With nearly 750,000 residents, Frankfurt is Germany’s fifth-largest city.
It’s also the most populous city in the state of Hesse, and one of the continent’s most active financial trading centers.
Frankfurt’s ideal location on the River Main has made it a commercial center for centuries. It’s awash in natural, historical, and cultural attractions that make it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
The city sports trendy art and food scenes and a variety of guided tours are available to suit most budgets and interests.
Below are 15 of the best tours of Frankfurt.
1. Welcome to Frankfurt Private Tour with a Local
Source: f11photo / shutterstockWant to help reduce greenhouse gases and ease urban congestion?
If so, then forgo the typical bus and van tours and set out with a local guide to explore the wonders of Frankfurt using nothing more than muscle power.
These private tours can be customized based on available time as well as the interests of the group, and generally range from two to six hours.
Tours begin with getting to know your guide and familiarizing yourself with the neighborhood in which you’re staying.
Aspects of history, culture, food, and nightlife may be included, but food, drinks, and site entrance fees are extra.
2. Unique E-Bikes Tours
Source: www.getyourguide.comIn keeping with the increasingly popular eco-friendly theme, these e-bike tours are great ways to see things from a unique perspective without contributing to the demise of the planet.
E-bike tours come in three options that include a Frankfurt City Tour, the Green Belt Cycling Road, and a Cider and Orchard Tour.
City Tours focus on history, art, and architecture and are particularly popular with those who prefer bustling urban settings.
The second and third options explore regional parks and green spaces, as well as the large tracts of orchards that have been growing apples and making cider for centuries.
3. Food Hopping Tour of Soul Food and Cult Drinks
Source: www.getyourguide.comGenerally speaking, Soul Food is more associated with American cities like Atlanta, Memphis, and New Orleans than with German ones like Frankfurt.
That being said, Frankfurt is often referred to as the Hessian Manhattan, and its food scene features a number of international influences.
This four ½-hour food, drink, and culture tour focuses on traditional pubs, trendy eateries, hip hangouts, and other places of interest that are a bit off the beaten path.
That means more intimate and memorable experiences for travelers who’d rather rub elbows with locals and live like a Frankfurter than cram themselves into a hot tour bus and view things from a distance.
4. Frankfurt Scary Tour
Source: Travelerpix / shutterstockApparently, Frankfurt is one of Europe’s creepiest and most ghost-ridden cities, because a number of fear-based tours are available to visitors who prefer to explore the dark side.
Tours begin when participants meet their guide in a central Old Town location.
Scary tours are conducted on foot, last about 75 minutes, and hit some of the city center’s most historically significant sites.
Nearly all of them have elements of the macabre in their pasts, and there’s no better way to learn about them than with a knowledgeable local.
Though tours are spooky, they’re generally appropriate for all but the very young and shamelessly weak-kneed.
5. 1 or 2-Hour Frankfurt Sightseeing Cruise
Source: Augustin Lazaroiu / shutterstockRiver cruises are especially popular options for those interested in seeing many of Frankfurt’s most impressive and iconic attractions from a different perspective.
Tours leave from the Eiserner Steg boat launch multiple times daily, come in 50 and 100-minute options, and depart heading both up and downstream.
The aforementioned options make it possible to see the city from multiple vantage points, which is a great fit for photographers.
Tours offer unobstructed views of the city’s skyline and financial center, as well as other attractions like the Sachsenhausen museum district and the monument built in honor of the German poet Goethe.
6. Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen
Source: Werner Lerooy / shutterstockIf trendy clubs, VIP wristbands, and free shots sound like great additions to a night on the town, then this pub crawl tour through Alt-Sachsenhausen was made just for you.
The tour is only offered on Friday and Saturday nights when things are in full swing and includes stops at four or five pubs and clubs in the city’s most vibrant party area.
Guests will spend about an hour at each location, and a number of free drinks and shots are included throughout the night.
Stops range from wine bars and Irish pubs to chic cocktail lounges and thumping nightclubs.
7. Wertheim Village Shopping Package from Frankfurt
Source: Gleich Paul / shutterstockFor those in need of a little retail therapy, there’s no better destination in the Frankfurt metropolitan area than Wertheim Village.
It’s an outlet village that features exclusive international brands like Hugo Boss, Versace, Coach, and Calvin Klein products and apparel at significantly reduced prices.
Participants get a VIP Card worth 50 Euros at the time of booking. Since it’s just an hour from Frankfurt, most of the tour’s six hours are spent taking advantage of the smoking deals.
Transportation to and from the village is provided on a dedicated Shopping Express bus, and meal vouchers are part of the package as well.
8. 2 ½-Hour Food Hopping Taste and Tales Tour
Source: ilolab / shutterstockDespite its relatively short length, this 2 ½-hour tour packs a big punch.
It combines elements of food, history, culture, and local lore into one convenient package that’s perfect for those who’d rather not skimp on the vacation experience just because they’re working with limited time.
After meeting their guide, tour guests will head into the city’s gastronomic Old Town Quarter to explore markets, restaurants, food stalls, and other obscure culinary gems.
Tours include an English-speaking guide, six tastings, and lots of interesting narration along the way.
Guests typically discover places they’d like to explore later on their own, so don’t be shy about asking your guide for suggestions.
9. Frankfurt Flight Simulator
Source: www.getyourguide.comImagine landing an Airbus A320 full of antsy travelers at a distant airport at night in the rain.
Or piloting a supersonic F-16 fighter jet on a bombing mission over enemy territory.
Sounds pretty unlikely for the uninitiated, but those who choose to spend time strapped into Frankfurt’s premier flight-simulator attraction can live those scenarios and many more.
Before hitting the skies, guests will get a briefing from an experienced airline pilot who will give them the basics of flight.
Featuring hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of airports to choose from, it’s a truly exhilarating experience, and you won’t have to worry about anti-aircraft fire or jetlag.
10. Old Town Guided Walk
Source: Pigprox / shutterstockFrankfurt’s Old Town is one of the city’s most visited neighborhoods. It is full of an impressive variety of historic attractions and magnificent modern buildings that seamlessly blend elements of the old and new worlds.
At one ½-hours, these guided walking tours are perfect for those of most levels of physical fitness. They visit several key attractions like the Emperor’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Church, and the museum district on the shores of the Rhine River.
Along with their guide, tour guests will explore some of the city’s most quaint neighborhoods characterized by narrow lanes, centuries-old buildings, markets, and family restaurants.
11. Day Trip to Eltz Castle
Source: haveseen / shutterstockThe combined population of Frankfurt proper and the surrounding towns and suburbs contain more than two million residents.
That means lots of urban hustle and bustle, which for many visitors, can get to be a bit much after a few days.
Thankfully, there are a variety of day-trip options that begin and end in Frankfurt while allowing guests to spend ample time in the country.
Eltz Castle is a wonderfully preserved attraction that’s still much the way it was over eight centuries ago.
Tours include unrestricted castle access and the chance to appreciate its opulent appointments while learning about those who lived there in eras long past.
12. 1 or 2-Hour Hotrod Sightseeing Tour
Source: www.getyourguide.comSit down. Strap yourself in. Start your engine.
Well, first you’ll need to meet your guide, learn the basics of German road laws, and get an overview of how to use your hotrod safely.
For car aficionados with an hour or two to spare looking for a memorable experience, this tour is just the ticket.
Following their guide’s lead, guests will pilot their machines to city hotspots like the Port of Frankfurt, the museum district, and over the Friedensbrücke Bridge taking in the city’s iconic skyline.
Bring your camera, a scarf, and a pair of those cool antique racing goggles if you have them.
13. Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour
Source: C. Nass / shutterstockFor those who prefer seeing things their own way, hop-on-hop-off tours are great value.
Not only does this Frankfurt tour include stops at some of the city’s most notable attractions like Goethe’s home, the historic City Hall, and the Church of St. Paul, but it allows eager sightseers to experience the things that interest them and skip those that don’t.
The city’s famed Zeil shopping district and the European Central Bank tend to be perennial favorites, but they’re just a few of many included.
Depending on which ones guests decide to explore, tours can range from just a few hours to nearly nine.
14. Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle and Rothenburg
Source: S-F / shutterstockGermany is brimming with castles and fascinating history dating back countless centuries.
This guided tour begins and ends in Frankfurt and includes excursions to Neuschwanstein Castle nestled amid the foothills of the majestic German Alps.
For lovers of impressive architecture, old-world craftsmanship, and intriguing history, it’s truly in a league of its own.
From there, guests will head to Rothenburg, one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in all of Germany.
Tours include roundtrip transportation to and from central Frankfurt, a boxed lunch, and admission fees to all attractions.
At more than 12 hours, it’s a long day, but well worth it for those with plenty of stamina.
15. Half-Day Tour of the Rhine Valley from Frankfurt
Source: saiko3p / shutterstockThe middle and upper Rhine Valleys are among the most scenic destinations within day-trip distance of Frankfurt.
This six-hour, value-packed tour includes an English speaking guide and a river cruise, as well as amazing views of medieval castles, idyllic wineries, and quaint villages that look like they’ve been forgotten by time.
Guests will enjoy sightseeing by bus, time to explore on foot, a wine tasting at an old tavern, and a romantic dinner at an acclaimed restaurant overlooking the river.
Consider reserving your space well in advance of your trip, because spots tend to fill up quickly during the peak tourist season.