Top Things to Do in Frankfurt in the Spring

Spring (or frühling auf Deutsch) is when the worker bees of Frankfurt start to shake off the long, cold, grey winter and make the most of warmer weather in this international metropolis. The weather may not truly warm up until May, but the first signs of a changing season mean it is time to forget business for a little while and check out Frankfurt's many top attractions.

Gaze down at the city hard at work below, find some green space, and order a glass of ebbelwoi (apple wine) to enjoy the top 7 things to do in Frankfurt in spring.

01 of 07

Rocket 650-feet up to the Highest Point in Frankfurt

Aerial View Frankfurt Hesse Main Tower Germany — Max Pixel/Public Domain

Frankfurt is one of the few German cities with skyscrapers, earning it the nickname of Mainhattan. It offers the unique opportunity to view the city from above. Main Tower is part of the impressive skyline and a landmark for the city.

Get the best view of the city from it's viewing platform 650-feet in the sky. If you want more than just a view, order a cocktail or a full meal at the Main Tower Restaurant & Lounge with its 26-foot panoramic windows.

02 of 07

Ride the Ferris Wheel at Frankfurt's Spring Fair

ferris wheel at Frankfurt spring fair — Wicki58/Getty Images

Dippemess is the largest and oldest folk festival in the Rhine region. The fair dates back to the 14th century as a market for local goods like pottery. Along with shopping there has always been good food and beer. Today's fest is better-known for its thrilling rides and fireworks.

If you miss the festival, take heart that it actually happens twice a year: once in April and at the end of September.

03 of 07

Relax at Frankfurt's Botanical Gardens

palmengarten frankfurt botanical gardens — Anna16/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

The Botanical Gardens in Frankfurt, Palmengarten, provides a calming oasis in the city. Though the flower house provides visitors colorful blooms year-round, spring is the absolute best time to visit the gardens.

Founded in 1868 by the city's citizens, it offers a temporary getaway to exotic lands like the African savanna or Brazilian rain forest. The gardens cover over 50 acres with multiple greenhouses and close to 6,000 botanical species.

04 of 07

Drink at Frankfurt's Cider Taverns

apfelwein franfurt — Josh Evnin/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Spring is the perfect season for apfelwein (or ebbelwoi in the local dialect). Don't mistake apple wine for cider; it is crisp and unsweetened and the quintessential drink of the region.

Go to the historic district of Sachsenhausen south of the Altstadt (old town) for the best and oldest apfelwein taverns. Visit traditional taverns like Dauth Schneider and Adolf Wagner.

If you want to take your cider on the road, the Apple Wine Express (Ebbelwei Express) is a historic tram that combines touring with drinking. For the kiddos there is non-alcoholic cider and snacks. And everyone can enjoy the Schlager music.

Continue to 5 of 7 below.

05 of 07

Chill at the Beach atop the City

Citybeach frankfurt — http://citybeach-frankfurt.de/

Deck8 is a perfectly Frankfurt biergarten. Eschewing the traditional features of other beer gardens, the site is built on top of a parking garage and offers pools, palm trees, and views.

If the weather fails you, a glassed-in area maintains the atmosphere while keeping off the drops.

06 of 07

Explore the Best Parks

Waldspielpark frankfurt — Jutta234/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

A relief from the winter grey, a trip to the woods is perfect for the whole family. At Waldspielpark, there is a large playground with a pool and nature maze for the kinder (kids) and a Goetheturm for the adults to climb. This tower is from 1931 and is one of the highest wooden viewing towers in Germany. The view of Frankfurt rivals that of the Main Tower.

Other excellent parks in Frankfurt:

Carl-von-Weinberg-Park - District Niederrad
Waldspielpark Heinrich-Kraft-Park - District Fechenheim
Waldspielpark Scheerwald - District Oberrad
Schwanheimer Waldspielpark - District Schwanheim
Waldspielpark Louisa - District Sachsenhausen
Waldspielpark Tannenwald - District Sachsenhausen

07 of 07

Stroll the Museumsufer

Holbeinsteg, Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany, Europe — F1 ONLINE RF/Getty Images

A walk along the Museum Embankment is best done in springtime. This promenade runs through the city center, lined with the best museums in Frankfurt. These include the German Film Museum, fine art at the Städel Museum, and Senckenberg Museum (one of largest museums dedicated to natural history in Germany).

On Saturdays (from about 9:00 to 14:00) this area is a hunting ground for bargains as the site of Frankfurt's largest flohmarkt (flea market). It is much better to do your shopping when it is not raining.