25 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN FRANKFURT

You probably won't find Frankfurt in the typical rankings with the most desired destinations in Europe, and maybe not even in Germany, but in the end ... how important is this? The magic of traveling is precisely to be surprised and the perfect excuse for this is to venture to discover places not so well known. Destroyed almost completely during World War II, Frankfurt was able to overcome and resurface its ashes to become one of the most important and cosmopolitan cities in Germany and an important international financial center, being the current headquarters of the European Bank. Do not miss what comes next because in this post we will discover the 25 best things to see and do in Frankfurt.

1. Known as Mainhattan, in a pun that joins the German name of the Main River and the well-known business center of New York City, stroll through the financial district The city is one of the best things you can do in Frankfurt. The Eurotower (178m) was the first of the skyscrapers that was built in this area, back in 1977. Then the Silberturm (166m), the Messeturm (257m) and the famous tower of Commerzbank, which with its 259 meters high is the tallest in all of Mainhattan.

2. After feeling tiny looking at the skyscrapers from below, nothing better than changing the perspective and going up to the viewpoint of the Main Tower to enjoy fantastic views of the skyline of Frankfurt. Price: € 7.5 (20% discount with the Frankfurt Card). More information.

3. Walking through modern streets, in the commercial and business epicenter of Frankfurt, you will find it surprising to reach the Opernplatz or Opera Square and there find the building of the ancient opera (Alte Oper). Inaugurated in 1880, it was destroyed by the bombings of 1944 and slowly rebuilt during the 70s. Nowadays it houses a concert hall and, if you master German, you will be able to see its interior on a guided tour of 90 minutes. Price: € 8. More information.

4. We move a little away from the business center, but not from the world of finance. The Frankfurt stock exchange It is one of the most important in the world and, in front of the building that houses it, you will find two curious sculptures: that of a bear and that of a bull. Apparently these two animals are associated with the different moments in which the stock market is located: the bull, the rising moments and the bear, the bears.

5. You can't leave Frankfurt without knowing the heart of the city's historic center: the Römerberg square. A place with a past of the most varied, and it is that it developed activities as different as markets, tournaments, coronations and even executions. The Römerberg square is located at the highest point on the bank of the Main River, where the Roman city was founded in the first century AD ... And hence its name, which in Spanish would become "Roman mountain". In the center you will see the famous statue of Justitia.

6. Precisely in this square you will find the Römer, a complex of houses of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that includes the Altes Rathaus (old town hall). Rebuilt after the bombings of 1944 is another place you can not miss during your visit to the city of Frankfurt.

7. Not far from Römerberg stands the huge Gothic tower of the San Bartolome Cathedral (Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus). It is the largest and most important sacred temple in Frankfurt and, if it is impressive from the outside, wait to climb to the top of its tower to have beautiful views of the city. Entering is free, but access to the tower costs € 3.

8. Does the name of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe ring a bell? If you never heard it, you should know that behind this name one of the great figures of German literature hides. This renowned writer was born in Frankfurt and today it is possible to visit the house where he lived the first years of his life. Admission is € 7. Here you can find all the information about the Goethe house-museum.

9. One of the few buildings in the city that resisted the onslaught of World War II bombings was the Hauptwache. This baroque building built in 1730 and which gives its name to the square in which it is located, is now a cafeteria, but in the past it housed a surveillance station and even a prison.

10. The contrast of this city is incredible, and in fact from the Hauptwache square, which as we have told you has one of the oldest buildings in the city, the modern shopping streets of Frankfurt are born today. Among them, the famous Ziel street, whose large buildings were destroyed almost entirely by bombing. Today it is one of the best places in Frankfurt to enjoy a shopping day.

11. Compress or not, there are two places that deserve a stop along the way: Ziel Gallerie, a modern shopping center that gives great views of the city from the terrace on its top floor. Y MyZiel that with its spectacular glass architecture simulates on the facade a black hole that gives way to natural light.

12. If museums are your thing, you'll be glad to know that in Frankfurt you'll have a choice. A must-see place is known as Museum Shore (Museumsufer), located on the two banks of the Main River and stands out as one of the areas with the highest concentration of museums in all of Europe, many of them of great international prestige.

13. Museums tell us about the history of a place, but as I always say the local markets tell us a lot about its present ... besides cheering the senses ... and especially the belly! 😉 Tuesdays and Sundays at Konstablerwache Square you will find a open air market with fresh products, fruits and vegetables from local farmers and a good variety of regional dishes.

14. From an open market, to the historic Kleinmarkthalle covered market. When the demands for hygiene in the sale of food began to increase during the 19th century, the Frankfurt city council decided to build a municipal market where these demands could be controlled. Built between 1877 and 1879, this market is currently a microcosm of colors, smells and flavors from around the world ... don't miss it! More information.

15. Without getting too far from the gastronomic theme, visit the Sachsenhausen neighborhood famous for the taverns of Apfelwein, a typical alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of apple juice and that would be something very similar to Spanish cider.

16. If you extend the day taking Apfelwein in Sachsenhausen, do not worry because Frankfurt has a fun nightlife And this neighborhood is one of the liveliest in the entire city. Students, immigrants, men and women of the business world ... the night scene of this city offers alternatives for everyone. From techno clubs, to places where to taste a good wine or listen to live jazz music.

17. After a busy night, you may want to start the day in a quiet way. There is no better way to do it than to get to know the Palmengarten, one of the three botanical gardens of Frankfurt, where among other things you can visit the impressive palm tree greenhouse That gives it its name. More information.

18. One of the best things to do in Frankfurt is to visit the old jewish cemetery, without a doubt one of the most moving places in the city. In addition to the old gravestones that resisted the bombing of 1944, on the walls surrounding the compound you will find the names of the thousands of Jews who died in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. To access the cemetery you only have to ask for the key at the reception of the nearby Judengasse Museum and leave an identity document.

19. Another place you can't miss during your visit to Frankfurt is the Eiserner Steg. This iron bridge has undergone numerous renovations since its original construction in 1868, but today it is an excellent place to stroll while enjoying the views of the river and the city.

20. And from bridge to bridge ... come to know the Alte Brücke or old bridge, it may not be as evocative as the previous one, but the views from it are certainly worth it.

21. And if you feel like contemplating the imposing panorama of the city from the water, book a Main river cruise. You will see that these types of activities engage and you have to take advantage of cities with navigable rivers to do them. You can book it here. If you are more land, you also have the option of the tourist bus, of course!

22. Dark is the story of IG-Farbenhaus. This building, which is currently part of the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University campus, was once the headquarters of a large chemical company that, among other things, manufactured the famous Zyklon-B, the cyanide-based gas that was used in the Nazi concentration camps. A curiosity of this building are the “paternoster” elevators, with no stops, no doors, to get on and off you just have to… jump! You know, the long waits in front of the elevator door are over 😉

23. Surprise yourself again with the contrasts of this city to meet the Eschenheimer Turm, which has nothing to do with its surroundings. Built around 1400, this tower was part of the medieval wall that protected the city, and was one of the old access doors. Today you will find in it a bar and a restaurant of local cuisine.

24. Did I say local cuisine? Although this I am going to tell you seems too obvious, it should be reminded that one of the best things you can do in Frankfurt is to try the famous Frankfurter Würstchen. Come on, the famous Frankfurt sausage of a lifetime! 😉 Made of pork and stuffed in natural sheep gut (sorry, not suitable for vegetarians and vegans), its characteristic flavor is obtained after a special smoking process. These sausages are not cooked, they only heat in water for a few minutes and are ready to eat with bread, mustard and potato salad.

25. If I learned something after having spent five years of my life in Germany, there is no better way to accompany a typical recipe than a good local beer. Naïv It's one of the local beer best known in the city but Braustil It is the only brewery in the city to make its own craft beers. The best way to take advantage of the visit is to ask for a tasting and try all the possible ones. More information.

25 + 1. If you still have time and can explore the surroundings, these are the best excursions from Frankfurt of a day:

• Cruise on the Rhine Valley, a romantic walk for 65 km of this historic river, with medieval castles and vineyard fields. It also includes lunch and wine tasting!
• Mainz excursion, with Roman ruins and a beautiful historical center.
• Guided tour to Heidelberg, with a huge and curious half-ruined castle (but super impressive) and a very beautiful medieval historical center. Oh, and visit the world's largest wine barrel XD

So far our selection of the best 25 things to see and do in Frankfurt, we hope they help you enjoy this interesting city 😉

* Photocredit: Shutterstock

Video: Top 25 Things To Do In Frankfurt, Germany (May 2024).