to its historical and political importance.

Considering all these facts, Frankfurt Cathedral can be called the main sanctuary of the city.

Museum Embankment

This is where the soul of persistent connoisseurs of the cultural program will really play out. After all, there are 39 museums and exhibition spaces of various sizes and orientations concentrated here.

Among them are the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Cartoons, the Museum of Romanticism, the German Film Museum, the Eintracht Museum, the Goethe House Museum, the Historical Museum and many others (we will tell you more about some of them). The complex is constantly being expanded and supplemented with new institutions.

There is also a promenade in the Alt-Sachsenhausen district, famous for its bars and restaurants serving unusual apple wine.

Goethe House and Museum

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the great poet of all time, is the subject of two museums, which are adjacent to each other.

The first Goethe House is the place where he was born on August 28, 1749 and spent his childhood and youth. The iconic novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" was written here, as well as the first sketches for the poem "Faust".

Another building is the Goethe Museum, an art gallery with a large collection of paintings, graphics, and busts from the 18th and 19th centuries. Thanks to the art from Goethe's time, one is immersed in the world of the writer, who was also an amateur painter, art connoisseur and collector.

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Old Opera House

The Old Opera House is a former opera house, which now houses a concert hall and a congress center. About 460 events are held here per year — musical concerts of various genres, entertainment and educational programs for children and adults, conferences and seminars.

The construction of the opera house lasted from 1873 to 1880. In 1937, the world-famous cantata Carmina Burana by German composer Carl Orff was performed for the first time on the stage of this theater. During World War II the building was severely damaged. The restoration took almost 40 years — the opening of the renovated theater took place in 1981.

The decoration of the building is amazing both inside and out, so we recommend a visit to this place to everyone, even those who do not consider themselves an outspoken opera connoisseur.

Garden of Palms

If after a busy program in the big city you want to hide from its hustle and bustle for a while, go to the Garden of Palms. This luxurious botanical garden dating back to 1871 covers more than 20 hectares and is one of the largest parklands in the country. Almost half of the garden is dedicated to all kinds of palms — sprawling and bizarre, exotic and completely unique — they are the ones that gave the garden its name.

Maintower

The Maintower is the fourth tallest skyscraper in Frankfurt and Germany. It got its name in honor of the river Main. From the outside, the building looks like two connected towers — rectangular and round. In the lobby, visitors are greeted by a video installation and wall mosaics. On the roof of the skyscraper there is a place from where you can see the whole city. This is Frankfurt's highest observation deck (200 meters). The panorama looks especially spectacular after sunset.

Just imagine that on the 53rd floor of the tower there is a restaurant from where you can enjoy the picture of the city accompanied by gourmet cuisine.

Senckenberg Museum

To get to this museum, you will have to make a little effort, because it is located in the suburbs. But, believe me — it is worth it.

Currently, this complex is one of the largest educational and research institutions of this level, which offers a unique exposition devoted to the development of plant and animal life on Earth. Every year about 500,000 people come to visit the halls of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History — the collection of this complex is considered one of the best in the world and the most complete in Germany.

Hauptwache Square

Another of the city's most famous squares. The main architectural masterpiece of the Hauptwache is a Baroque house that serves primarily as headquarters for the police. Once you arrive at this square, you can stroll through stores and restaurants, an underground pedestrian zone and a sunken terrace. Among the local attractions we will also highlight the Church of St. Catherine.

Kleinmarkthalle Market

If you are one of those tourists who fly to a new country and never want to bring all your money back, go to Kleinmarkthalle. This indoor market in the city center consists of more than 150 stalls.

Every day, except Sunday, you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, meat and seafood, as well as prepared foods like desserts, pastries, sausages, cheeses and Frankfurt's famous green sauce. Kleinmarkthalle has outlets selling Turkish, Spanish and Italian cuisine. It's a great place to grab lunch in between exploring the city.

Hesse Park

Of particular note is the Open Air Museum, which is located just outside the city and is able to introduce you to the traditions and culture of Frankfurt and the entire region. There are more than a hundred buildings in the vast grounds of Hesse Park, giving the impression of being in a real German village. There is a store with craft products and a post office. All buildings can be entered and all everyday objects can be taken in.

Due to the fact that the attraction — not the most famous, and located away from the city, the number of visitors here is usually relatively small. Crowds of tourists and vacationers will not interfere with your walk.

Bethmann Park

A real green oasis is the grandiose park at the mansion of the famous German dynasty Bethmann. The park is separated from the noise of the metropolis by thick old walls. The city was given a beautifully equipped park by the famous Betman dynasty of bankers.

The main attraction of the Bethman Park is the chess ground. This is a special area for chess players, where the playing field is placed on the asphalt with drawn squares and pieces. Here you can often meet local intellectuals.

The Chinese garden, the highlight of the Betman Park, will not go unnoticed. It is organized according to the principles of feng shui. In the central part of the garden grows a pagoda — a favorite plant, from which so loved to brew fragrant and healthy tea. The city also inherited a luxurious mansion in Bethman Park, which harmonizes with the beauty of nature.

Shirn Kunsthalle Gallery

The Schirn Kunsthalle is an art gallery located in the Altstadt district between the town hall and Frankfurt Cathedral. It was opened in 1986.

There are no permanent exhibitions here — only temporary exhibitions are available to visitors. However, the gallery presents both classic and contemporary artists' works, organizes seminars, workshops and various events. The gallery can be considered as an alternative to all the classical museums of the city, if you have already visited them.

Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art

The museum was designed in 1981 by the Viennese architect Hans Hollein. Because of its triangular shape, it is called "a piece of cake".

The museum is based on the legacy of German collector Karl Strecher, containing 65 works of Pop Art and Minimalism. Today, the permanent collection has more than 4,500 works of international art from the 1960s to the present day.