What Are the Best Hop-on Hop-off and Express City Tours in Frankfurt?

Frankfurt, the city of finance and culture, offers a wide variety of sights, attractions and activities. Whether you’re a first time visitor or a seasoned local, there are plenty of ways to explore the city. One of the most popular ways is to opt for a hop-on hop-off or express city tour.

In this guide, we’ll cover both types of tours, explain their advantages over other types of sightseeing tours, what are their main attractions and offer tips for getting the most out of your tour. We’ll also compare popular hop-on hop-off and express city tours in Frankfurt.

What is a Hop-on Hop-off Tour?

Hop-on hop-off tours are an ideal way to explore a new or familiar city. “Hop-on hop-off” refers to the flexibility of using the service — passengers are able to get on-board and off the tour buses at whatever point they like. This flexibility allows passengers to explore different parts of the city at their own pace. Additionally, since the tour buses are typically double deckers — they also offer great views while travelling around the city!

Hop-on hop-off tours have some distinct advantages over other forms of sightseeing tours. For instance, traditional sightseeing buses provide audio guide narrations throughout their journey. On a hop-on hop-off tour, the audio guide is only accessible where you are actually on-board — otherwise you’ll miss out on key historical facts about the city and attractions.

Also, most tour buses don’t always stop at all the attractions featured along their route — whereas with a hop-on hop-off tour, passengers can get off at any stop to explore further and then simply take the next bus to rejoin the tour.

What is an Express City Tour?

Express city tours are similar to hop-on hop-off tours in terms of flexibility and convenience; however, they are distinct in terms of duration. Express tours are typically much shorter than hop-on hop-off tours — some only last an hour or even less! While not offering as much flexibility as hop-on hop-off tours, express tours provide a way to cram more sightseeing into a shorter amount of time. They are ideal for those looking for an efficient way to get a “taste’ of the city.

Best Hop-on Hop-off and Express City Tours in Frankfurt

1. Frankfurt Red Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour

The Frankfurt Red Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour is a great way to explore the city of Frankfurt and its surrounding attractions, such as Main Tower and Sebastiankirche. You can choose between a variety of ticket types, including a half day (4 hours) and a full day (8 hours). The open top bus is wheelchair accessible.

Highlights include:

• Explore Main Tower and Sebastiankirche
• English-speaking guides provide live commentary during your tour
• Tickets can be purchased for either 4 or 8 hours

The bus stops at 36 different locations, including the Römerberg & Oldtown, Main Tower, Frankfurt Cathedral & The Goethe Haus & Museum – and that’s just to name a few!

2. Frankfurt Express City Tour by Bus

The Frankfurt Express City Tour was designed for travelers who are short on time but want to experience some of Frankfurt’s most famous attractions. This one hour tour travels along the River Main and around some of the city’s highlights. Professional guides will provide live commentary in English or German – whichever you’d prefer.

Highlights include:

• Enjoy panoramic views of Frankfurt from an open top bus
• See landmarks such as Römerberg Square, The Goethe House & Museum and more!
• Duration: 1 hour (approx)
• Choose from two tour starting times: 9:30 AM or 11 AM
• Audio recorded commentary available in English & German

This tour includes 12 stop locations, where passengers can disembark for a closer look at Frankfurt’s attractions. Popular stops include St. Paul’s Church and Opera Square. After experiencing some of Frankfurt’s best highlights, you can end your tour at either the Goethehaus or Romer Square.

Conclusion: Which Tour is Right for You?

Both options provide great ways to experience Frankfurt in an efficient manner — but they come with different advantages depending on your schedule and interests.

If you have a full day to experience all that Frankfurt has to offer then I recommend taking the Hop-on Hop-off tour. You’ll be able to see all that you want, plus with its 36 stop locations, you can get off and explore further if you wish.

If you’re short on time but still want to experience some of Frankfurt’s highlights then consider taking the Express City Tour by Bus. This one hour tour covers some of Frankfurt’s best sites, meaning you can get a taste of what the city has to offer during your visit — plus with two different start times — you can choose when best to take your tour.

No matter which option you choose, make sure to look for some great discounts available with GetYourGuide. Whether deciding on a hop-on hop-off tour or an express city tour — booking through GetYourGuide is sure to save you time and money when exploring Frankfurt!