2 days · Families
Frankfurt with Kids
Frankfurt is a better family city than its reputation suggests. The zoo is one of the oldest in Germany, the Senckenberg natural history museum has the dinosaur skeletons that make the whole trip worth it for a seven-year-old, and the Palmengarten can absorb an entire afternoon. Nothing here is far from anything else, which matters more than it sounds when you are traveling with small legs.
Best time to go: Year-round
Day 1 - Zoo, Senckenberg and the riverbank
Two classics in one day, with a break by the Main in between.
- Morning 9:30am - 12:30pm
Frankfurt Zoo
One of the oldest zoos in Germany, in the Ostend, with big cats, great apes and the Grzimek House for nocturnal animals. Central enough that you are not losing an hour getting there.
Ostend neighborhood guide → - Lunch 1pm - 2:30pm
Family lunch
The café at the Bornheimer Ratskeller is relaxed, has a play corner and keeps a straightforward menu, which is the whole list of requirements at this point in the day.
- Afternoon 3pm - 5:30pm
Senckenberg Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, mounted whales and mammoths in one of the largest natural history museums in Europe. This is the one children talk about afterward.
Westend neighborhood guide →
Day 2 - Palmengarten and the Iron Footbridge
Green and water today. Pack a picnic.
- Morning 10am - 1pm
Palmengarten
Tropical greenhouses, a playground and a small circuit railway for the youngest visitors, plus water features in summer. Easily a full morning.
Westend neighborhood guide → - Lunch 1:30pm - 3pm
Brunch at Maingold
On the Berger Straße in Bornheim, with a family-friendly menu and both sweet and savory options, which usually settles the argument.
- Afternoon 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Walk the Main riverbank
From the Eiserner Steg toward the Holbeinsteg. Ice cream, love locks on the bridge railings and boats to wave at. A low-effort finish to a full weekend.
Altstadt neighborhood guide →
Book a base for this route
Frankfurt is compact, so the neighborhood you pick decides how much of this itinerary you can walk. The Old Town keeps you closest to the landmarks, Sachsenhausen puts you next to the museums and the cider taverns.
Other itineraries
1 day
One Day in Frankfurt
A single day, done properly: the Römerberg, the Imperial Cathedral, the Main Tower, a walk across the Iron Footbridge and apple wine to finish.
4 to 8 hours
Frankfurt Layover: What You Can Actually See
Stuck at FRA for 4 to 8 hours? What is realistic in the terminal, and what is realistic in the city, without missing your connection.
3 days
3 Days in Frankfurt
The complete first visit: the Old Town around the Römer, the banking skyline, the Museum Embankment, the Palmengarten and apple wine in Sachsenhausen.
1 day
Frankfurt in the Rain
A full day indoors: breakfast in a Baroque guardhouse, the Städel, the Goethe House and dinner in an open kitchen.