Frankfurt is the most directly accessible city in Germany from Canada, and considerably more rewarding than its reputation as a financial centre suggests. The skyline of glass towers along the Main River is genuinely striking — Frankfurt has more high-rises than any other city in the European Union — but behind it sits a city of real character: a beautifully reconstructed medieval Altstadt, a museum embankment that houses fifteen museums in a single riverside kilometre, one of Germany’s finest market halls, and a cider-house culture rooted in the apple orchards of the surrounding Hesse countryside. Our Frankfurt packages from Canada are designed for independent travellers: you get flights + hotels + daily breakfast + transfers in a single booking, with the freedom to explore at your own pace.

Frankfurt is also one of Europe’s great hub cities, with excellent onward connections by rail and road to the Rhine Valley, the Black Forest, Heidelberg, the Romantic Road and beyond. Many travellers use it as the entry point for a broader Germany itinerary, and it rewards that role generously.

Departure airports: Lufthansa, Air Canada and Air Transat operate nonstop service from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA), with flight times of approximately 7.5 to 8 hours. Frankfurt is one of the busiest airports in Europe and among the most straightforward transatlantic routes available from Canada, with multiple daily departures. Travellers from other Canadian cities can connect through Toronto or other North American hubs. If you do not see your departure city listed, please call us — we can price options not shown on our website.

Popular itineraries

Frankfurt works well as both a standalone city destination and as the starting point for a wider Germany itinerary. The city itself has enough depth — in its museums, its Altstadt, its cider houses and its surrounding countryside — to fill four or five days comfortably. For travellers with more time, Frankfurt’s central location makes it an ideal base for day trips and multi-city extensions.

The Rhine Valley is less than an hour away by train, with its medieval castles and steep Riesling vineyards best seen by river cruise or a slow train along the western bank. Heidelberg — home to Germany’s oldest university and a castle ruin of extraordinary romantic beauty above the Neckar River — is just over an hour by fast train. The Romantic Road begins at Würzburg, about an hour north of Frankfurt, and winds south through a sequence of medieval towns that includes Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the best-preserved walled towns in Europe. Cologne and Munich are both reachable in under two hours by ICE high-speed rail, making Frankfurt a natural anchor for a multi-city Germany trip.

Where to stay (examples)

• Innenstadt (City Centre): the commercial and financial heart of Frankfurt, with the highest concentration of hotels at every price point and walking distance to the main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) and the banking district. Convenient for business-oriented travellers and those arriving late or departing early.
• Altstadt and Römerberg: the historic old town built around the Römerberg square — Frankfurt’s most photographed and atmospheric area, with reconstructed half-timbered houses and the Imperial Cathedral nearby. The best base for first-time visitors who want to be in the heart of Frankfurt’s historic character.
• Sachsenhausen: the neighbourhood south of the Main River, home to the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment) and Frankfurt’s famous apple wine taverns — the Ebbelwei pubs where locals drink the city’s tart native cider. A more relaxed and residential atmosphere than the city centre, with excellent restaurants and a short walk across the river to the Altstadt.
• Westend and Bockenheim: quieter, more upscale residential neighbourhoods west of the centre, popular with business travellers for their concentration of boutique hotels and proximity to the trade fair grounds (Messe Frankfurt). Well-connected to the centre by U-Bahn.
• Bahnhofsviertel: the area immediately around the main station, which has undergone significant transformation in recent years and now houses some of Frankfurt’s most interesting independent restaurants, wine bars and international food shops. Convenient for travel and a good choice for food-focused visitors.

Weather and when to go

Frankfurt has a temperate continental climate, with four distinct seasons and more sunshine than Germany’s northern cities. The most comfortable windows for visiting are April through June and September through October, when temperatures are mild, the city is at its most liveable and the day-trip options in the Rhine Valley and surrounding countryside are at their best.

Typical temperatures:

• Spring (April to May): 12 to 20°C. Beer gardens and outdoor terraces open, the countryside around Frankfurt turns green, and the Rhine Valley vineyards are beautiful. An excellent time to visit with moderate crowds.
• Summer (June to August): 20 to 30°C. Long days and warm evenings; the Sachsenhausen apple wine taverns and outdoor festivals are in full swing. The city can be busy with trade fairs and conferences — check the Messe Frankfurt calendar when booking.
• Fall (September to October): 12 to 22°C. The wine harvest season in the Rhine Valley and Rheingau, golden light in the Taunus hills and noticeably fewer tourists. One of the best times of year for a Rhine Valley day trip from Frankfurt.
• Winter (November to March): 1 to 8°C. Frankfurt’s Christmas market — the Weihnachtsmarkt on the Römerberg square — is one of the oldest and most celebrated in Germany, running from late November through December 23rd. January and February are quiet and affordable.

Not sure which neighbourhood or travel window works best for your plans? Speak with one of our agents who has been to Frankfurt and can help you choose the right hotel, the right time to go and any day trips worth adding. Call us at 1-800-665-4981.