Many traditional Apfelwein taverns and smaller neighbourhood spots don't accept cards, so it's worth carrying cash, especially in the evening.
Discover Authentic Frankfurt: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Frankfurt, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Eiserner Steg, the new Old Town and the apple wine taverns of Bornheim, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Frankfurt
Kleinmarkthalle
Frankfurt\u2019s central market hall, near Zeil and Liebfrauenberg — three floors of asparagus, wild mushrooms, regional cheese and sausage stalls. Come hungry and grab Handkäse mit Musik straight from a counter.
Sachsenhausen's Apfelwein taverns
Cross the Main to find Ebbelwei-Wirtschaften — apple wine taverns marked by green wreaths outside. Long tables, unchanged menus, and an atmosphere that doesn\u2019t really start until after 6pm.
Sachsenhausen riverside market
A smaller market running Thursday to Saturday along the riverbank — cheese, seasonal produce, and none of the tourist buzz of the centre.
Römerberg
The reconstructed medieval square at the heart of the Altstadt, half-timbered façades and all. A short walk from the main train station.
Zeil promenade
Frankfurt's main shopping street, with the banking district's skyline rising behind it — worth a walk even if shopping isn't the point.
Explore Frankfurt's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Frankfurt
We've mapped local spots in Frankfurt, from riverside walks to apple wine.
City & history
Eiserner Steg
A 19th-century footbridge linking Römerberg and Sachsenhausen, with one of the finest views of the 'Mainhattan' skyline – especially at sunset. Start or end a walk along the Main here.
Römerberg – Sachsenhausen · Footbridge · Perfect for photos
New Old Town (Dom-Römer-Quartier)
Rebuilt from 2014, Frankfurt's new Old Town recreates lanes, squares and patrician houses true to the originals, with little shops and cosy cafés. Wander and look up.
City centre · Historic quarter · Made for strolling
Paulskirche
St Paul's Church hosted Germany's first freely elected parliament in 1848, and was the first building rebuilt in Frankfurt after the war. Today it hosts ceremonies such as the Goethe Prize.
City centre · Historic monument · Ideal for history
Frankfurter Goethe-Haus
The house where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born and spent his childhood.
Innenstadt · Museum · Perfect for literature
Struwwelpeter Museum
A playful museum on the 1845 children's book and its author, Heinrich Hoffmann.
Altstadt · Museum · Great for families
Archaeological Museum
Frankfurt's story from the Neolithic to the early modern era, with finds from the old town and the Jewish ghetto.
Altstadt · Museum · Ideal for history
Parks & local life
Nizza Park (Nizza-Ufer)
Between the Friedensbrücke and the Untermainbrücke, a 4.4-hectare riverside park with a Mediterranean microclimate – palms, figs and lemon trees. Spread out your picnic.
Main riverbank · Park · Made for picnics
Bornheim and its apple wine
Baroque town hall, half-timbered houses and Äppelwoi, Frankfurt's apple wine. Try it at taverns such as Apfelwein Solzer, with a plate of Handkäs mit Musik.
Bornheim · Neighbourhood · Perfect for local food and drink
Goetheturm
On the edge of the city forest, a wooden tower with views over the skyline and the trees. Go early morning or at sunset.
Sachsenhausen city forest · Observation tower · Great for views
Freßgass
Frankfurt's foodie street of delis, grocers and restaurants. Graze your way along.
Innenstadt · Food street · Made for foodies
Kleinmarkthalle
An indoor market of more than 60 vendors, from regional produce to international specialities.
Innenstadt · Food market · Perfect for lunch
Daheim im Lorsbacher Thal
One of Frankfurt's most traditional apple-wine taverns, run by the same family since 1803.
Sachsenhausen · Apple-wine tavern · Ideal for local food
FAQ
It\u2019s roughly a 15 to 20-minute walk from Mercure Hotel Frankfurt City Center, near Zeil and Liebfrauenberg.
The evening — the Apfelwein tavern atmosphere is lighter at lunch and doesn't fully kick in until after 6pm.
From the Eiserner Steg footbridge, especially at sunset, or from the Goetheturm on the edge of the city forest.
In Bornheim, at traditional taverns such as Apfelwein Solzer.
The church where Germany's first freely elected parliament met in 1848, now a venue for ceremonies such as the Goethe Prize.
Where to Sleep in Frankfurt
See Mercure hotels in Frankfurt, all within reach of these picks.