Dorint Parkhotel Frankfurt/Bad Vilbel

Frankfurt

Germany's fifth largest city and a place where opportunities and experiences abound. Frankfurt is today one of the world's most important financial cities and you can find the European Central Bank, among others. The city's skyscrapers are lined up and most resemble an American metropolis. Frankfurt is the epitome of an international metropolis and one in three of its inhabitants is not German. This characterises the city very much and if you are going out to eat, for example, there is hardly a country that is not represented in the city's restaurants. Although the city is best known for its skyscrapers, you will find many other things in Frankfurt. The Kaiserdom, St Paul's Church and the Römer are among the stunning buildings that dominate the Old Town. The shopping opportunities are also endless. There are both the big shopping streets with all the famous shops in the new quarter, but the quaint streets with specialty shops are also found in the old town.

Frankfurt Goethe House

It was in Frankfurt that Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, arguably Germany's greatest writer, was born on 28 August 1749 in the family home Goethe's House. Goethe lived at the address until 1765 and the interior of the house gives a good impression of how the wealthy Goethe family lived and what created the framework for the upbringing of the literary genius.

Next door to Goethe's House is the Goethe Museum, a 14-room gallery displaying works of art from the author's time, including the late Baroque and Romantic periods.

Historical Museum, Frankfurt am Main

The museum is located in Frankfurt's old town south of the Roman Hill, between the old St Nicholas Church and the Mainkai. Built in 1972, it was demolished in 2011 and replaced by a new building in 2017.The Historical Museum is worth a visit when on a self-drive holiday in Central Germany or perhaps on a weekend break in Frankfurt city itself.

Main Guard

In the middle of the bustling city and in what is probably one of the busiest streets in Frankfurt am Main, the Hauptwache, which translates as 'Main Guard', is an old baroque guardhouse built in 1730 and which at the time housed the city's militia, a prison and later a police station. Today, the Hauptwache is one of many quirky cafés in Frankfurt and as it's located on Hauptwache Square, one of Frankfurt's main shopping areas, with an underground mall, it's a great place to stretch your legs, have a coffee and get a closer look at the contents of the many plastic bags filled with shopping joy.

Römerberg Platz, Frankfurt am Main

Römerberg is located roughly in the middle of Frankfurt's old town, between the Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus to the east and the Carmelite monastery to the west. Römerberg Square is located in the centre of Frankfurt am Maine and adorns the city's Old Town.

The square has had various functions since the year 800, and was the site of tournaments, fairs, but also preachings and executions. Römerberg Platz was expanded in the 15th century after the city's very beautiful Römer Town Hall was built.

Senckenberg Museum

The Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt am Main is the second largest natural history museum in Germany. Children in particular love visiting the many dinosaur fossils. Senckenberg also boasts the largest exhibition of European dinosaurs.

The museum contains the world's largest collection of stuffed birds with around 2000 specimens in total. A clear experience for the whole family, big and small.

Frankfurt Golf Club e.V.

The golf club is located within the Frankfurt am Main city limits, in a quiet location surrounded by beautiful nature and trees. The club is one of the oldest in Germany and was founded in 1913. The original 9-hole course was designed by Charly Gardner while the new design of the golf course is due to Harry Colt and John Morrison. The course today has 18 holes and is nicely long and offers good challenges for the experienced golfer.

Christmas market in Frankfurt

Open

24th November to 22nd December 2025

Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm

Sun: 11am-9pm

Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

The Christmas market in Frankfurt is over 600 years old and attracts millions of visitors to the city every year. More than 200 cosy Christmas decorated stalls offer everything from culinary experiences, to a choice of traditional and homemade Christmas gift ideas. The Christmas market in Frankfurt is a must for everyone.

The many cosy Christmas stalls spread throughout Frankfurt, from Römerberg to Paulsplatz and Mainkai. In addition to the many stalls, the Christmas market in Frankfurt offers a large and varied programme; you can, for example, hear the tower blowers from the balcony of the Nikolai church, the chimes around the 30-metre-high Christmas tree and lots of other concerts.

If the huge Christmas market seems overwhelming, there's help too: under the motto "Glühwein, Geschichten und Gebäck" (Mulled wine/mulled wine, fairy tales and cakes), it's possible to book a guided tour of Frankfurt's huge Christmas market. Here you will be shown around while getting an insight into the history and traditions of the Christmas market.

All this, of course, is beautifully combined with the scents of the many traditional German specialities, which help to create the unique atmosphere that prevails throughout Frankfurt during the Christmas months.

Opel Zoo

Opel-Zoo in Kronberg (Taunus) is the second large zoo in Hesse. The zoo was established in 1956, and started as a research institution. Now the Opel-Zoo is one of the most visited leisure and cultural facilities in Hesse. Visit more than 1,400 animals in over 200 different species from all continents and climatic zones - from the coldest polar regions to the rainforests around the equator.

Especially the harvest deer from Mesopotamia is one of the highlights. Feeding many of the animals is allowed and most children find it great fun. There are also special events for the boys, such as guided tours with detailed explanations about each animal. An obvious family trip and the children especially will have a great time.

Königstein in the Taunus

If you're heading south to Germany, find a cheap self-drive holiday at Risskov with cheap and child-friendly hotels. Not far from Frankfurt am Main is Königstein im Taunus. The name 'Königstein' means 'king stone' and legend has it that it was the Merovingian King Chlodwig (466-511), who had a castle on the mountain and a chapel in a nearby valley, who founded Königstein im Taunus in thanks for a prophecy that had promised him victory over Alemannia, and the prophecy came true. Königstein became even more easily accessible from Frankfurt am Main in 1906 when the railway between Königstein and Frankfurt was built and since then the town has just continued to grow. Today it remains a very pleasant town and a sought-after place to go on holiday and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Visit the old castle or take a walk through the city centre and try some of the good beer served around the city. Find your holiday at Risskov and drive yourself, at your own pace, on a cheap summer holiday or winter break to southern Germany.