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Cruises to Frankfurt

19 Reviews
Frankfurt (Photo:jan kranendonk/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main ("Frankfurt on the Main," the city's full name) is Germany's banking and financial powerhouse. It's home to banks from around the world, as well as the European Central Bank. Many are housed in the sleek, modern skyscrapers that define Frankfurt's skyline. (These buildings have even spawned nicknames for the city, including "Main-hattan" and "Bankfurt.") As an international business center, Frankfurt attracts expats from around the world, so it's a very cosmopolitan place. It ranks as Germany's fifth-largest city, with a population of 717,000, and is a popular port city for travelers planning a cruise to Germany.

Behind the modern gloss, Frankfurt's roots run deep. Charlemagne is celebrated as the city's founder, although the ancient Romans were here, too. Unfortunately, much of the city was destroyed in World War II, by fires that resulted from Allied bombing. Some historic buildings and monuments have been rebuilt or restored, but most of Frankfurt's old half-timbered houses were lost. The city is still in the process of restoring some districts with a mix of modern and old-style architecture.

Frankfurt straddles the Main (pronounced "mine") River, with the Old Town and performing arts venues located on the north side, and many museums lining the south bank. Museum buffs are definitely in for a treat, and can enjoy several art museums, plus others focused on history, film, architecture, Jewish culture, porcelain, applied arts, archaeology and more. You'll also find parks and botanical gardens, a wide variety of restaurants, and plenty of shopping.

If you've flown to Europe much, you've no doubt passed through Frankfurt's airport -- one of the busiest in the world. Its huge train station is also a major European hub, with more than 350,000 passengers using it every day. As a transportation center, Frankfurt provides easy access to and from the rest of Germany and beyond.

  • More about Frankfurt

  • Why Cruise to Frankfurt?

  • Frankfurt Cruise Port Facilities?

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River Princess

7 Night
Classic Christmas Markets

51 Reviews
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Avalon Tranquility II

4 Night
The Best Of The Rhine

92 Reviews
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Avalon Imagery II

7 Night
Festive Season In The Heart Of Germany With 2 Nigh...

84 Reviews
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River Queen

7 Night
Classic Christmas Markets

49 Reviews
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Ponant

4 Night
The Best Of The Rhine

80 Reviews
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7 Night
The Majestic Rhine

169 Reviews
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7 Night
Festive Season In The Heart Of Germany With 2 Nigh...

70 Reviews
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10 Night
German Grandeur With 2 Nights In Munich

70 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

9 Night
Magnificent Moselle & Rhine

49 Reviews
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7 Night
Classic Christmas Markets

51 Reviews
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4 Night
The Best Of The Rhine

84 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

10 Night
Remarkable Rhine & Historic Holland

56 Reviews
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6 Night
The Best Of The Rhine With 2 Nights In Frankfurt

92 Reviews
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7 Night
Festive Season In The Heart Of Germany With 2 Nigh...

80 Reviews
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6 Night
The Best Of The Rhine With 2 Nights In Frankfurt

80 Reviews
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More about Frankfurt

Why Cruise to Frankfurt?

Pros:

This city is one of Germany's largest, and there's no shortage of historic sights, shops and museums to explore

Cons:

Jaywalking is illegal here, and police are quick to enforce the law, so be aware of where and when you cross

Bottom Line:

Frankfurt is a modern, cosmopolitan city with a rich history and plenty of diversions to pass the time

Frankfurt Cruise Port Facilities?

The quay is next to the Nizza, a narrow park that lines the Main River. There's a walking path along the river; due to the microclimate, you'll find some surprising Mediterranean plants, including palm, fig and lemon trees. Just west of Untermainbrucke bridge is the popular MainNizza restaurant, which serves an international menu and offers terrace-side tables with a nice view over the river.

Also west of Untermainbrucke bridge, on the first street parallel to the river, is the Jewish Museum (Judisches Museum). The block behind that is home to several performing arts venues, including the opera house (Oper Frankfurt). Beyond that, around Friedensstrasse street, you'll find a number of restaurants.

The tourism office and city hall are in Romerberg Square in the city's Old Town (Altstadt), about a 10-minute walk from the dock. You might want to take a slight detour on the way to catch the views from Eisener Steg, a pedestrian bridge across the river.

Good to Know?

Public restrooms (those not located inside a business establishment) usually charge you to use them; cost is typically 50 euro-cents. In many cases they only take coins, but will usually return change.

Jaywalking is against the law here, so resist the temptation -- the police take it seriously.

Frankfurt is generally very safe, but as in any big city, be aware of your surroundings and stay alert for pickpockets or scams.

Getting Around?

On Foot: Many of the city's attractions are within easy walking distance and the terrain is relatively flat.

By Public Transportation: Frankfurt has an integrated public transportation system that includes buses, trams, regional trains (S-Bahn) and subway lines (U-Bahn). It operates on a zone system; regular tickets are good for one hour, including transfers. All-day tickets are also available. You can buy them from machines (push the Tageskarte button) in subway stations, at tram stops or from bus drivers. It's worth buying a day pass if you're planning to take at least three trips on public transportation. Another option is the one- or two-day Frankfurt Card, which gives you unlimited travel on public transportation in the city and airport zone, plus a slew of discounts on museums, attractions, performances and tours. You can buy the Frankfurt Card at tourism offices, including at the main train station and Romerberg Square.

By Taxi: You'll find taxis at designated stands, or you can hail them -- the light is on when they're available.

Getting to the Dock: It's about a 20-minute taxi ride from Frankfurt Airport to the docking area. You can also take the S-Bahn or a bus from the airport into the city's main train station (Hauptbahnhof) and take a cab the additional half-mile to the river.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Germany's currency is the euro. A Euronet ATM (geldautomat) and a currency exchange can both be found in Romerberg Square, a major tourist destination in Frankfurt's Old Town. Other ATMs are available at banks around the city. Credit cards are generally accepted, but there may be a minimum purchase to use one so it's best to ask in advance. If you are given a choice of charging your card in euros or your home currency, always choose euros; otherwise, you may be socked with a fee and a poor exchange rate.

Language?

The local language is German, but in this very international city you'll likely hear numerous languages on the street. Many Germans speak at least some English, so you shouldn't find it difficult to communicate.

Where You're Docked?

Ships usually dock on the north side of the Main River, around the Untermainbrucke bridge, right in the heart of the city. There's no terminal of any sort, but many of Frankfurt's attractions are within a 15-minute walk.


Frankfurt Cruise Reviews
Don't miss the Christmas market downtown. The cutest stalls of all.Read More
Annebar1
We walked around Frankfurt and enjoyed the street scenes. We were there on a Sunday so shops were closed. Probably a good thing, I saw a lot of things I probably would have bought in the shop windows! We returned to Read More
aehoppen
The guide was very good on this excursionRead More
echaban
From Frankfurt we took the full day tour of Heidelberg. The castle architecture was fascinating, and it provided an opportunity to get some great photos of the town. After the castle tour, we rode the bus back into tRead More
seattleGTfan

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