Frankfurt visit

You might check the websites for the places you wish to visit. I quickly checked the castle and as expected it’s closed on 12/25.

No reason to limit yourself to just Frankfurt for Christmas Markets! Look at the nearby towns to see if there are Christmas Markets that you can drive to or take the train to. Sounds like fun!

The main Frankfurt Christmas market closes on the 22nd. Wiesbaden and Mainz close on the 23rd. Ones that are open after that would be Speyer, Koblenz, Limburg.
The Winter Lights are in the Frankfurt Palmengarten every evening except on the 24th. Get your tickets on line.
On the 24th, there is the Pealing of the Bells at 17:00, 50 bells in 10 churches downtown, ringing for 30 min. All the Frankfurters come downtown to hear this.
Museums may or may not be open on the 25th and 26th. They sometimes trade off, so check their websites. The Zoo is open every day, but closes early on the 24th. Special Rembrandt exhibit in the Städel just opened. Get tickets online.

Cologne is a bit far to go for a day trip. Check the website for the Heidelberg Castle for their opening hours over Christmas.

Thanks a ton for ur responses Ms Jo , weroutthisdoor and Margie. Appreciate ur prompt response. So kind of you all to be sharing the information.

I am thinking of doing Cologne straight from the airport and maybe spend a couple days there. Is there anything we could do on the 25th? In or around Frankfurt?

I did see opening times for 12/25/2024
…klassikstadt.de/en/klassikstadt/konzept
==Oldtimer cars exhibition

The Great Christmas Circus
Circus Carl Busch

….frankfurt-airport.com
Guided Roundtrip by bus /Airport field tour
I did see possible tickets online booking for this date

The Fans Strike Back Exhibition, Frankfurt Am Main
Mittwoch, 25. Dezember 2024, 14:00 Uhr
Adress: Raumfabrik Frankfurt am Main
Heddernheimer Landstraße 153, 60439 Frankfurt Am Main

The Strasbourg Christmas market is open through December 27.
https://www.visitstrasbourg.fr/en/discover/the-capital-of-christmas/
Hours are:
"In 2024, the Strasbourg Christmas Market will be open everyday from 11.30am to 9 pm. Except on 27 November (from 2pm to 9pm) and 24 December (from 11.30am to 6pm)."

Things to consider:
- It's a longer train ride from Frankfurt, 2.5 to 3 hours
- It's a very popular market, especially due to being open during Christmas. Hotel rooms may be scarce or expensive due to the popularity.

I would also suggest blocking off one morning for the excellent Frankfurt on Foot walking tour. It looks like it will be run on Dec. 25.

I took it last year just as the Christmas Markets were about to open.

Thanks all u wonderful people.

I second the recommendation for the Frankfurt on Foot walking tour. In my opinion Frankfurt gets a bad rap on this site. There are many interesting and historic things to see there.

Also what are the recommendations on places to visit in Berlin? Best way to get to Berlin from Frankfurt?

And best way to visit the Heidelberg Castle? Should we book tours via VIATOR etc or do it ourselves? The reviews on visitor e mixed and say that tourists were not given enough time to explore the castle or the village.

And yes, I will mostly be booking the Frankfurt on Foot tour for the 25th possibly.

Thanks all for ur suggestions.

Do not book the tour to Heidelberg on Viator with ETS. Just take the train to Heidelberg (or the Flix bus. My niece did this and it was cheaper and faster) Stop by the TI at the train station there and get a map and ask which bus goes to the Alt Stadt. Buy a ticket at the funicular and that takes you up to the castle and gets you entry, and then back down again. The castle offers tours itself. The Apotheke Museum is interesting and your ticket gets you in here too.
Perhaps stop by the Student Prison, which is in the Alt Stadt. One of my favorite things there.

I just got back from the Winter Lights in the Palmengarten. They were lovely.

Many thanks