The Hauptwache
The Hauptwache
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
An outdoor shopping area amidst historic buildings in the city center of Frankfurt.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Innenstadt
How to get there
- Hauptwache • 1 min walk
- Eschenheimer Tor (Eschenheim gate) • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,225 within 3 miles
Attractions
493 within 6 miles
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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
4.0
866 reviews
Excellent
275
Very good
396
Average
160
Poor
23
Terrible
13
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TYPSUKR
Arlington, VA729 contributions
Dec 2019
We passed through the Hauptwache on several occasions, which highlights how central it is Frankfurt, and most anywhere you're going in the middle of the city will probably lead you through here. The square itself is very large (although when we visited it was filled with Christmas market vendors) and the building around the square are mostly modern shops, restaurants, and offices. There is also major a major transportation hub under the square. The actually Hauptwache building (i.e. an old militia garrison) still stands as a cafe.
Written January 26, 2020
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.
Sachin0408
Bengaluru, India897 contributions
Dec 2019
The Hauptwache is a prominent area of the Frankfurt city full of shops, restaurants, cafes, pieces of modern architecture, antique shops - In short you will not be missing anything if you are here. Its totally well worth your time strolling aroung and having fun.
If you are a tourist like me there's no way you won't be visiting Haptwache.
If you are a tourist like me there's no way you won't be visiting Haptwache.
Written January 11, 2020
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.
Ramón Ortiz-Soto
Frankfurt, Germany24 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
I highly recommend this Area to Visit. It is a very Historical Part of Frankfurt am Main, Check out the Site and have Fun Learning About the History of this Great City. Also learn Everything About This Site in any Language Wishing all whom Visit a Great Stay in Frankfurt am Main 👏👏
Written January 23, 2020
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.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,986 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
For those who served in the Soviet and even Russian army, when they hear the word “guardhouse,” the verb “to sit” immediately comes to mind. In principle, you can also sit in the current guardhouse, because... The name of the square, metro and S-Bahn stations was given by a cafe in the center - the legal successor of the old guardhouse. Of course, nothing remains of the old building. First, British bombs, then the construction of the metro, due to which the already restored building was dismantled again, and then reassembled in an updated form. The building is now two-story, but was originally one-story in the 18th century. With a guard and cells for detainees. This is the lucky one. And for those who weren’t quite sure, for those nearby there were gallows or a trellis - a wooden rotating cage for the condemned, which everyone could spin so that the unfortunate people inside would feel sick. Such was the entertainment at that time. The light version is a pillory. Nowadays entertainment is different. Actually the cafe of the same name, which we visited on our last evening in Frankfurt. Very popular, with German and vegan cuisine, but basically ordinary. Well, and the Kaufhof gallery. Where without shopping?
Written December 10, 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.
i.lovetravelling
66 contributions
Nov 2022
Good Central Location to reach local restaurants, shopping and sightseeing. Since several years the area has been turned into a pedestrian area which is much more convenient now. Especially the area around Hauptwache and Rossmarkt has developed within the years with many more shops and small cafes.
Cafe Hauptwache is quite a big place for a "cafe". They also offer normal dishes for lunch. But nothing special.
Cafe Hauptwache is quite a big place for a "cafe". They also offer normal dishes for lunch. But nothing special.
Written November 24, 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.
Paul P
Dallas, TX469 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
We had a very nice lunch at the Hauptwache restaurant during the Christmas market. This place is so iconic they could scrimp on the food, but they don’t. The schnitzel, soup and sausages were great, and the service was attentive. Unfortunately, the interior of this building lacks the character of the exterior. In the summer it would be better to sit outside.
Written December 28, 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.
Kerwin Gray
Atlanta, GA2,196 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
Frankfurt plays second fiddle to the "A-list" tourist cities in Europe. But it shouldn't.
Walking out of the Frankfurt train station always excites me. Whether it is the day that I arrive or returning the day before I depart. Perhaps I should digress. For the past four years, I have made annual Eurail trips to Europe each of which lasted about a month. I have flown in and out of Frankfurt each time, because (1) it is relatively easy to get direct flights from Atlanta, and (2) it is a convenient central location. I always spend at least my first and last nights in Frankfurt and have stayed up to three consecutive days (which is a lot for me--I get my money's worth out of my Eurail passes).
Here is what I see as the major tourist attractions:
Just across from the train station, you will find a street market most mornings.
A couple of blocks toward the big buildings you will pass through the red light district with an assortment of street people who are docile enough that normal Frankfurt residents going about their daily affairs walk along side you.
As you approach the big buildings you pass through a park with and assortment of statuary. Then you come to the opera house frequented by a good quantity of entertaining street scenes.
I neglected to mention that there are virtually countless hotels in the streets in front of and to the sides of the train station. You are sure to find a reasonable priced room unless a large trade show is in town, and if it is the Automobile show, you might not find a room at all. September is problematic with trade shows.
Along with the hotels, there are restaurants for ever taste and mood.
The European Central Bank, and the Big E are located here.
If museums are your thing, just across the Holbeinsteg pedestrian bridge, you will find Museum Way along the south bank of the Main River.
A little further west, is the Schsenhausen neighborhood and an entertaining little restaurant district.
From Schsenhausn you can cross the Eiserner Steg pedestrian bridge and enter the old town area of Romerberg and find your way to extended pedestrian shopping streets from there.
All of the above can be done with a short walk from the main train station.
I always enjoy being in Frankfurt.
Walking out of the Frankfurt train station always excites me. Whether it is the day that I arrive or returning the day before I depart. Perhaps I should digress. For the past four years, I have made annual Eurail trips to Europe each of which lasted about a month. I have flown in and out of Frankfurt each time, because (1) it is relatively easy to get direct flights from Atlanta, and (2) it is a convenient central location. I always spend at least my first and last nights in Frankfurt and have stayed up to three consecutive days (which is a lot for me--I get my money's worth out of my Eurail passes).
Here is what I see as the major tourist attractions:
Just across from the train station, you will find a street market most mornings.
A couple of blocks toward the big buildings you will pass through the red light district with an assortment of street people who are docile enough that normal Frankfurt residents going about their daily affairs walk along side you.
As you approach the big buildings you pass through a park with and assortment of statuary. Then you come to the opera house frequented by a good quantity of entertaining street scenes.
I neglected to mention that there are virtually countless hotels in the streets in front of and to the sides of the train station. You are sure to find a reasonable priced room unless a large trade show is in town, and if it is the Automobile show, you might not find a room at all. September is problematic with trade shows.
Along with the hotels, there are restaurants for ever taste and mood.
The European Central Bank, and the Big E are located here.
If museums are your thing, just across the Holbeinsteg pedestrian bridge, you will find Museum Way along the south bank of the Main River.
A little further west, is the Schsenhausen neighborhood and an entertaining little restaurant district.
From Schsenhausn you can cross the Eiserner Steg pedestrian bridge and enter the old town area of Romerberg and find your way to extended pedestrian shopping streets from there.
All of the above can be done with a short walk from the main train station.
I always enjoy being in Frankfurt.
Written January 17, 2014
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.
RahulMD
New Orleans, LA1,720 contributions
May 2012
We had a 9 hr layover in Frankfurt on our way to Barcelona and decided to spend the day in the city. If you are in a similar situation, then this is a good place to start. We first took the S-bahn ( commuter train) from the airport and got off at this stop. From here we found a tourist information booth and got some free tourist information. We also walked around the city from this central location and got back here easily to take the train back to the airport. The train took about 15 minutes to get from the airport to here.
There are also many places to eat and ago around here. If I ever in Frankfurt again, I would definitely start here again.
There are also many places to eat and ago around here. If I ever in Frankfurt again, I would definitely start here again.
Written April 20, 2013
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.
Maximilian H
Gothenburg, Sweden859 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
First of all I am German and from this region.
I can recommend you not to visit this place because I know you will be disappointed.
This is a shopping street (there is also PRIMARK if you have to go there) which is extremely busy, almost aggressive, because you get a mix of all kind of people: business people, homeless people, alcoholics, beggars (with and without fake mickey mouse costumes) and many young people hanging around.
The scene is nothing special either, not many nice old buildings or so.
So, please, look for other spots, I can recommend
Shopping: Skyline Plaza (nice, new shopping center in Frankfurt with great view over Frankfurt on the roof)
Food: go to district "Sachsenhausen"
I can recommend you not to visit this place because I know you will be disappointed.
This is a shopping street (there is also PRIMARK if you have to go there) which is extremely busy, almost aggressive, because you get a mix of all kind of people: business people, homeless people, alcoholics, beggars (with and without fake mickey mouse costumes) and many young people hanging around.
The scene is nothing special either, not many nice old buildings or so.
So, please, look for other spots, I can recommend
Shopping: Skyline Plaza (nice, new shopping center in Frankfurt with great view over Frankfurt on the roof)
Food: go to district "Sachsenhausen"
Written August 10, 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.
junior1907
Istanbul, Türkiye195,981 contributions
Commercial Center of the city with very good metro connection,lots of different kinds of shops and stores cafes,restaurants and bars,many shopping complexes and some important sights of Frankfurt.İt is always nice to spend some time here.Strongly Recommended.
Written February 14, 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.
Hallo!! Ich würde gerne einer sehr guten freundin eine freude machen, sie macht immoment einiges durch und ich wollte gerne nähe der hauptwache ( noch zum laufen) irgendwas schönes mit ihr unternehmen. Wir werden bissl shoppen gehen und ich fände astor kino toll 😍aber gibt es vllt noch irgendwas schönes?😍
Written April 18, 2015
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