Flights to Frankfurt
Look out over Germany's only real skyline from the Main Tower, then cross the river to Sachsenhausen for apple wine in a timbered tavern. Frankfurt is Europe's great connecting hub and is well worth a stay of its own.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- German
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
- Plug type
- Type C / F, 230 V
- Main airport
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Overview
Frankfurt am Main is Germany's financial capital. It's home to the European Central Bank, and its cluster of towers has earned it the nickname "Mainhattan." Next to all the glass is a carefully rebuilt old town. The Römerberg square, with its row of gabled houses, faces the Römer city hall. Behind it, the DomRömer quarter recreates the narrow lanes destroyed in 1944. Goethe was born a few blocks away, and his family home is now a museum.
Much of the city's culture sits along the Museumsufer, a line of more than a dozen museums on the south bank of the Main River. The best known is the Städel, which spans seven centuries of European art. Behind the riverfront, Sachsenhausen's cobbled lanes are lined with traditional apple wine taverns that serve Ebbelwoi from stoneware jugs with green sauce and hearty Hessian food. North of the center, Nordend and Bornheim's Berger Strasse feel more local, with cafés, farmers' markets, and neighborhood bars.
Frankfurt Airport is Lufthansa's main hub and one of Europe's busiest, with nonstops to more than a dozen North American cities. With an ICE station at the airport, you can be in Cologne, Heidelberg, or the vineyards of the Rhine Valley within a couple of hours of landing.
Highlights of Frankfurt
Main Tower observation deck
Ride to the open-air platform about 200 m (650 ft) up for the best view of the skyline and the river.
Römerberg and the new old town
Take in the gabled facades facing the Römer, then walk the rebuilt DomRömer lanes to the red sandstone Frankfurt Cathedral.
Städel Museum
Explore one of Germany's leading art museums on the Museumsufer, with works from Old Masters such as Vermeer and Rembrandt through to contemporary art.
Apple wine in Sachsenhausen
Order Ebbelwoi by the Bembel jug and green sauce in a traditional tavern around Schweizer Strasse or the old Sachsenhausen lanes.
Kleinmarkthalle
This covered market near Hauptwache sells Hessian sausages, cheeses, and local produce, and there's a wine bar in the upper gallery.
Where to stay
Altstadt and Innenstadt
Close to the Römerberg, Zeil shopping street, and the riverbank, making it the easiest base for a short stay.
Sachsenhausen
Cobbled streets on the south bank with apple wine taverns, the Museumsufer, and river views. It suits food lovers and culture fans.
Nordend and Bornheim
Leafy residential streets and the café-lined Berger Strasse, for travelers who want a local neighborhood feel.
Westend and Messe
Upscale area near the Palmengarten and the trade fair grounds, convenient for business travelers.
Airports and getting into town
S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 leave from the regional station beneath Terminal 1 about every 15 minutes, reaching Hauptbahnhof in 10–12 minutes and continuing to Hauptwache and Konstablerwache. Long-distance ICE trains from the separate Fernbahnhof go directly to Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, and other cities. Taxis to the center usually take 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic, and the SkyLine people mover connects Terminals 1 and 2.
Best time to visit
May to September brings long days for riverside walks and beer gardens, and the Museumsuferfest, one of Germany's largest cultural festivals, fills both banks of the Main in late August. From late November until just before Christmas, the Christmas market on Römerberg is one of the country's oldest and most atmospheric. Hotels fill up during big trade fairs such as the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, so check the Messe calendar before you book.
Airlines flying to Frankfurt
Popular routes to Frankfurt
Flying out of Frankfurt
Travel tips from our desk
- Check the trade fair (Messe) calendar before booking. Hotel availability tightens noticeably during major fairs.
- The area right around Hauptbahnhof (Bahnhofsviertel) is lively with good food, but it has a visible drug scene, so light sleepers may prefer another district.
- Carry some cash. Many apple wine taverns and small cafés still prefer or only accept cash.
- Shops close on Sundays, and supermarkets at Hauptbahnhof and the airport are the main exceptions.
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Flights to Germany
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Explore Paris →Flights to Frankfurt — frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from New York to Frankfurt?
Nonstop flights from New York JFK average about 7 hours 45 minutes. Lufthansa, Delta, Condor, and Singapore Airlines fly the route from JFK, and Lufthansa and United fly from Newark.
Which airport serves Frankfurt?
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the city's main airport and Lufthansa's largest hub. Note that Frankfurt-Hahn is a separate low-cost airport more than 100 km (60 mi) away.
What is the best time to visit Frankfurt?
Late spring through early fall is best for river walks and outdoor dining. The Römerberg Christmas market draws crowds from late November through December.
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to the city center?
S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 reach Hauptbahnhof in about 10–12 minutes and run about every 15 minutes during the day. A taxi takes around 20–30 minutes.
Can I visit the Rhine Valley from Frankfurt?
Yes. Regional trains reach Rüdesheim and the Rheingau wine towns in about an hour, and river cruises through the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley start there.
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