Historisches Museum Frankfurt

The basics

The museum is set in Frankfurt’s old town, so a stop here is easy to pair with a walking or bike tour of the city’s top historic sights. See “Frankfurt Once?,” the permanent exhibit divided into five themed galleries that illustrate the city’s history from its founding, and “Frankfurt Now!,” focused on the contemporary city and its future. History buffs will also enjoy visiting the medieval Staufer and Toll Tower building and joining a guided tour of the House of the Golden Scales, a 17th-century house museum.

Things to know before you go

• This museum is a must for visitors interested in learning more about Frankfurt’s history and culture, and has exhibits for both kids and adults.

• Offerings inside the museum include a café and a museum shop.

• Frankfurt’s children’s museum (Junges Museum Frankfurt) is housed in the same building, and you can buy a combination admission ticket to visit both.

• The main museum halls are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, while the Staufer and Toll Tower building is not.

How to get there

Located on the Römerberg in Frankfurt’s old town, the museum is an easy walk from many of the city’s historic attractions. Public transit options include tram lines 11 and 12 (to the Römer/Paulskirche stop) and metro lines U4 and U5 (to the Dom/Röme stop). There’s also a bike sharing station just outside the museum.

When to get there

The museum is open Tuesday–Sunday from late morning to early evening, and the exhibition halls are quietest on weekdays. A visit here makes an excellent pairing with a city walking tour, so if you join a morning tour, you can head to the museum in the afternoon for additional context about the city’s history and culture.

Highlights of the Historisches Museum Frankfurt

The “Frankfurt Once?” permanent exhibit forms the heart of the museum. This in-depth look at the city’s history is divided into several separate exhibitions organized thematically, rather than chronologically, including urban design, finance, and citizenry. In the oldest section of the museum building, the Staufer and Toll Tower offers a glimpse of medieval Frankfurt, when the city was ruled by the Hohenstaufen dynasty, and examines the importance of the Main River in Frankfurt’s history and economy.