The Historical Museum Frankfurt traces the city's story from its medieval roots to the present day. Set beside the River Main near Römerberg, it occupies an ensemble of historic buildings and contemporary galleries that mirrors Frankfurt's mix of old and new.
The collections explore Frankfurt's role as a trading centre, an imperial city and, later, a financial capital. Exhibitions also examine political upheaval, the destruction of the Second World War and the choices that shaped the city's reconstruction. A detailed model of the old town offers a particularly vivid sense of how much of Frankfurt's historic fabric was lost and transformed.
Allow at least two hours, or longer if you want to explore the exhibitions in depth. Check the museum's website for current opening times and temporary exhibition tickets before visiting. Afterwards, walk across to Römerberg and the reconstructed old town to see some of the history in context.