Historisches Museum Frankfurt
Historisches Museum Frankfurt
3.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Historisches Museum Frankfurt and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Innenstadt
How to get there
- Dom / Römer (Cathedral / city hall) • 3 min walk
- Willy-Brandt-Platz / Europäische Zentralbank (European Central Bank) (in 1980 Theaterplatz) • 7 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,064 within 3 miles
Attractions
391 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
226 reviews
Excellent
67
Very good
78
Average
39
Poor
27
Terrible
15
Erin C
Glasgow, UK495 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
I loved this museum. There are so many different things to see, the architecture inside is amazing and there are tons of child-centric exhibitions. We were lucky enough to visit on the last Saturday of the month so it was free. We did get a bit lost as the layout is a bit strange but we did eventually see everything. My favourite part was that through out the museum they have social commentary on different pieces which puts it into context. The map they created of Frankfurt on the top floor is amazing and also hilarious!
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelworld1170
Shenzhen, China240 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Honestly don’t usually review museums…but this place is seriously underrated. A very conveniently located and well done museum documenting Frankfurts history. Up to date with diverse perspectives, well organized exhibits with some interactive features, a decent looking cafe in the basement - Frankfurt as a city is clearly supporting this museum (or some donors) well. As an English speaker also nearly 100% of the captions were also in English as well as German.
Totally recommended as part of time in the Altstadf.
Totally recommended as part of time in the Altstadf.
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul P
Dallas, TX486 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
This is an interesting museum as it not only contains the collections of notable residents of Frankfurt, but it is located in a historic building built on the foundations of an ancient palace. Part of the exhibit was the archaeology of the site which I found very interesting. All exhibits are clearly marked in English.
Written December 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abamagal
Pensacola, FL313 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
First I will say that this Museum has potential. We enjoyed certain elements. The main issues were poor layout of the signage, in many cases the signage was in poor lighting with very small font making it difficult to see. There is English signage which was helpful, but you had to look for it. In other areas the signage was posted low so you had to lean over to see casting a shadow that made reading difficult. The older male employees were pleasant, however, encountered a young male employee (his hair up in a bun) in the Frankfurt Then exhibit who was sitting down, reading his phone. When I asked him a simple question , he just stared at me and walked off. He was wearing a blue uniform, but he didn’t seem like he want to be there. The whole flow is also just laid out oddly. Would be cool to have a Frankfurt from 1300 - 1400 area, etc…. So you could see the progression of the city’s history. We liked the faces exhibit and thank you for having an English option for that. And loved the blue and white porcelain room. Overall, a miss for us, but it could be turned into something amazing.
Written October 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fisupeksu
Leppajarvi, Finland396 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Pretty good museum about history of the city and area. We found on the other hand great exhibitions a bit frustrating to follow and incoherent. A lot of paintings eg. without who and when painted it. Not even a century to follow. But a lot of doing and great miniatures etc. Great place in a rainy day.
Written May 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Atena
London, UK68 contributions
This could be a very interesting museum. If you speak German. Because if -like myself- you don't you will find yourself wandering around imagining what the things you are seing are.
I am very interested in history which is why I decided to visit this museum. And since Frankfurt after the war doesn't have a lot to show what it was like before, I was very interested to find out. I was so disapointed. First of all it is not a very welcoming interior. Plain white walls with not very clear indications on where the display rooms are. I had to ask twice to see if I'm going the right way and almost missed the main room because it was behind a closed door with no indication at all. I'm not crazy or stupid. I've been to many museums and this is the first time this has hapenned to me. It also appeared that each era did not go after the next historically (like the 14th century follwing the 13th etc) but maybe that was just me because I was so confused not really knowing what I was seing...
I will be honest and say that in each room there is some information in english describing the era and what was going on during that time in the city. But the information on the display windows and on the items that we see is in German only. So we do learn about life in Frankfurt in the past, the modernisation of the city as well as the rise and fall of Nazism but most of the items we see we don't really know what they are or where they are coming from or we see a picture of someone and we don't know who he is and why he deserved to be in the museum!
The most interesting part of this museum is the models of the city before the war, after it and the way it looks today. This is a very interesting way to see how the city has changed and to compare the models. But again these models are not in the foyer of the museum as some guides suggest. It is located in the upper floor and you really have to search to find it. During my visit there was a special display about immigration in the city and since I come from a country with tens of thousands of immigrands in Germany I would love to have found out more. But of course all the info was in German so I didn't bother.
I was not the only one who felt this way. Before leaving I wrote in their guest book and saw that all the foreigners left the same comment: Put the information in english too. And this is not just in this museum. I have travelled to Germany many times and love the country itself but about 90% of their tourist attractions have information in German only. I mean, I do realize that Germany is not a country that depends on tourism but I consider it simple politeness towards the foreign people interested in your civilization and history to offer the information in a language they can understand.
I am very interested in history which is why I decided to visit this museum. And since Frankfurt after the war doesn't have a lot to show what it was like before, I was very interested to find out. I was so disapointed. First of all it is not a very welcoming interior. Plain white walls with not very clear indications on where the display rooms are. I had to ask twice to see if I'm going the right way and almost missed the main room because it was behind a closed door with no indication at all. I'm not crazy or stupid. I've been to many museums and this is the first time this has hapenned to me. It also appeared that each era did not go after the next historically (like the 14th century follwing the 13th etc) but maybe that was just me because I was so confused not really knowing what I was seing...
I will be honest and say that in each room there is some information in english describing the era and what was going on during that time in the city. But the information on the display windows and on the items that we see is in German only. So we do learn about life in Frankfurt in the past, the modernisation of the city as well as the rise and fall of Nazism but most of the items we see we don't really know what they are or where they are coming from or we see a picture of someone and we don't know who he is and why he deserved to be in the museum!
The most interesting part of this museum is the models of the city before the war, after it and the way it looks today. This is a very interesting way to see how the city has changed and to compare the models. But again these models are not in the foyer of the museum as some guides suggest. It is located in the upper floor and you really have to search to find it. During my visit there was a special display about immigration in the city and since I come from a country with tens of thousands of immigrands in Germany I would love to have found out more. But of course all the info was in German so I didn't bother.
I was not the only one who felt this way. Before leaving I wrote in their guest book and saw that all the foreigners left the same comment: Put the information in english too. And this is not just in this museum. I have travelled to Germany many times and love the country itself but about 90% of their tourist attractions have information in German only. I mean, I do realize that Germany is not a country that depends on tourism but I consider it simple politeness towards the foreign people interested in your civilization and history to offer the information in a language they can understand.
Written December 20, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom mallow Co cork Ireland
County Cork, Ireland372 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
This is a fine museum and good value four of us for twenty Euro spent a good two hours there lots to see well worth a look and would recommend it for families .
Written March 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bracey123
Frankfurt, Germany82 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
This museum is the best place to go for information about the history of Frankfurt, including several models of the city at different points in time. All the exhibits have information in English and German (I don't recall seeing a cafe inside, but once you exit the museum, there is a bakery opposite that serves the best cakes in Frankfurt!)
Written March 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helmut S
Liederbach am Taunus, Germany176 contributions
Nov 2012 • Solo
I don't think I know a worse historical museum anywhere. If I try hard I am sure I can find one in China somewhere.
Frankfurt would have much to offer, as history. And it does have good museums. The Staedel Kunstmuseum is excellent. The Goethehaus is improvable, but at least reasonably user friendly.
The Historical Museum has been designed with the special purpose to confuse, bore, and annoy people. There is no clarity, no system, no passion.
Imagine: one of Frankfurt's own is Maria Sybille Merian, a painter, traveller, entomologist, and an outstanding woman for her time. What does this museum have on her? She is mentioned somewhere in the catalogue about somebody's collection. There is nothing by or about her. The staff, when asked, have heard her name, but don't think there is anything..
At the reception they don't even know where the lockers are.
Why then not 1 but 2 stars? There is a special exhibition with some merit, about the Third World and the Second World War. That was the only part of the house that was up to speed.
Frankfurt would have much to offer, as history. And it does have good museums. The Staedel Kunstmuseum is excellent. The Goethehaus is improvable, but at least reasonably user friendly.
The Historical Museum has been designed with the special purpose to confuse, bore, and annoy people. There is no clarity, no system, no passion.
Imagine: one of Frankfurt's own is Maria Sybille Merian, a painter, traveller, entomologist, and an outstanding woman for her time. What does this museum have on her? She is mentioned somewhere in the catalogue about somebody's collection. There is nothing by or about her. The staff, when asked, have heard her name, but don't think there is anything..
At the reception they don't even know where the lockers are.
Why then not 1 but 2 stars? There is a special exhibition with some merit, about the Third World and the Second World War. That was the only part of the house that was up to speed.
Written November 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frankie C
London, UK702 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
The new museum has only been open for less than 2 years, in a fascinating new building, incorporating the old medieval tower building and the 18c bourgeois palace on the same site.
It is really 2 separate buildings, joined by a corridor with the snow globe (where you can play for hours looking at models of the city and photographic images on the walls around). The 'old' building is devoted to the historic collections of wealthy Frankfurt citizens who left their treasures to the city, and gives you a chance to see the medieval building and the rooms of the later palace.
The 'new' building houses the main collection. If you only have a short time then go to the first floor of the new building and follow the 'History of Frankfurt in 100 objects' which is a spectacularly well curated and thoroughly enjoyable display. All of the captions are highly informative and in English as well as German, and showcases a magnificent collection of artefacts from early history to the present day.
Or go to the rack of booklets on the wall behind the snow globe (between the ladies' and gents' lavatories!) and choose one of their 1-hour themed tours which are also fascinating, and in several languages - 'The City and National Socialism' is excellent, as is 'Frankfurt - City of Women' about notable women who have lived there. All well described in a little booklet with maps to take you from one object to the next.
The museum staff are friendly and helpful (and most will make an effort to speak English as well), and it is one of the most enjoyable museums that I have visited anywhere in the world. Museum curators in other cities should visit to see how well it can be done!
There is also a charming courtyard cafe where you can take a breather during the visit, and a dedicated childrens' museum. I visited on a sunny Sunday and it was almost deserted.
It is really 2 separate buildings, joined by a corridor with the snow globe (where you can play for hours looking at models of the city and photographic images on the walls around). The 'old' building is devoted to the historic collections of wealthy Frankfurt citizens who left their treasures to the city, and gives you a chance to see the medieval building and the rooms of the later palace.
The 'new' building houses the main collection. If you only have a short time then go to the first floor of the new building and follow the 'History of Frankfurt in 100 objects' which is a spectacularly well curated and thoroughly enjoyable display. All of the captions are highly informative and in English as well as German, and showcases a magnificent collection of artefacts from early history to the present day.
Or go to the rack of booklets on the wall behind the snow globe (between the ladies' and gents' lavatories!) and choose one of their 1-hour themed tours which are also fascinating, and in several languages - 'The City and National Socialism' is excellent, as is 'Frankfurt - City of Women' about notable women who have lived there. All well described in a little booklet with maps to take you from one object to the next.
The museum staff are friendly and helpful (and most will make an effort to speak English as well), and it is one of the most enjoyable museums that I have visited anywhere in the world. Museum curators in other cities should visit to see how well it can be done!
There is also a charming courtyard cafe where you can take a breather during the visit, and a dedicated childrens' museum. I visited on a sunny Sunday and it was almost deserted.
Written May 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard Helzberg
San Geronimo, CA
Open Monday?
mitch w
Bordeaux, France795 contributions
As a traveler and writer, I can only say it was open on the Monday we were in Frankfurt, it was during the Christmas Markets. So I would believe it would be open, best to check the web site, Just google the museum. We really enjoyed our visit.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingHistorisches Museum Frankfurt - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Historisches Museum Frankfurt
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Historisches Museum Frankfurt:
- Missing Treasure Outdoor Escape Game in Frankfurt (From $8.13)
- Frankfurt Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour (From $6.51)
- Explore Bird & Marine Wildlife private Boat Tour in English (From $107.41)
- Frankfurt - Mainz Premium Day Trip by Boat with Sightseeing & Wildlife, F&B (From $107.41)
- Frankfurt’s Top Attractions Full-Day Private Tour by Car (From $433.22)
- Hotels near Historisches Museum Frankfurt:
- (0.11 mi) nhow Frankfurt
- (0.20 mi) Hotel Motel One Frankfurt-Römer
- (0.18 mi) Miramar Hotel
- (0.28 mi) Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof
- (0.19 mi) Paulaner am Dom Wirtshaus und Hotel
- Restaurants near Historisches Museum Frankfurt:
- (0.00 mi) Cafe' Fahrtor
- (0.01 mi) ConditCouture
- (0.02 mi) Haus Wertheym
- (0.03 mi) Frankfurter Wirtshaus
- (0.12 mi) MAINKAI CAFE