Things to Do in Frankfurt: Prices and Passes

Things to Do in Frankfurt: Prices and Passes

Frankfurt is cheaper to enjoy than its banking reputation suggests. The Kaiserdom nave costs nothing, the Eiserner Steg footbridge is free around the clock, and a skyscraper view is under €10. Here is what each thing costs and how to keep the total down.

What is free

The Kaiserdom on Domplatz has a free nave and election chapel. It is called the Kaiserdom because the Golden Bull of 1356 made it the election site of the Holy Roman Emperors; ten were crowned there between 1562 and 1792. The Eiserner Steg, a 170-metre iron footbridge from 1869, links the Altstadt to Sachsenhausen and frames the skyline. The streets of the Neue Altstadt, rebuilt between 2012 and 2018 on the lines of the old timber-framed lanes between the Römer and the cathedral, are open to walk through.

What costs a few euros

  • Domturm tower climb: €3 for adults, €2 reduced, 328 steps and no lift.
  • Palmengarten: €9 for adults, €5 reduced, free under 18.
  • Main Tower: €9 for adults, €6 reduced, and the weather-restricted rate is lower.
  • Senckenberg Natural History Museum: €12 for adults and €6 for ages 6 to 17.
  • Städel Museum: about €17 to €19 for adults, with Tuesday from 15:00 at €10.

The Städel is closed on Mondays. Official details are at staedelmuseum.de and the Domturm is on dom-frankfurt.de .

Passes and transport

For a short stay the pass to look at is the Frankfurt Card. It costs €13 for one day and €21 for two, with group versions at €26 and €39 for up to five people. It covers RMV travel in the city and to the airport. RMV single tickets are €3.80 and a day ticket is €7.75. The Deutschlandticket, at €63 a month, covers local and regional trains but not ICE or IC services.

The airport is a separate fare zone. A single from the city to Frankfurt Airport costs €6.90, and a city ticket is not valid on that trip. Ticket checkers fine travellers without a valid ticket €60 on the spot. Take the S8 or S9 from the Regionalbahnhof beneath Terminal 1, a ride of 11 to 13 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof. Fares and zones are on rmv.de .

Eating and drinking on a budget

Frankfurt’s cider taverns in Alt-Sachsenhausen serve Handkäs mit Musik for €6 to €8. The Kleinmarkthalle sells a Fleischwurst roll for about €3.50, and it is shut on Sundays. Carry €20 to €40 in cash, since many taverns and stalls prefer it.

Choosing a first day

If you have one day and a small budget, walk the Altstadt, climb the Domturm for €3, cross the Eiserner Steg and spend the afternoon at the Städel. Pickpockets operate around the Hauptbahnhof and on crowded trams, so keep your wallet in a front pocket. For tickets and tours with a guide, you can browse Frankfurt activities on GetYourGuide . The attraction tours page lists hours for the main museums, and the day trips page covers Heidelberg and Mainz.

Tip: set the €13 Frankfurt Card against a €7.75 day ticket plus the discounts you will actually use, and buy whichever comes out lower.