Things to Do in Frankfurt 2026: Skyline, Römerberg & the Main
Germany guide

Things to Do in Frankfurt 2026: Skyline, Römerberg & the Main

Frankfurt am Main is continental Europe's banking hub, giving it a genuine high-rise skyline unlike any other German city — but its centre is the reconstructed medieval Römerberg square, rebuilt after WWII bombing with the same half-timbered facades.

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Quick answer

The Museumsufer, a run of museums along the south bank of the Main, and the Main Tower's public observation deck give Frankfurt more to see than its reputation as a transit stopover suggests, and it is one of Germany's best-connected cities for onward travel.

Below is what to see in Frankfurt alongside the events we track — confirm times and ticketing on the official organiser page before you travel.

What to see in Frankfurt — top sights

  • Römerberg — the reconstructed medieval square at the heart of the old town, with the Römer city hall and half-timbered houses.
  • Main Tower — one of the few Frankfurt skyscrapers with a public observation deck, with 360-degree skyline views.
  • Museumsufer — a cluster of museums (Städel Museum, Museum für Angewandte Kunst and more) along the south bank of the Main.
  • Frankfurt Cathedral (Kaiserdom) — the Gothic cathedral where Holy Roman Emperors were once crowned.
  • Eiserner Steg — the pedestrian iron bridge linking the old town to the Museumsufer, popular at sunset.
  • Frankfurt Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) — one of Germany's oldest and largest, filling the Römerberg each December.

Why visit Frankfurt

Frankfurt is Germany's best base for a short stopover with genuine sights — the reconstructed Römerberg, a skyline observation deck and a museum row all within easy walking distance of the main train station.

FAQ

What is there to do in Frankfurt?
The Römerberg old town square, the Main Tower observation deck and the Museumsufer museum row are Frankfurt's main year-round draws; December brings one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets.
Is Frankfurt worth visiting beyond the airport?
Yes — Frankfurt's reconstructed old town, skyline views from the Main Tower and its museum district make it worth a day or two, not just a transit stop, and its central station connects to the rest of Germany quickly.
What is the Museumsufer?
The Museumsufer ("museum embankment") is a stretch of the south bank of the Main lined with museums, including the Städel art museum, within walking distance of each other and the old town.

Upcoming events

Speaker at a podium addressing a seated audience — AI-generated illustration

Emigrant Songs - Nastya Dzyuban, Olen Mamai, Hanna Launikovich, Andrii Punko

Frankfurt LAB Halle 2

From €8

Visitors in a bright art gallery — AI-generated illustration

Frankfurter Buchmesse Ausstellung: Literatur aus Tschechien

Haus am Dom

Visitors in a bright white gallery hung with large blue paintings — AI-generated illustration

„Mich zwingt nichts als die Liebe“ - Literatur aus Tschechien - Ausstellung

Haus am Dom

Festival crowd with raised arms in front of bright stage lights — AI-generated illustration

Frankfurter Oktoberfest 2026 - Familien- & Party-Frühschoppen

Deutsche Bank Park, P9

From €17

Audience facing a lit stage in an ornate theatre — AI-generated illustration

DFB U 16-Länderspiele - Deutschland - Österreich

DFB-Campus | Platz 1

From €7

Audience in a historic theatre facing a red stage curtain — AI-generated illustration

Buchmesse Frankfurt 2026 - Einführung ins Gastland Tschechien

Haus am Dom

Audience watching a cabaret stage with red curtains — AI-generated illustration

Danya Hammoud & David Oppetit - Szenen des Lebens (Scènes de vie)

Campus Bockenheim

People strolling through a historic old-town square lit with string lights at dusk — AI-generated illustration

Claire Waldoff - anders als die Andern! - Lieder und Leben der queeren Kabarettikone der 1920er Jahre.

Volksbühne im Großen Hirschgraben: Studiobühne

From €25

Two actors on a dimly lit stage in front of an audience — AI-generated illustration

Tickets für Erwachsene: Jetse Batelaan/Theater Artemis, hetpaleis & BOG. - KID. 8+ / 18+

Mousonturm Saal

From €8

Audience facing a lit stage in an ornate theatre — AI-generated illustration

Tilman Birr - Der Mann ist unseriös

Die KÄS

From €26

String quartet performing in a stone church — AI-generated illustration

Kammermusik - Kammermusik | Lachrymae

hr-Sendesaal

From €24

Drummer and bassist performing under green stage light — AI-generated illustration

Poppunk Blow Up

Ponyhof Club

Sunny old-town square with historic facades and cafe terraces, people strolling — AI-generated illustration

Die Maschine steht still - von E. M. Forster

Kulturhaus Frankfurt

From €23

Crowd walking between festival stalls under warm string lights at dusk — AI-generated illustration

F.I.M. FESTIVAL '26 - Internationales Festival improvisierter Musik - Tag 4

Brotfabrik

From €29

Open-air concert crowd on a lawn facing a stage in the afternoon — AI-generated illustration

THE SISTERS OF MERCY

Batschkapp

From €53

Evening street lined with lanterns and cafe lights leading to a historic church square — AI-generated illustration

Alte Liebe. Von Elke Heidenreich

Stalburg Theater

From €29

Speaker at a podium addressing a seated audience — AI-generated illustration

SIGNIERSTUNDE: Alles wird Asche

Hugendubel Frankfurt Steinweg

Sunny old-town square with historic facades and cafe terraces, people strolling — AI-generated illustration

Louise Kennedy - »Red«. Buchpremiere

Hessisches Literaturforum im Mousonturm e.V.

From €6

Beach concert at sunset with an audience on the sand — AI-generated illustration

And Also The Trees - The Devil´s Door Tour

Nachtleben

From €35

Sunny old-town square with historic facades and cafe terraces, people strolling — AI-generated illustration

Marlene Dietrich – Irgendwo auf der Welt - Premiere

Stalburg Theater

From €29

Audience watching a cabaret stage with red curtains — AI-generated illustration

MIRIAM DAVOUDVANDI - Das können wir uns nicht leisten - Tour 2026

Brotfabrik

From €35

Speaker at a podium addressing a seated audience — AI-generated illustration

Axel Scheffler - Die Grüffelo-Oma

Literaturhaus Frankfurt

From €5

Simple Plan - Bigger Than You Think! Europe Tour 2026

Simple Plan - Bigger Than You Think! Europe Tour 2026

Audience facing a lit stage in an ornate theatre — AI-generated illustration

Sun’s sons - „Wonderful News“ Tour 2026

Nachtleben

From €27

Audience facing a lit stage in an ornate theatre — AI-generated illustration

Quality Land – Live und analog nach dem Bestseller von Marc-Uwe Kling

Stalburg Theater

From €29

Acoustic guitarist playing to a small audience in a cafe — AI-generated illustration

TEX SINGT LEONARD COHEN

Brotfabrik

From €30

Two actors on a dimly lit stage in front of an audience — AI-generated illustration

Katrin Bauerfeind - Halftime Show – Jetzt oder nie

Die KÄS

From €29

Visitors at an art gallery opening with wine glasses — AI-generated illustration

Ulli Böhmelmann »Vom Werden und Vergehen 2« Ausstellung

Trauerzentrum St. Michael

Audience facing a lit stage in an ornate theatre — AI-generated illustration

Frankfurter Buchmesse - FBM26-Wissensmanagement in Zeiten von KI – vor diesen Herausforderungen aber auch Chancen stehen Verlage und Kunden

Frankfurter Buchmesse / H3.0 B20

Sunny old-town square with historic facades and cafe terraces, people strolling — AI-generated illustration

SIGNIERSTUNDE: "Wo die Toten sprechen"

Hugendubel Frankfurt Steinweg

Audience in a historic theatre facing a red stage curtain — AI-generated illustration

Open Books 2026 im Haus am Dom - Sachbuch

Haus am Dom

People strolling through a historic old-town square lit with string lights at dusk — AI-generated illustration

Jill Lepore - Die Welt, in der wir leben. KI und Herrschaft im 21. Jahrhundert

Schauspiel Frankfurt

Festival crowd with raised arms in front of bright stage lights — AI-generated illustration

VOCAL ART Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 - Eröffnung - Am Anfang war das Wort

Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt am Main

From €24

STEPFATHER FRED

STEPFATHER FRED

Ponyhof Club

Speaker at a podium addressing a seated audience — AI-generated illustration

Gisèle Pelicot - Eine Hymne an das Leben. Die Scham muss die Seite wechseln

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek

Audience in a historic theatre facing a red stage curtain — AI-generated illustration

Katharina Bach & Jens Düppe - „lost in K“

Romanfabrik

From €6

Colourful stage show with dancers and musicians in front of an audience — AI-generated illustration

Leonie Swann - Widdersehen

Literaturhaus Frankfurt

From €18

Ornate opera house auditorium with gilded balconies facing the stage — AI-generated illustration

Henni Nachtsheim - De Peter kimmt! - mit dem Jazz-Ensemble der Deutschen Oper Berlin!

Volksbühne im Großen Hirschgraben

From €29

Colourful stage show with dancers and musicians in front of an audience — AI-generated illustration

Martin Buchholz - NEUE WORDLÜSTERNE SCHANDTATEN

Die KÄS

From €26

Audience in a historic theatre facing a red stage curtain — AI-generated illustration

DAME - Der Weg ist das Ziel 2.0 - Live 2026

Batschkapp

From €53

Audience watching a cabaret stage with red curtains — AI-generated illustration

Fräulein Müller bitte zum Matriarchat

Stalburg Theater

From €26

STVW - Punk Rave Europe Tour 2026

STVW - Punk Rave Europe Tour 2026

People strolling through a historic old-town square lit with string lights at dusk — AI-generated illustration

Frankfurter Buchmesse - FBM26-Zukunft Bibliothek – Lesen als öffentlicher Auftrag in Zeiten knapper Kassen

Frankfurter Buchmesse / H3.0 B20

Speaker at a podium addressing a seated audience — AI-generated illustration

LESUNG: Canvas - (Cryptos, Band 2)

Hugendubel Frankfurt Steinweg

Acoustic guitarist playing to a small audience in a cafe — AI-generated illustration

Frankfurter Oktoberfest 2026 - Main-Gaudi mit Lorenz Büffel

Deutsche Bank Park, P9

From €50

Crowd walking between festival stalls under warm string lights at dusk — AI-generated illustration

Mareike Fallwickl - liest aus "Haltet euch fest"

Mousonturm Saal - bestuhlt

From €25

Audience facing a lit stage in an ornate theatre — AI-generated illustration

Caroline Wahl - 1999 Meter über dem Meer

Schauspiel Frankfurt

Open-air concert crowd on a lawn facing a stage in the afternoon — AI-generated illustration

KrawallBrüder - 1993

Batschkapp

From €50

What's on near you

Interactive accommodation map from our partner Stay22 — we may earn a commission from bookings made through it.

Cities with upcoming events

Artists on the lineup

Sources