10 Easy Day Trips From Frankfurt am Main (by Train!) 

Frankfurt am Main is a fantastic base for exploring central and western Germany, including the wine region! Here are the top day trips from Frankfurt that can be reached in under 2 hours by train. 

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Boasting the busiest airport in the country, Frankfurt am Main is a logical first stop on your Germany itinerary. Give yourself a full day to explore Frankfurt’s “New” Old Town and window shop in the city center, then plan on taking at least one day trip before leaving Germany’s financial capital. 

The Frankfurt day trips mentioned in this guide are all super easy to reach by train (only one destination requires a transfer!) and each takes 2 hours or less to reach. 

I’ve visited each of these cities, so I can personally vouch that they’re worth visiting! And because you’re my favorite reader on the Internet, I’ve structured this post so the closest day trip destination is first and the one furthest away is last. You’re welcome. 😉 

When purchasing train tickets: Remember that high-speed ICE trains cost more but will get you there faster. Regional express (RE) and regional (RB) trains make more stops but are “free” for anyone who holds a Germany ticket.

Table of Contents 

Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below. 

Mainz

Travel time by train: 35 minutes via ICE, 40 minutes via regional train 

Mainz is a small city along the Rhine River with a jewel of an Old Town; the houses around Kirschgarten square date back to the 15th century! The city is also the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the moveable-type printing press. 

In a day trip to Mainz, you can easily do and see the following: 

• Gutenberg Museum — Head to the vault to see the two original Gutenberg bibles! 
• Cathedral (Dom St. Martin) — A stunning medieval church that dates back to 975 CE. 
• St. Stephen’s Church — Known for its stained glass windows designed by artist Marc Chagall. 
• Wine tasting — There are some wonderful tasting rooms where you can sample wines of the Mosel, Rheingau, and Rheinhessen regions. (Think: Riesling and Pinot Noir wines!)

Read more: Day Trip Guide to Mainz, Germany

Wiesbaden 

Travel time by train: 45 minutes via S-Bahn, 35 minutes via regional train 

On the opposite bank of the Rhine River, you’ll find Wiesbaden. Unlike most other major cities in the area, Wiesbaden lost “only” about 20% of its buildings in the WWII air raids; walking around the city center and adjoining neighborhoods gives you a taste of the grandeur of pre-war Germany. 

Wiesbaden is the capital of the German state Hessen, and it’s also the European headquarters of the US Army (roughly 16,000 service members, their families, and civilian staff live here!). 

In one day, I recommend seeing: 

• Market Church — A beautiful Neo-Gothic church built from red brick. 
• Neroberg — You can ride the funicular up this hill for a view of the city from above. The opulent Russian Orthodox Church is also worth viewing nearby. 
• Kurpark — An English-style park located behind the Kurhaus (an events center and casino). 
• Old Town — A nice place to wander around. There’s a large pedestrian zone with lots of shops and restaurants. 

Wiesbaden is located in the heart of Germany’s wine region, so it’s another great place to do wine tasting! If you’re looking for the absolute easiest day trip from Frankfurt, Wiesbaden is my top pick. 

Mannheim 

Travel time by train: 1 hour via ICE, 1 hour 17 minutes via regional express train 

Known as the Quadratestadt (Square City), Mannheim was rebuilt by the occupying American forces following WWII. In true army fashion, the Americans rebuilt Mannheim on a grid system. You won’t find street names in city center — oh no, each block is labeled “A1, A2, B1, B2,” and so on.

On your day trip out of Frankfurt, I recommend the following attractions: 

• Baroque Palace — Only part of this ornate palace remains open as a museum. The rest of the building is now used by the University of Mannheim. 
• Water Tower — A 60-meter former water tower made from sandstone. The square around it is very pretty. This is where the city’s Christmas market takes place. 
• Kunsthalle Mannheim — Art museum showcasing works from the 19th and 20th centuries. 
• Quadrate — AKA the city center. It’s worth wandering around to get a feeling for the unique layout of the city. 

Rüdesheim am Rhein

Travel time by train: 1 hour 12 minutes via regional train 

On sunny spring and summer days, it’s hard to beat a day trip to Rüdesheim! When you step off the train into this postcard-perfect town, know that you’re stepping into the heart of the Rheingau wine region. 

The Old Town area is full of wine rooms where you can sample a variety of wines (I recommend Vinothek RheinWeinWelt near the central station). 

In addition to sampling the local Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, give yourself enough time to see the following: 

• Drosselgasse — The most famous attraction in Rüdesheim. It’s a 144-meter, very narrow alley with lots of wine stores, boutiques, and restaurants. 
• Niederwald Monument — You can ride the cable car to the monument, but I suggest walking up amongst the vineyards for a spectacular view over the town amongst the grapes. From the base of the monument, you’ll have an unparalleled view of the Rhine River valley. 
• Eibingen Abbey — The church is free to enter; the interior is painted in the rare style of the Beuron art school. Be sure to check out the gift shop to purchase some of the liqueurs, wines, jams, or baked goods produced on site by the nuns. 

Note that Rüdesheim is also a popular stop on Rhine Valley Day Tours that begin in Frankfurt. 

Read more: Day Trip Guide to Rüdesheim am Rhein

Heidelberg 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 20 minutes via regional express train 

Home to the oldest university in Germany, Heidelberg strikes the perfect balance between being a vibrant student’s city and a traditional German city steeped in history. 

On your day trip from Frankfurt, I recommend visiting the following: 

• Heidelberg Castle — A stunning castle perched high above the Old Town. It’s mostly in ruins now, but you can pay extra to tour what remains of the interior portion of the castle. Give yourself enough time to see the largest wine barrel in the world at the castle, too! 
• Königsstuhl view point — Ride the funicular up to Königsstuhl (“King’s Seat”) for an epic view of Heidelberg and the Neckar River from above. 
• Old Town — The historic city center is one of the prettiest in Germany! Definitely visit the Kornmarkt for a beautiful view of the castle from below. 
• Old Bridge — A lovely sandstone bridge from the 18th century. This is one of the best photo spots in the city. 

If you want to make your life super easy, sign up for a day tour to Heidelberg so you don’t have to book train or castle tickets yourself.

Read more: The Top 10 Things to Do in Heidelberg, Germany

Cologne 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 20 minutes via ICE 

First a Roman settlement for nearly 500 years, Cologne is now known for being one of the happiest cities in Germany. If you’re able to plan your day trip from Frankfurt so that it coincides with the annual Carnival celebrations that happen in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, you won’t regret it! 

Otherwise, there are so many fun things to do in Cologne no matter the season. In a single day, I recommend: 

• Cologne Cathedral — It’s the first thing you see when you exit the central train station. The soaring cathedral took more than 600 years to complete and is arguably the most impressive in all of Germany! 
• Old Town — My favorite squares are the Alter Markt and Heumarkt. There are a number of pretty churches scattered throughout the Old Town, too. 
• Wallraf-Richartz-Museum — A fantastic art museum showcasing works from the Middle Ages, Baroque period, and 19th century. 
• Rhine Promenade — A good place to come near the end of your day trip. Grab a drink from a nearby Späti (convenience store) and enjoy the gorgeous view of the Hohenzollern Bridge stretching over the Rhine River. 

If you like beer, you should also have enough time for a Kölsch beer tasting tour; this unique type of beer originated in Cologne!

Read more: 13 Best Things to Do in Cologne, Germany

Bonn 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 minutes via ICE (1 change) 

History buffs, this is the Frankfurt day trip for you! Bonn served as the capital of West Germany during the Cold War, and continued acting as the capital of Germany until the government finally relocated to Berlin in 1990. 

A day in Bonn is the perfect amount of time to see the city’s top attractions: 

• Minster Basilica — An impressive Romanesque church dating back 900 years.  
• Beethoven House Museum — Explore Beethoven’s birthplace while learning about the life and works of one of Germany’s most famous composers. 
• German National Museum of Contemporary History — A free museum dedicated to Germany’s history from World War II to the present day. This is one of the best history museums I’ve ever been to! 
• Old Town — A pretty pedestrian zone with lots of shops, cafes, and historic landmarks. There’s a fantastic Christmas market in the central square each Advent. 

Read more: The Top Attractions in Bonn, Germany

Düsseldorf 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 minutes via ICE

Germany’s fashion capital is neighbors with gritty Cologne — but both are worth visiting as day trips from Frankfurt! 

You can’t see everything Düsseldorf has to offer in one day, but you can see a lot of the city center, including: 

• Königsallee (shown above) — An upscale shopping boulevard with a grand canal running through the middle. 
• Old Town — In the half-kilometer long Old Town, make sure to see the city hall and St. Lambertus Basilica (which has a spire that was allegedly twisted by the devil himself!). 
• Rhine River Promenade — A beautiful path that takes you from the Old Town to the MedienHafen. 
• MedienHafen — Düsseldorf’s architectural treasure trove! The “Media Harbor” is full of buildings designed by architects like Frank O. Gehry, David Chipperfield, Joe Coenen, Steven Holl and Claude Vasconi. Do not skip this area of the city! 

Read more: What to Do and See in Düsseldorf, Germany

Kassel  

Travel time by train: 1 hour 35 minutes via ICE

This city in the heart of Hessen is one of the contemporary art capitals of the world. It’s all thanks to the contemporary art exhibition, documenta, that takes place here every five years (the next dates are June – September 2027!). 

If your day trip out of Frankfurt doesn’t coincide with documenta, know that Kassel is still worth visiting! Plan to see the following:

• Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe — A massive monument of Hercules is erected on top of the hill, and from its base cascades a man-made waterfall. At the base of the hill is Wilhelmhöhe Palace, which served as the royal family’s summer residence until 1918. 
• Grimmwelt — This unique museum is dedicated to the Brothers Grimm, authors of some of the world’s best-loved fairy tales. The duo lived in Kassel for around 30 years, and you can see first editions of some of their works as well as letters and other objects related to the brothers. 
• Karlsaue Park — A gorgeous Baroque-style park in the heart of the city. The 18th-century orangerie is a favorite feature of mine! 

Koblenz 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 minutes via regional express train 

Yet another jewel of the Rheingau region, Koblenz is situated on the point where the Moselle River meets the Rhein. Make the most of your day trip to Koblenz by seeing the following: 

• Deutsches Eck (shown above) — The “German Corner” boasts a 37-meter high statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I. From the base of the statue, you can look down at the exact spot where the Moselle and Rhine Rivers flow into one another. 
• Ehrenbreitstein Fortress — The second-largest preserved fortress in Europe; I suggest riding the cable car up and over the Rhein River to reach the fortress. 
• Old Town — Be sure to visit Florinsmarkt square, where there’s a clock aptly named the “Eye Roller.” The face on the clock rolls its eyes and sticks out its tongue every hour and half-hour! 
• Church of Our Lady — A brightly painted church with twin onion domes on its spires. 

Read more: How to Spend 1 Day in Koblenz, Germany

Enjoy Your Day Trip From Frankfurt! 

If you’ve already seen Frankfurt’s “New” Old Town and want to explore more of the area, take a day trip! This part of Germany is so easy to navigate thanks to the extensive train network. 

If you have any questions about planning a day trip out of Frankfurt, drop me a comment below! 

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