Best things to do in Frankfurt

Frankfurt Essentials

Frankfurt's identity is shaped by its role as a global financial powerhouse and its deep historical roots. This selection spans from the 19th-century Renaissance-style Alte Oper to the modern symbols of the Stock Exchange—the Bull and Bear sculptures. It includes the Berlin Airlift Memorial at the former Rhein-Main Air Base, the oldest Jewish cemetery in the city dating back to 1180, and the Jazzkeller, a cellar club central to Germany's post-war music scene. Architectural highlights range from Ernst May’s functionalist housing to the 1960s concrete brutalism of Sankt Ignatius.

Frankfurt Essentials — Map

Rudolf Stricker / Attribution

A

Old Opera

Alte Oper is a concert hall in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany. It is located in the inner city, Innenstadt, within the banking district…

Elya / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Sankt Ignatius

A prominent Catholic church consecrated in 1964, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Gottfried Böhm. It is noted for its sculptural concrete architecture and modernist interior.

Karsten11 / Public domain

C

Money Museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank

Find out everything you have ever wanted to know about money, its history, system and impact in this great museum.

Wolfgang Pehlemann / CC BY-SA 3.0 de

D

Berlin Airlift Memorial

Designed by Eduard Ludwig, this sculpture commemorates the 1948–1949 Berlin Airlift. It stands near the former Rhein-Main Air Base, which served as a primary hub for the humanitarian mission.

Mylius / GFDL 1.2

E

Frankfurt Stock Exchange

This building is a seat of the world's 10th largest stock exchange. Notice the sculpture of the bear and the bull in front of it.

F

Bulle und Bär

Located directly in front of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, these iconic bronze sculptures by Reinhard Dachlauer represent the stock market's optimism (the bull) and pessimism (the bear).

dontworry / CC-BY-SA-3.0

G

Jazzkeller

Established in 1952, this historic basement venue is one of Europe's oldest jazz clubs. It has hosted legendary musicians including Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Miles Davis.

uploaded files / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Ernst May House & Museum

Work of the architect and urban planner Ernst May is displayed in this small museum, seated in the house from the period between wars.

I

Rothschildpark

Rothschild Park may refer to:

Simsalabimbam / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Jüdischer Friedhof Battonnstraße

First mentioned in 1180, this is the second oldest Jewish cemetery in Germany. It served the city's Jewish community until 1828 and contains approximately 11,000 graves.

EvaK / CC-BY-SA-3.0

K

Europabrücke

A significant motorway bridge carrying the A5 Autobahn over the River Main, connecting the Griesheim and Schwanheim districts.

Other Lists

Museums and Culture Notable Christian Churches Parks and Recreation