What are the best day trips to take from Frankfurt?

Question

Something that can be done 8 hours round-trip would be great.

Answer 1

A lot will depend on your priorities and style of traveling (suitable for families, most famous places etc), here are my personal favorites:

-trainride from Frankfurt to Bonn or Cologne (around 3 hours one way) along the Rhine river with an so called "IC" Intercity train (not the new highspeed train). Take a seat in the restaurant of the train (lots of windows) and enjoy one of the most romantic views. You will have time to visit the large cathedral in Cologne (right next to train station)!

-day trip to old town Heidelberg and its surroundings "Weinstrasse", a beautiful, hilly wine region

-A train takes you as well to Strassbourg, heart of the fantastic French Alsace region (my favorite)

-heading South Wuerzburg and Bamberg are also very nice day trips and cities worth while going (lots of good food, wine areas and very pretty old parts of the towns)

Have fun!

Answer 2

Definitely a nice trip during spring/summer/early autumn is the wine region south of Frankfurt called the "Bergstraße". Lots of charming wineries and nice vineyards where you can take a walk with a good view over the rhine-valley.

Also a "must-see" is the cloister "Lorsch" in the town Lorsch south of Frankfurt. The cloister is UNESCO world cultural heritage. It has been founded in 764 n.Chr. and boasts historical buildings and a museum.

When you have had enough wine and cultural input there is the "turmkino" in the centre of frankfurt that shows english movies.

Answer 3

You definitely should not miss Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It's one of the best-preserved medieval cities, with a wall that goes all the way around the town. There are many things to do there, and it's really easy to walk around in once you drive there. Some fun things to do are:

- Medieval torture museum

- Nightwatchman tour - http://www.nightwatchman.de/

- Altes Rathaus (city hall) with its clock that depicts the Meistertrunk (a mayor who saved the town from barbarians by drinking 3 liters of wine in one draught)