Frankfurt is often misconceived by international travelers as a business city and therefore overlooked. And while the financial heart of Germany beats in the capital of Hessen, the truth is that the city has more to offer. To some, a long Frankfurt layover translates to endless strolls around the airport. However, if you have adequate time between flights, it’s a great idea to leave the airport and explore the city.
I have visited Frankfurt several times during the last decade, and in this Frankfurt layover guide, you’ll find plenty of ideas to spend your time between flights. Apart from some great things to do in Frankfurt, I’ll also share some useful tips and photos. In addition, you’ll find a map with the city’s attractions; you can save it and have it on your smartphone to make the most of your stay.
So, let’s start with the travel guide for your layover in Frankfurt and everything you need to know about it.
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Frankfurt layover guide: what you need to know
Frankfurt am Main is home to the European Central Bank and the German Stock Market. Moreover, the Frankfurt International Airport is by far the busiest airport in Germany and among the busiest in the world. As you can imagine, the city has indeed a financial background, but it’s not just that. On my strolls around the city, I discovered colorful neighborhoods, great viewpoints, and world-class art.
Therefore, I encourage you to leave the often chaotic airport behind and explore the city center. Although I will reply to some frequently asked questions at the bottom of this post, there’s one question that needs an immediate reply.
How many hours should you have between flights to explore the Frankfurt city center?
In my opinion, you should have at least a 6-hour layover in Frankfurt to explore the city. Some people might find it doable in 5 hours, but I believe it might be a bit stressful. And here’s why.
Frankfurt’s airport can be overwhelming due to its size, and you’ll often need half an hour to walk from your airplane to the exit. Then, you should add another thirty minutes to reach the city center (I’ll share the options later). Given that you have to be at least one hour before your corresponding flight to the airport and add half an hour for the way back to the airport, that’s already two and a half hours. Without having another three and a half hours, I find it almost impossible to see something in downtown Frankfurt.
What to do if you have a shorter Frankfurt layover?
If your layover in Frankfurt is short (ex., three or four hours), it’s better to stay at the airport. The International Airport of Frankfurt (IATA: FRA) has enough shops and eateries to keep you occupied for a couple of hours. In addition, if you’re a business or first-class traveler, you can also unwind at one of the countless lounges. The German flag carrier Lufthansa operates most of them, and you can find more info about the airport’s lounges here.
For economy class travelers willing to spend time at the lounge, there’s a workaround. You can buy access to the lounge here or use your Priority Pass subscription if you have one.
Frankfurt layover guide: what to do & see in town
So, here are the best things to do on a Frankfurt layover. I included a mixture of attractions that’ll give you a good overview of the city. Depending on your available time, you can pick either one or combine a couple of them for a fuller Frankfurt experience.
Go on a River Main cruise
Officially known as Frankfurt am Main due to its location on the Main River, joining a cruise will give a good impression of the city. The River Main Cruises start from central locations downtown, and they run frequently. Most of these Frankfurt boat tours last between one and two hours, hence, leaving enough free time for more things to see.
The boat trips usually depart from the iconic Eiserner Stieg Bridge, but make sure to cross-check that with your tour operator. As I stated, cruising the River Main will give you an overview of the city and the skyscrapers of the financial district. Moreover, it’s a fairly cheap activity: the tours cost 15-20 euros for an hour.
You can book a one-hour cruise to River Main here. Alternatively, if you’d like to have a more extended cruise, you can choose this one.
Visit the iconic Städel Museum
For art lovers visiting Frankfurt, there’s a place you can’t miss. The famous Städel Museum is one of the most celebrated European museums, hosting a legendary art collection. The museum owns more than 3,000 paintings and is one of the most important art institutions in Germany.
Städel is located in the so-called Museumsufer, a River Main embankment featuring several museums in a row. It’s an impressive Neo-Rennaisance building, and seeing up close Old Masters and contemporary works of art is a must-do in Frankfurt. And although you can’t see the whole museum on a Frankfurt layover, you can at least get a good impression and enjoy the art presented in its halls.
The museum hosts various temporary exhibitions, and you can see Städel’s current exhibitions here.
Städel Museum tip: If you want to learn everything about the museum’s collections and don’t mind spending your entire layover in Frankfurt on its premises, there’s an excellent guided tour for you. A 5-Star private guide will tell you everything about the museum, and afterward, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the town. You can book the Städel Tour & Walk here.
Unwind at the Liebieghaus
Now, this one is both for art lovers and people willing to relax in a beautiful environment. Located just two blocks away from the Städel, the Liebieghaus is a sculpture museum set in a 19th-century villa. And while the collection contains Greek, Egyptian, and Roman sculptures, lots of locals often visit it for its beautiful garden.
During the summertime, you can unwind in the garden and enjoy some delicious dishes and cocktails. Conveniently located in the Museumsufer, Liebieghaus is one of the finest places to spend time when visiting Frankfurt. Grab a chair (you can place it anywhere in the garden), order something to eat or drink and relax in a serene spot next to the river. For me, that’s one of the best things to do in Frankfurt and not just on a layover.
You can see more on the official Liebieghaus website.
Rent a bike to explore Frankfurt (and stretch)
Most German cities are bike-friendly, and Frankfurt is no exception. Moreover, cycling is a great way to exercise after a long flight. Apart from being relatively flat -and thus, easy to ride- Frankfurt has an extended network of bike lanes. In addition, renting a bike is easier than ever, and you can do it via your smartphone.
The platform I always use for renting a bike when I’m traveling (that’s how I explored Gothenburg) is Next Bike. All you have to do is download the app (iPhone and Android), create an account, add a payment method (credit card or PayPal), and you’re ready to go. There are thousands of bikes around Frankfurt, and you get charged 1 euro per 15 minutes. Cycling around neighborhoods like Sachsenhausen or Westend is pure joy, and you can explore the town in an eco-friendly way.
Alternatively, local tour operators offer bike tours around Frankfurt, and they provide bikes as well. You can book the best bike tour in town here.
Grab something to eat at Konstablerwache
Located on the eastern side of the Hauptwache, the Konstablerwache is a famous junction and square in central Frankfurt. The locals call it “Konsti,” so if the name sounds hard to pronounce, refer to it like this. Every Thursday and Saturday, the Konstablerwache hosts the biggest farmers market in Frankfurt, and besides buying food, you can also taste local delicacies.
A must-taste is the Grüne Soße, which is a local product made of seven herbs. It pairs with potatoes, and it’s delicious. And, of course, you can’t visit Frankfurt without tasting the city’s famous sausages.
On a previous visit to the city, I wrote a separate article about the famous market. You can read more about the Konstablerwache here.
Join a walking tour to get a glimpse of history
Last but not least, in case you want a bit of background info and quick sightseeing, walking tours are always a must. As I wrote earlier, the city has more to offer than a financial background, and guided walks in Frankfurt offer exactly this: attractions and background stories for people willing to know more.
Most walking tours in Frankfurt last one to two hours, and you’ll visit the city’s most famous spots: Römer, the New Old Town (Neue Altstadt), the Emperors’ Cathedral, and the Museum Embankment. You have, of course, the option to choose between private or group tours, depending on your budget.
Since this is a Frankfurt layover guide, I believe that your tour shouldn’t be longer than one and a half hours. It would be nice to combine at least two activities and experience the city as much as possible. With that in mind, I can suggest the following two tours:
Group walking tour. This shared tour lasts 90 minutes, it will take you to the city’s main attractions, and prices start from 18 euros. You can book the shared walking tour here.
Private walking tour in Frankfurt. Alternatively, you can book a private walk of Frankfurt and explore the city at your own pace. The tour also lasts 90 minutes, and prices start from 149 euros. You can book the private walking tour here.
Frankfurt layover guide: Costs & travel tips
After writing about the best things to do on a layover in Frankfurt, it’s time to talk about the practical aspects. Therefore, in this section, you’ll find info about the costs and travel tips about the hours you’ll spend in downtown Frankfurt.
How to get from and to Frankfurt Airport?
You have three options to travel between the Frankfurt International Airport and the city center:
- Train
- Taxi
- Private transfer
To Frankfurt center by train
The train is by far the cheapest option, and you can reach the city center in 15 minutes. You can take the S-Bahn S8 or S9 from the airport and disembark either at the Main Train Station (Hauptbahnhof) or at Hauptwache. Subsequently, you can take the same trains to return to the airport.
A single ticket costs 4,75 euros. However, consider buying the day ticket for 11,50 euros: you’ll have to return to the airport anyway, and if you plan to use public transport a bit more, it might save you some time from buying tickets.
For extra info and routes, please visit the official public transport website of the city.
To Frankfurt city center by taxi
The taxi is a pricier option, but you won’t lose time buying train tickets and finding your platform. You’ll simply embark on the cab and reach the city center. Taxis usually need 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the traffic. You should expect to pay anything between 35 and 50 euros (again, depending on the traffic).
To Frankfurt city center by private transfer
Equally fast and relatively more pricey is the private transfer option. Your driver will pick you up upon arrival, and you should expect a similar time to the taxi: 20 to 30 minutes. The prices vary on private transfers, but it will most likely cost double compared to a taxi. If you are a group of people traveling, a private transfer is a good option to share costs. You can book a private transfer here.
Is there a hop-on-hop-off bus in Frankfurt?
Yes. If you enjoy hop-on-ho-off bus, there’s one in Frankfurt, and, as expected, it stops at all places of interest. It costs 20 euros per day, and you can book it here.
Suggested activities depending on your layover (+Map)
Finally, in the last section of this long Frankfurt layover guide, I’ll share some activities depending on the time you have in town. Please remember that a 6-hour Frankfurt layover means that you’ll have 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours to explore, given than at least two hours are for traveling back and forth to the airport and also to be at least an hour earlier at the airport.
What to do in a 6-hour Frankfurt layover
On a 6-hour layover in Frankfurt, you can choose between a River Main cruise or a walking tour. In case it rains, I suggest a visit to the famous Städel Museum. You should also have enough time to have a quick bite.
What to do in an 8-hour Frankfurt layover
On an 8-hour layover in Frankfurt, you can have a bike ride through the city and stop at Konstablerwache for food. Afterward, visit the Städel Museum, and if the weather is fine, unwind at Liebieghaus.
What to do in a 12-hour layover in Frankfurt
If you have 12 hours or more in Frankfurt, you can explore almost every attraction described above. Start with a short bike ride to get some fresh air, familiarize yourself with the city, and hop on a boat cruise to get a different angle. Then, visit the Städel Museum and the Liebieghaus before continuing to Konstablerwache for some local atmosphere. Finish your day with a walking tour and return to the airport.
What to do on an overnight layover in Frankfurt
Most attractions won’t be available at night, but you can still explore Frankfurt and see how lively the city is at night. Areas like Sachsenhausen are full of local life, and it’ll be great to have a drink among locals. Depending on the time of your flight the next day, you can choose either to stay in a downtown hotel or close to the airport.
If you decide to stay close to the airport, the best option is the Hilton Hotel. On the other hand, if you like to stay in downtown Frankfurt, I highly recommend the Gekko Hotel, where I stayed the last time I visited the city. It’s close to the Central Station, and it’s a nice, cozy hotel.
Map of activities
Finally, here’s the map of activities that I promised you earlier. You can click the star button and save it on your Google Maps to access it anytime.
Frankfurt layover guide: final thoughts
If your layover in Frankfurt is longer than 6 hours, it’ll be a pity to spend the time at the airport. In this article, I focused on some things that’ll give you a good overview of how beautiful and lively Frankfurt is. Moreover, Frankfurt is a city you can enjoy by bike, which is a great plus when traveling.
As somebody using public transport a lot, I recommend getting on the train at Frankfurt Airport and heading towards the city center. Choose an activity (or two) that’s closer to your interests and spend a day exploring one of the most famous German cities.
More about Germany: Berlin travel guide, Osnabrück guide, Schnoor in Bremen
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Last Updated on June 24, 2023 by George Pavlopoulos