Discover Frankfurt am Main

Last Updated: September 24th 2025.

Every year in October, Messe Frankfurt, the third largest fair and exhibition center in the world, is dubbed Frankfurter Buchmesse for five days. Frankfurter Buchmesse is the world’s most important fair for the print and digital content business – and a famous social and cultural event. As a ‘plus-one’, I attended the Buchmesse twice, in 2013 and 2014. It’s a great opportunity to discover Frankfurt am Main and for a mini-holiday in Germany! This year, in 2025, the Frankfurter Buchmesse is happening from 15 till 19 October.

Intercity-Express (ICE) International

Traveling to Frankfurt by high-speed train is by far the most convenient way, since the Messe is located near the main train center (Hauptbahnhof). Subsequently, it’s a 10 minutes walk, or you can take the S-Bahn (commuter train), U-Bahn (metro) or tram. If you buy your train-ticket a few months in advance, it’s cheaper than flying. And in addition it’s a greener choice.

Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg

The employer of my friend made arrangements for all attendees at Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg, a traditional first-class hotel located in Bad Homburg. Bad Homburg is famous for it’s spa gardens and has an excellent transport connection to Frankfurt. I’m planning to take Yuri to this hotel someday. Yuri will appreciate the luxury – similar to DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Luxembourg.

Apfelweingaststätte Atschel

Frankfurt is famous for it’s cider (Apfelwein). On both visits to the Buchmesse, I visited Apfelweingaststätte Atschel for lunch. Atschel is one of the oldest and most beloved cider restaurants in Frankfurt. It has a new name since a couple of years, Apfelweingaststätte Klaane Sachsehäuser. Especially enjoyed their cider (Apfelwein) and pumpkin soup (Kürbissuppe).

Zum Wasserweibchen

Zum Wasserweibchen in Bad Homburg is one of the most memorable restaurants I ever visited. Located in a small street, without any signs to guide you there (except for their name on the facade), it’s a hidden gem. Both my dinners at Zum Wasserweibchen were with a group. The food was good, the ambiance legendary. Every group gets their own small living room, lavishly decorated to give an old-fashioned ‘vibe’. The crew makes sure the guests are well-catered and glasses stay filled.

Sightseeing Cruise

A fun way to quickly discover the most important highlights of Frankfurt is taking a sightseeing cruise along the river Main. Primus-Linie offers two: upstream (aufwärts) in the direction of Gerbermühle and downstream (abwärts) in the direction of Griesheim. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe met Marianne von Willemer at the Gerbermühle. Nowadays, Gerbermühle is a hotel with a restaurant, bar and terrace. Personally, I prefer the downstream cruise, since it offers a more complete overview of the city.

That’s a Wrap on Our Guide to Discover Frankfurt am Main

To sum up, this post aims to help you get ready to discover Frankfurt am Main. The high-speed train offers a relaxed journey. Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg adds luxury. A sightseeing cruise is great fun. And above all, make sure you taste the cider! A perfect stop to include on road trips. Frankfurt has one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. When wanting to discover more of Germany, see this list of fairytale castles in Germany.

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