Overview
Frankfurt is Germany's financial capital and one of the best-connected cities in Europe, which makes it a natural choice for a weekend break or a business trip from the UK. The centre is compact and walkable, with a striking skyline, a cluster of riverside museums and the lively Sachsenhausen apple-wine quarter all within a short train ride of the airport.
Best time to fly to Frankfurt
May, June and September bring mild, bright days that are ideal for exploring the old town and strolling the River Main. December is busy and atmospheric thanks to the Römerberg Christmas market, so book well ahead. Frankfurt also stages major trade fairs — the Book Fair each October is the best known — and flights and hotels fill quickly around them. The When to book chart above shows how fares shift across the year.
Airlines and routes
Lufthansa runs the widest choice of UK services to its Frankfurt hub, flying from Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. British Airways flies from Heathrow, and Ryanair connects London Stansted with Frankfurt. These routes are all direct, with a typical flight time of about 1 hour 40 minutes from London and roughly 1 hour 45 minutes from Manchester. Connecting fares via hubs such as Amsterdam or Paris exist but rarely beat the nonstop options.
Things to do in Frankfurt
Frankfurt rewards a slow wander between its squares, museums and market halls.
- Römerberg: the rebuilt medieval square and the Römer, Frankfurt's town hall since the 15th century.
- Städel Museum: 700 years of European art, from Botticelli to Picasso, on the Museumsufer embankment.
- Main Tower: the city's only skyscraper with a public viewing platform, about 200 metres up.
- Palmengarten: a large botanical garden with tropical glasshouses, enjoyable in any weather.
- Kleinmarkthalle: a bustling indoor food market, perfect for a quick lunch among the locals.
At Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
The airport lies about 12 km south-west of the centre. S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 run from the regional station to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in around 12 minutes, then continue to Hauptwache for the old town. Long-distance ICE trains use the separate long-distance station (Fernbahnhof). A taxi into the centre takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes outside the rush hour.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Frankfurt
- Book around one to three months ahead; short-haul fares tend to climb in the final weeks.
- Choose a Tuesday-to-Thursday departure and avoid Friday evenings and Sunday returns.
- Use a flexible-date search and compare a few departure days against the price charts on this page.
- Check Lufthansa, British Airways and Ryanair side by side, and weigh Stansted against Heathrow once bags and transport are added.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but your passport should be less than 10 years old and valid for at least three months after you plan to leave. The EU's Entry/Exit System is being introduced at Frankfurt, so allow a little extra time on arrival. The currency is the euro, and cards are widely accepted. No vaccinations are required; carry a GHIC and travel insurance for peace of mind.
