Frankfurt am Main is both the administrative center of the land of Hesse in Germany and one of the major financial, cultural and tourist metropolises of the country. Frankfurt is famous for its business district, which is considered to be a kind of “Manhattan” of Europe. In addition, the city has preserved many cultural and historical monuments, for example, in terms of architecture, the Alt Sachsenhausen district, Romer Square, St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Old Frankfurt Opera House and much more are of general tourist interest.
Despite its financial orientation, Frankfurt abounds not only with steel high-rise buildings, but also with spacious park areas. Locals and visitors love to spend time in the Rothschild or Bethmann Parks, and also visit the giant botanical garden called Palmengarten.
Around Frankfurt, there are many small towns and various tourist centers worth visiting. Most of them are easily accessible in terms of distance and therefore can be visited in just one day without an overnight stay. Of course, many of the cities around Frankfurt are also worth staying longer for a few days. However, these day trips from Frankfurt will give you a nice taste of the surrounding areas!
It is convenient to travel from Frankfurt to neighboring cities by train or rented car. You can rent a car in Frankfurt at many rental offices, which are located in almost all areas of the city, as well as at the international airport.
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Wiesbaden
Distance – 40 km
Wiesbaden is the capital of the administrative land of Hesse and is famous for its rich cultural and historical heritage, as well as thermal springs, which makes the town attractive as a mineral resort. Along with Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden is considered to be the oldest thermal spa in Germany.
Tourists are also delighted by the local Palace Square, where several architectural monuments are located. First of all, this is the Ducal Palace, the buildings of the Old and New Town Halls, and the neo-Gothic Marktkirche church. In addition to the Palace Square, Biebrich and Luisenplatz Squares are also worth seeing on your own. The first is decorated in Baroque style, the second one is a wonderful example of neoclassicism. Taking the funicular up Mount Neroberg located nearby, travellers can admire the beauty of the Church of St. Elizabeth and views of the whole town.
Trains from Frankfurt to Wiesbaden run every 5-10 minutes throughout the day. The travel time is about 40 minutes. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. You can also get there by car; the destinations are connected by highway No. 66. You can also rent a car if desired.
Mainz
Distance – 45 km
Mainz is a “hidden gem” of German towns located to the very west of the country. Its medieval narrow street, colorful houses, cozy squares, and beautiful fountains give unique features to the town. Altstadt is the very “heart” of Mainz. You can see a Cathedral of St. Martin in Roman style, the medieval Marktbrunnen fountain, the church of St. Augustine, Gutenberg Museum, and much more here. It is a truly charming and magnificent place where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of Frankfurt for one or two days. Besides, Mainz is a good starting point for traveling to the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It has connections with other inspiring destinations of the region, including Cochem, Koblenz, and Trier. Rhineland-Palatinate can also boast its beautiful countryside, be it Moselle River and valley or gorgeous forests and mountains.
The best way to reach Mainz is to start your journey from Frankfurt. There is a train connection between the towns. Trains depart 6-7 times a day from the Central Station. The travel time is just half an hour. It is a nice idea to spend a day in Mainz and then return to Frankfurt by train as it is a fast and comfortable means of transport. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. You can use a car too. Frankfurt and Mainz are connected by roads #В43 и А60. The travel time is about 40 minutes.
Heidelberg
Distance – 90 km
Heidelberg is a small but extremely interesting town from a tourist point of view, which is located in the north of the neighbouring Baden-Wurttemberg region. Almost the entire old part of Heidelberg is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here, during the bombing of the Second World War, a medieval castle and an old bridge, an ancient gate and a university were miraculously preserved. Now this area is completely pedestrian. The surroundings of the town are no less interesting. Heidelberg is located in the valley of the Neckar River, surrounded by inspiring mountains and picturesque forests. In particular, this is where the famous “path of philosophers” passes. You can climb up without any problems using the funicular. It is exactly that place, where the best views of ancient Heidelberg open up.
From Frankfurt Central Station, direct trains to Heidelberg leave once an hour throughout the day. The travel time is a little over an hour. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. In addition, two points are connected by a highway, so if you wish, you can get to Heidelberg from Frankfurt by rented car.
Wurzburg
Distance – 120 km
The town of Wurzburg is considered to be a Franconian “pearl” with its many attractions and cultural sites. Located in Bavaria, Wurzburg is easily accessible from Frankfurt. There is a direct railway and highway connection between these two destinations.
Wurzburg delights tourists with its preserved medieval architectural monuments, be it the Wurzburg Residence or the Marienberg Fortress, St. Killian’s Cathedral or the Hofkirche Church. Wurzburg is partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, the town is famous for its wines. A wine fair is held here every year, which has gained fame and recognition throughout the world.
You can get to Wurzburg by high-speed train like ICE. The travel time is just over an hour. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. Wurzburg is a great choice for a day trip around Frankfurt. Driving is another easy way to get to Wurzburg via rental car.
Koblenz
Distance – 125 km
Koblenz is located in a picturesque area, where two rivers namely Moselle and Rhine are connected together. It is the so-called “German corner” here. The other great site of the town is Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. It is located on a hill and you can get there by funicular. Stolzenfels castle of 19th century is also located on a hill, but you can get there only by foot, but it is worth it. If you admire such castles as Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau in Bavaria, Stolzenfels in Koblenz also impress you because all of them are built in a romantic style. Please note that the castle opens only during the period from March to October. The center of the town is also gorgeous. You can look at the Old Castle of 13th century, Electoral Palace, Baldwin Arch Bridge, built in 14th century and so on.
It is quite easy to get to Koblenz from Frankfurt, just take a direct train. Trains depart from the Main Station in Frankfurt 2-3 times per hour. The travel time is 1,5 hours. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. If you travel by car, then follow the road #A3. The travel time by rental car is also 1,5 hours.
Karlsruhe
Distance – 140 km
Karlsruhe is a typical southern German town; perhaps the only unusual thing about it is its buildings. The town has an interesting radial planning, which consists of 32 streets extending from the town center. Thus, no matter how far into the town you go, you will always return to the central square, where a magnificent Baroque palace flaunts. This is a favorite place for locals to stroll through the French-style park and admire the palace, sculptures and designs brought to life. Having wandered around Karlsruhe, you will understand that the Central Palace is not the only interesting architectural object; many beautiful buildings, churches, and monuments have also been preserved here.
There are various ways to get to Karlsruhe from Frankfurt including direct trains, buses, taxis or rented cars. On average, the travel time varies from 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. A car for renting can be booked online in advance at RentalCars.com.
Cochem
Distance – 170 km
Another great way to spend your time out of Frankfurt is to visit Cochem. Cochem is a small, but pretty picturesque town with great architecture and inspiring natural landscapes as Cochem lies down the river Moselle. The most important attraction of the town is Reichsburg castle, located on a hill overlooking the wonderful Moselle Valley. It was built in 12th century and its architectural style is mostly Gothic. You can visit the epic castle not only outside, but also inside, where a lot of interesting things have been preserved. The castle is open daily. Use the shuttle bus #781 to get to the very top of the hill. The historic center of the town is also worth observing. You can find the Cathedral of St. Martin, medieval Mustard Mill, Market square and much more here.
You can travel to Cochem either by train or by car from Frankfurt. The travel time by train is around 2,5 hours. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. Besides, Frankfurt and Cochem are connected by the roads #A3 and A48. The travel time is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes by rental car.
Cologne
Distance – 190 km
The city of Cologne is located in the neighboring state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is famous throughout the world for its huge Gothic Cathedral. A large number of tourists traveling around Europe come to the city every year, because the medieval Cologne Cathedral is consistently included in the top ten must-see attractions in Europe. Cologne Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is under its protection, however, tourists can explore the cathedral not only from the outside, but also from the inside, and also go up to its inspiring observation deck.
Direct high-speed trains run from Frankfurt to Cologne, and despite the mileage of almost 200 km, you can get to the city in a record 1 hour and 8 minutes. Thus, visiting Cologne from Frankfurt is quite possible with a day trip without an overnight stay. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope.
Trier
Distance – 200 km
Trier is located quite far from Frankfurt but it is definitely worth visiting. It is situated on the border with Luxembourg and can boast various UNESCO Heritage objects. For example, Trier Cathedral is on this list. The other attractions such as Church of the Virgin Mary (UNESCO site), Church of St. Gangolf, Benedictine Abbey, the former residence of the bishops of Trier and now palace of the Electors, Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge – all these places deserve tourist attention.
There is only one direct train in a day departing from Frankfurt to Trier so be attentive when buying tickets. The travel time is 3 hours 20 minutes one-way. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. The cities are also connected by the motorway #B50. The travel time by rental car is slightly more than 2 hours.
Stuttgart
Distance – 200 km
Stuttgart is the administrative center of the neighboring land of Baden-Wurttemberg. Stuttgart is considered to be a rather large city with many attractions and interesting places to see. Among tourists coming to Stuttgart, there are traditionally many fans of automobile museums, since it is here that there are two museums dedicated to cars. They are the Porsche Museum and the Mercedes Benz Museum, where you can see both a collection of rare cars and futuristic new items.
Tourists, who are interested in architecture, will love the palaces and castles of Stuttgart including the New Palace, the Old Castle located opposite the previously mentioned, and the baroque Solitude Palace hidden in the streets of the city. The Stuttgart Art Gallery and the Wilhelm Zoological and Botanical Garden also deserve tourist attention.
You can get to Stuttgart from Frankfurt in just an hour and a half by high-speed train. Trains are direct and run at high frequency throughout the day. Train schedules can be checked at RailEurope. The journey by bus takes approximately 3 hours, with buses departing once an hour from Frankfurt Main Bus Station. Taxis and car rentals are also available; the cities are connected by high-speed roads. A rental can be booked online at RentalCars.com.
Final Thoughts
Frankfurt, with its central location and excellent transport links, serves as a perfect hub for exploring some of Germany’s most captivating destinations. Sometimes it’s really nice to get out of the city and explore some smaller towns and areas. Each day trip from Frankfurt offers a unique glimpse into the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the region.
Read More about Germany
How to Spend 2 Days in Hamburg, Germany
Important Tips for Visiting Germany
Best Things to do in Munich, Germany
Two Day Itinerary for Berlin, Germany
Save “Best Day Trips from Frankfurt” for Later
Might have to add a couple of these to my itinerary for my Germany trip in the fall!
It’s interesting; I’ve been to all these day trips from Frankfurt suggestions but have yet to visit Frankfurt outside of the train station – haha. I can confirm they are all wonderful places to visit, though; I love Koblenz and Würzburg! Great list.
I have only spent a day in Germany due to a long layover but would love to go back to explore the country. Thank you for sharing!
Germany is just stunningly beautiful. I went with my Oma as a little girl because she was from a small village near Frankfurt called Hanau. I know we visited Heidelburg and Stuttgart but I remember mostly through photos. This post makes me want to go back as an adult!
Great article thanks! my office have a branch in those areas so I have friends in Mainz, Wurzburg, Frankfurt. super useful for when I go visit them!
Ah that’s a beautiful area!
We visited Cologne on a river cruise and the cathedral is spectacular!
So many beautiful places still yet to visit. We will make it to Germany soon and definitely keeping this for when we start our planning.
What a great selection of cities. I have been to a couple and they exceeded my expectations.
Frankfurt is still on my bucket list, even though I have been in Cologne! If I were to pick only one day trip from the list, I would go with Heidelberg – it looks so picture-perfect!