Events & What’s Happening
One of Europe's largest cultural festivals, held along the Main riverbanks with live music, food from around the world, and activities tied to Frankfurt's many riverside museums.
💡The museum booths offer free or reduced children's workshops; arrive by midday Saturday for the best selection of activities before evening crowds build.
A traditional folk festival along the Main riverfront between Römerberg and Eiserner Steg, celebrating local food, apple wine, live music, and Frankfurt culture.
💡The riverfront location is stroller-friendly and the early afternoon hours are calm enough for young children to enjoy the atmosphere safely.
The world's largest international book fair, held annually at Messe Frankfurt, with the weekend days open to the public featuring a large children's and young adult literature section.
💡The public weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) are family-friendly with author readings and interactive storytelling booths for children.
One of Germany's largest marathons and an IAAF Gold Label road race, passing through the city centre with a festive atmosphere and a popular fun run for children.
💡Sign kids up for the children's run held the day before the main race; spectating along the Römerberg section offers great views and an electric crowd atmosphere.
One of Germany's oldest and most famous Christmas markets, filling the Römerberg and surrounding squares with over 200 stalls selling crafts, food, and seasonal gifts.
💡Visit on a weekday afternoon to avoid weekend crowds; the carousel and nativity scene near the Römer are highlights for children.
A biennial light art festival transforming Frankfurt's buildings and public spaces with large-scale illuminations, projections, and interactive light installations across the city.
💡The outdoor installations are free to walk through after dark; older children especially love the interactive light sculptures near the riverbanks.
Frankfurt's oldest and most beloved funfair, held twice a year on the Festplatz am Ratsweg, featuring rides, traditional pottery stalls, and classic fair food.
💡The spring edition in April is ideal for families; arrive when it opens to enjoy rides before queues lengthen — a second edition runs in September.
One of Frankfurt's most popular weekly markets at Konstablerwache square, offering fresh produce, regional specialties, flowers, cheese, and prepared foods year-round.
💡Go before 10am to browse comfortably with a stroller; kids enjoy the pretzel and juice stalls near the central fountain area.
A lively neighbourhood market in the Bockenheim district held every Wednesday, featuring organic produce, baked goods, meats, and international street food.
💡The market is a manageable size for young children; the organic bakers usually offer free samples and the atmosphere is relaxed on weekday mornings.
Weekly storytime sessions for children aged 4–8 held at Frankfurt's Central City Library (Stadtbücherei), featuring German-language picture books and interactive storytelling.
💡No registration is needed for drop-in sessions; arrive a few minutes early as seating in the children's section fills up quickly on school holidays.
Frankfurt's beloved botanical garden, the Palmengarten, is especially family-oriented on Sundays with seasonal plant displays, a miniature railway, pony rides, and a large playground area.
💡Buy an annual family pass if you plan to visit more than three times — it pays for itself quickly and the garden changes beautifully with each season.
A popular weekly flea market along the south bank of the Main River in Sachsenhausen, offering vintage items, second-hand toys, books, and curiosities in a scenic riverside setting.
💡Children love hunting for affordable second-hand toys and books; combine the visit with a walk along the Main riverbank to the Eiserner Steg iron bridge.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Frankfurt Zoo (Zoo Frankfurt) offers a significantly cheaper combined family ticket — buy the 'Familienkarte' at the entrance for two adults and up to four children under 17, which saves around €12 compared to individual tickets. The zoo's Grzimek House nocturnal animal building is a highlight kids rarely forget.
- 💡The two-day Museumsufer ticket (Kombiticket, available at any participating museum) costs €18 per person and grants access to all 15 museums along the Main — use it across two calendar days rather than two consecutive days to maximize value.
- 💡Ride the U4 U-Bahn to Bockenheimer Warte and walk five minutes to the Palmengarten botanical garden — entry is around €7 for adults and free for children under 6, and the garden's Tropicarium greenhouse is a reliable wet-weather backup.
- 💡The Kleinmarkthalle on Hasengasse, open Monday through Saturday, is Frankfurt's best covered market — the upper gallery's Apfelwein bar is for adults, but the ground floor sausage and cheese stalls make an excellent and cheap family lunch stop for around €5–8 per person.
- 💡Take the S8 or S9 S-Bahn to Kelkheim and hike the marked Taunussteig trail — it's a 45-minute ride from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and the Altenhain trail section has a stream kids can wade in during summer months.
- 💡The Senckenberg Natural History Museum on Senckenberganlage has Europe's largest mounted dinosaur display outside a national museum. Entry is around €10 for adults and €5 for children — arrive when it opens at 9am on weekdays to avoid school group crowds that typically arrive by 10am.
- 💡Frankfurt's Main riverfront promenade (the Nizza gardens section near Untermainkai) has shallow-grade steps down to the water's edge — families picnic here on summer evenings and it's one of the few places where the river feels genuinely accessible rather than fenced off.
- 💡The Museum für Kommunikation on Schaumainkai lets children explore historical telephone exchanges and early computing displays with hands-on terminals — it's free for children under 18 and €5 for adults, making it one of the best-value museum stops on the Museumsufer.