What to Do in Frankfurt in 6 Hours: A Guide for Short Layovers

Bell | 19 September 23

Frankfurt airport is the biggest in Germany and a hub for layovers into all corners of the world. With the city center only about 30 minutes from the airport, why not explore the unique mix of modern big city and old tradition?

Frankfurt is often known as the financial hub of Germany, but it actually has so much more to offer. You can get a good overview of the city in just 6 hours and it is much better than being stuck in another airport lounge.

From Frankfurt Cathedral to countless museums to the photogenic Römerberg square, Frankfurt has something to offer for every traveller.

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Getting from the Frankfurt airport to the city center

There are three main ways to get from the airport to the city centre:

Train – takes less than 15 minutes and costs 4.95 Euro or 11,30 Euro for a day ticket across all types of transport
Bus – takes about 30 minutes and costs 5,80 Euro one-way
Taxi – takes about 20 minutes and will cost around 45 Euro

Taxi is probably still the fastest as the train is a bit of a walk from the terminal and it will drop you exactly at your first attraction. The bus is a great option if you want to get to the river or have the option to take public transport between attractions and get the day card. The most popular way is still train as it is super quick and easy.

Buy train tickets

Click below to prebuy online tickets or just buy them at the station. There are automated ticket buying machines that make it super easy.

Click here

Frankfurt Layover Itinerary

Start at Frankfurt's highest viewing point - Maintower

A short walk from the S-Bahn stop Frankfurt (Main) Taunusanlage is Frankfurt’s best vantage point, the Maintower. Tickets can be bought for 9 Euro and you get stunning views over Frankfurt’s skyline at any time of day (especially at sunset though).

See one of Europe's most impressive concert halls - the Alte Oper

A 5 minute walk from the Maintower, you will find The Old Opera of Frankfurt, an impressive building that is lit up beautifully at night. There are also some great Cafès in the area to grab a bite to eat.

Visit the Gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral

Head down towards the river and visit the old coronation site for Holy Roman Emperors. The cathedral is a true feat of architecture and even more impressive in real life.

Explore Römer’s medieval buildings

One of my favourite stops in Frankfurt was Römer, just around the corner from the Cathedral. The buildings there are gorgeous and completely different to the rest of the city. It feels like stepping from modern life straight into history.

If you have some spare time, head on a river cruise on the Main

See the city from a different point of view and join one of the river boats on the Main. The tours are usually 50 or 100 minutes and hence can easily fit into a longer layover. You can pre-book them online here.

If you don’t fancy a tour, just walk along the river Main. The area is lovely with lots of great bars and restaurants.

Don’t miss

Here you will also find the famous iron footbridge “Eisener Steg”, rebuilt twice since 1869. The bridge connects the two parts of the city and has a great view over the River Main.

Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a layover?

Yes, you can absolutely leave Frankfurt airport during a layover. I would recommend at least a 5-6 hours layover to have time to see some of Frankfurt and be back with time to spare.

Remember to give yourself about 90 minutes from arrival back at the airport to boarding.

Frankfurt is super walk-able and you can see some of the most central sights in 3 hours or so.