20 reasons to visit Frankfurt in 2025

Discover the city’s 'Museum Mile', food festivals, bathing temples and vineyards

A vibrant city rich in 1,000 years of history, culture and cuisine, Frankfurt is packed with great things to do and places to go, from fine-dining restaurants to majestic museums, modern malls to more than 100 street festivals.

Located on the river Main, Frankfurt has reinvented itself following the Second World War and now seamlessly blends the best of old and new, from its cobbled streets to its vibrant festivals. The city has positioned itself as a leading European financial hub and centre for business events, but it is also a magnet for leisure visitors drawn to its compact historic centre, multi-layered shopping experiences and extensive art and culture offering.

With direct flights from countries across the Middle East, Frankfurt is a year-round destination that deserves greater attention. Here are 20 reasons to visit.

Wander the city
Frankfurt is a city best discovered on foot, being small enough to visit the main sites while enjoying the vast green spaces that make up half of the city centre. The best part of exploring a new destination is often getting lost, and this also means visitors to Frankfurt will interact with the city’s friendly residents, who more than likely speak English. Germany is number-one in Europe for non-native speakers, so meeting locals and asking for directions is all part of the experience.

Public transport is also easy to navigate, with trams, buses, an underground metro and commuter train system

Explore Roam Römerberg and St Paul’s Church
Like a scene from a Brothers Grimm fairytale (the writers were born in this region), the picturesque Römerberg old town square is surrounded by picture-perfect half-timbered buildings. History shouts from every corner, as the square has been the site for markets, fairs and festivals since the 9th century. While here, it’s essential to visit St Paul’s Church, known as the cradle of German democracy. Alternatively, secure a seat at one of the city’s best traditional restaurants, Zum Standesämtchen.

Römerberg in Frankfurt

See inside Frankfurt Cathedral
Once the coronation site for Holy Roman Emperors, the Gothic-style Frankfurt Cathedral has been rebuilt several times throughout history and was last restored in the 1990s. The imposing exterior gives way to an interior with soaring vaulted ceilings and a museum that houses centuries-old treasures. Visitors can climb 300 steps up the cathedral’s tower, the tallest building in the city centre, to an observation area to catch the best view of the old town from above.

Explore the New Old Town
An historic district reconstructed after bombing raids during the Second World War, New Old Town includes 15 faithful reconstructions of traditional buildings that were destroyed and 20 modern buildings. The result is a fascinating quarter of contrasts, packed with excellent cafes, restaurants and shops, making it a popular meeting place for locals.

New Old Town is also home to archaeological excavations from the Roman occupation, testament to the city’s multi-layered past

Visit the Museum Embankment Festival in August
Forget London or Paris, Frankfurt has the longest stretch of museums in Europe, with no less than 39 making a magnificent mile along the river. The last weekend in August each year welcomes the Museum Embankment Festival, and three million visitors are drawn to the lively celebration of art, music and culture. The museums open late during the festival, and there are stands selling everything from traditional street food to antique books.

Frankfurt's annual Museum Embankment Festival

Catch a ride at Dippemess
Thrill-seekers head to Frankfurt‘s Dippemess funfair, packed with rides and stalls, which takes place twice a year and is the largest public festival in the region. While the Spring Dippemess is traditionally a lively affair and runs for three weeks from April, the Autumn Dippemess in September is quieter, shorter and a more family-friendly affair.

Join the Green Sauce Festival in May
A celebration of a signature sauce made from seven herbs, this foodie festival only started in 2008 but is now one of the city’s best-loved events, combining a love of food with music, comedy and the arts. Each year the festival audience votes for the best green sauce from 49 competing restaurateurs over the course of one week, but who will be the winner in 2025?

Taste the Apple Wine Festival in summer
This traditional festival takes place each summer on Frankfurt's Roßmarkt in the city centre, and is dedicated to the national drink ebbelwoi (apple wine), a crisp cider made from traditional apples. A popular beverage for centuries, wine pressers from the region descend on the city to sell their brews, compare notes and compete for the title of best tipple. The festival market is brimming with local produce and hearty food, served as a perfect accompaniment to the tangy wine.

Apple Wine Festival

Go wild at Frankfurt Zoo
Founded in 1858, Frankfurt Zoo is committed to nature and species conservation and is recognised as one of the most significant in Europe. Families especially will love the playground and petting zoo, and seeing as many of the 472 species as possible, from the smallest ants to Petra the hippo.

Visitors can also sponsor their favourite animals, with meerkats proving particularly popular

Discover the Senckenberg Natural History Museum
Another great option for families is the ever-popular Senckenberg Natural History Museum, which has a rolling programme of special events, daily tours and interactive exhibits. The dinosaur skeletons are always a hit with curious kids, but we recommend the nightly tour by torchlight for small groups with children aged 8 or over.

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Stroll next to River Main
With half of the city centre made up of green spaces, Frankfurt is a great place to simply meander, sit and watch the world go by. A stroll along the banks of the River Main, the city’s ancient artery, will reveal new perspectives on Frankfurt’s past and present, from its industrial heritage to ongoing urban development. Guided walking tours are available.

River Main

Shop the high street at Zeil
Middle East travellers are no strangers to shopping and Frankfurt delivers a range of diverse experiences, from bijou boutiques to global brands. Visitors can find them all on the city’s main shopping street Zeil. The area is pedestrianised so it’s a car-free comfort zone where tourists can stock up on everyday essentials from sunblock to SIM cards.

Trawl the mall at MyZeil
One of Germany’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, MyZeil is a one-stop shopping and leisure destination. Located on the Zeil and set over eight floors, the mall’s contemporary design means its glass roof and walls also provide stunning skyline views. Located in the PalaisQuartier next to the Jumeirah Frankfurt hotel and the restored Thurn & Taxis Palace, now an exhibition and events space, this area is a melting pot of architectural styles.

Galleria and Skyline Plaza are other malls worthy of attention

Savour local and international cuisine
When it comes to great local food, you’ll find everything from traditional apple wine taverns to international gourmet restaurants, reflecting the city’s multicultural spirit and commitment to fresh ingredients. There is much more to Frankfurt cuisine than the sausage that bears its name. Foodies can find fine dining across the city, including the two Michelin-starred Lafleur, which serves a Modern French and vegan menu, or for halal dishes, head to Kish, one of the largest Persian restaurants in Europe with decadent decor and tasty dishes. 

Kish Restaurant

Splurge on high fashion at Goethestrasse
For a more exclusive experience, luxury lovers should head to Goethestrasse for its high-end boutiques and designer labels. The elegant avenue in the Opera Quarter is home to the likes of Armani, Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Patek Philippe, Prada and Versace. Running parallel to Goethestraße is Neue Rothofstraße and Frankfurt’s popular culinary mile. Nestled between more designer stores are numerous cafes, delis and restaurants.

Try the elegant Ruby Louise Hotel & Bar named after Louise Rothschild, whose family empire began in Frankfurt

Bag a bargain at Wertheim Village
This popular designer outlet near Frankfurt offers a wide selection of upscale boutiques and shops at discounted prices, all in an open-air, village-style setting. There are international and regional brands, dining outlets, regular events and easy transportation from the city. Shoppers can take public transport, board the Shopping Express bus or arrive in style with a personal chauffeur service.

Park it at Palmengarten
Take a break from shopping with a stroll around the city's lush botanical gardens. Literally translated as ‘palm garden’, it takes visitors from the desert to the rainforest, with more than 13,000 species to be admired. Kids will love the playgrounds, water fun park, mini golf, pedal boats on the lake or the Palmengarten Express miniature train, while adults may prefer a guided tour of the gardens, which are open all year round.

Palmengarten botanic gardens

Head to the spa
The Rhein-Main region once attracted kings to its spas, and now has a range of bathing temples and wellness hotels inside and outside Frankfurt. There’s the Herbstein Volcanic Spa with thermal baths and sauna, or the sophisticated luxury of the Kaiser-Friedrich Therme in Wiesbaden.

Also worth noting is the Kaiser-Wilhelms-Bad with a wide range of spa treatments and Rhine-Main Thermal Baths Hofheim

Visit the vineyards
The region is home to revered vineyards producing some of Germany’s best wines. Head to Rüdesheim am Rhein, a winemaking town in the Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site where guests can glide over the vineyards by cable car, enjoy fine dining paired with local wines or simply hike the surrounding hills and admire the views.

Feel the magic of the Christmas Market
Germany is rightly world-famous for its Christmas Markets and Frankfurt has one of the country’s oldest, hosting a month-long celebration for this magical time of year. Visitors can expect stalls selling handicrafts and Christmas specialties from around the world, plus a classic Christmas tree set against the backdrop of the Old Town and St Paul's Square. Magical.

Frankfurt Christmas market at night

Getting there
Frankfurt’s central location makes it easy for travellers to reach. Whether you’re arriving by plane, train, or by car, you’ll find excellent connections from the Middle East and across Europe. Emirates has direct flights between Dubai and Frankfurt, with German flag-carrier Lufthansa also serving the route. Etihad Airways has direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt. Saudia offers direct flights from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam to Frankfurt.Qatar Airways provides direct flights from Doha to Frankfurt.

For more information on Frankfurt, visit www.visitfrankfurt.travel/en and follow Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn