The best places to stay in Frankfurt are the Innenstadt and the surrounding areas such as Altstadt, Bahnhofsviertel, Gutleutviertel, Westend, Gallusviertel or Sachsenhausen.
Despite being a city with no more than 730,000 inhabitants, Frankfurt am Main (the river that runs through the city) is one of the most important cities in Germany and Europe: it has the strongest stock exchange in the EU, is home to the ECB and, industrially, is one of the most important in the world.
It was born in the second half of the 7th century, but it was not until the 16th century that Frankfurt began to gain importance and become the coronation place of the Holy Roman Emperor.By the 19th century, it was already the capital of the first Germanic confederation of regions and the parliament of this confederation was located there.
Today, Frankfurt is a well-connected city with an international airport, a railway station and, above all, a network of roads and motorways.
Nor should we forget its financial area called “Mainhattan” where you can find skyscrapers like the Commerzbank, with 259 meters; the MesseTurm, with 257 meters high, and other towers that also exceed 200 meters.
This commitment to modernity combines with the preservation of older areas such as the renovated old town where the famous Römer Square is located.
The best time to visit the city is between April and October, due to the more benevolent climate and the fact that large festivals are held in the city.
The best areas to stay in Frankfurt
The best areas to stay in Frankfurt are the Innenstadt and the surrounding areas, which have the highest density of hotels and other types of accommodation.
The accommodation options in Frankfurt are varied and also have very different prices (you can sleep in Frankfurt city centre for 50 ?).
1.Downtown (Altstadt)
This small district corresponds to Frankfurt\’s old town, an area of less than one square kilometre with a large influx of tourists. The fact that much of the area is occupied by museums and historical buildings has also made it the least populated district.
Despite its age, the area is well connected by underground and for driving along the Mainkai avenue, which runs parallel to the river Main, and Berliner Street, which lies to the north of the district.In addition, three bridges connect Altstadt with the district of Sachsenhausen, on the south side of the city, of which the pedestrian Iron Bridge is worth mentioning.
As far as tourism is concerned, the most visited area is the Römer Square, the heart of Frankfurt since the Middle Ages and the place where the market is held.Today it houses one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, as well as buildings such as the Römer, the headquarters of the city council, the Römerberg wooden houses, the Church of St. Nicholas or the Fountain of Justice.
Beyond the square, you should also visit the 9th-century Collegiate Church of St Bartholomew, where emperors were crowned; the Paulskirche, once a Protestant church that became the parliament of the German Confederation in 1848 (for one year only); museums such as Die Schirn, History and Anthropology, and Goethe\’s birthplace in the northwest.
In Altstadt you can also find one of the most picturesque German restaurants: the Haus Wertheym where you can try the typical sauerkraut and of course the famous Frankfurt smoked sausages with traditional wine sauce.
Lunch can be followed by shopping on the Römerplatz itself, where there are numerous small souvenir shops such as Liebling. And to finish off the day, in the evening the area is activated by a few pubs and bars where you can enjoy the Frankfurt nightlife: the Rote Bar, in the south of the district, or The Place To Be, a street north of Berliner Street.
As for sleeping in Frankfurt in this area, the few accommodations are north and west of Berliner Street, with average prices of 100 euros per night.
– Accommodation in Altstadt
2.Innenstadt
Innenstadt is known as the \’city center\’, the area immediately north of Altstadt.This area is mostly surrounded by parks such as Bethmannpark or Bockenheimer Anlage and by a large circular avenue leading to the river, making communications easier. In addition, there are two metro stops and a national highway running through it.
For those who want to stay in Frankfurt without leaving Innenstadt, the number of accommodations is not much higher than in the old town and prices are still high.The residential population, however, is somewhat larger as there are not so many historic buildings.
Within this area, the first thing to note is the western part, where the famous Mainhattan, responsible for the city\’s skyline, is located.
In relation to cultural activities, in this area you can also find the Alter Oper, one of the best opera houses of the city and of the 19th century, and in the western area, the Jewish Museum.Also in this street and adjacent streets there are a good number of international food restaurants such as the Turkish Doy-Doy Kebab or the Greek Ariston.
The nightlife offer is especially concentrated around the Zeil street, with places like The Cave, Citybeach Frankfurt or the Jazzkeller, where you can enjoy a good jazz concert.
– Accommodation in Innenstadt
3.Bahnhofsviertel
Considered the “red light district” of Frankfurt for its leisure and also cultural offer, it was formerly an industrial and residential district until, in the year 2000, it began to be renovated to become a very touristic place with a multitude of bars, cafes, restaurants and a high density of hotels and hostels at affordable prices.
East of Frankfurt\’s Central Station and west of Mainhattan, the quarter is crossed by the tourist tram (which has a stop in the quarter), and surrounded to the north and west by Mainzer Avenue and the 44th Street.
Bahnhofsviertel also has cultural attractions such as The English Theatre; the Hammer Museum, a small space created by sculptor Oskar Mahler, or the Acac Gallery, which promotes local artists.
As for shopping, the most dynamic street is Kaiserstrasse, which has a weekly market as well as a variety of shops, but the strength of this neighbourhood is its gastronomic (very international) and leisure offer.
As for restaurants, don\’t miss the Bento Boutique, with the best sushi in Frankfurt; nor the EarDoori, which is only a few years old but very popular, or, for fish lovers, the Alims Fisch Imbiss, with fresh products.Most of the restaurants are located between Kaiserstrasse and Munich.
And for a drink, especially in the evening, the Bahnhofsviertel houses the James de Bar, a theatre and art gallery in the small street of Neckarstrabe.And for a real show, the cabaret Pil-Dame, the oldest of its kind in the city.
If you are looking for a lively place with lots of entertainment and places to go out at night, close to the centre, and with excellent transport links, this neighbourhood is an excellent option for staying in Frankfurt.
– Accommodation in Bahnhofsviertel
4.Gutleutviertel
Between the tracks of Frankfurt\’s Central Station and the river Main, west of the Bahnhofsviertel and with the Gutleutstrasse as its main artery, is Gutleutviertel, until recently a working class neighbourhood with an industrial appearance that is gradually changing thanks to tourism.
Of a residential nature, however, most of the accommodation (not many) is in the east, near the entrance to the Central Station.
One of the attractions of the neighborhood is the Westhafen Tower, facing the river and with 112 meters high, its rhomboid shape imitates the classic glass of cider in Frankfurt. Next to this tower, in a small park, there is a very interesting outdoor graffiti exhibition and, not far away, the Westhafen Quay, where a complex has been built to hold events of all kinds on the river bank.
Behind this area is one of the most emblematic buildings of the neighbourhood: the Gutleutkaserne, built in the 19th century and a military barracks until 1994, when it became a public building after a major renovation.
A little further west, also in front of the river, there is another very interesting place: the Sommerhoofpark or Summer Park, in the past – 19th century – a private park that today is public and the protagonist of some books and paintings.
On the banks of the river Main there are precisely the best restaurants where you can try authentic German food based on fresh products, two of which, near Pier 1 in Westhafen, are Druckeasserwerk, a very elegant restaurant, and the Chicago Meatpackers Riverside, with an outdoor terrace and specialising in grilled meats.
In the western part of the city, there is also another place that is very popular with locals: the Orange Beach Brewery, with a small bar and a large open-air terrace.the most interesting place for nightlife is Tanzhaus West, a discotheque and concert hall.
– Accommodation in Gutleutviertel
5.Gallusviertel
The large Mainzer motorway runs through this district (known as “Gallus”) just north of Gutleutviertel and is separated by the railway lines from Frankfurt Central Station.
As it is close to the train station and has been an industrial area dedicated to the function of iron and crafts, the area is mostly residential, although urban development in recent years has increased tourism, especially in the eastern area.
In this regard, we must highlight two buildings: the 185 Tower, the eastern boundary, with 200 meters high and part of the Europaviertel project, and the large leisure, restaurant and shopping complex Skyline Plaza.
Besides Europaviertel and its shops and restaurants, the great Mainzer Avenue and nearby streets also have numerous restaurants such as the Gasthaus Luftikus, specialized in German cuisine; places of cultural interest such as the Gallus Theatre, in Kleyerstrabe Street, or finishing the night in the Bristol Bar and Pitcher’s Pub.
As for staying in Frankfurt in this area, the area around the intersection between Mainzer and Highway 44 has a good offer of accommodations, in addition to the surroundings of Europa-Allee.
– Accommodation in Gallusviertel
If you are going to visit other cities in Germany besides this post about the best neighborhoods where to stay in Frankfurt you may also find it useful to read these others: Where to sleep in Berlin, where to sleep in Munich, where to sleep in Hamburg
6.Westend
It consists of two districts (north and south) and is the area of higher purchasing power of Frankfurt and residential character is well connected to the center through the avenue Bockenheimer, plus two highways east and west that converge near the Frankfurt Central Station To sleep in Frankfurt in the Westend, the area with the largest number of accommodations in the west, near the botanical garden.
Its main attractions are the campus of Goethe University in the Westend-nord, the Botanical Garden, one of the largest in the country, with large greenhouses and the famous Palm Garden, the huge Grüneburgpark, or the Senckenberg Nature Museum.
It is also interesting to visit the part of the Westend within the Financial District where the Westend Tower, with 208 meters, the Messeturm, with 255 meters or the Deutsche Bank Twin Towers, with 155 meters each.
There are also other interesting places like the statue of Hammering Man, the concert hall Festhalle Messe Frankfurt and the place where, in mid-October, the Frankfurt Book Fair takes place.The street mentioned above, however, is where most of the restaurants are located, such as The Black Bulls, which specializes in steaks, and one of the most recommended places to go out in the evening is Jimmy\’s Bar in the financial district.
– Accommodation in Westend
7.Bornheim
In the 19th century it was called the “Fun Town” because of its many taverns where you could drink cheap cider, brothels and dance halls.
Away from the centre, it is well connected by the motorway 8, metro and tram. It is mostly residential although, little by little, it is gaining in popularity among tourists; not so much because of the number of accommodations, which are scarce.
Among its attractions is the Bornheim Weekly Market, where you can buy fresh produce on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For family visits, in the southeast there is a large entertainment area with an ice rink or, on the border with Ostend, the city zoo.
On a cultural level, we recommend visiting the small Bornheim museum in Turmstrasse, housed in a typical German house built in 1770.
For shopping, eating and going out in the evening, Berger Street is the ideal place, where some of the old taverns such as Zur Sonne still survive, although it has been renovated, maintaining its original spirit and appearance and has a large outdoor terrace in the purely German style.
In addition to the pubs, the district has other places to extend the night, such as the Weinkellerei Dünker or the Sugar Cocktail Bar.
– Accommodation in Bornheim
8.Sachsenhausen
South of the river Main, opposite the central district, is Sachsenhausen.With a lower density of accommodation than in the northern area, however, there are sufficient hotels and hostels at reasonable prices of up to less than 50 Euro per night.
It is a very good alternative to stay in Frankfurt largely because it is very well connected by road, underground and tram.
Mostly residential, it has a very touristy area to the north, thanks to its many museums that are clustered in front of the river: the Museum of the Creative Arts, the Sculpture Museum in the Liebieghaus, or the Städel. These and others can be visited for free in the Museum Night.Also in this area is one of the largest street markets in Frankfurt and where you can find everything.
Known as the most dynamic area of the city, the Schweizer streets (and its square) are home to numerous restaurants and cider bars such as Zum gemalten Haus, where one of the best wine ciders in the city is produced by hand.Another place to visit is the German restaurant Apfelwein Wagner, also a former tavern.
To go out at night, the area of the Plaza de Schweizer is still the most recommended area with places like Hopper’s Cocktail Bar or Mogk’s Bierstubb.
– Accommodation in Sachsenhausen
9.Airport
Located about 10 kilometers southwest of the center but at high prices, in contrast, in the nearby town of Kelsterbach, hotel rates are cheaper.
The communications with the city center are good by road, train and bus, both from the airport and from the town of Kelsterbach.
The rest of the towns that surround the airport are residential and do not have many tourist attractions. Only to the northeast of the same one, it can be interesting to visit the Commerzbank-Arena, headquarters of the city team Eintracht Frankfurt.
What is the best area to stay in Frankfurt?
If you want to spend a few days in this German city, which is often associated with skyscrapers and the financial market because it is home to, among other important economic buildings, the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the best area to stay is around the Hauptbahnhof, the main train station , very close to the historic center (Altstadt) .From here you can easily visit the city on foot or by underground, bus or tram, as the German city has a complete and state-of-the-art transport network.
Although Frankfurt, located along the river Main, is essentially a commercial and financial city, it also has many charming buildings, which are far from the height of the enormous and elevated structures that crown its skyline, such as Römer, a complex of beautiful fairytale houses from the 15th-18th centuries that give it a traditional air, or the church of St. Nicholas, the official chapel of the city council.
Therefore, south of the historic centre, but still part of it, are the best hotels to enjoy a German town that has managed to combine tradition and modernity and is full of history and culture, and where the International Book Fair takes place every year.
If you are interested in knowing where to stay in Frankfurt , you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in Berlin, where to stay in Munich, where to stay in Hamburg or where to stay in Amsterdam.
Accommodation in the centre of Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s main railway station and one of the most important in the country connects to many other European cities, as well as to other means of transport in the city, and is surrounded by the widest range of hotels that a traveller can imagine.
If you walk eastwards you will come to the Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s most important trade fair and shopping centres.
A few meters away is the Alte Oper, the Old Opera House, another typical and representative building of the city. 5 minutes south of it is the European Central Bank, also known as the Eurotower, and created to maintain price stability in the Euro zone.
And 700 meters from it, we reach Römeberg, the historic center of the most populous city in the state of Hesse and the fifth in Germany.Römeberg is a picturesque square that houses the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice), a bronze sculpture from the 16th century, and the Römer (Roman), which owes its name to the remains of an old settlement and is a group of small houses that includes the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), rebuilt after World War II.
In front of the town hall is a row of half-timbered houses called Ostzeile, each with its own name. A few steps south of Römeberg, in the direction of the river Main, is Alte Nikolaikirche, a small church with a red and white façade and a turquoise tower top, and a few steps further on is the Historisches Museum Frankfurt, which houses over 600.000 objects and works of art that refer to the history of the city and, next to it, is the statue of Charlemagne and a model of Frankfurt before it was bombed during the Second World War.
Next to this beautiful and photographed square is St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, Frankfurt’s main cathedral.Built between the 13th and 15th centuries on the site of a Carolingian chapel, the cathedral houses several priceless Gothic masterpieces, including two spectacular altars. Inside, the cloister houses the Dommuseum, a museum with an interesting collection of liturgical objects, sacred art and valuable items.
The enormous, high cathedral tower (96 metres), completed in 1877 according to the plans of a 15th century architect, provides a magnificent view of the city and is one of its symbols.
If we return to Römeberg, a few steps north of this square is the neo-classical Paulskirche church, a national symbol of freedom and democracy in Germany, since on 18 May 1848 the first freely elected National Assembly met there.Very close to this temple is Goethe’s House, where the famous poet and novelist was born and spent part of his youth.
Hotels in the center of Frankfurt
The financial district of Frankfurt
If we continue walking north, in just 10 minutes we reach the Innenstadt, the central district of the city, where the financial area is located, The city has a wide range of accommodation (especially luxury), due to its good location in relation to the historical centre and the interest of the city’s financial icons, and also has a large number of clothing shops, cafes and restaurants.
This is the Börsenplatz, where the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is located, a neo-Renaissance style building with a striking and symbolic statue of a bull and bear (Bülle and Bär) in front of it.A few steps away is the Frankfurter Volksbank, the people’s bank of Frankfurt, and close by is another emblematic skyscraper of the city, the Nextower, 135 meters high and 32 floors.
