The Museumsufer is not a single museum but a whole waterfront of them, strung along both banks of the Main in the heart of the city. Tourism information counts 39 museums in the wider network, about 26 of them in the core area near the river. On the south bank, Schaumainkai is home to the Städel, the Liebieghaus sculpture collection, the German Architecture Museum, the Film Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Museum of World Cultures, among others. The north bank adds the Historisches Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Schirn Kunsthalle and the MMK. Walking the embankment costs nothing, and it is one of the nicest short promenades in Frankfurt, with plane trees, river views and the skyline behind you. Many people stroll it on a Sunday and dip into one or two museums. A two-day MuseumsuferTicket opens most of them, and it is sold on site and at the tourist information on the Römerberg.
Choosing what to see
You cannot see everything, so pick two or three. The Städel is the obvious headline for art, the Liebieghaus for classical and medieval sculpture in a villa garden, the Architecture Museum for a look at the buildings Frankfurt is known for, and the Film Museum for movie fans. Families often choose the Museum of Communication or the Historisches Museum, and the Jewish Museum and the Archaeological Museum add a deeper layer of local history. Many museums close on Mondays, so check each website before planning your route.
Tickets and savings
The MuseumsuferTicket is valid on two consecutive days and costs around twenty euros for adults, with a lower family price and a reduced rate, and it is sold on site at the museums, at the Tourist Information at the Römer and through the city's ticket service.
If the second day is a closing day, validity extends by a day. The annual MuseumsuferCard suits locals and long stays but excludes major special exhibitions with international loans, a rule that applies to the Städel's large shows. The Museumsuferfest, a big riverside festival, takes over the embankment in late summer.
Making a day of it
Walk from the Römerberg across the Eiserner Steg, turn right along Schaumainkai, and let the museum doors dictate your pace. Stop for a coffee on the grass by the river and look back at the old centre. If you finish by late afternoon, cross the river again and head into Sachsenhausen for apple wine. In winter the river bank is quiet and cold but beautiful, and the museums make a warm break between walks.
What to expect
The experience
A free riverside promenade with a choice of museums to enter, either one at a time or with a two-day ticket.
Best time
Weekend afternoons for the promenade atmosphere, weekday mornings for quieter galleries, and avoid Mondays when many museums close.
How long
Two hours for the walk and one museum, up to a full day if you use the two-day ticket.
Tips
Choose two or three museums, check Monday closures, and buy the two-day ticket at the tourist information if you plan to see several.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Culture lovers and anyone who enjoys a river walk with the option of popping into a museum.
- Families
- The Museum of Communication and the Historisches Museum suit school-age children, and the river bank has space to run around.
- Couples
- Walk the embankment at sunset, then cross to Sachsenhausen for apple wine.
- Pair with
- The Städel, the Römerberg and an apple wine tavern in Sachsenhausen.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Is the Museumsufer free?+
The riverside walk is free, but the museums charge their own admission. A two-day MuseumsuferTicket covers most of them.
How much is the MuseumsuferTicket?+
It costs around twenty euros for adults, with a lower family price and a reduced rate, and it is valid on two consecutive days. It is sold on site at the museums and at the Tourist Information at the Römer.
Which museums should I pick?+
The Städel is the headline for art, the Liebieghaus for sculpture and the Architecture Museum for the city's buildings. Choose according to your interests and keep to two or three.
Are museums closed on Mondays?+
Many are, so check each museum's website before you plan your route. The embankment walk itself is open every day.
When is the Museumsuferfest?+
It is a large riverside festival held in late summer, so it will not coincide with a winter visit. The museums themselves are open all year.
