Best Frankfurt photography spots: a complete guide

Discover the best Frankfurt photography spots in this travel guide, and explore Germany’s financial hub with your camera!

Frankfurt is not the first city that comes to mind when a photographer thinks of Germany. It is the economic and financial hub of Germany, and is not considered a main tourist destination within the country. Nonetheless, Frankfurt is a great city to visit and photograph, if you know what to expect.

In this Frankfurt photography spots guide, you’ll find out which are the best photo locations in the city, with some first-hand tips. Not only do I mention the main tourist attractions of the city, but also some less common ones. I have good friends living in Frankfurt, and in my visits, I have had the chance to explore the city from multiple angles.

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Frankfurt photography guide FAQs:

Before jumping in with the best Frankfurt photography spots, here are some answers to FAQs about the city.

Is it worth visiting and photographing Frankfurt?

If you’ve never been to Germany, Frankfurt might not be the number one place to visit. Cities like Berlin, Hamburg or even Munich might be better options. However, this doesn’t mean that Frankfurt is a bad city to visit; quite the opposite. Frankfurt is a great city to visit and photograph, if you don’t expect the typical European city.

Built next to the Main river (hence the full name of Frankfurt am Main), it is at a prime location within the country, and, with one of the busiest airports in Europe. This makes it perfect for a shorter visit or as the starting place of a trip through Germany.

How many days do I need to visit Frankfurt?

As mentioned in the previous point, Frankfurt can be a layover location. Unlike other cities in Germany, a couple of days could be enough to get a taste of the city. 48 hours should give you time to explore the central/old town area, as well as the financial district, where most of the activity is (during the week).

If you have more time, though, you could use it to get away from the city centre and visit some of the nearby villages or cities, which are also worth mentioning. In this Frankfurt photography spots guide, I’ll cover one of the options.

Thanks to the great (although not always punctual) German train system, daytrips from Frankfurt to less-known cities and towns are definitely feasible.

When is the best time to visit and photograph Frankfurt?

Frankfurt is a bit weird. The city can be visited all year round. If you visit during the winter months, pack a good jacket and expect some occasional snow. The summer months can bring heatwaves, which are now more common.

But seasons are not the only thing that will impact your trip to Frankfurt. There’s another crucial fact, and it is whether you visit Frankfurt on a weekday or during the weekend.

Weekdays are great for capturing the business side of the city. From the early morning commute to the late-night business dinners. During weekends, instead, Frankfurt feels silent, almost like sleeping. Take this into account when planning your trip to Frankfurt!

How expensive is Frankfurt?

Frankfurt is not a cheap city. Like any big German city, it’s an expensive one to visit, especially around the city centre. Due to its business capital status, this increases the prices of most downtown shops and restaurants.

However, the moment you leave the centre of Frankfurt, prices resemble more the ones of any German city. Not cheap, but also not at the level of places like Norway or Sweden.

How safe is Frankfurt?

Frankfurt is a safe city. Like any big city, it has its risks, such as pickpockets, mostly in the touristy areas. If you are capturing the Hamburg photographer spots listed in this guide, make sure to keep your gear close and controlled at all times. Exercise usual precautions, and you will be okay.

Where to stay in Frankfurt?

As I mentioned before, when I visited Frankfurt, I was visiting some friends, so I didn’t have to worry about accommodation. Yet, this also means I got the chance to discuss this topic with them.

Frankfurt gets two types of visitors: business and leisure. And this is when things get interesting in terms of areas to stay and prices. Most of the business hotels are usually booked, and the average night price can be quite high, especially since businesses are willing to pay more than individual people.

Thus, you have two options: one, stay in the heart of the city, and pay the price that comes with the location, because of the business travellers.

The second option, as you might have already guessed, is not immediately in the city centre. Frankfurt is a big city, and it has a good public transportation system, as I’ll cover in the next point. Look for a well-connected place, but not downtown, and prices will be way more affordable

How to move around Frankfurt?

Moving around Frankfurt is quite easy. The city is quite car-friendly from my own experience, but it also has a plethora of public transportation options:

• Subway: fast, frequent, and easy to use. A really great option to move around the city. This is the U-Bahn, do not mistake it with the S-Bahn, which is for slightly longer distances, but also quite useful in Frankfurt.
• Trams: the other main option for moving around Frankfurt. While it doesn’t run in all areas, it’s a great way to move while seeing what’s around you
• Buses: the option to reach specific areas of the city that the subway and trams can’t reach. Unlikely that you need to use them to visit any of the Frankfurt photography spots.

Private transportation, like taxis, is also available, but I won’t cover them in detail here.

However, the best way to move around Frankfurt, especially the central area, is by walking. Most of the photo spots in this guide are very easy to reach on foot.

Best Frankfurt photography spots:

This list of the best Frankfurt photography spots is not listed in any specific order. Each of the spots is worth visiting and has its special touch. Let’s jump to them!

Frankfurt skyline view

The first of the Frankfurt photography spots is the most famous one. However, it’s not the only spot where it will be mentioned, as Frankfurt’s skyline is what makes the city unique.

Capturing the Frankfurt skyline is easy. From most of the bridges and shores of the Main River, you can capture the skyscrapers that create the recognisable skyline of the city.

Night Frankfurt skyline

However, the Frankfurt skyline is not only worth photographing at daytime. It’s at night when it shines, literally. Especially during weekdays, when the sun goes down, the buildings are lit up, and while some work extra hours, photographers can capture a perfect image of the lit business district.

While there are many places to photograph it, the typical spot is the one from Alte Brücke. If you go to this bridge, though, don’t expect to be able to use a tripod. Unfortunately, the bridge shakes when cars or trains cross it, and unless you’re lucky and take the photo with the empty bridge, getting the perfect photo can be difficult.

Frankfurt business district

Frankfurt is more than its skyline. However, before leaving the business district, I suggest taking some time to photograph it. It’s there that some of the best Frankfurt photography spots are. From the busy people to the empty streets at night.

Surrounded by giant buildings, photo opportunities are everywhere. Some of the best ones are:

• Point your camera up, and create different compositions with the skyscrapers
• Wait until late at night, and capture the “ghost city”.
• Look for workers taking breaks. If you are into street photography, it can be a great place to walk around, camera in hand.

Overall, don’t skip the business area. It’s not an European city old town, but when it comes to photography, it’s an amazing place to capture.

Opera

Next to the business district, there’s the Frankfurt opera. A majestic building, surrounded by skyscrapers. Even if you don’t get to visit its interior, it is a great place to take photos.

What makes me list it as one of the Frankfurt photography spots is the contrast between the Opera building and the skyscrapers. It’s less noticeable during daytime, but at night, it’s very clear how two different worlds (or not so different) collide.

Botanical Garden

Taking a break from the hectic streets of Frankfurt, the botanical garden makes it to this list. This is one of the spots that I wasn’t expecting to visit during my trip. Many European cities have their own botanical garden, and in many cases, it’s worth a visit.

Besides being a great place for rainy days, it is one of the best Frankfurt photography spots. While it’s not a Frankfurt symbol, the different greenhouses are perfect for taking nature shots.

Beyond the classical details of flowers, though, it can also be a great place for a photoshoot or just to take some portraits. With different types of vegetation, it’s possible to take very different photos just by changing from one exhibition to another.

It’s not free to visit, but it can be worth the price if you spend some time exploring it.

MyZeil shopping mall

I wasn’t expecting to list a Shopping mall in this Frankfurt photography spots guide. It’s something I am more used to finding in Asian countries. However, the MyZeil shopping mall is a must for any travel photographer visiting Frankfurt.

What makes this mall unique is its architecture. It’s easier to show than to explain, but as you can see in the photo below, the mall has a very distinct structure. With a futuristic style, each level of the mall is worth a stop. I spent quite some time trying to find different angles, but it could also be a great place to capture how people interact with the architecture, as it tends to be quite busy.

Don’t skip it, it’s in a quite central area, and it makes for a nice stop.

Night street photography

As mentioned multiple times in this Frankfurt photography spots guide, after the sun sets, it’s a great time to photograph the city. Besides the streets of the business area, the city has much more to offer.

From interesting architecture to street photography in some of its less frequented areas. I enjoyed capturing the city, especially under pouring rain, as it made it much easier to take photos with little or no distractions and isolate people in them.

City life

In my photo guides, I like to include spots that are not very specific, but offer more photo opportunities. In the case of the Frankfurt photography spots guide, it’s the city life that I want to mention. I already hinted at it in previous spots, like in the night street photography or business area, but there’s more to it.

Frankfurt is a contrasted city. What you find in the business area and what you find outside of it can feel like two different worlds. Capturing this in your photos can be difficult, but a great challenge. Try capturing the city life beyond the “business” touch. Because Frankfurt is more than just suits and tall buildings.

Eiserner Steg (Iron Footbridge)

Frankfurt is a city built by the Main River, and chances are you will cross it at some point. One of the places to cross it is the Eiserner Steg, or Iron Footbridge. This bridge by itself is already nice to photograph. It’s one of the most common Frankfurt photography spots, mostly because it can also be used to capture the skyline.

However, try switching the angle, and including either the old town, or turn 180 degrees, and show the city on the other side of the river.

I could mention this as a separate spot in this guide, but if you have the chance, walk along the riverside walk. Besides great photo opportunities at the skyline and the city centre, it’s a great place to walk, run or even bike.

Old Town

Frankfurt’s old town is not the most beautiful one in Germany, or even in the area. However, it is for a reason. Most of Frankfurt’s old town was destroyed during World War II, and only a small part of it was reconstructed after.

Thus, if you decide to explore the old town, you will see that it’s just a tiny part of the city. Unlike other European cities, with their cobblestone streets, cathedrals, churches,… Frankfurt only has a small part of it.

Yet, I wanted to mention it as one of the Frankfurt photography spots, because there are a few interesting compositions, especially from the riverside and the old town square, or Römerberg.

Kleinmarkthalle (market)

Markets are one of my soft spots when visiting any city, and Frankfurt is no exception. It’s not the best one I’ve ever visited, but it’s a nice place to visit, and one of the least common Frankfurt photography spots listed in this guide.

The market is quite modern, but it’s a great place to check out some typical German food, plus some more international food options. It can get very crowded during the weekend, which can make photography a bit difficult. As you can see with the photo below, I didn’t take my best shots there, but it’s a place with a lot of potential.

Metro stations

The last of the Frankfurt photography spots in this guide is a special one. The metro is one of the best ways to move around Frankfurt, but it can also be an interesting thing to capture.

Some of the stations, even from the outside, like the one in the image below, have quite unique shapes, and make for a different photo.

Nearby towns

This is the only of the Frankfurt photography spots that is not in Frankfurt. As I mentioned in the FAQs section, Frankfurt can be a good city to use as a base for some day trips to nearby towns. Some of them can be extremely photogenic.

Given Frankfurt’s old town is small and reconstructed, a day trip can be a great way to get away from the “business mode” and explore other realities. While there are many possibilities, one of my favourite ones, and the one depicted below, is the town of Marburg. Its old town, churches and old castle/fortress are great for photography, if you crave a more traditional German architecture.

This is the end of my Frankfurt photography spots guide. Got any questions? Schedule a 1-on-1 with me using the link below! For more travel and photography inspiration, follow me on Instagram! (@aniolvisuals)