Sachsenhausen is a district to explore at a leisurely pace, whether browsing the shops around Schweizer Strasse or dining at one of the alfresco restaurants along the Rittergasse. To learn more about the historic quarter, join a guided walking or food tasting tour, stopping to see landmarks such as the Goethe Tower and Frau Rauscher fountain, or come after dark to hop between the many bars, pubs, and nightclubs. Another highlight is the riverfront Museum Embankment (Museumsufer), home to more than a dozen of Frankfurt’s most important history, art, and design museums.
It’s easy to walk into Sachsenhausen from downtown Frankfurt—from Römerberg square, head south to the riverfront and cross the Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg). To arrive using public transport, take the U-Bahn to Schweizer Platz, the S-Bahn to Lokalbahnhof or Frankfurt Sud, or hop on tram 14 which has multiple stops throughout the district.
Sachsenhausen comes alive in the evening hours, when the bars and taverns fill up with both locals and travelers. An atmospheric time to visit is during one of the seasonal festivals and events—the district hosts the annual Apple Wine Festival, the Museum Embankment Festival, and a winter Christmas market.
The Old Sachsenhausen district is also known as the Apple Wine Quarter and it’s the best place to sample Frankfurt’s famous Apfelwein, a sweet and fizzy apple wine that has been produced in the region for more than 250 years. The pedestrianized area around the Rittergasse is dotted with traditional Apfelwein taverns (Epelwoi), many of which produce their own on-site. Join a food tasting or bar-hopping tour to learn more, or take a ride on the Apple Wine Express (Ebbelwei-Express) streetcar on summer weekends.
