Where to Stay in Frankfurt for First-Time Visitors (Best Areas + Hotels)

If you’re planning your first trip to Germany, figuring out where to stay in Frankfurt can feel a little overwhelming.

Should you stay near the train station for convenience? In the city center for sightseeing? Is Frankfurt even the right place to base yourself?

When my boyfriend Tim and I planned our 7-day Germany trip with our friends Abby and Deep, we chose to use Frankfurt as our home base for much of the trip—and it ended up being one of the easiest and most efficient ways to explore the region.

We actually stayed in Frankfurt twice during the same trip, for a total of 5 nights, using it as our base for 4 days of sightseeing before and after our 3 days in Munich.

That gave us enough time to test whether Frankfurt really works as a hub—and for our travel style, it absolutely did!

We wanted:

• Easy train access for day trips
• Walkability
• A safe and convenient area
• And a trip that didn’t involve constantly changing hotels

Frankfurt delivered on all of it.

Frankfurt is incredibly well-connected, which made it so simple to take day trips to places like the Rhine Valley, Cologne, Brühl, and even Eltz Castle without constantly packing up and switching hotels.

Instead of bouncing around with luggage every other day, we could come back to the same hotel each night, which made the trip feel far more relaxed.

That said, where you stay in Frankfurt matters a lot.

Some areas are perfect for first-time visitors and easy train access, while others can feel a bit less comfortable—especially if you’re traveling as a woman or prioritizing safety and convenience.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best areas to stay in Frankfurt, share where we personally stayed, and give you a few other great hotel options depending on your travel style and budget.

If you’re short on time, these are the three best areas to stay in Frankfurt:

• Innenstadt (City Center): Best for first-time visitors and walkability
• Bahnhofsviertel: Best for train access and day trips
• Sachsenhausen: Best for a quieter, more local feel

If I were doing a similar first-time Germany trip again, I’d choose one of these three.

If you’re wondering where to stay in Frankfurt for first-time visitors, these are the areas I’d personally recommend based on our experience.

Here’s a closer look at each area so you can decide what works best for your trip.

If it’s your first time visiting Frankfurt, Innenstadt is hard to beat.

You’ll be close to Römerberg, shopping streets, museums, restaurants, and public transportation.

It’s central, convenient, and easy to navigate.

It can be slightly more expensive than other neighborhoods, but the convenience often makes up for it.

If you want to be in the middle of everything and have easy access to attractions, this is a great option.

👉 Best for: First-time visitors and walkability

This is where we chose to stay—and it worked incredibly well for our trip.

The area around Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) is one of the most convenient places to stay if you’re planning to take day trips.

You’ll have direct access to trains heading all over Germany, which makes early mornings and travel days much easier.

That said, this area can feel a bit mixed depending on the street.

During the day, it’s busy and convenient, but at night it can feel less polished than other parts of the city.

We personally felt fine walking back from dinner in the early evening, but the atmosphere noticeably changed later at night around certain blocks closer to the station. 

As a female traveler, I’d recommend choosing your hotel carefully here, sticking to well-reviewed properties in good locations, and prioritizing hotels on quieter side streets (like where we stayed).

👉 Best for: Easy transportation and day trips

If you’re looking for something a little quieter and more relaxed, Sachsenhausen is a great option.

It has a more local feel, with cute streets, traditional restaurants, and a slightly slower pace.

It’s still well-connected to the city center, but it feels less hectic than staying right near the train station.

If I were planning a slower Germany trip with fewer day trips and more time for cafes, restaurants, and evenings out, this is probably the area I’d choose next time. 

👉 Best for: A more relaxed, local experience

Honestly, I think staying near Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof makes the most sense for a lot of first-time visitors—especially if you’re planning to take day trips like we did.

Being able to walk to the station in the morning instead of navigating public transportation with luggage or rushing across the city made our trip dramatically easier.

That said, this area can be a little polarizing online, so I want to give an honest perspective.

Some streets around Frankfurt Central Station are definitely a bit rougher than what some travelers expect from Germany, particularly late at night.

You’ll likely notice a visible nightlife scene, busier crowds, and some areas that feel less polished than the historic center.

But at the same time, not every part of Bahnhofsviertel feels unsafe.

We specifically chose a well-reviewed hotel on a quieter side street, and for our style of travel, the convenience outweighed the downsides.

During the day and early evening, we found the area busy but manageable, especially since we were usually heading out for day trips or returning after dinner.

If you’re planning to use Frankfurt as a transportation hub, I personally think staying near the station can be worth it—as long as you:

• Choose your hotel carefully
• Read recent reviews
• Avoid the cheapest properties directly surrounding the station
• Prioritize locations on quieter nearby streets

For travelers focused on convenience and train travel, staying near Hauptbahnhof can make your trip significantly easier.

👉 If you’re planning to explore Germany by train or take multiple day trips from Frankfurt, staying near the station is a great option.

For our trip, we stayed at The Pure, a Member of Design Hotels, and I would genuinely recommend it, especially if you’re planning to use Frankfurt as a base like we did.

We stayed here at both the beginning and end of our trip, and it worked perfectly as a home base.

Here’s why we chose it:

• Easy walk from Frankfurt Central Station
• Convenient for airport arrival and day trips
• Felt safe and easy to navigate
• Stylish but comfortable for a multi-night stay

What we loved:

• Stylish, modern rooms
• Cozy lounge bar downstairs (perfect for unwinding after a long day)
• Easy access to trains and public transportation

During our stay, we used Frankfurt as our starting point for several day trips, and not having to switch hotels between each of these stops made the entire trip feel so much smoother and less stressful.

👉 Some of our favorite experiences from Frankfurt included our Rhine Valley cruise, spending 1 day in Cologne, and exploring Eltz Castle.

One thing to note: the rooms ran a bit warm at night, though opening the windows helped.

A Broad Recommendation: Request a room on a higher floor and away from the street to avoid noise—especially on weekends. And definitely opt for the breakfast—it’s worth it!

If you’re planning a similar trip, I’d absolutely stay here again for the convenience alone.

👉 View current rates and availability for The Pure here.

If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Frankfurt, these are some of the best hotel options based on location, convenience, and overall experience.

While we personally stayed at The Pure, these are the other places I would consider if I were planning the same trip again—especially if you’re using Frankfurt as a home base for day trips.

Adina Apartment Hotel Frankfurt Neue Oper

A great option if you want a central location with more space to relax.

The apartment-style setup makes it ideal for longer stays and gives you that “home base” feel.

👉 Best for: First-time visitors and longer stays

Hotel Monopol Frankfurt

If you’re planning to take multiple day trips, staying near the train station makes everything so much easier.

This is a great value option just steps from the main transit hub.

👉 Best for: Easy travel days and early departures

Motel One Frankfurt-Römer

A stylish and affordable option in an unbeatable location.

You’ll be within walking distance of major sights and transit, making it a great all-around choice.

👉 Best for: Comfort, style, and convenience

25hours Hotel The Trip

A fun, unique hotel that feels like part of the experience.

Perfect if you want something a little more memorable and design-forward.

👉 Best for: Girls trips and couples

Libertine Lindenberg

A more relaxed and local-feeling option in one of Frankfurt’s most charming neighborhoods.

👉 Best for: Slower-paced trips and a quieter stay

💡 Quick Tip: Book early if you’re traveling around Oktoberfest in Munich, Christmas markets, or fall shoulder season.

For this style of trip—yes.

Using Frankfurt as a base gave us:

• Easy train connections
• A central location
• Fewer hotel changes
• More relaxed travel days

For first-time visitors trying to maximize limited time, it can work really well.

👉 If you want to copy the exact structure we used, check out my 4-Day Frankfurt Itinerary, full 7-Day Germany Itinerary, and guide to traveling Germany by train (coming soon!).

Here are a few more tips for choosing where to stay in Frankfurt:

• Stay near public transportation if you’re planning day trips
• Choose a well-reviewed hotel if staying near the train station
• Book early during peak seasons
• Prioritize convenience—it will make your trip so much smoother

At the end of the day, the best place to stay in Frankfurt depends on your travel style—but if you’re planning a trip similar to ours, focusing on location and ease of transportation will make all the difference.

For most first-time visitors, Innenstadt (the city center) is one of the best places to stay in Frankfurt because it’s walkable, central, and close to major attractions, restaurants, and public transportation.

If you’re planning multiple day trips by train, staying near Hauptbahnhof can also be incredibly convenient.

Overall, Frankfurt is generally safe for tourists, but some areas around the main train station can feel rougher at night compared to other parts of Germany.

We personally stayed near the station and found it very convenient, but I’d recommend choosing a well-reviewed hotel on a quieter side street and staying aware of your surroundings late at night.

If you’re planning day trips to places like the Rhine Valley, Cologne, or Eltz Castle, staying near Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof can make your trip much easier.

We loved being able to quickly walk to the station each morning without needing additional transportation.

You can see many of Frankfurt’s main sights in 1–2 days, but we personally found it worked best as a base for exploring other parts of Germany.

We stayed for a total of 5 nights across our trip and used Frankfurt as a hub for several day trips.

👉 Planning a short trip? Check out my 1-Day Frankfurt Itinerary to see exactly how I’d prioritize your time in the city.

If you’re planning your first trip to Germany and want an easy, well-connected base, Frankfurt can work surprisingly well.

For our trip, staying in Frankfurt made it possible to explore multiple destinations without constantly changing hotels, which made the entire experience feel far more relaxed and manageable.

Instead of constantly dragging luggage between cities, we actually got to enjoy our trip at a slower pace.

The best area for you really depends on your travel style:

• Stay near Hauptbahnhof if you’re prioritizing train travel and day trips
• Choose Innenstadt if you want to be close to major sights
• Stay in Sachsenhausen for a quieter, more local atmosphere

For us, the convenience of using Frankfurt as a home base completely outweighed the downsides—and I’d absolutely structure a similar Germany trip this way again.

If you’re still planning your itinerary, you can also check out my guides to:

• 4 Days in Frankfurt
• Day Trips from Frankfurt
• My 7-Day Germany Itinerary
• 3 Days in Munich
• Our Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip from Munich

👉 For more help planning your trip, you can also refer to my Germany travel guide, which covers everything from transportation to budgeting and itinerary planning.

XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads