Frankfurt, Germany for Tourists

Located on the river Main in south-central Germany, Frankfurt is usually known as being the financial heart of Germany – and Continental Europe, for that matter, since both the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange are located in Frankfurt.

But just because Frankfurt is synonymous with finance doesn't mean that there aren't things to do here for a sightseer or tourist.

Here are a handful of tourist-friendly things to do in Frankfurt that don't have anything to do with finance:

Visit Römerberg

Römerberg is the main square in Frankfurt's historic Altstadt, or Old Town. Here you'll find picturesque old houses and the city's City Hall, which dates back to the early 1400s.

Goup Main Tower

In Frankfurt's futuristic skyline, the Main Tower is the only skyscraper open to the public. You can head up to the observation deck at 200 meters (656 feet) for 6.50 Euro (about $9 USD) to get a great view of the city.

Drink Ebbelwoi

Frankfurt is famous for its Ebbelwoi – also known as Apfelwein or Apple Wine. It's basically a light alcoholic apple cider that is unique to the area around Frankfurt. There are actually apple cider taverns in the city – head to the Sachsenhausen neighborhood for some of the best and oldest ones (get there by crossing over the Main south of the Old Town). For something truly unique, hop on the Ebbelwoi tram – a special tram that circles that Old Town serving up wine and snacks.

Visit Goethe's birthplace

Frankfurt is the birthplace of German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Although the house was destroyed during WWII, it was fully restored with original furnishings thanks to the Goethe family and opened to the public in the 1950s. Today, the home is right next door to the Goethe Museum.

Go to a museum

Speaking of museums, Frankfurt has quite a few of them to visit. A lot of the city's museums are concentrated around “Museumsufer,” or the “Museum embankment” along the river Main. Here you can find museums dedicated to film, architecture, world cultures, fine art (the Städel Museum) and more. You also might want to check out the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History (the largest of of its kind in Germany), or the Museum of Modern Art (known for its artwork as well as its unique architecture).

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.