Whether planning a trip to Germany or a longer jaunt around Europe, you might have heard of Frankfurt as a cool place to visit and be wondering how many days in Frankfurt should be on your Germany itinerary.

On one hand, Frankfurt is a highlight for many visitors to Germany as the gateway to many of the stunning German castles and of course a cheap flight hub that’s easy to get to.

On the other hand—and I speak from experience here—it’s easy to overestimate the time needed in some European cities, especially the newer ones where it feels more like cities at home and it is not as easy to get lost in cobblestoned alleys.

I’ve spent a lot of time on European city breaks, including a week in Frankfurt, and can tell you exactly how many days you need in Frankfurt to optimise your itinerary.

With so little holiday time you don’t want to end up twiddling your thumbs when you could have moved on to somewhere more interesting. For us Gen Z and Millenial travellers, we want to go at a fast pace and getting stuck somewhere longer than necessary doesn’t help.

To solve that problem, I’m going to help you decide precisely how many days to spend in Frankfurt and how to fill those days. 

Getting to Frankfurt 

Frankfurt is accessible by bus, train, plane or of course car. 

There are two airports in Frankfurt, Frankfurt Main and Frankfurt Hahn. AVOID Frankfurt Hahn if you can! It’s about a 2 hour bus ride out of the city so you might as well have flown to Luxembourg or Cologne. That said this often has way cheaper flights because it’s a Ryan Air base.

We didn’t realise this was the secondary airport and arrived here at midnight only to discover we had hours more travel ahead of us!

In terms of buses, which is often the cheapest option, FlixBus has routes connecting Frankfurt with lots of other European cities. You can compare prices and times for these on Bus Bud.

How many days in Frankfurt is enough?

Day Trip to Frankfurt

Starting with the absolute minimum length of time. It’s possible to do a Frankfurt day trip from Cologne (1.25 hours’ train ride) or Nuremberg (2 hours’ train ride) or one of the smaller towns nearby such that you don’t even have to stay a single night.

This is an option for those who are very short on time on their Germany trip and are basing themselves in Cologne or Nuremberg which might make sense if you are doing a Christmas Market-focused trip since those cities are more famous for their markets.  

You will struggle to find guided day trips for this however since most start from Frankfurt and go out so you would have to organise your own transport and planning.

I wouldn’t recommend this since you’ll lose a lot of the day travelling and won’t really have enough time to see much of Frankfurt. Plus, Frankfurt is a lot of fun in the evening when the outdoor restuarants come alive.

Plus, there’s lots of quality accommodation in Frankfurt so there’s no reason not to spend the night. You’ll find recommendations for places to stay in central Frankfurt further down this article.

1 Day in Frankfurt 

If you’re on a tight timeframe you absolutely can see Frankfurt in one day but you will be pushing it.

This is a good option for my fellow Gen Z and Millenial travellers on a fast-paced itinerary but for families or more laidback travellers it’s too little time.

If you have one day in Frankfurt you have time to do a walking tour of the city centre in the morning and follow it with either some self-exploration in the afternoon or the apple cider train, followed by dinner in an apfelwein garden.

The walking tour, although a bit cliche, is the best way to get bang for your buck if you don’t have much time in Frankfurt as you get taken directly to the main attractions and given snippets of relevant information on the city and its history. Plus you can get some tips from your guide on where to go for dinner etc.

The apple cider tram (Ebbelwei Express) was hands down my favourite Frankfurt activity and it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon. The ram circles the city so you can jump on anywhere, just buy your ticket online ahead of time.

You get given a bottle of apple cider (non-alcoholic options available) and a bag of pretzels and there’s a bit of commentary but you mostly just sit back and enjoy the sights of the city as the tramp takes you on a big loop.

On board the Ebbelwoi Express

However, if you prefer to do your own thing you can spend some time wandering the riverside precinct and bar-hopping in the historic apple cider gardens on the opposite side of the river to the old town. Or revisit any attractions from the tour like the cathedral.

Finally, finish your day in Frankfurt with some schnitzel or wurst and more apple cider at a restaurant in the Sachsenhausen area such as the renowned Daheim im Lorsbacher Thal (make sure to book ahead).

2 Days in Frankfurt

The best and most popular answer for how many days to spend in Frankfurt is probably two days and one or two nights. It’s the ideal weekend trip destination.

Expanding your Frankfurt trip to two days gives you some more options. I have a whole Frankfurt two day itinerary but here’s the short version of what you can do with two days there.

Frankfurt has over 20 museums so spend your second day exploring one or more of them. If you’re short on time then the one to prioritise is the Stadel Museum. This treasure trove of art really proves the point about the city’s reputation for culture.

The museum is easily worth a few hours, or a whole morning of your time, with an incredible array of old masters like Monet, Rubens and Picasso as well as some temporary touring exhibits to keep things fresh.

Then if you have time to spare, spend it browsing the stalls in the Kleinmarkthalle for local food specialties or if clothes are more your vibe head to MyZeil with its insane futuristic architecture.

3+ Days in Frankfurt

For purely touristic purposes, this is more days in Frankfurt than you need. Ultimately, it’s one city and there a so many other places in Germany that are also worth your time.

However, if you’re looking for somewhere with lots of shops and hotels to chill out and take a break during a lengthier trip or you are really into beer gardens then it could be worthwhile.

Alternatively, you could use the extra time to take a day trip to the Rhine Valley, historic Heidelberg or along part of the Romantic Road route.

Tips for Your Trip to Frankfurt

• Stay Central: Choose accommodations near the Altstadt or the city center to minimize travel time.
• Public Transport: Frankfurt’s public transport system is efficient and covers the entire city. A day pass can be a cost-effective way to get around. We found the trams pretty good.
• Cultural Card: Consider purchasing the Frankfurt Card for discounts on museums, public transport, and other attractions.
• Day Trips: If you have more than three days, take day trips to nearby places like Heidelberg or the Rhine Valley.

Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting?

Look I’m not going to be that travel writer who tells you every place is 100% worth going to and Frankfurt for me wasn’t a total showstopper.

If you, like me, are coming to Germany expecting fairytale villages and castles then this isn’t really the place. It’s a very modern humming city, quite commercial and lacking some of the historical authenticity (especially since the Old Town has been rebuilt).

BUT Frankfurt does have some awesome attractions and there are a few activities like the cider tram that my whole family absolutely loved. So yeah it’s worth visiting, probably, depending on how tight on time you are.

Other FAQ About Your Trip to Frankfurt

Is 1 day enough for Frankfurt?

Not really, one day is definitely enough to see some of the highlights of Frankfurt but you’re much better of with an extra day or two to really explore and do some of the extra activities that are totally worthwhile or even a day trip!

When is the best time to visit Frankfurt? 

Frankfurt is a good year-round city. It’s a great German summer destination as it doesn’t get too hot and there’s the Museumsuferfest in August. There’s also a great spring festival but autumn along the riverside is pretty too.

Is Frankfurt safe for solo travellers?

Heck yes! Frankfurt is a super safe city. I did a lot of exploring and running on my own as a young woman and had no issues.

Is Frankfurt worth visiting?

Yes…. but see above, it depends on your trip requirements.

Where to Stay in Frankfurt

Regardless of which number of nights to stay in Frankfurt, you end up choosing, finding a safe and comfortable place to stay is key. 

There are lots of chain hotels or luxury accommodations in Frankfurt, so if you like to stick to a particular brand then you can easily do that.

However, if affordability is important then there are also lots of cheaper options including hostels and mid-range hotels. 

At the top end of the market is the Westin Grand Frankfurt, which is beautifully kitted out and located right on the main Zeil shopping street. Click here to check prices and book.

We stayed at the Flemings Hotel Frankfurt Main-Riverside (yes it’s a mouthful but there are other Flemings in town) which was a great mid-price option in the ideal spot right by the river and a short walk into the Old City. Click here to check prices and book.

For backpackers, your best option is Jugendherberge Frankfurt – Haus der Jugend, it’s by far the best-rated hostel in town and in a central location whereas some of the chain hostels are out by the airports which is unhelpful unless you have a car. Click here to check prices and book.

In Short: Number of Days in Frankfurt

Regardless of how many days in Frankfurt you end up spending, Frankfurt is a memorable and unique place to visit. It’s super modern and a great way to mix it up from some of Germany’s more historic towns. 

You might love or hate it when you get there but staying two days in Frankfurt gives you a good taste. And hey, you can always change your plans!

Happy travelling!

Europe Travel Resources

• Find the best prices on hotels with flexible cancellation at Booking.com
• Find awesome day tours on Get Your Guide
• Book train tickets and buy cheap multi-trip passes from Rail Europe
• Travel super cheaply across 28 countries with Flixbus
• Save on attractions with a city pass from Go City (including Amsterdam, Paris and Rome)
• Sort your Euros and other currencies with a Wise multi-currency card

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