Visit Frankfurt In Winter: Best Things To Do

What Is Winter Like In Frankfurt?

You can expect cold temperatures in Frankfurt in winter. The mornings are frosty and cold winds whistle through the streets. Light snowfalls are frequent, although the city experiences the lowest number of rainy days per month, particularly in February. Apart from the occasional conference at the Frankfurt Messe, crowds are at their smallest in January and February. The average high temperature in January is 4.9°C/41°F, and the average low is -0.4°C/31°F. February’s average high is 6.6°C/44°F, and the average low is -0.3°C/31°F. 

Walk in PalmenGarten

The 2022 Christmas light trail at PalmenGarten has already been taken down for the year, but this huge botanic garden is still well worth visiting in winter. PalmenGarten hosts numerous events and activities, such as Fluttering Time in the Butterfly and Flower House (January and February), and From Down to Earth to High-Up: Bromeliads (February).

If you don’t feel like going to one of the events, you can still stroll through the garden’s greenhouses and areas such as the rockery, heather garden, and Steppe meadow. Entrances: Siesmayerstraße 63 and Palmengartenstraße.

Enjoy the atmosphere of the winter markets

If there’s one festive season market you need to visit at least once in your life, it’s the Frankfurt Christmas Market. Dating back to the 1300s, this is one of if not the oldest Christmas market in Europe. You’ll find the heart of the action at the Weihnachtsmarkt Frankfurt Römerberg, where half-timbered buildings and a gigantic Christmas tree form a delightful backdrop to the hundreds of stalls selling gifts, ornaments, and yuletide treats. You’ll find other markets in various locations around the city, such as Paulsplatz, Hauptwache, and Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz. However, as most Frankfurt Christmas markets close just before or just after Christmas, you’ll need to wait until November this year to experience them.

If you travel to the city in January or February 2023, you won’t need to worry about what to do in Frankfurt in winter, marketwise. You can still visit farmer’s and flea markets such as Kleinmarkthalle, Bauernmarkt Konstablerwache, Bornheimer Wochenmarkt, Friedberger Platz Weekly Market, and Flohmarkt Lindleystraße.

Visit the Alte Oper

The Alte Oper in Innenstadt in the banking district Bankenviertel looks like a historic building, and the name would lead you to believe that it is a few centuries old. However, the original opera house which was built in 1880 was destroyed by bombs during World War II. The current building was rebuilt in the 1970s and opened in 1981.

Visiting the Alte Oper is one of the best things to do in Frankfurt in winter if you’re a culture vulture. Join one of the guided tours to learn about the venue’s architecture and history, and to see spaces and places usually closed to the public, such as backstage. Alternatively, take in one of the performances in this special place.

Explore Römerberg Square

The iconic Römerberg Square at the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town) was rebuilt in the mid-1980s after its half-timbered mediaeval and ornate baroque buildings were destroyed by World War II bombing. No visit to Frankfurt in winter or any other time of year is complete without exploring Römerberg Square.

The square is dominated by the Römer, which was the city hall for 600 years, Old St Nicholas Church, and a gorgeous cluster of buildings in mediaeval style. The bronze fountain of justice stands in the centre of the square, which is still used for markets and fairs, most notably the Frankfurt Christmas Market. Haus Wertheym, built in 1479, is the only mediaeval building on the square that was left unscathed during the Second World War, and it operates as a restaurant serving home-style cuisine.

Go Ice Skating

What would winter in Frankfurt be without the chance to go ice skating? The best place to lace on a pair of skates and dance, pirouette, or simply enjoy some Frankfurt ice skating is Eissporthalle Frankfurt. This huge complex in the city’s Bornheim district boasts four ice rinks, two of which are outdoors. Am Bornheimer Hang 4.

Best Places For Shopping In Frankfurt

If you find yourself in the mood to do a bit of shopping in Frankfurt in winter, head to these top retail destinations.

Galeria Frankfurt an der Hauptwache: One of the city’s best department stores, Galeria offers men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as home and travel items. You’ll also find a cafeteria-style restaurant and a rooftop bar and restaurant with great views of the skyline.

The Zeil: One of Frankfurt’s busiest and most important shopping streets, the Zeil is where you’ll find a plethora of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. The pedestrianised section of the road connects the Hauptwache and Konstablerwache plazas, both of which are excellent shopping areas.