Where to Live in Frankfurt: The City’s 12 Best Neighborhoods for 2025
Coming up: Gothic sites, half-timber homes, fat stacks of cash, great bars and clubs, a surprising number of hipsters, banks and bureaucracy, some helpful tips on easily finding a nice apartment, many family-friendly hangouts, and the 12 best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt is a VERY popular place for a relocation—in the city, you get people from around the planet, and a huge number of languages. And get this: over 50% of Frankfurt’s dwellers have a non-German background.
So, why are so many people moving here?
Well, for lots of reasons:
- A surprisingly-big art and culture scene, with almost 40 museums, and many art galleries
- Levels of English are VERY good—so it’s easy to survive before you can speak German
- It’s very walkable and cyclable, and public transport is world-class; you don’t need a car
- Frankfurt has the biggest expat community in Germany—so you’ll always feel welcome
- Lots of green space—around half the city is made up of parks and other outdoor areas
- Good jobs—the city has lots of banks, offices, financial institutions, and a big IT sector
- It’s home to Germany’s biggest airport—so it’s very easy to travel onwards from here
- It’s a good place to make money—average Frankfurt salaries sit at around €65,000
- World-class infrastructure, with excellent education, hospitals, and public services
- Great nightlife and restaurant scene—every night, you’ll always find plenty to do
- Many excellent international schools, and English-language university courses
So, overall, Frankfurt is a great place to live, for many types of people… no matter where you’re from! According to some studies, the city ranks 7th worldwide for overall quality of life.
But which are the top neighborhoods in Frankfurt? And which are the top neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt? Coming up next, much more!
Understanding Frankfurt's Neighborhoods: A Quick Recap
Frankfurt is made of 16 major areas—but many of these are further divided into lots of little zones and neighborhoods. So, in total, there are 46 “quarters or city districts” in the city.
Most of Frankfurt’s busy areas sit north of the river which cuts the city in half (weirdly, this main river is literally called… that’s right… ‘Main River’).
Anyway, all these varied districts are pretty different from one another. Some are built-up and busy, some are quiet and cozy; some are best for partying, some are best for job-hunting; others are ideal for families, some are better for young people.
So, in short: knowing exactly where you should find an apartment can be VERY confusing. Especially if you’ve never lived in Frankfurt before, or don’t speak German.
But not with our help! So in this guide, your apartment-finding friends at Homelike have given you everything you need to know about these 12 neighborhoods:
- Innenstadt: nightlife and big business opportunities in Frankfurt’s very-central district
- The Alstadt: the very center of the center of the center; surprisingly small
- Bahnhofsviertel: another small neighborhood, hip, right beside the main train station
- Sachsenhausen: central but village-like, and on the south side of the city’s river
- Fechenheim: green spaces and students in a far-eastern former fishing village
- Bornheim: live music, cozy taverns, and independent hangouts; a place for everyone
- Höchst: an outskirt area, very authentic, and great for building a quiet long-term life
- Westend: green spaces and high prices in a big popular family-friendly neighborhood
- Bockenheim: the city’s most hip district, stacked with bohemians and nightlife
- Ostend: a former industrial area, now trendy and great for families
- Gallusviertel: for professionals who prioritize work; home to the European Quarter
- Offenbach: actually a small city of its own—but basically a charming Frankfurt suburb
Coming up, much more information on these 12 best neighborhoods in Frankfurt!
… oh, and because you might struggle to find a nice apartment in the busy city, we’ve also served up some pro-tips, life hacks, and helpful hints. On we go!
Innenstadt
Best for: tourists, digital nomads, and people who want to earn big money in big jobs
Also known as ‘Innenstadt I,’ Innenstadt is the very-central and central-west section of the city.
The neighborhood borders the Main River, which sits directly to the south.
Here, as you might have guessed, you’ll find a bunch of well-known tourist attractions, like:
- The Goethe House museum: exhibits on one of Germany’s most famous writers, based in the house where he was born and raised
- The Fressgass: a famous street with lots of places to eat, drink, and shop; this was the city’s first-ever pedestrianized street. It features many delis, grocers, and cozy cafes
- Frankfurt Cathedral: this Gothic masterpiece is the most famous attraction in Frankfurt… and offers from-tower views of the entire city
- Römerberg: a well-known colorful market square, with a bunch of half-timber homes. Walking through this square is like walking through a postcard
- … and many museums and galleries.
You’ll also find a huge number of bars, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife venues here. Overall, if you want to feel like a tourist, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Frankfurt.
But it’s not all about short-term stays: the Innenstadt is also home to the massive Frankfurt Stock Exchange (the biggest stock exchange in Germany, and one of the largest in the world). So, the neighborhood is also a great choice for finance professionals.
Overall, Innenstadt is bigger than most people expect, stretching east to west for around 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles). So, a related note: the Innenstadt is home to some other smaller districts, which we’ve also recommended. But we’ll come to all that soon.
The Altstadt
Best for: getting EVEN MORE central
As we’ve covered, the Innenstadt is one of the best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt.
… but inside the Innenstadt, it’s possible to get even more touristy, and even more central.
And that’s in the tiny Alstadt—where you can walk from one side of the neighborhood to the other in around 10 minutes.
In the Alstadt, you get cobbled streets, half-timber buildings, little squares, touristy restaurants, English menus, souvenir stores, famous attractions (including some of those we’ve already mentioned!), and a whole load of traditional apple wine.
For a little while, living here can be fun—great for digital nomads, long-term tourists, and anyone staying for a short few months. But if you’re planning to build a real long-term life in Frankfurt, we recommend living somewhere else.
Pro-tip: because this is Frankfurt’s most central and tourist-heavy district (and because it’s so small!), you’ll struggle to find a home here. Many apartments have been swallowed up by AirBnB, local landlords can be unreliable, prices are often unfairly-high, and you have lots of competition.
… so, when people move to this part of the city, they often move into one of our fully-furnished serviced apartments. They’re ready right away, you don’t need to wait in line, and you don’t need to do any bargaining or negotiating. Even better, they’re all homely and cozy, and all utilities (including internet) are already organized and installed for you. Easy!
Bahnhofsviertel
Best for: living in an up-and-coming but central area, and lots of regular travel
Also part of Innenstadt I, the very-small Bahnhofsviertel sits just east of Frankfurt’s main train station (which, as you might have guessed, gives the neighborhood its name!).
Made up of only a few small streets, the Bahnhofsviertel is rapidly gentrifying, and becoming one of the city’s most appealing districts. Although it once had a bad reputation, it’s now full of hipsters, young people, artists, and bohemians.
… and (at least for now!), it’s possible to find some pretty affordable rents here—which is surprising given the neighborhood’s centrality.
From Bahnhofsviertel, you can also expect some great underground nightlife, and lots of global eateries. Some of our favorite venues include:
- Saravanaa Bhavan: 100% vegetarian, with excellent no-frills street-food-style Indian fayre
- Babam: cozy, small, and hugely popular, you’ll find top-class authentic Persian stuff here
- Jambo Bar: small and tucked-away, serving some of the city’s best cocktails
- Nekos Café Bar: popular and much-loved, and one of the friendliest bars in the city
And because you’re right beside Frankfurt’s main train station here (the 2nd-busiest in the entire nation!), it’s easy to travel around Frankfurt, visit other parts of Germany, and take some weekend day trips.
Overall, if you’re young and want fun, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Frankfurt. But because it bustles with an edgy energy, it’s not great for families, older people, or quiet couples.
Sachsenhausen
Best for: living a quiet-but-central life, with big helpings of homely charm
Directly over the river from every district we’ve brought you so far, Sachsenhausen hugs the south shore of the Main River.
It’s a pretty unique place—although it’s central and modern, and full of things to do, it feels surprisingly quiet and quaint… with cobbled streets, big pockets of charm, and some nice slices of laid-back living.
So if you want to live centrally without being right in the heart of the bustle, this isn’t just one of the best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt—it’s THE best neighborhood to live in Frankfurt.
Highlights here include:
- The Museumsufer, a row of riverside museums, with exhibits on Frankfurt and beyond
- A cute and cobbled pedestrianized central area, with many restaurants and pubs
- Highly-concentrated nightlife, like cozy Harmonie Pub, and popular Legend Music Bar
- Traditional German restaurants, serving national classics and regional dishes
- Lots of cyclists, riverside walkers, and pretty parts of the Main River
Overall, the neighborhood has a slightly hip but very welcoming atmosphere, with pockets of busy-ness dotted in and around the general languid atmosphere.
Fechenheim
Best for: students who want to save money (if they don’t mind living on the outskirts)
Sitting in the far-east of what’s generally considered to be central Frankfurt, student-heavy Fechenheim was once a river-fishing village.
These days, it’s known for being one of the city’s most affordable neighborhoods—and many students and young people head here for the low prices. It’s not the most fun district in the world, but there are a couple of live music venues here, and a few basic bars and restaurants. And in the neighborhood, you have all the amenities you need.
Via public transport, you can be in the city center within 25 minutes… so the neighborhood isn’t as secluded as some people expect.
Others move to Fechenheim for green spaces—this part of the river is popular for running and walking, while the neighborhood is also close to the Rumpenheimer und Bürgeler Kiesgruben swimming lake, and a popular cozy campsite.
Overall, for saving money and some easy green escapes, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Frankfurt. But, admittedly, most people will find Fechenheim a little boring
Bornheim
Best for: combining cozy residential vibes with Frankfurt’s best nightlife
Sitting pretty much halfway between Fechenheim and the Innenstadt, Bornheim has a village-like vibe, along with comfy taverns, jazz clubs, many cafes, lots of live music, and a twice-a-week farmers’ market.
… but nestled in and around all that, it also has a huge chunk of exciting nightlife—the neighborhood is home to the city’s biggest concentration of bars. Highlights include:
- Mosaik Jazz Bar: very small and very intimate, with frequent and excellent live music
- BornEnd: an old-school pub, with darts, lots of wood, and an unpretentious atmosphere
- Destino: both a bar and a restaurant, with weekend DJs, and hyper-authentic tapas
- Rot & Vogel Feines Trinken: cozy and welcoming, with some of the city’s best cocktails
Uniquely, this nightlife doesn’t dominate the neighborhood. Although this is a great place for drinking and dancing, Bornheim still very much retains a laid-back homely vibe. It’s therefore ideal for families with young kids, who want to balance centrality, safety, and family vibes with lots of places to eat and drink.
Other Bornheim highlights include live music, comedy shows, regular pop-up events, and a few attractions (the neighborhood is close to the big popular Günthersburgpark, and the excellent Frankfurt Zoo). And it’s great for finding amenities—Bornheim is also home to many gyms and sports fields, along with a great indoor swimming pool, and a large hospital.
Overall, for pretty much anybody and everybody, Bornheim can be one of the best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt.
Höchst
Best for: living a local life on the outskirts of the city
Some people consider Höchst to be the very outskirts of Frankfurt.
Others consider it to be a little town of its own.
Whatever the case, Höchst lies around 6 miles (10km) west of the Innenstadt, and feels much more ‘real’ and local than most other districts we’ve brought you. Here, you’ll find lots of lifelong locals, a very authentic vibe, and very few tourists.
There’s a surprising amount to do here—Höchst’s old town is famous for being home to 400 timbered houses, while other attractions include pretty stretches of the Main River, the very-nearby animal-packed nature reserve of Schwanheimer Dunes, lots of traditional taverns (this neighborhood is excellent for finding real German food), and the ornate interiors of Saint Justin’s Church.
Other perks include a hospital, lots of everyday amenities, friendly locals, a well-connected train station, other nearby green spaces, a large industrial area with lots of job opportunities, some great schools (including ISF International School, one of the best international schools in Frankfurt), and a laid-back atmosphere.
Overall, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Frankfurt if you’re seeking a quaint and peaceful life.
Westend
Best for: feeling safe and exclusive, a cozy family life, and mixing with students
As you probably worked out for yourself, Westend is the western side of central Frankfurt (although, weirdly, some sections of Westend lie north of some parts of the Innenstadt).
One of the biggest districts we’ve brought you, it’s pricey and green, and it attracts high-earning families from both Germany and beyond.
Divided into two districts (the northern part and the southern part), Westend-Süd is the most affluent of the two, with large family homes, many big offices, and lots of expensive cafes and eateries.
Westend-Nord is a little more affordable, and a little less exclusive. Home to Goethe University, some students live here, in addition to families with young kids. This part of Westend is a little more laid-back.
Highlights across the neighborhood include:
- Palmengarten Frankfurt: this botanical garden has themed areas, native and non-native plants, thousands of different species, and even a little lake
- Alte Oper: the city’s big opera house, this place serves up classical music concerts—and it’s one of the city’s prettiest buildings
- Senckenberg Nature Museum: one of the biggest natural history museums in Germany, stacked with skeletons, dinosaur stuff, and a massive snake
- EXPERIMINTA ScienceCenter: one of the city’s best family-friendly attractions, this interactive funfest has lots of hands-on exhibits and experiments
Overall, if you want a quaint quiet life, the Westend is one of the best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt. But if you prefer something a little more rugged, we don’t recommend living here.
But, a tip: if you do want to live here, you might struggle to find a home. One of the city’s most sought-after districts, competition here is high, landlords often charge unfair prices, and finding a place to live often involves lots of bargaining and bureaucracy.
For those reasons, many Westend newcomers choose to move into one of Homelike’s fully-furnished serviced apartments. They’re homely and comfy, they’re ready to move into today, you don’t need to do any waiting or bargaining, and all utilities (including internet) are already organized for you. And because all listings come with photos and prices, you always know exactly what you’re getting. A stress-free way to make an often-stressful move!
Bockenheim
Best for: many down-to-earth pubs, and a big studenty vibe
Frankfurt’s most hip and happening district, trendy Bockenheim is packed with young people who want to drink, dance, and party.
Bordering both Westend and Innenstadt, this relaxed-in-the-daytime neighborhood comes alive at night, with lots of little bars and clubs (most of which are a little grimy, in the best possible way). Some nightlife favorites include:
- Zum Tannenbaum: laid-back, this old-school pub attracts lots of students. HIghlights here include foosball, pinball machines, affordable food, and cheap drinks
- Doctor Flotte: one of the most unpretentious pubs you’ve ever stumbled into, with a mixed crowd of loyal locals
- Fitfit: small and intimate, with a great program of unique local DJs
Other Bockenheim highlights include:
- Rebstockbad: a tropical-themed waterpark, and one of the city’s best family-friendly attractions. It’s currently being renovated, but should reopen soon! The waterpark sits inside a much-bigger park, with lots of places to wander, picnic, and BBQ
- Frankfurt Feldbahnmuseum: another excellent option for families, this charming museum features cute railway rides, vintage cars, tasty food, and old-school transport
- Bockenheimer Warte subway station: not really a typical ‘attraction,’ but rising out the ground like something from a movie, this is one of the oddest subway entrances you’ve ever seen
In short, Bockenheim is one of the best neighborhoods in Frankfurt for young people, hipsters, and those who want to prioritize partying. And also not a bad choice for families!
Pro-tip: Bockenheim sits very close to the much-bigger district of Nordend, a largely-residential area with family homes, many places to eat and drink, a peaceful Chinese Garden, and lots of kid-friendly restaurants. If you want Bockenheim vibes in a slightly quieter area, consider living in Nordend—it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Frankfurt for families.
Ostend
Best for: exploring both classy and not-classy hangouts, some pretty riverside stretches, and great family-friendly attractions
East of Innenstadt, you have Ostend (the name of which—unsurprisingly—translates to ‘East End’).
Formerly a big industrial area, this riverside neighborhood is now a very popular place to live. Perks include relatively low prices, a big multicultural population, and a welcoming expat vibe. It’s also trendy and exciting, with converted warehouses, rugged nightlife venues, lots of independent hangouts, and some surprisingly classy restaurants.
Specific highlights of the neighborhood include:
- Ost Park: featuring forests, meadows, a big pond, play parks, and lots of picnic spots
- Frankfurt Zoo: home to almost 500 species, big highlights here include giraffes, zebras, tigers, and penguins
- Schwedlersee: popular with families and picnickers, this little lake offers food, drinks, and regular live-music events
- Deutsches Architekturmuseum: home to lots of architecture exhibits, and more cool and quirky than you’d probably expect
Overall, for families with young kids, Ostend is one of the best areas to live in Frankfurt. And as a nice bonus, you can find some pretty inexpensive family homes here!
Gallusviertel
Best for: living centrally, finding a job, and sleek and shiny architecture
The western part of the Innenstadt, Gallusviertel is the city’s most well-known commercial hub—with many skyscrapers, offices, job opportunities, sleek-high rise apartments, and converted post-industrial buildings.
Highlights include: Skyline Plaza (a generic but popular shopping mall), The Bed (an intimate performance space with lots of local live music), Messe Frankfurt (a huge venue for conferences, trade shows, and live shows), some very high-end restaurants, and walks and wanders in the duck-filled Rebstockpark.
Once a huge industrial hub, Gallusviertel has now been modernised. Expect glass surfaces, pricey cars, expensive-suited businesspeople, and high rents.
Gallusviertel is also home to the Europaviertel (or ‘European Quarter’). This self-contained area is a small neighborhood, made up of offices, apartments, and fancy hangouts—if you like chilling with the people you work with, you’ll love it.
Overall, this is one of the best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt if you want to prioritize work. But if you like something a little more rugged and real (and not so generically ‘this-could-be-anywhere’) you won’t enjoy living in Gallusviertel.
Offenbach
Best for: living in another city… but just on the outskirts of Frankfurt
We’re rounding this list off with a relatively leftfield choice.
Although Offenbach railway station is only a 15-minute ride from Frankfurt’s main railway station, Offenbach is actually a smaller city of its own.
Sitting over the river from Frankfurt (and east of the city), Offenbach is part of the Frankfurt urban area, and has a population of around 140,000 people. Highlights here include Offenbacher Wald Zoo (a cozy petting zoo), the Digital Retro Park (an interactive museum centered on old-school technology), and the unusual German Leather Museum.
But the real highlight of living here is being close to Frankfurt without having to actually live in a busy city (great for people who like peace and quiet!). In Offenbach, it’s very easy to reach Frankfurt when you want to—but Offenbach itself has all the amenities and services you could ever need, along with relatively low prices.
So, in summary, not really one of the best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt. But a great choice for people who don’t like the big bustle of a busy city.
The 12 best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt: final thoughts
And you’ve reached the end of this guide—they’re the 12 best neighborhoods to live in Frankfurt.
To sum up, we recommend:
- For families: Westend and Ostend
- For people who like to party: Bockenheim, Bornheim, and Innenstadt
- For students: Fechenheim, Bornheim, and Bockenheim
- For young professionals: Gallusviertel and Innenstadt
- For digital nomads: Bockenheim, The Altstadt, and Innenstadt
Again, as we’ve mentioned, finding a home in Frankfurt is pretty tough these days. You get lots of competition, some often-untrustworthy landlords, difficulties setting up utilities and internet, and lots of confusing bureaucracy—and if you don’t speak German, it’s even tougher. And get this: many Frankfurt homes come completely unfurnished!
… for those reasons and more, many Frankfurt newcomers move into our fully-furnished serviced apartments and serviced flats. Our places are homely and comfortable, and ready to move into right now. You don’t need to deal with any admin or bureaucracy, you don’t need to buy any furniture, and you don’t need to compete with other potential tenants. And as a nice bonus, all utilities and internet are organized for you, and included in the price of rent. Easy!
For more on moving to Germany, head over to our guides on:
- 14 things to know about living in Germany
- Everything you need to know for expats in Germany
- And getting your Schufa in Germany
Thanks for reading, thanks for visiting Homelike, and enjoy your new life in Frankfurt. Bye for now!
