Sachsenhausen (Frankfurt) Travel Guide - Free

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Sachsenhausen
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Sachsenhausen in Frankfurt pairs Museumsufer art, Main river walks, apple-wine taverns and old lanes with easy access to the city centre and leafy Stadtwald trails.

South of the Main

Sachsenhausen occupies much of Frankfurt's south bank, stretching from the riverfront and Museumsufer towards the Südbahnhof area, the city forest and the southern edge of the urban core. It is not a single, uniform quarter: Sachsenhausen-Nord combines museums, embankment walks and the historic lanes of Alt-Sachsenhausen, while Sachsenhausen-Süd becomes leafier and more residential. Across the Main, Frankfurt's skyline provides a constant urban backdrop.
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Museums and River Life

The neighbourhood's most internationally recognised cultural concentration is Museumsufer, where institutions including the Städel Museum, Liebieghaus and Museum Angewandte Kunst line or closely border the southern riverbank. The Mainufer itself is equally important to local life, with broad paths used for walking, jogging, cycling and seasonal riverfront events. Bridges connect Sachsenhausen with the city centre, making the quarter feel both distinct and conveniently close to Frankfurt's central sights.

Apfelwein and Everyday Sachsenhausen

Around Schweizer Platz and the narrow streets of Alt-Sachsenhausen, traditional Apfelwein taverns sit alongside cafés, restaurants and bars. Frankfurt's local cider, served in a stoneware jug known as a Bembel, is part of the area's long-established hospitality culture, though the district is not simply an entertainment zone: residential streets, schools, small businesses and quiet squares remain integral to its character. Further south, paths into Stadtwald offer a marked change of pace, with woodland, open clearings and the Goetheturm area within reach. Sachsenhausen works best as a neighbourhood of contrasts—museum galleries and riverside exercise, old tavern streets and modern apartment blocks, dense city life and nearby woodland.

Best attractions in Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen's principal attractions line the southern bank of the Main, where Museumsufer brings together the Städel Museum, Liebieghaus, Museum Angewandte Kunst, DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, Museum Giersch der Goethe-Universität and Museum für Weltkulturen, among other cultural institutions. Each offers a different way into Frankfurt's art, design, film and cultural history, while the riverfront itself provides a broad walking and cycling route with changing views towards the central skyline. Away from the museums, Alt-Sachsenhausen's narrow lanes around Klappergasse and Kleine Rittergasse show the neighbourhood's older street pattern and traditional Apfelwein culture. Schweizer Platz is a useful everyday centre rather than a formal attraction, and the southern part of the district leads into Stadtwald, where woodland paths and the Goetheturm area offer a greener experience within the city's boundaries.

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Best landmarks in Sachsenhausen

The southern Main embankment is defined by the Museumsufer ensemble, whose villas, purpose-built museums and river-facing façades form one of Frankfurt's most recognisable cultural landscapes. The Städel Museum is the best-known institution on this bank, while the Liebieghaus and Museum Angewandte Kunst add architectural and historical presence nearby. Inland, the lanes of Alt-Sachsenhausen retain the visual character of an older settlement, with traditional tavern buildings and tightly spaced streets around Klappergasse and Kleine Rittergasse. Schweizer Kirche on Schweizer Platz is a prominent local church landmark, and Südbahnhof represents the neighbourhood's long relationship with rail transport and urban expansion. Further south, the Goetheturm area marks the transition from built-up Sachsenhausen to the extensive Stadtwald, connecting the district's urban history with Frankfurt's wooded southern landscape.

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Explore Sachsenhausen on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Sachsenhausen, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Sachsenhausen

Eating in Sachsenhausen ranges from traditional Apfelwein taverns in Alt-Sachsenhausen to cafés, bakeries and contemporary restaurants around Schweizer Platz, Schweizer Straße and the riverside museums. Classic local dishes may include hearty regional cooking served alongside Frankfurt Apfelwein, while the broader neighbourhood also reflects the city's international population through restaurants offering Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian and other cuisines. The tavern quarter is associated with convivial communal dining, although individual venues vary considerably in atmosphere and style. Around Museumsufer, gallery visitors will find cafés and restaurants suited to daytime museum visits, while the streets near Südbahnhof provide a more everyday local dining scene. Markets and small food shops are useful for informal purchases, but Sachsenhausen is better understood as a mixed neighbourhood of established eateries and independent businesses than as a single specialist food district.

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Best bars in Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen's evening life is concentrated around the traditional tavern streets of Alt-Sachsenhausen, particularly Klappergasse, Kleine Rittergasse and nearby lanes, where Apfelwein taverns, pubs and bars attract both local customers and visitors. The atmosphere can be sociable and busy, but the area remains interwoven with residential buildings, so noise and street behaviour matter. Around Schweizer Platz and Schweizer Straße, bars and cafés offer a less concentrated alternative, while the Museumsufer area is generally more subdued after cultural venues close. Sachsenhausen is not Frankfurt's principal nightclub district; its evening identity is more strongly connected with cider taverns, conversation, casual dining and drinks than with large late-night clubs. Live performances and special events may occur at individual venues, but schedules and opening arrangements vary.

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Best nightclubs in Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen's evening life is concentrated around the traditional tavern streets of Alt-Sachsenhausen, particularly Klappergasse, Kleine Rittergasse and nearby lanes, where Apfelwein taverns, pubs and bars attract both local customers and visitors. The atmosphere can be sociable and busy, but the area remains interwoven with residential buildings, so noise and street behaviour matter. Around Schweizer Platz and Schweizer Straße, bars and cafés offer a less concentrated alternative, while the Museumsufer area is generally more subdued after cultural venues close. Sachsenhausen is not Frankfurt's principal nightclub district; its evening identity is more strongly connected with cider taverns, conversation, casual dining and drinks than with large late-night clubs. Live performances and special events may occur at individual venues, but schedules and opening arrangements vary.

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Best shops in Sachsenhausen

Shopping in Sachsenhausen is primarily local and mixed-use rather than centred on a large retail complex. Schweizer Straße is the neighbourhood's main commercial spine, with everyday shops, cafés, bakeries, specialist food businesses and independent services extending around Schweizer Platz. Smaller stores and restaurants continue towards Südbahnhof, serving residents as well as museum visitors and people passing through. Alt-Sachsenhausen is more focused on hospitality than retail, although its historic lanes contain businesses connected with the tavern quarter. Museumsufer adds museum shops where art books, design objects and cultural gifts can be found, while the riverfront occasionally hosts temporary events rather than a permanent market district. Visitors looking for highly concentrated department-store shopping will find larger city-centre options across the Main, whereas Sachsenhausen is better suited to browsing neighbourhood commerce and food-oriented independents.

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Sachsenhausen essentials

Getting There
Sachsenhausen is reached easily from central Frankfurt by crossing one of the Main bridges on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. The U-Bahn stations Schweizer Platz and Südbahnhof are useful for the northern and central parts of the neighbourhood, while Südbahnhof also provides S-Bahn and regional rail connections. Trams and buses serve the main corridors around Schweizer Straße and Südbahnhof. Museumsufer lies directly south of the river and can be reached from the city centre via the Eiserner Steg, Alte Brücke or Untermainbrücke, although routes and services should be checked before travelling.
Getting Around
Northern Sachsenhausen is highly walkable, particularly the riverfront, Museumsufer, Schweizer Platz and Alt-Sachsenhausen. Schweizer Straße provides a useful north–south orientation, while the Main promenade offers a largely level route for walking and cycling. The older tavern quarter has narrow, sometimes uneven streets and can become crowded in the evening. South of Südbahnhof, the built-up area gradually gives way to Stadtwald paths, where distances feel longer and surfaces vary. Public transport is practical for moving between the river, Südbahnhof and the southern residential areas.
Safety
Normal city precautions are appropriate in Sachsenhausen. Keep belongings secure in crowded museum areas, on public transport and around busy Apfelwein streets, especially at night. The riverfront is generally open and busy but has cycle traffic, changing light and occasional uneven surfaces, so take care when walking near shared paths. In Alt-Sachsenhausen, respect residents around the nightlife streets and stay alert when crossing roads. Cyclists and pedestrians share several routes along the Main, and wet weather can make riverside surfaces slippery.
Emergency Situations
In Germany, call 112 for an ambulance or fire service and 110 for the police. State the location clearly, using a named street, bridge, museum or public transport station if possible; English assistance may be available, but concise information is useful. For non-urgent medical care, ask accommodation staff or a pharmacy for the nearest appropriate service. Emergency departments and hospitals are located elsewhere in Frankfurt as well as around the wider city, so do not assume that a museum or station can provide medical treatment.
Do's and Don'ts
Treat Alt-Sachsenhausen as a lived-in neighbourhood rather than an open-air nightlife venue: keep voices down near homes and leave doorways clear. In Apfelwein taverns, ask before photographing staff or other guests, and expect local customs such as shared tables and ordering cider in traditional serving vessels. Queue patiently in museums and public transport, and give way on cycle paths along the Main. At religious buildings and cultural institutions, follow photography notices. Do not climb on river structures, disturb wildlife in Stadtwald or treat historic façades as backdrops for intrusive photography.
Local Tips
The riverbank is particularly rewarding early in the day, when the skyline, bridges and museum façades are easier to appreciate without the busiest foot traffic. Schweizer Straße is a useful route for cafés, local shops and orientation, while the lanes around Klappergasse and Kleine Rittergasse reveal the older tavern quarter. Consider pairing one Museumsufer institution with a walk along the Main rather than attempting several museums in a single visit. For a broader sense of Sachsenhausen's geography, continue south from the urban streets towards the Stadtwald paths and open woodland around the Goetheturm area.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHallo[ha-lo]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[owf vee-der-zayn]
YesJa[yah]
NoNein[nine]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[bit-te]
Thank youDanke[dahn-kuh]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[ent-shool-di-gung]
How are you?Wie geht es dir?[vee gate es deer]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und dir?[goot oont deer]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[shpre-khen zee eng-lish]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[ikh fer-shtay-uh nikht]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch hätte gerne die Speisekarte, bitte[ikh hette gern-uh dee shpy-zuh-kar-tuh, bit-te]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[ikh es-se kine fly-sh]
Cheers!Prost![prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bitte bezahlen[ikh merkh-tuh bit-te be-zal-en]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![hil-feh]
Go away!Geh weg![gay vekh]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![roo-fen zee dee po-lee-tsay]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![roo-fen zee i-nen arts]
I'm lostIch habe mich verirrt[ikh hah-bee meekh fer-eert]
I'm illIch bin krank[ikh been krank]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte kaufen...[ikh merkh-tuh kow-fen]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[ikh shou-uh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?[vee feel kos-tet es]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[dahs ist tsoo toy-er]
Can you lower the price?Können Sie den Preis senken?[ker-nen zee den prys zen-ken]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[vee shpate ist es]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[es ist iyn oor]
Half past (10)Halb elf[halb elf]
MorningMorgen[mor-gen]
AfternoonNachmittag[nahk-mit-tahk]
EveningAbend[ah-bent]
YesterdayGestern[gehs-tern]
TodayHeute[hoy-tuh]
TomorrowMorgen[mor-gen]
1Eins[eyns]
2Zwei[tsvey]
3Drei[dry]
4Vier[feer]
5Fünf[foonf]
6Sechs[zeks]
7Sieben[zee-ben]
8Acht[ahkt]
9Neun[noyn]
10Zehn[tsayn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/der...?[vo ist iyn/dehr]
What's the address?Was ist die Adresse?[vas ist dee a-dreh-suh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Können Sie mir zeigen (auf der Karte)?[ker-nen zee meer tsy-gen (owf dehr kar-tuh)]
When's the next (bus)?Wann kommt der nächste (Bus)?[vann kohmt dehr nekhs-te (boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Eine Fahrkarte (nach ....)[i-nuh fahr-kar-tuh (nakh)]

History of Sachsenhausen

A Settlement on the Southern Bank

Sachsenhausen developed as a settlement opposite Frankfurt on the south bank of the Main, with its growth closely tied to the river crossing and the city's expanding economic importance. The name is documented in medieval sources, although explanations of its precise origin are not entirely certain. Its position near the Alte Brücke made the area a practical approach to Frankfurt, while the river shaped both movement and local livelihoods. For centuries Sachsenhausen remained distinct from the walled city north of the Main, even as its streets and institutions became increasingly linked to Frankfurt.

From Village to Urban Quarter

During the early modern period Sachsenhausen developed beyond its older village core, with farms, gardens, workshops and houses spreading southwards from the river. The neighbourhood's relationship with Frankfurt intensified as trade, administration and population growth drew the two banks closer together. The historic lanes now associated with Alt-Sachsenhausen preserve part of this older urban pattern, although many buildings have been altered or reconstructed over time. Taverns serving local Apfelwein became a particularly durable feature of the quarter's social and commercial life.

Railways and Nineteenth-Century Expansion

The nineteenth century brought transport infrastructure and more substantial urban development to Sachsenhausen. The opening of railway connections and the later importance of Südbahnhof encouraged residential growth, commerce and easier movement between the southern districts and central Frankfurt. Streets became more densely built, and Sachsenhausen increasingly functioned as an urban quarter rather than a separate settlement. Industrialisation affected the river corridor and the wider south side, while the Main remained both a working waterway and a defining geographical boundary.

Museumsufer Takes Shape

The southern riverbank changed significantly in the late twentieth century as Frankfurt developed the Museumsufer concept. Existing villas and cultural buildings were joined by museums devoted to art, design, film, communication and world cultures, creating a concentration that reshaped Sachsenhausen-Nord's identity. The Städel Museum, already founded in the nineteenth century, became part of this broader cultural landscape alongside newer and expanded institutions. The riverfront was consequently experienced not only as a transport edge or residential promenade but also as one of Frankfurt's main cultural addresses.

A Quarter of Contrasts

Contemporary Sachsenhausen brings together the protected memory of Alt-Sachsenhausen, post-war rebuilding, modern housing and the continuing cultural role of Museumsufer. The area around Schweizer Platz and Südbahnhof has developed as a busy local centre, while Sachsenhausen-Süd retains access to extensive woodland and recreational landscapes. Rising rents, tourism and nightlife have altered parts of the neighbourhood, but they coexist with long-established residents, everyday services and traditional taverns. Its present character is therefore defined less by a single identity than by the meeting of heritage, culture, housing, transport and green space.

Sachsenhausen in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

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