39 Best Sights in Frankfurt, Germany

The splendid cluster of tropical and semitropical greenhouses here contains cacti, orchids, palms, and other plants. The surrounding park, which can be surveyed from a miniature train, has many recreational facilities, including a small lake where you can rent rowboats, a play area for children, and a wading pool. The Palmengarten offers free tours on a variety of topics on Sundays. In summer there's also an extensive concert program that takes place in an outdoor pavilion. In addition to exhibition galleries, two restaurants offer quick bites or full meals.

The first all-German parliament was held here in 1848 but lasted only a year, achieving little more than offering the Prussian king the crown of Germany. Today the church, which has been extensively restored, remains a symbol of German democracy and is used mainly for ceremonies. The most striking feature of the interior is a giant, completely circular mural showing an "endless" procession of the people's representatives into the Paulskirche. The plenary chamber upstairs is flanked by the flags of Germany, the 16 states, and the city of Frankfurt.

This square a few blocks north of the Main River, restored after wartime bomb damage, is the historical focal point of the city. The Römer, the Nikolaikirche, and the half-timber Ostzeile houses are all clustered around this huge plaza. The 16th-century Fountain of Justitia (Justice), which flows with wine on special occasions, stands in the center of the Römerberg. The square is also the site of many public festivals throughout the year, including the Christmas market in December. Kleine Krame is a pedestrian street just north of the square that's lined with snack shops and cafés.

The remains of a Roman fortress built in AD 120, the Römerkastell-Saalburg could accommodate a cohort (500 men) and was part of the fortifications along the Limes Wall, which ran from the Danube to the Rhine and was meant to protect the Roman Empire from barbarian invasion. It was restored in the early 1900s under the direction of the Kaiser. The site, which includes a museum of Roman artifacts, is 6½ km (4 miles) north of Bad Homburg on Route 456 in the direction of Usingen; there's a direct bus from Bad Homburg. There's also a small café.

The most historically noteworthy sight in Bad Homburg is the 17th-century Schloss, where the Kaiser stayed when he was in town. The state apartments are exquisitely furnished, and the Spiegelkabinett (Hall of Mirrors) is especially worthy of a visit. In the surrounding park look for two cedars from Lebanon, both now about 200 years old. The museum holds artifacts from much earlier, including from archeological digs on the site.

This casino boasts with some justice that it is the "Mother of Monte Carlo." The first Spielbank (casino) in Bad Homburg, and one of the first in the world, was established in 1841, but closed in 1866 because Prussian law forbade gambling. Proprietor François Blanc then established the famous Monte Carlo casino on the French Riviera, and the Bad Homburg casino wasn't reopened until 1949. Classic table games such as roulette and blackjack have been joined by poker variations Texas Hold 'Em and Three Card Poker, plus slot machines and other electronic games including electronic roulette. Buses leave from the south side of Frankfurt's Hauptbahnhof and from the Convention Center every 60–90 minutes between 2 pm and 1 am. Buses back to Frankfurt run every one to two hours from 2:30 pm to 4 am. The trip takes one hour each way. The €10 fare is refunded after the casino's full entry fee has been deducted. Note that a passport or other government-issued identification is required for admission (and you must be 21 or over). There is also dining and weekend events with live music and dancing to DJs. Le Blanc, the casino restaurant, opens at 6 pm; there is also a café for coffee and sweets from 2:30 pm.

This charming little museum honors the Frankfurt physician who created the sardonic children's classic Struwwelpeter, or Slovenly Peter. Heinrich Hoffmann wrote the poems and drew the rather amateurish pictures in 1844, to warn children of the dire consequences of being naughty. The book has seen several English translations, including one by Mark Twain, which can be purchased at the museum. The kid-friendly museum has a puppet theater and game room, and is popular for birthday parties. After decades in a historic mansion, it reopened in a new location nearby in 2019.

The heart of Frankfurt's shopping district is this bustling pedestrian street running east from Hauptwache Square. It's lined with a mix of department stores, boutiques, drugstores, camera and electronics shops, restaurants, and more. Stop in at the outdoor farmers' market every Thursday and Saturday for a freshly grilled Bratwurst and a beer.

Founded in 1858, this is one of the most important and attractive zoos in Europe. Its remarkable collection includes some 4,500 animals of 500 different species, an exotarium (an aquarium plus reptiles), a large ape house, and an aviary, one of the largest in Europe. Nocturnal creatures move about in a special section.