Your essential Frankfurt travel guide

Planning a trip to Frankfurt can be complicated. When should you pack your raincoat? What about that scarf? Will you swelter in a hotel without air-conditioning in summer? Do trains run at night? What’s the best way to buy a ticket—or what happens if you “schwarzfahren” and cheekily jump on Frankfurt’s transportation network without one? With some of the world’s most important trade fairs and a large number of historical landmarks—including a reconstructed old town—some 8.7 million visitors descend on Germany’s financial capital every year, joining the 2.3 million inhabitants in the city’s urban area. While these visitors find the largest city in the German state of Hesse well-prepared to meet their needs, knowing the ins-and-outs beforehand will save you time–and stress. Our essential Frankfurt travel guide will have you on the ground running the moment you arrive.