How to Spend a Layover in Frankfurt

How to Spend a Layover in Frankfurt

Between the riverwalk, museums, cathedral and old world architecture there is more than enough to see during a quick layover in Frankfurt.
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If you’re flying into Europe, there’s a good chance you’ll be traveling through Frankfurt as the fourth largest airport in Europe, and it is a hub for Lufthansa.  Whether you’ve got an extended layover, or you are taking a train to your next destination, give yourself some time to explore the sites in downtown Frankfurt

How to Get to Frankfurt from the Airport

Frankfurt-am-Main is the larger of the two Frankfurt airports and located right outside the city center.  From here, you can easily find public transportation and take the tram from Terminal 1 to the city center. 

The S-Bahn S8 or S9 train will take you directly to the central train station.  Frankfurt Main, or the central station, is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Frankfurt.  You’ll easily be able to walk or take a tram to get to the main attractions.

The train takes about 15-20 minutes from the airport to the central station.  The cost is approximately €5 per person for a one way ticket. 

If public transportation isn’t your thing, taxis are available at the airport. Uber is also utilized throughout Europe, so you can also order one from your phone app. Taxis will take 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic, and can cost €25-€35 to the city center.

How to Get around Frankfurt

The tram is a quick and easy way to get around Frankfurt. A single trip will cost around €2.75. Day passes are also available for a low rate.  Tickets can be purchased directly from the kiosk at the tram stop, or a bus driver.

You can also buy a 1 day Frankfurt Card pass for €11 which will provide unlimited trips on the tram and discounts to select museums and tours. These need to be purchased online or at select tourist centers.  You can find additional information here.

Frankfurt is an extremely walkable city.  It is very flat with well maintained streets and sidewalks.  Most of the attractions are within a 15-30 minute walk of the central station or a short walk from a tram stop.

What to see during your Layover in Frankfurt

Visit the Old Town and Rӧmerberg

Walk, or take the 11/12 tram to the Römer/Paulskirche stop.  From there you can have a quick view of St Paul's Church.  This was built in the late 1700s and has a long standing history as a location for political debates and public assembly.  It’s best known for its round interior rotunda. 

Next walk to the Rӧmerberg square.  This is a beautiful representation of old world German architecture.  Here you’ll get a picture perfect view of old town Frankfurt with the traditional 17th century half timber houses.  Also in the square you’ll find St Nicholas Church, which dates back to the 13th century.  And finally, on the opposite side of the fountain is the city hall which has served as the city hall since the early 1400s. 

A few blocks from Rӧmerberg, you’ll find the New Frankfurt Old Town.  Here, there are a series of buildings built from 2012-2018 as a reconstruction effort to rebuild areas damaged from WWII.  They are modern takes on the existing pre-war architecture, but manage to blend in seamlessly with the surrounding buildings. 

St. Paul's Church
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This was built in the late 1700s and has a long standing history as a location for political debates and public assembly. It’s best known for its round interior rotunda.
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Römerberg
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picturesque view of old town frankfurt.
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Alte Nikolaikirche
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one of the oldest churches in Frankfurt, dating back to the 13th century
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Visit the Cathedral

As you continue your journey east, make your way to the Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus, or Frankfurt Cathedral.  You can visit the lower portion of the church for free.  If you’re adventurous I strongly recommend climbing to the top of the tower.  Once you reach the top, you’ll be able to see 360 degrees around Frankfurt.

Frankfurt Cathedral
@adventureswithcarli
The cost to climb the tower was €3 in August of 2023. There is no elevator, you’ll need to make it all the way up and back down on your own. There are 328 steps to the top. The stairs are in a small, winding staircase with limited windows. If you have issues with claustrophobia, this may not be for you. There is only one route up and down, so you’ll need to pass or allow others to pass you. The tower closes at 6pm in the late spring/summer season and 5pm in the fall/winter season.
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Stroll the Riverfront

Frankfurt has a beautiful riverfront along the central portion of the city.  Be sure to cross over the Eiserner Steg, or Iron Footbridge for the best views of both sides of the city.  In the summer you’ll find street food and beer vendors along the waterfront.  There are also restaurants and bars along both sides of the river making this the perfect location to sit back, have a drink and people watch. 

If you happen to visit on a weekend in the summer you may also come across a festival taking place with additional vendors and activities.

Iron Footbridge
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pedestrian only footbridge crossing the river. add your own lock of love to the bridge.
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The south side of the river is also home to a number of museums featuring art, film, and culture.  If you have extra time during your layover, check out the Stӓdel Museum.

Städel Museum
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largest museum/art museum in frankfurt.
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Where to stay

If you are planning an overnight stay during your layover in Frankfurt, I recommend you stay central and near a tram stop. If you are taking the train to your next destination, there are a number of budget friendly hotels that are located near the train station.

Hotel Europa Life & Style
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This is a budget friendly hotel likely geared toward business travelers or short term guests. Our 1 night stay on a friday at the end of August was $100 for the night. It included continental breakfast, which opened early around 630am (perfect for anyone with jetlag) and complimentary beverages in the mini-fridge. The room was well sized for a king room. It was a 10 minute walk or 2 tram stops from the train station.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I'm Carli! I'm a travel lover living in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle to be exact. I'm always the planner for group trips finding the housing, flights, activities to create a basic travel itinerary. I also frequently travel for work so I'm regularly researching hotels, restaurants etc. Travel planning is truly one of my favorite activities. I've visited 36 states in the US and 23 countries with efforts to keep that tally growing! I've loved travel ever since I was a child and really love it all. Visiting the best museums in Europe? Absolutely! Relaxing on the beach for 5 days? let me pick up my next beach read! ATVing in the desert in Morocco? start your engines! My travel also varies from solo international travel to group travel with friends or colleagues, as well as travel with my 70+ year old mother. I'm here to help take the stress out of the trip so you can just enjoy it once you get there. You can hire me for: Consultation calls - Get your questions answered quickly to save time Curated Recommendations - save time from researching "what to do" or "where to go" Custom Itineraries - If you truly just want to show up and enjoy the trip, this will take away all the questions and let you just focus on the memories
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