The Best Day Trips From Frankfurt

Best Day Trips From Frankfurt

A list of the best day trips from Frankfurt. Medieval towns, hiking, street art festivals and stunning views can all be found in less than two hours from Frankfurt city. Discover the best of the Hessen region in a day trip from Frankfurt. 

Now we love little old Frankfurt but that doesn't mean we don't like to get away once in a while (or every weekend) for a trip. Luckily, there are plenty of places to visit around Frankfurt as it is perfectly located for exploring other areas of Germany and Europe. Paris, Amsterdam, Munich and Brussels are all within a four-hour train journey and there are plenty of other smaller places for a weekend away.

For a weekend trip from Frankfurt try Maastricht, The Alsace Wine Region, Stuttgart or Weimar. But you don't even need a whole weekend to get out and explore. In just a day trip (maximum 1.5 hours drive) you can get to lots of beautiful and interesting towns and sights. Here are our favourite places to visit near Frankfurt.

Day Trips From Frankfurt

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is one of the best Day Trips From Frankfurt

This is a student town located on the Neckar river and, let's face it, rivers are essential in picturesque towns. There is an impressive castle with relaxing gardens and views over the old town.

The cobbled streets of the old town make a great place for a wander and there are plenty of bars, cafes and shops. The town is a bit of a tourist destination so it may be very crowded on summer weekends. Try a nice weekend in Spring or go on a weekday if you can. For more information read this guide to Heidelberg.

How to get to Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a one hour drive (depending on traffic) directly south from Frankfurt on the A5.

The regional train to Heidelberg takes about an hour from Frankfurt Hbf and involves one change.

Limburg an der Lahn

Limburg is one of the best places to visit from Frankfurt.

Located on a river - check(the Lahn)! Pedestrianised old town - check! Cute, timber-framed houses -check! Beautiful, old cathedral - check! Hundred of Italian restaurants- ahh check!

Yes, Limburg is everything you could possibly want in a Frankfurt day trip. It also has a comical amount of Italian restaurants, we couldn't figure out the connection but pizza is always good! It is free to go inside the cathedral and the maze of streets in the old town are filled with cafes and restaurants.

How to get to Limburg

Driving from Frankfurt to Limburg takes under an hour with good traffic along the A3.

A train from Frankfurt to Limburg takes just over an hour from Frankfurt Hbf. There is a direct train every half an hour to an hour.

Taunus

The views of Taunus are easy reached in a day trip from Frankfurt

This is a larger area covering the mountains to the north of Frankfurt. It is a great area for cycling and hiking. Some highlights include the Great Feldberg which is the highest peak (881m) and the lookout tower located a short walk from the small village, Treisberg.

Another great stop is Hessenpark, one of the largest open-air museums in Germany. It contains many historic buildings and displays as well as temporary exhibits. All the towns in the area have several authentic German restaurants.

Königstein (Taunus)

Königstein is one of our favourite towns in the Taunus area. The old town is gorgeous and is made up of pedestrianised cobbled streets. There is an ancient castle to explore as well as a nice park area with a restaurant and cafe. Königstein is also known for its spa and wellness centre with a public bath.

How to get to Königstein

Königstein is only half an hour from the Frankfurt CBD by car. By public transport, you need to take the Sbahn to Bad Soden (S3) or Kronberg (S4) and then take a bus to Königstein.

Butzbach (Taunus)

Butzbach has a really beautifully restored old town filled with traditional truss houses. There are plenty of great photos to be taken on a walk through the cobbled streets and no shortage of ice cream stops along the way. You can explore the ancient town walls and find the extremely narrow houses built into the wall. There’s also a beautiful church in the centre of the town.

How to get to Butzbach

The drive from Frankfurt to Butzbach takes around 40 minutes with good traffic. It can be difficult to find parking near the town centre so look for a paid parking area or park a little further out and walk into the centre.

The train to Butzbach goes roughly every hour from Frankfurt Hbf and takes 40 minutes.

Miltenberg

the views over miltenberg, this small town is easy to reach in a day trip from frankfurt

Another cute, traditional German town by a river. There is a castle with views out over the Main and lots of lovely architecture to see. We happened to be there during the annual fair and there were great parades through the old town. If you're staying longer we enjoyed our stay at Hotel Brauerei Keller.

How to get to Miltenberg

To get to Miltenberg from Frankfurt you can drive which takes just over an hour or take the train which takes and hour and a half and involves one change.

Marburg

The castle in marburg, definitely one of the best places to see in a day trip from Frankfurt

Is a university town which stands on two levels. An elevator transports people to the upper town where there is a large market square. Further up the hill is a magnificent castle which now houses a museum. The city itself has a very laid-back, liberal vibe with lots of cafes and student bars.

How to get to Marburg

There are regular trains from Frankfurt Hbf which take around an hour. Or if you have a car driving from Frankfurt to Marburg takes just over an hour.

Rüdesheim

If you're into wine this is the place for you. Located in the vineyards by the Rhine are plenty of lovely walks to do in this area. There is a cable car up to the view-point and lots of great wineries to visit. We had a lovely stay at Magdalenenhof Hotel and enjoyed great food and wine.

How to get to rüdesheim

The drive to Rüdesheim takes about one hour from Frankfurt. Parking can be very difficult in the town so you may need to park a bit further away. If you’re staying overnight most hotels offer parking.

Rheinsteig

places to go for a day trip from frankfurt

Continuing on from Rüdesheim the whole area along the Rhine makes for some wonderful hiking and wine. The Lorelei is a large rock supposedly named after the spirit of a maiden who would sit on the rock and sing to sailors, causing them to sink their ships. It is a stunning viewpoint and the surrounding area is home to many interesting castles. There are also boat tours along the Rhine.

Mainz

Mainz is small city. It has a nice old town and is located on the Rhine river. In June there is a huge street art festival and many walls around the town are painted. They remain on display for the year and are then painted over during the festival the following year. Well worth a trip out there to check it out and spend some time exploring the city. More info about the festival is available here.

How to get to Mainz

The S8 will take you from Frankfurt city to Mainz in just 40 minutes. Or if you prefer to drive take the A66 which takes about half and hour.

For more information about public transport to and from these areas check out the Deutsche Bahn website or RMV. There are so many places to visit around Frankfurt that you'll always find new towns to explore. Let us know if you find any other great day trips from Frankfurt. 

You might also like...