Hi! Just got the opportunity to fly in and out of Frankfurt from March 17th through the 21st, so not too long. I've been to some places in Southern Germany but never to Frankfurt. What are some good trips we could do either using it as a base or leaving and coming back, possibly using trains only? We are not drinkers, but we do love Bavarian food. I enjoy history but not a need for art museums. Is Stuttgart too far to travel (asking for the Porsche museum haha). I have been to Rothenburg but he has not. I would appreciate any suggestions/information!
Posted by
Schwerin
3527 posts
Three full days is not much time. Therefore I would keep day trips in shorter distance e. g. Mainz, Wiesbaden Heidelberg or a closer village from half-timbered house road. Stuttgart is appr. 2 hours one way.
Check journey planner for details: https://int.bahn.de/en
Frankfurt area food is different to Bavarian but also some Bavarian branches there. The area is more on cider and wine than on beer.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
652 posts
The Mercedes-Benz museum, also in Stuttgart, is much more impressive than Porsche. Unless you're really into Porsches. Not sure what else there is to see or do there, but I wouldn't do it as a day trip from Frankfurt if it's two hours each way, as the previous comment suggests.
Wiesbaden is a spa town, and I enjoyed recovering from my transatlantic flight in the public pool there. I'm not into coed naked sauna, but that's also available in more luxurious settings.
Posted by
northern CA
2928 posts
Jo is our resident expert on Frankfurt; see her youtube channel here:
Posted by
Freedonia
16783 posts
Take the excellent Frankfurt on Foot walking tour.
Posted by
Germany
226 posts
Travelling by train Würzburg might be an option for a day trip from Frankfurt
Its in Bavaria (ok Locals ...in Franconia which is a part of Bavaria )
1hr with ICE High Speed train from Frankfurt central 1 stop inbetween to Würzburg
See the Residence the Festung(Fortress) Marienberg,the Main River ,the Cathedral
Have a Schäufele (Franconia Pork Roast its the one with the dumplings on the picture) at Bürgerspital Weinstuben
in the Historic Center of town near Market Square and Cathedral
btw
From Würzburg its another hour by train (1 change) to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8165 posts
I would not fly from Florida to Frankfurt for just 4 nights. There's plenty to do in Frankfurt, but you have excluded museums. I might settle for Idstein and Aschaffenberg, but daily lows can be 38F, making touring less fun. It appears there are a few daily KD Middle Rhine boats in the winter (?)
Posted by
Freedonia
16783 posts
I would suggest not planning too much. One thing no one has mentioned is the possibility of jet lag.
Posted by
OP
Sarasota, Florida
80 posts
Thank you for all your thoughts. The length is definitely not ideal so my bar is very low on doing a lot. I am looking forward to kasespatzle. I haven’t had some in so long. I will research these suggestions.
Posted by
929 posts
we do love Bavarian food
Paulaner Wirtshaus am Dom is Bavarian. It's in central Frankfurt.
https://paulaner-am-dom.de/en/menus/menu/
The military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, has a review today of another Frankfurt (not strictly Bavarian) restaurant
https://www.stripes.com/living/europe_travel/after_hours/2025-03-08/food-restaurant-beer-16961940.html
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21503 posts
You want to talk to this lady. Send her a PM. No one knows Frankfurt and the surrounding area better: https://community.ricksteves.com/users/12707
Posted by
OP
Sarasota, Florida
80 posts
thank you, I will!!!