Where To Stay In Frankfurt: 5 Best Areas & Neighborhoods

Frankfurt is a city of contrasts. Glass skyscrapers rise above old streets, apple wine taverns sit not far from sleek cocktail bars, and the Main cuts right through the middle of it all. It is Germany’s financial powerhouse, but there is much more to the city than suits and office towers. Frankfurt is also surprisingly compact, so most neighborhoods are only a short tram, U-Bahn or walk from the center.

The trick is picking the area that fits your trip. The Altstadt is handy for first-time visitors and sightseeing. Sachsenhausen brings old taverns, museums and plenty of evening action. Westend is leafy and polished, while Bornheim feels more local, with cafés, markets and independent shops. Then there is the Bahnhofsviertel, right by the main station, where things get grittier and livelier.

One thing worth knowing before booking: Frankfurt is a major trade-fair city. During big events, hotel prices can jump sharply and popular areas fill up fast. So if your dates are flexible, check the Messe calendar first. It can make a surprisingly big difference.

Now, let’s dive into Frankfurt’s best areas for your stay.

In this travel guide:

Zentrum-Altstadt

Best area for: history, central stay, sightseeing

If you have never been to Frankfurt previously, then consider staying in Zentrum-Alstadt on your first-ever trip. The neighborhood is excellent for travelers new to the city.

Zentrum-Altstadt is the part of Frankfurt where the city’s long history is impossible to miss. You can walk from the Römer to the Kaiserdom in just a few minutes, passing narrow streets, little squares and the colourful houses of the Neue Altstadt. It feels surprisingly compact.

The history here is pretty remarkable. Frankfurt’s medieval old town was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. Much of what we see today has been reconstructed, including 35 buildings in the Neue Altstadt. The reconstruction was completed in 2018. Some houses are faithful copies, while others are modern buildings designed to fit in.

The Römerberg is the obvious starting point. The Römer itself has been Frankfurt’s city hall for more than 600 years. The nearby Kaiserdom is another highlight. Its 95-metre tower dominates the skyline, and ten Holy Roman Emperors were crowned here between 1562 and 1792.

This is primarily a tourist and city-center area, but people actually live here too. The Neue Altstadt has apartments, cafés, shops and restaurants, so it does not feel like a historical theme park.

For a casual bite, we would head to Kleinmarkthalle. It is an indoor market packed with food stalls and local produce. It is an easy place to grab lunch, browse the counters and watch Frankfurt doing its everyday thing.

Best place to stay in Zentrum-Altstadt

Jumeirah Hotel. Address: Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz 2, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Cheaper alternative:

Motel One Frankfurt-Römer. Address: Berliner Strasse 55, Frankfurt City Center (Old Town), 60311 Frankfurt, Germany.

Sachsenhausen

Best area for: culture, tourists, nightlife

Sachsenhausen is the historic neighborhood sitting just across the Main River from Frankfurt’s modern skyscrapers. It actually dates back to the Middle Ages as a quiet fishing village.

Frankfurt was bombed heavily during the World War. Therefore, a lot of the buildings in the city were constructed post-war and are very modern. A limited number of buildings exhibit pre-WWII architecture and most of those can be found in Sachsenhausen.

These days, it spans two distinct personalities. Alt-Sachsenhausen brings in crowds of tourists, while the surrounding streets feel completely local, cozy, and residential.

The biggest draws line the riverbank along the Museumsufer. It is a world-class cluster of art, history, and film museums. But the real soul of the area lives in the traditional taverns. People gather here for Ebbelwoi, the local tart apple wine served out of classic stoneware jugs called Bembel.

The cobblestone streets give the neighborhood a charming, old-world vibe you do not get in the financial center across the water.

Sachsenhausen has an unforgettable atmosphere thanks to its vibrant bar scene. You will find comfortable pubs lining the narrow streets of Grosse- and Kleine-Rittergasse, Paradiesgasse and Klappergasse.

The area has become known for creative types, young people, and individuals seeking bohemian energy. Some of Frankfurt’s best nightlife is located in Sachsenhausen, so if going out after dark is atop your list of things to do, book accommodation in Sachsenhausen.

We usually drop into Atschel when we want an authentic dinner. They have been serving hearty German classics like green sauce with boiled eggs and fresh pork schnitzel since 1849. The long shared wooden tables make it easy to talk with locals and travelers alike.

After dinner, we grab a table outside on the cobblestones. You get a perfect mix of centuries-old tradition and laid-back neighborhood energy right next to the city center.

Best place to stay in Sachsenhausen

Hotel Am Berg. Address: Grethenweg 23, 60598 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Bahnhofsviertel

Best area for: budget-friendly, nightlife, food

Bahnhofsviertel is the neighborhood to book accommodation in if you are on a budget. Backpackers or couples seeking to save money for nights out can find budget-friendly hotels, hostels, and Airbnb properties in the area.

Bahnhofsviertel is one of those Frankfurt neighborhoods that doesn’t try to look polished. And that’s exactly what makes it interesting. We’re just a few minutes from the Hauptbahnhof, but the atmosphere changes quickly. The streets are busy, multicultural and sometimes a little rough around the edges.

The area has quite a story. In the late 19th century, Bahnhofsviertel was planned as an impressive new district, with wide boulevards and grand Gründerzeit buildings. Kaiserstraße was one of the showpieces. After the Second World War, things changed. The area became known for its red-light scene and, later, its open drug scene. Some of that reputation still sticks today, although the neighborhood has changed considerably.

Nowadays, we find a curious mix of residents, office workers, travellers, hotels, bars and small businesses. It’s not really a sightseeing district, but there are plenty of reasons to explore it. Look up at the old façades around Kaiserstraße and Münchener Straße. You’ll also spot some serious skyscrapers towering above the neighborhood.

Food is probably our favorite reason to spend time here. Turkish, Indian, Lebanese, Vietnamese and Italian restaurants sit almost door to door. For coffee, we’d stop at WHY! Specialty Coffee on Kaiserstraße. For dinner, Du Liban-Libanon Restaurant is a good option.

Bahnhofsviertel isn’t spotless or predictable. That’s part of its character. It feels more like a real slice of Frankfurt than a carefully packaged tourist district.

Best place to stay in Bahnhofsviertel

Hotel Nizza. Address: Elbestraße 10, 60329 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Bornheim

Best area for: families, life like a local, shopping

Bornheim is often called “Das Bernemer Dorf” by locals. It used to be a distinct medieval village outside Frankfurt’s city walls. You still feel that old-world charm in Alt-Bornheim, where half-timbered houses line cobblestone lanes.

It operates as a vibrant residential neighborhood with a huge social heart. Tourists swing through, but the real soul belongs to the families, students, and lifelong residents who live here. The main artery is Berger Straße. It cuts right through the district, packed with indie boutiques, bustling ice cream parlors, and traditional apple wine taverns.

The main draw is simply the street life. We hit the Wednesday and Saturday farmer’s markets at Bornheim Mitte to grab fresh bread, regional cheeses, and crisp glasses of local Ebbelwoi. On sunny afternoons, Bethmann Park on the edge of the quarter gives us a tranquil spot to relax inside its walled Chinese Garden.

For lunch or coffee break, we always pop into Picknick Cafe just off the main drag. They serve fantastic flat whites alongside incredible Mediterranean breakfast plates, fresh falafel, and loaded hummus bowls. It is the perfect cozy pitstop after exploring the neighborhood.

Best place to stay in Bornheim

Best Western Premier IB Hotel Friedberger Warte. Address: Homburger Landstr. 4, Bornheim, 60389 Frankfurt, Germany.

Westend

Best area for: upscale, parks

Westend is one of those Frankfurt neighborhoods where the city feels a little more polished. It is mostly residential, but you are never far from the action. We get a mix of grand old villas, leafy streets, office towers and some seriously expensive-looking apartment buildings. It feels affluent, but not particularly touristy.

The area started changing in the 19th century, when Frankfurt’s old city walls were demolished and wealthy residents moved west. Large villas and garden houses appeared along streets such as Bockenheimer Landstraße. Many of those older buildings are still here. The contrast with the skyscrapers that arrived later is pretty striking.

Our favorite reason to come here is the Palmengarten. This huge botanical garden opened in 1871 and now has more than 13,000 tropical and subtropical plant species. It is a great escape when you need a break from Frankfurt’s concrete and traffic.

The Senckenberg Natural History Museum is another big draw, especially if you are travelling with kids. The dinosaur skeletons are hard to miss. From here, it is also an easy walk to the Alte Oper and the city center.

For breakfast or coffee, check out Café Laumer on Bockenheimer Landstraße. It has been a Westend institution since 1919. For something quicker, Sunny Side Up Westend is another good option.

Westend works particularly well if you want a quieter base without feeling disconnected from central Frankfurt. Think leafy residential streets in the morning, busy offices during the day and plenty of restaurants when the working crowd disappears.

Best place to stay in Westend

25Hours Hotel Levi’s. Address: Niddastraße 58, 60329 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Where travel critics stay in Frankfurt

Want to know where travel critics from publishers like The New York Times, Frommer’s, Fodor’s and Lonely Planet stay in Frankfurt? Check out our overview of all recommended hotels, hostels and B&Bs in Frankfurt.

Budget

Hotel Robert Mayer.

“Located in Frankfurt’s Bockenheim district, the Robert Mayer blends Bohemian vibes and modern technology in a small, comfortable hotel that’s Frankfurt’s best value. Local artists were commissioned to design each of the 12 guest rooms inside this early 20th-century townhouse.” — CNN.

Address: Robert-Mayer-Straße 44, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Mid-range

Hotel Gerbermühle.

“Among Hotel Gerbermühle’s selling points is its fine dining restaurant (mains from €19.50) that combines local food (beef tartare, wiener schnitzel with cranberries) with international classics (chicken in calvados sauce). It is on the river and has great views of the city skyline.” — The Guardian.

Address: Gerbermühlstraße 105, 60594 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Luxury

Jumeirah Hotel.

“With its glass tower and shiny saddleback roof, the 28-story Jumeirah holds its own among the architectural icons of downtown. Overlooking the Zeil pedestrian precinct and a seven-minute walk from Goethstrasse, the Jumeirah boasts a best of Frankfurt location for a shopping expedition.” — CNN.

Address: Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz 2, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

FAQ: Frankfurt hotel tips

Looking for the best budget, boutique, or luxury hotel in Frankfurt? Or maybe you’re a backpacker looking for an excellent hostel? Want to know which Frankfurt hotel serves a great breakfast? Here are the answers to all those and other questions about where to stay in Frankfurt.

Best time to visit Frankfurt

If you’re a fan of warm weather and vibrant outdoor events, then the summer months, from June to August, are the perfect time to explore Frankfurt.

With temperatures ranging from 20-28°C (68-82°F), you’ll be able to enjoy countless outdoor activities, like strolling along the picturesque Main River, visiting the beautiful Palmengarten botanical garden, or attending one of the many lively festivals, such as the beloved Museum Embankment Festival.

However, if you’re more interested in avoiding the crowds and experiencing Frankfurt’s cultural side, then spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are ideal times to visit.

Not only will you be able to enjoy the stunning natural beauty of Frankfurt as the seasons change, but you’ll also have the chance to attend a variety of fascinating events, like the Luminale light festival in spring or the renowned Frankfurt Book Fair in autumn.

For those who love the magic of winter, visiting Frankfurt during the festive season (late November to December) is an absolute must. The city is transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, charming Christmas markets, and, of course, the iconic ice-skating rink at the Eisporthalle.

Just imagine sipping on a warm mug of Glühwein as you wander through the enchanting market stalls, searching for the perfect souvenir to remind you of your unforgettable journey.

Best things to do in Frankfurt

There are plenty of things to do in Frankfurt and the surrounding areas, including day trips, attractions, museums, sightseeing tours and many other activities. Here’s our list of 3 things you should definitely do when you’re in and around Frankfurt:

Frankfurt Sightseeing Cruise: 1 or 2 Hours

Cruise the River Main in Frankfurt for spectacular views of the city’s skyline. Available as a 1-hour or 2-hour tour, see sights such as the pubs of Sachsenhausen and European Central Bank. Jump off at Gerbermühle and learn about the poet Goethe. Price: $13. More info.

Frankfurt: 3-Hour Bike Tour

Explore Frankfurt by bicycle on this exciting 3-hour bike tour. Visit the famous sights and get exclusive insider tips on the city. Learn more about the cider taverns and discover the trendy district of Sachsenhausen. Price: $28. More info.

Heidelberg Half-Day Trip from Frankfurt

Escape the bustle of Frankfurt on a half-day tour of beautiful, riverside Heidelberg. Make the short trip south by coach, then spend hours exploring the medieval town with your savvy guide. Price: $95. More info.

More things to do in Frankfurt

Deciding where to stay in Frankfurt

As a closing note, let’s summarize this travel guide. We covered the best areas of Frankfurt so you can decide which part of town you want to stay in.

Top 5 areas to stay in Frankfurt

• Westend
• Bornheim
• Bahnhofsviertel
• Sachsenhausen
• Zentrum-Aldstadt

As you have seen in this article, there are a lot of things to explore, and deciding where to stay in Frankfurt is important. Whether you stay in Westend, Bornheim, Bahnhofsviertel, Sachsenhausen or Zentrum-Aldstadt, all those neighborhoods are in good locations.

The atmosphere of the area, whether you travel for leisure or business, whether you travel with your family or friends, and proximity to the attractions you prefer to visit should probably be the deciding factors. Whatever your preference is, you’ll have a great time in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt overview

More Frankfurt tips

See our other guides about the best places to stay in Frankfurt:

Hotels in Frankfurt

Hostels in Frankfurt

Boutique hotels in Frankfurt

Luxury hotels in Frankfurt

Cheap hotels in Frankfurt