Search bus tickets to Frankfurt

Frankfurt is Germany's financial hub, home to the European Central Bank. This riverside city offers a variety of cultural and historical attractions scattered between its financial institutions and shops.

Your first stop should be Old Town, along the river Main. Once the center of the city, the Old Town district is now the site of the Römer, or city hall, along a row of picturesque timber houses. Stop in Kleinmarkthalle, a bustling indoor market, to grab a sausage for a snack before wandering through some of Old Town's museums: Saalgasse, Dommuseum, and Museum für Moderne Kunst (Museum MMK) will get you started. Two of Frankfurt's most prominent churches, St. Bartholomew Cathedral and St. Nicholas Church, are also in the area.

Food is always delightful in Frankfurt. Several Michelin-star restaurants will entice you, including Restaurant Lafleur, Restaurant Gustav, Restaurant Villa Merton, and Carmelo Greco. If you prefer more affordable dining and lively nightlife, head to the Bahnhofsviertel neighborhood near the city's train station.

The train station in Bahnhofsviertel serves national and international rail lines for Deutsche Bahn, DB Intercity, FlixTrain, vlexx, and Railjet. You can also reach Frankfurt easily on bus carriers like FlixBus and Sindbad. Plus, flying in and out of Frankfurt is a breeze, as the airport is one of the largest in Germany and the main hub for the Lufthansa airline.

Frankfurt Central Bus Station, locally known as Busterminal Frankfurt, is the city's main bus terminal and is located directly next to Frankfurt HBF (the central train station). The terminal is a hub for bus services throughout Europe, like Flixbus, Sindbad, BlaBlaCar Bus, and Arda Tur. Nearby you will find a coffee shop, ATMs, toilets, and luggage storage. In the immediate vicinity, there is a Toyoko Inn and Ibis hotel, numerous restaurants, and a five-minute walk from the city center.

Once you’ve arrived in Frankfurt, you have a few different options for getting around the city.

Public Transit

Public transportation in Frankfurt is cheap, easy, and convenient. There are buses, city trains, and a subway system to take you throughout the city.

Single ride tickets cost 2.85€ and are valid throughout the city (with the exception of the airport) on all forms of public transportation. You can purchase tickets from machines at S-Bahn (light rail) and U-Bahn (subway) stations. Tickets may seem optional, as there are no turnstiles or places to scan your ticket, but if you get caught by the controllers (usually in plain clothes and notoriously ruthless), you can expect a hefty 60€ fine for riding without a ticket.

The S-Bahn is Frankfurt’s city train line and runs above ground. The nine S-Bahn lines connect the city center to the outlying suburbs, and some trains even run to other cities surrounding Frankfurt. Look for the green and white “S” symbol for the S-Bahn stations around the city.

The U-Bahn is a combination of underground rail and above-ground trams. The U-Bahn runs more frequently than the S-Bahn and mainly services Frankfurt’s city center. Look for the blue and white “U” symbol for the U-Bahn stations around the city. There are nine combined lines for U-Bahn and tram with nearly 100 stops around the city.

For all the places the trams, trains, and metro can’t reach, there is a large fleet of city buses to get you to your destination. Night buses also run between 1:00 am and 4:00 am when other forms of public transportation have stopped or limited service. Look for the circular symbol with a green “H” at hundreds of bus stops throughout Frankfurt.

Rideshare Apps & Taxis

While they are more expensive than the public transportation options, taxis are readily available in Frankfurt. You can hail a cab, find one at one of the city’s taxi stands, or order a ride in advance. Be sure you know the address of where you are headed, especially if it’s not a major attraction.

Rideshare apps are also available in Frankfurt, with Uber and Free Now being the two most popular options.

Rental Cars

Those who prefer to be in the driver’s seat can always rent a car in Frankfurt. Keep in mind that some streets in the city are very narrow and parking can be difficult to find, so read (or translate) road signs carefully!

Old Town

Although it is often regarded as a modern city thanks to the flashy skyscrapers that line the city center, Frankfurt’s Old Town (or Altstadt) is a must-see while you’re here. Most of the Old Town was completely destroyed during WWII, but the area was restored to its original medieval half-timbered architecture. As you stroll around this beautiful area, be sure to pop into one of the many bars and restaurants that line the streets for an apfelwein and a pretzel!

Main Tower

For some of the best views in the city, head to Main Tower. This 200-meter tall skyscraper is the only one in town with a viewing platform, and from the top, you can see panoramic vistas of the entire city.

Mainkai

The River Main runs through the center of Frankfurt, and its shores are a great place to hang out when the weather cooperates. This idyllic area sits on the outskirts of the city, and the grassy lawns welcome visitors to picnic, drink beer, or simply take in the epic views of the city beyond.

Museum District

Frankfurt is filled with fascinating museums. Whether you’re interested in art, Jewish history, architecture, film, culture, or something else, there’s a gallery for that. Situated along both sides of the Main, the Museum District (Museumsufer) includes 12 different museums on varying subjects—perfect for a rainy day or for learning something new!

Hauptwache

Home to an eclectic mix of buildings both old and new, the Hauptwache area is a great place to experience Frankfurt like a local. In the center of the plaza sits the iconic Hauptwache building, which has been used for everything from a military barracks to a prison. Today it houses a charming cafe, which is the perfect place to camp out and watch the people stroll by on their way to the Zeil, the longest pedestrian shopping street in the city.

There are a few things that international visitors to Germany should keep in mind.

• Currency: Euro (€)

• Tipping: Accepted, but not required. Tip about 10% for good service

• Legal drinking age: 18 years old (or 16 for beer)

Useful German phrases:

• “Hallo” = Hello

• “Bitte” = Please

• “Danke” = Thank you

• “Sprechen sie Englisch?” = Do you speak English?