As one of the major transport hubs of Europe, there’s a good chance you’ll wonder where to stay in Frankfurt at some point during your European travels. Thanks to its location in the heart of the country, Frankfurt am Main is the perfect springboard for exploring Germany and the rest of Central Europe.
Sorting through the best hotels in Frankfurt can sometimes be a challenge. On top of being home to some of the priciest holiday accommodations in Germany, the best areas to stay in Frankfurt are spread throughout the city centre. Each neighbourhood offers a unique feel and distinct perspective on the city.
Not sure how to get started? Choose the perfect Frankfurt accommodations with this complete guide to the best places to stay in Frankfurt am Main including the top hotels, areas, neighbourhoods & districts…
Recommended places to stay in Frankfurt
The locals call Frankfurt Mainhattan as it is located on the banks of the River Main, a tributary of the Rhine. Frankfurt was almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War only to resurrect as one of the most modern cities in Germany with a skyline that gleams with modern skyscrapers.
This modern city looks very American, but beneath it all lies a very German character. It’s a place where beer gardens & street markets share space with modern boutiques and restaurants. Frankfurt also has a large number of museums that feature art, history and science with twenty museums jammed into a single district.
Frequently ranked as one of the world’s top ten most comfortable cities to live in, Frankfurt am Main also boasts beautiful botanical gardens and Europe’s largest inner city forest.
To help you plan out your journey, we’ve unravelled a few of the best places to stay in Frankfurt for travellers.
The best areas to stay in Frankfurt include:
- Innenstadt: The top choice for where to stay in Frankfurt for business travellers and anyone willing to spend a little more for their accommodations to stay in a central area.
- Zentrum-Altstadt: The best area to stay in Frankfurt for travellers interested in traditional sightseeing and history.
- Sachsenhausen: The recommended neighbourhood for visitors looking to experience traditional German nightlife and for escaping the urban bustle and business-first vibe of central Frankfurt.
- Bankenviertel: The top-rated district to stay in Frankfurt for history-buffs thanks to its large concentration of museums. This quarter also offers the widest selection of accommodations in Frankfurt.
In our guide, we’ve chosen to stick to the most centrally located neighbourhoods. Each of these areas teem with some of the top things to do in Frankfurt and feature a ton of restaurants, bars, shops and boutiques within an easy walking distance.
No matter where you choose to stay, however, Frankfurt has excellent transport infrastructure and getting to almost any corner of the city is simple.
Innenstadt
✓ Best area to stay in Frankfurt for business & luxury travellers
If you’re looking for a luxury holiday or if you’re simply in Frankfurt on business, Innenstadt is bang in the central business district. Close to the historic centre where you can find restaurants boutiques and cafes, almost everything is within walking distance in Innenstadt.
The Frankfurt city centre features lovely tree-lined squares and the most famous street in Frankfurt, the Zeil, a pedestrian shopping area with something for everyone.
This Innenstadt district is also home to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the Old Opera House. Get a panoramic view of the city skyline from the observation deck on the Main Tower. Up here, 650 feet above the city streets, you can enjoy international cuisine and exotic cocktails in the restaurant which has floor-to-ceiling windows.
Or fans of classic German literature can visit the home of the city’s most famous citizen, Goethe. The home was destroyed in World War II but has been lovingly restored with all the original furniture, books, and artwork.
Attractions in & around Innenstadt: The Goethe Museum, Zeil Shopping Mall, the Old Opera House, Main Tower
Recommended hotels in Innenstadt
Innenstadt boasts some of the most luxurious hotels in Frankfurt. If you’re used to living in the lap of luxury, this is the top choice for where to stay in Frankfurt. Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary, there is a hotel in Innenstadt to meet your preference here.
- Holiday Inn Alte Oper: Eight minutes from the train station, the Holiday Inn Alte Oper is centrally located. It has underground parking, a shop and a gym. There are also a couple of on-site restaurants, or you can make use of the pillow menus.
- Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof: This mid-priced Frankfurt hotel has a history that goes back to 1876, and yet along with the tradition, it has all the modern conveniences that a traveller needs. The facilities include a gym, a spa and a fine-dining restaurant.
- Jumeirah Frankfurt: Overlooking the Zeil shopping area and within walking distance of the financial district of Frankfurt and the stations, this 28-floor architectural icon has large modern rooms, several restaurants and bars, and all the mod cons that you would expect in a top-notch luxury hotel. It also features stunning views of the city.
- Roomers: This luxury hotel in the middle of Frankfurt has modern and extravagant finishes. It boasts an award-winning bar, and fine-dining restaurant. End the day in the spa that overlooks the Frankfurt skyline. Take to the spa tub, work out in the modern gym or order a massage for the ultimate in relaxation.
Zentrum-Altstadt
✓ Top-rated area to stay in Frankfurt for a touch of nostalgia and sightseeing
Although largely destroyed in the WWII there are medieval buildings to be found all over this small district within the Innenstadt called Altstadt (Old Town). Some of the destroyed buildings have been reconstructed using ancient floor plans.
Built around the Römer Platz, quaint pavement shops, serving beer and coffee line the squares.
In this neighbourhood you will find the beautiful old opera house (Alte Oper) known for its sublime musical offerings. Also in the district, the Rathaus dates back to 1405 and is flanked by beautiful timber homes.
The Römerberg is one of Frankfurt’s prettiest public squares and among the best places to wander on your first-time Frankfurt itinerary. It is the only part of Frankfurt (so far) to have been rebuilt to look like the city of old.
Well serviced by the metro rail, Altstadt is one of the easiest to reach districts in Frankfurt.
If you’re into history, visit the 14th century Historical Museum built in 1878. It contains historical collections that go back to medieval times.
Attractions in & around Zentrum-Altstadt: Romerberg, Alte Oper, The Rathaus, Historical Museum
Recommended hotels in Zentrum-Altstadt
The Zentrum-Altstadt is a relatively small region covering an area of just over half a kilometre. It has a fair range of hotels and is next to the city centre of Frankfurt; if you can’t find the accommodation that you want here, you could book a hotel in the Innenstadt instead.
- Hotel Miramar Golden Mile: Centrally situated within walking distance of the Zeil shopping area and the central station, this affordable Frankfurt hotel has been accommodating travellers since 1960. Start each day with a complimentary breakfast before you head out to the many shops and restaurants in the area.
- NH Collection Frankfurt City: The NH Collection is a modern light and airy hotel with large windows and minimalistic Nordic-inspired decor. The hotel is well-staffed and offers excellent service. To keep fit, use the small gym or luxuriate in the spa bath or sauna. The hotel has an international restaurant with a wide range of dishes.
- Sofitel Frankfurt Opera: Described as a “City Palace” this luxury hotel is styled along French aristocratic lines. Right next to the Oper Alte, this top choice for where to stay in Frankfurt is ideally placed for those who love music and culture. It is also within walking distance of the Goethestraße, where you’ll find many of Frankfurt’s top boutiques.
Sachsenhausen
✓ Best neighbourhood to stay in Frankfurt for a great German party and boutique shopping
The iconic Eiserner Steg, a footbridge over the Main River, is known for its great for city views and the padlocks that have been placed upon it by lovers.
The footbridge leads to cobbled streets of Sachsenhausen, the area famous for apple wine, or Apfelwein, its signature drink.
This neighbourhood is home to one of the oldest and best apple cider taverns in Germany. Take a tram ride through the cobbled streets of the district, sipping cider to the strains of schlager music.
Visit the main shopping area, Schweizer Strasse, for boutiques. It’s a lovely place, filled with party goers. It has a truly old German feel.
Sachsenhausen also borders the biggest city forest in Europe. Nature trails and sports paths meander through the 48 square kilometres of forest which is sprinkled with rest huts, playgrounds and sparkling ponds.
Attractions in & around Sachsenhausen: Museumufer, Rittergasse, Schweizer Strasse, Frankfurter Stadtwald.
Recommended hotels in Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen has a wide range of accommodation available from four-bedroomed temporary apartments to luxury living in a traditional hotel and a hotel that pampers vegetarian guests with the best in organic food. If you’re looking for accommodation that’s a little different from most of the other best places to stay in Frankfurt you’ll find it in this area.
- Living Hotel Frankfurt by Derag: Offering rooms as well as serviced apartments. This modern hotel has a bar and free telephone service. Covered parking is available at a price. The hotel offers great value for money for those travelling on a budget.
- Lindner Hotel and Residence Main Plaza: This hotel on the banks of the River Main offers residents one to four room apartments each with a kitchen for self-catering. For those who don’t want to cook, there are two restaurants in house. The hotel also has a gym and spa.
- Libertine Lindenberg: Specializing in vegetarian and organic foods this unusual hotel has its own organic shop and a sound studio which sometimes hosts concerts. The hotel has a gym and free bicycles for guests who want to see the area on two wheels.
- Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy: This luxury hotel was built in 1901 and boasts a lovely inner-city garden where drinks and meals are served outside in the summer months. Close to the Main River and the museum district, this hotel offers fine dining, a large spa and a swimming pool
Bankenviertel
✓ Best place to stay in Frankfurt for art & culture lovers
Bankenviertel is the central business district and is home to ten of the tallest skyscrapers in Germany. The area incorporates Bahnhofsviertel, translated as the train station district, which is well-known for its nightlife and the red light district.
Bahnhofsviertel also has the highest concentration of hotels in Frankfurt.
A word of warning: Not everyone will enjoy this quarter of Frankfurt as it is dotted with casinos, bars and brothels. If you take to the streets at night you should do so with caution.
Bankenviertel has a remarkably complete neighbourhood of museums that line both sides of the River Main.
The Museum of World Cultures has 65,000 relics originating from five continents. The Museum of Ancient Sculptures features Asian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman sculptures. Film, art architecture and applied art museums draw visitors to Frankfurt around the year.
On a Saturday the area comes alive with the biggest flea market in Frankfurt.
Attractions in & around Bankenviertel: The Museum of World Cultures, The Museum of Ancient Sculptures, Palmenhof Gardens
Recommended hotels in Bankenviertel
With so many hotels to choose from you can find a place to stay that fits into your travel budget in Bankenviertel. In this neighbourhood, the top places to stay range from budget to some of the top luxury hotels in Frankfurt. Many offer additional features at no extra charge.
- Innside by Melia Frankfurt Ostend: The Innside is three kilometers from the City, but it is close to the station so if you can catch a train to almost any part of Frankfurt. The rooms are comfortable and decorated in modern monochromes. They are equipped with free minibars. The Innside serves meals on its lovely outdoor terrace.
- Hotel Palmenhof: Opposite the beautiful Palmenhof Gardens in the Westend of Frankfurt, this mid-range hotel is elegantly decorated with marble and chandeliers. It has a bar and serves a great breakfast daily.
- Hotel Villa Florentina: This Italian-themed hotel is close to the station and the Old Town. The rooms are balconied and the parking is free of charge. The hotel has a bar and outdoor terrace. It accepts pets for a price.
- InterContinental Frankfurt: Right next to the River Main, this luxury hotel is centrally located and is one of the top hotels in Frankfurt. It boasts an elegant bar a fine dining restaurant, serving international cuisine, and an all-day fitness club.
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