Many of Frankfurt's museums are free on the last Saturday of the month
/SaTOURday - free entry
On the last Saturday of every month the museums of Frankfurt open their doors and offer free entrance, this event is known as SaTOURday. There are a few museums who exempt themselves from SaTOURday as follows:
In August and December there is no SaTOURday at any museum
The following museums do not participate in SaTOURday and still charge an entrance fee, but check the Museumsufer website in case additional museums are added to the list:
The Film Museum (Deutschen Filmmuseum)
EXPERIMINTA Science Centre
Goethe House Museum (Goethe-Haus)
Communication Museum (Museum für Kommunikation)
Senckenberg Natural Science Museum (Naturmuseum Senckenberg)
The Palm Garden (Palmengarten)
The Städel (although not on the Museumsufer exemption list, a reader recently reported that he had to pay despite it being SaTOURday)
A huge variety of museums within walking distance
During the winter months the museums are great places to go and get away from the cold outdoors and there are 34 museums to choose from. Information about the museums can be found, in English, on the Museums Embankment website.
The variety of museums is astounding; modern art, classic art, photography, film, natural history and many of them are within walking distance of each other along the Museumsufer on the south bank of the River Main (see image below and this map link will take you to the original map)
The curators have done an incredible job of raising the profile of Frankfurt's museums and, as a result, World class exhibitions regularly visit the city and for example the Schirn Art Hall has worked in conjunction with the Tate, London and the Centre Pompidou. Many of the museums have a cafe, accessible without paying an entrance fee, that offer freshly made lunch options, drinks and cakes too.
Map of the Museums located centrally in frankfurt
Value for money cards
If you live in Frankfurt and like to visit the museums frequently then the Museums Embankment card is great value for money and, once bought, offers free entrance to over 34 museums and all exhibitions. Just ask for a museums card at the reception of any museum when you visit. You'll be issued with a temporary paper pass which is usable until your official pass is sent in the post.
Adult card - 89€ annually (2023)
A family of two adults and two children 150€ annually
Students (between 6 and 18) 45€ annually
Value for tourists and visitors
If you are simply visiting Frankfurt then an alternative option is the MuseumsuferUfer ticket which offers free entrance to 39 museums and exhibitions for two full days. It costs just 21€ (2023) or for a family of two adults and two children, a ticket costs just 32€. Again, just ask at the reception when you visit the first museum and they will issue the ticket. If the museums are closed on one of the days you are visiting (museums are shut on Mondays) then the ticket is valid for the following day.
The Städel museum, opposite the Holbeinsteg (bridge) on the Museumsufer
