How to plan a trip to Frankfurt?

Don’t know where to start organising your adventure? Don’t worry because in this post we’ve set out to walk you through every step of planning your trip to Frankfurt. In different sections we’ll tell you everything you need to bear in mind, such as where to look for accommodation, how to get there, the best time to go and how to get around the city.

Careful planning is key to enriching your travel experience. By planning ahead you can find the best prices, and using certain tools, such as the Passporter App, will help you have everything ready to go when it’s time to go. Throughout the post you can read numerous tips that will be of great help to you during your stay, both practical details such as the currency used or the type of plugs, as well as those little details that you don’t discover until you arrive at your destination.

1. Prepare your travel documents for Frankfurt

If you’re travelling from a European country, you won’t need a visa; you’ll be able to enter the country with a valid passport or identity card. Remember that if it has expired, you will not be allowed to board the plane. If you are travelling by car, you can cross the border without presenting any documentation, but it is advisable to be documented at all times.

There are some other countries that are also exempt from applying for a visa such as: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Great Britain, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

If you are travelling from a country other than those listed above, you will need to apply for a visa through the official online form or at your country’s embassy or consulate. The cost of the visa is €80.

The documents to enter the country

• Valid Passport: your passport must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area and have been issued within the last ten years.
• Travel Insurance: you must have travel insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation for a minimum of 30,000 euros. The insurance must be valid in all countries of the Schengen area
• Proof of accommodation: this can be a hotel reservation, a letter of invitation from a resident in Germany, or any other document proving where you will be staying during your visit.
• Proof of Sufficient Financial Means: you must demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your stay. This can include recent bank statements, letters of sponsorship or traveller’s cheques. A minimum of €45 per person per day is required.
• Travel Itinerary: although not always mandatory, it is advisable to have an itinerary of your trip, including return flights, as proof of your intention to leave the Schengen area after your visit.

We also remind you that if you are travelling from another Schengen country you will need to apply for a European card to be covered for medical emergencies, and that if you are travelling from another country outside the European Union, you will need to check if your driving licence is valid if you want to hire a car.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Choose the date to plan your trip to Frankfurt

The best time to go to Frankfurt is during the spring and autumn months. These seasons offer pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists than in summer, which makes visiting the city more comfortable. You’ll have to wait in fewer queues and prices are generally less inflated. Spring also provides the opportunity to see the city’s gardens and parks in bloom, while autumn is notable for its colourful autumnal landscapes.

As in most German cities, Christmas is a very special time to travel. The city’s streets are decorated and the squares are lined with cute Christmas markets where you can buy souvenirs and eat traditional dishes.

Another highlight you might be interested in is the Frankfurt Book Fair. It takes place in October and is the world’s largest book fair, attracting publishers, authors, media professionals and readers from around the globe. It’s such a huge draw that you’d better keep it in mind if you’re travelling in October, even if you’re not a literature lover, because finding accommodation won’t be so easy.

3. Find out how to get to Frankfurt

Frankfurt is fairly well connected to the rest of Europe, and in fact, flying into the city is usually cheap as there are many low-cost airlines offering flights. We flew from Spain to make the best use of the time we had, but there are more options for getting there:

• Car: Frankfurt is accessible from all parts of Germany and neighbouring countries by motorway. Our recommendation is to only hire a car if you’re touring the country, as it’s not worth it for sightseeing and you’ll spend a lot of money on parking.
• Bus: operators such as FlixBus connect Frankfurt with European cities.
• Train: Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) is an important rail hub with national and international connections. In Germany the train network is very comprehensive, with both regional and high-speed trains connecting to other European cities.
• Plane: Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe’s largest airports and handles both regional and international flights. The quickest and cheapest option to get to the centre is the S-Bahn train lines S8 and S9, which take you to the centre in about 15 minutes and operates every 10-15 minutes. The ticket costs about €3. You can also opt for a taxi, which is more comfortable but significantly more expensive.

Public transport in Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a city with an excellent public transport system, including U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (city train), trams and buses, providing easy access to all areas of the city and its surroundings. Tickets cost between €2 and €3, but if you’re spending the day sightseeing, we recommend getting the Frankfurt Card for €10, which gives you unlimited travel for a day and discounts on attractions.

For short distances, walking or renting a bike can be a great way to explore the city. And remember, with the Passporter App you can compare and buy your tickets directly through Skyscanner and carry them neatly on your mobile.

4. Find the accommodation that matches your expectations to enjoy Frankfurt

One of the advantages of Frankfurt is that, as well as offering many accommodation options, it has an efficient public transport network that will allow you to stay in the suburbs to save money and still have easy access to the centre. As always, we recommend search ahead, read reviews from other tourists and consider staying in a flat if you’re travelling with a family or group. It’s a good way to save money and be self-catering.

We know that sometimes it can be difficult to decide where to start looking, so we encourage you to read where other tourists have stayed on the Passporter App and compare prices on the booking section, where you can also book and have the information at hand. And to make it even easier, here’s a list of the best neighbourhoods:

• Innenstadt: Frankfurt’s trendy, upmarket and commercial area. The prices are high, but the location is excellent.
• Bahnhofsviertel: has a lively nightlife and the price of accommodation is affordable.
• Gutleutviertel: is an area in transformation, close to the central station and with average prices for accommodation.
• Westend: Stylish and quiet neighbourhood with mid- to high-end accommodation.
• Bornheim: Bohemian area known as ‘little Paris’. Here you will find good value accommodation.
• Sachsenhausen: traditional and with cider bars, good connections and reasonable prices.
• Airport: for convenience of connections, varied prices depending on proximity.

5. Choose the activities you want to do in Frankfurt

It is usual to spend a minimum of two days in Frankfurt to be able to see all the sights and stroll around the city at your leisure. In this post you can read about the main tourist attractions to see: Things to do in Frankfurt Germany. Once you’ve decided what you want to do, we encourage you to create your own itinerary on the Passporter App to keep everything organised.

Here are the city’s most famous attractions to get you started on creating your travel plan:

• Römerberg: is the historic heart of Frankfurt, where the Römer, the old town hall, is located.
• Museum Städel: is one of Germany’s most important art galleries, housing an impressive collection of works from the Renaissance to the present day. General admission costs around €16.
• Main Tower: From the top of this skyscraper to enjoy a panoramic view of Frankfurt. Admission to the observation deck costs approximately €9 for adults.
• St Bartholomew’s Cathedral (Dom): This impressive Gothic building offers free tours, although donations are welcome. Climbing the tower can cost around €3.
• Palmengarten: Frankfurt’s botanical gardens offer a natural escape with flora from around the world. General admission is €10.

6. Where and what to eat in Frankfurt?

We’re all familiar with the famous Frankfurt sausages, however, the local cuisine boasts many more robustly flavoured and comforting dishes worth trying. You’ll find that the use of potatoes is popular, and they also have numerous types of sausages. Here are the top 5 typical Frankfurt dishes

• Frankfurter Würstchen: are smoked pork sausages served with mustard and bread.
• Grüne Soße: green sauce made from seven different herbs, usually accompanied by boiled potatoes and hard-boiled eggs.
• Handkäs mit Musik: marinated cheese served with raw onion, a simple but flavourful dish.
• Rippchen mit Kraut: braised pork ribs served with sauerkraut, a comforting classic.
• Apfelwein: A fermented alcoholic drink made from apples, typical of the region and a perfect accompaniment to any meal.

7. Organise a trip with friends to Frankfurt

Visiting Frankfurt with friends opens up a range of possibilities, from exploring its futuristic skyline to enjoying its cultural offerings. Sharing these experiences strengthens the bonds of friendship, although sometimes challenges arise due to different rhythms and preferences. In this post we tell you how to anticipate and solve these challenges: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

Although we’ve already told you that, if you want to simplify the organisation of your trip to Frankfurt, we recommend the Passporter App. There you can create an itinerary together with other travellers. Everyone can express their interests, creating a plan that reflects the taste of the whole group.

8. Tips for planning a trip to Frankfurt

• The euro is used in Frankfurt.
• Most establishments accept card payments.
• Early mornings give you the opportunity to see the city at your leisure and have more time to visit its attractions.
• In Germany, the F-type plug is used, operating at 230V and 50Hz frequency. Don’t forget to bring an adaptor if your appliances require different specifications.
• If you are a citizen of the European Union, to enter Germany you will only need your passport. No visa is required.
• Although German is the official language, English and other European languages are commonly used in tourist areas.
• You can drink the tap water in Germany without any worries.
• While Frankfurt is considered a safe city, it is always wise to take care of your personal belongings.
• To ensure you get the best prices, it is advisable to book flights and accommodation in advance.
• Find out about any events or festivals that coincide with your stay.
• Sign up for Passporter and explore our travel plan for Frankfurt. Using Passporter is free of charge and makes it easy to get travel ideas from other travellers 🙂
• Protect yourself against medical emergencies: travel insured.

9. How to prepare what to see on your trip to Frankfurt

Download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
• Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information about the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you feel like visiting each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app to always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documents…
• Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your experience on how to plan your trip to Frankfurt.

If you have doubts about how to create your itinerary, you can consult our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

10. Frequently asked questions about a trip to Frankfurt