The Museum Embankment has a museum to suit all ages and interests. Dive into contemporary design at the Museum of Applied Art (Museum für Angewandte Kunst); discover the evolution of cinema at the German Film Museum (Deutsches Filmmuseum); or admire ethnographic artifacts from around the globe at the Museum of World Culture. For art lovers, the headline act is the Städel Art Institute, filled with modern art masterpieces, while the Liebieghaus and Giersch Museum turn the focus onto German art.
If you’re planning to visit more than one museum, it’s worth investing in a combination ticket. A Museumsufer Ticket offers access to 34 museums on and around the Museum Embankment for two consecutive days, while admission to many museums is included with the Frankfurt Pass.
It’s easy to walk to the Museum Embankment from downtown Frankfurt. From Römerberg square, head south to the riverfront and cross the Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg) to the south bank, where you’ll find the majority of the museums. To arrive using public transport, take the U-Bahn to Schweizer Platz or hop on tram 16, which has multiple stops nearby.
Most museums are open daily except Mondays. Visit on a Saturday to browse the morning flea market held along the Museum Embankment, then spend the afternoon visiting the museums. Families with kids can enjoy free entrance to many of the museums on the monthly Family Days, typically held on the last Saturday of each month.
Each summer, the Museumsufer plays host to one of Europe’s largest cultural festivals, the Museum Embankment Festival, drawing more than 2.5 million visitors to the city. Held over the last weekend of August, it’s a gigantic festival that features special exhibitions and events at all of the museums, live open-air concerts and markets along the waterfront, and a spectacular evening fireworks display. Another popular event is the annual Night of Museums, when the museums stay open into the early hours and host special exhibitions, food and wine tastings, and other festivities.
