Location

Experience Frankfurt

Experience the vibrant diversity of the world’s smallest metropolis for yourself and book your weekend stay at the Frankfurt Youth Hostel well in advance.

Frankfurt is centrally located and serves as the perfect starting point for an eventful weekend in the Main metropolis, where there is plenty to see and do, all within a small area.

It’s exactly a 15-minute walk from the youth hostel to the new old town, home to the Imperial Cathedral, the Römerberg, and Paulskirche. From there, you’ll find yourself right on the Zeil, the largest shopping street in the Rhine-Main region.

Frankfurt Tips

Sightseeing

MAIN TOWER

The first and only skyscraper in Frankfurt featuring an observation deck at a height of 205 meters and a rooftop restaurant offering a fantastic panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.

OLD OPERA

In 1981, the Alte Oper, a building from the Wilhelminian era, was faithfully reconstructed and is now one of Germany's most renowned concert halls.

EVENING PROGRAM

As evening falls, the Main Promenade beckons with its countless bars and cafés. The nightlife has something to offer for every musical taste—whether it’s techno, hip-hop, rock, pop, jazz, or live concerts. Or you can visit one of the many theaters featuring fantastic productions at affordable student prices (starting at €8 for plays or opera).

OLD STOCK EXCHANGE

The building, with its Renaissance-style dome, still houses a small portion of the stock exchange. Visits to the gallery are available by appointment.

NEW TOWN

In the heart of the Main metropolis, 35 buildings—15 of which are faithful reconstructions and 20 new constructions—form the new historic district between the Cathedral and the Römer. Just as the kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation once did, you walk along the “Coronation Route” through the “New Old Town” on your way to their coronation.

RÖMER

Since 1405, it has served as Frankfurt’s city hall in the heart of the Old Town. This complex of medieval buildings was given a Neo-Gothic façade at the end of the 19th century. The most significant room is the Kaisersaal, which houses oil portraits of all 52 German emperors since Charlemagne.

PAULSKIRCHE

The cradle of democracy in Germany—in 1848, the first freely elected German parliament convened here. Today, this is where the German Book Trade Peace Prize, among other awards, is presented. Also worth seeing is the 32-meter-long circular painting by Johannes Grützke inside.

DOM

Kings were elected at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral starting in 1356. From 1562 to 1792, emperors were even crowned here. After the cathedral burned down in 1868, it was given its late-Gothic, 95-meter-high tower. Tower climb for €1.50 (students) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You’ll need to climb about 300 steps through a narrow stairwell.

Museums

MUSEUM EMBANKMENT

Along the unique Museum Embankment, you’ll find one museum after another, covering a wide range of themes—from the world-renowned Städel Museum to the Film Museum, the Museum of World Cultures, the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of World Cultures, the Museum of Communication, the Liebig Museum, the Giersch Museum, the Architecture Museum, the Bible Museum, and the Portikus. The Lola Montez Off-Scene Art Space or the Basis Atelier in the Bahnhofsviertel offer an unconventional art experience.

Numerous museums line both banks of the Main:
Portikus (exhibition hall), Museum of World Cultures, German Film Museum, German Architecture Museum, Museum of Applied Arts, Museum of Communication, Bible House, Städel, Liebig Museum, Giersch Museum, Jewish Museum, Historical Museum with the Junges Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Schirn Art Gallery, Archaeological Museum, Caricatura, Kunstverein, Struwwelpeter Museum, etc.

GOETHE HOUSE & GOETHE MUSEUM

The great poet's childhood home faithfully preserves the interior design and art collections of his time.

OTHER MUSEUMS

Senckenberg Museum
(Natural History Museum)
Children's Museum
Dialogmuseum (Museum for the Blind)
Explora (Technical Museum)
Struwwelpeter Museum
Money Museum

DISCOUNTS

Admission to 16 museums is free for everyone under the age of 18:

Archaeological Museum, Caricatura Museum, German Architecture Museum, Hindemith Collection (in the Kuhhirtenturm next to the youth hostel),
Historical Museum with the Junges Museum, Icon Museum, Institute for City History, Jewish Museum, Museum of Modern Art (all three exhibition venues), Museum of Applied Arts, Museum Judengasse, Museum of World Cultures, Museum Giersch, Money Museum.

On the last Saturday of every month, families enjoy free admission to many city museums, and special family tours and children’s workshops are offered (Saturday)!

Outdoors

PALM GARDEN

A botanical garden featuring plants and flora from all over the world. In the summer, the pond is perfect for rowing.

FLEA MARKET

You can also find secondhand and bargain items at the lively flea market right on the banks of the Main River (held alternately every Saturday on the Museumsufer or on the other side of the Main at Osthafen).

ZOO

Right in the heart of the city, you can get up close and personal with exotic animals. Among its many attractions are Professor Bernhard Grzimek’s nocturnal animal house, the new seal pool, a new monkey house, and the new predator enclosure.

CITY BEACH TERRACES

On the Citybeach terraces (open even in winter) or on the upper floors of the shopping centers, you can immerse yourself in the world of skyscrapers. The view from the cathedral or the MAIN TOWER’s observation deck—at a height of 205 meters—is even more spectacular.

APPLE WINE EXPRESS

On weekends, you can ride through the city in historic streetcars and try Frankfurt’s national drink, Ebbelwoi (apple juice is also available).

Sachsenhausen

OLD SACHSENHAUSEN

Right behind the youth hostel is the Apple Cider Quarter, with its many quaint half-timbered houses—guaranteed to be car-free and a genuine old town center.

BRÜCKEN-STRASSE / WALLSTRASSE “LITTLE SOHO”

If you prefer something a little smaller, you can visit Frankfurt’s “Little Soho”—just behind the youth hostel on Brückenstraße/Wallstraße—with its small, creative designer and secondhand shops.

SCHWEIZER STRASSE / CIDER BARS

Not far from the financial district on Schweizer Straße, or right behind the youth hostel in Alt-Sachsenhausen, you’ll find traditional cider bars where you should definitely try Frankfurt’s national drink, “Ebbelwoi,” and “Handkäs mit Musik.”

Young and old

OUTDOOR

Zoo and Botanical Garden
Boat tour on the Main
City tour by bike taxi (April through late October)
High ropes course / Climbing gym
Adventure playgrounds

SIGHTSEEING

Airport Tour
Round trip on the Apple Wine Express (on weekends)
Live sports, e.g., ice hockey and basketball
Numerous theaters with children’s programs
Ride to the observation deck of the Main Tower or, for a more active option, walk up to the cathedral