Frankfurt — or "Bankfurt," as it's sometimes dubbed — is the country's financial hub. Dating back to around the first century CE, Frankfurt is a city of ancient wonders and modern marvels. Its architecture is a brilliant blend of new and old; for instance, it is one of the only European cities that has a significant number of skyscrapers. Fortunately for Frankfurters, the gay scene is anything but buttoned-down. After leaving those sleek towers downtown, locals turn on the juice for an active and sophisticated gay nightlife.

 

Getting here

Frankfurt am Main Airport is the busiest airport in Germany, and the third busiest in Europe. See under the "transfers" header on their English-language site to download a complete guide to getting back and forth, to and from the airport. There's also an app for your smartphone.

InterCity and EuroCity trains connect you to cities in Germany and the rest of Europe from the Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof  - the main train station that also serves the network of S-Bahn commuter trains. See Deutsche Bahn for train info.

 

Getting around

A network of buses, trams, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains are at your disposal in the public transport system. See the English language pages of RMV for details. Look for the Nachtbus (night bus) during later hours.  With their Call a Bike service Deutsche Bahn offers 770 bicycles for rent throughout the city center and surrounding districts -- available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Neighborhoods

The gayborhood here is in what's called the "Bermuda Triangle" district around Alte Gasse, north of Konstablerwache train station, by the intersection of the Zeil pedestrian mall and Konrad Adenauer Strasse - located amid the areas of Konstablerwache, Bleichstrasse and Eschenheimer Turm, in the northeast corner of the city. Some of Frankfurt's most popular gay bars, cafes and nightclubs are here.

The nightlife scene gets very happening on weekends, but most large clubs remain closed during the week. Smaller bars and restaurants in the gay district stay open all week, and plenty of locals and tourists can be seen out and about.

The "Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung" memorial to gay and lesbian victims of the Nazi years is at Klaus-Mann Square near Konrad Adenauer Strasse.

 

Currency and Money

Germany is part of the Euro Zone, so the euro is the accepted currency. There are plenty of ATMs in the downtown area. Some machines require credit cards with a pin number. Ask your bank before leaving home, and inform them of your travel plans.

 

Media & Resources

A good first stop is the information center and café called Switchboard (Alte Gasse 36). GAB, of the InQueery group, is the local gay magazine for Frankfurt.

For info on CSD (Christopher Street Day) Pride celebrations in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf in July each year, see their website.

The official city tourism site Frankfurt-Tourismus has hotel, sightseeing, shopping and dining information in eight languages, plus an LGBT section.

Stadtleben.de is a good entertainment, nightlife, shopping and dining guide to Frankfurt, in German.

Das Kulturportal is an online guide to Frankfurt art, music, museums, stage productions, film, literature and more, in German and English.

Mal Seh'n Kino (Adlerflychtstraße 6) art-house cinema features ongoing Gay and Lesbian Filmnights, screening films of interest from around the world.

For map locations and website links to the businesses below, and more, see our gay Frankfurt listings pages.

Also see events listings, and activities pages including: Frankfurt's Skyline/ Main Tower; Frankfurters/ Best Worscht in Town; Museums; Palmengarten, Botanical Garden & Grüneburgpark; Römerberg; plus Zeil shopping, Hauptwache and Konstablerwache.

 

Accommodations

Downtown Hotel Frankfurt (Schafergaße 27; 49-69-83-1022) modern "hetero-friendly" hotel at the center of the gay district, above Lucky's bar and cafe.

Villa Orange (Hebelstraße 1; 49-69-40-5840) 38 bright spacious rooms, gay-friendly, reasonably-priced business hotel; short walk to the bars, ample organic breakfast buffets, WiFi, terrace.

For more hotels see our maps and listings pages.

 

Nightlife

3 Faces (Bleichstraße 38a), restaurant, bar/lounge, 18+ gay/mixed dance club with shows, summer garden terrace, Sunday brunch; formerly Pulse.

Babylon FFM (Alte Gaße 34), small gay neighborhood karaoke bar, at former Monte Carlo location.

Barcode (Homburger Straße 28), small new neighborhood gay bar.

Birmingham Pub (Zeil 92), late-night hangout, gayest after dark (rainbow flag displayed after sundown), stage performances, late food service  -- rare in Frankfurt.

Château Rouge (Schützenstraße 10), music & champagne, wine & cocktails bar, stylish decor, DJ evenings with buffets, shows, party events, mixed crowd. Was Club Jerome.

Central (Elefantengaße 11) sleek, modern bar in blue and dark tones, young, urbane clientelle, good cocktails.

CK Studio (Alte Gaße 5), completely remodeled former C5 bar, attracts local and foreign party people to periodic gay lounge/dance parties, especially during CSD celebrations in July.

Club 78 at Union Halle (Hanauer Landstraße 188), big gay/ straight-friendly party on 3 floors, top DJs play Classics, New Dance Charts, Vocal House Party and Kracher music.

Club La Gata (Seehofstraße 3), longtime lesbian central hangout, theme nights, Friday/Saturday women only, male friends welcome Sundays; food served from next door restaurant Alten Seehof.

Comeback Bar (Alte Gaße 33), neighborhood drink, party and cruise bar for men.

Gibson Club (Zeil 85-93), Wednesday-Saturday mixed nightclub, dance parties, live music; three-times each year Delicious gay House/dance parties.

Halo (Alte Gaße 26), intimate gay-friendly cafe/bar and video lounge, hip/mixed younger crowd, schlager music party nights.

Lucky's (Schäfergaße 27), coffee or snacks on summer terrace, premier bar/cafe to meet at gay central. Chic, friendly bar and lounge, theme parties, daily specials.

Nachtleben (Kurt Schumacher Straße 45), cafe and dance club, former home of the now inactive Atomic Party, plays New Wave, indie pop and rock, Alternative, Electro Clash & New Rave for alternative young crowd.

Stall (Stiftstrasße 22), most popular bar for leather and uniform men; porn videos heat up steamy back room, special darkroom parties.

Switchboard (Alte Gasße 36), the community non-commercial cafe of AIDS-Hilfe, diverse special event nights.

Zum Schwejk (Schfergaße 20), (Schäfergasse 20), unpretentious gay beer hall/party bar, men of all ages and inclinations, popular with bears, good times every night.

Zur Hex (Elefantengaße 11) new home bar of the old Freddie's crew, with local legend, Mother Charlotte.

 

Restaurants & Cafes

Erbgut (Hans-Thoma-Straße 1), neighborhood restaurant and bar, Sunday buffet breakfast 9am-2pm, daily drinks until 1am plus Friday and Saturday 2am; summer terrace.

Exil (Mercatorstraße 26) welcoming ambience at heart of the city, classic German, French and Mediterranean cuisine.

Grössenwahn (Lenaustraße 97) historic cafe and traditonal coffeeshop with long history, outdoor tables.

Harvey's (Bornheimer Landstraße 64), Harvey Milk tribute restaurant at heart of the arts and cultural scene. Sumptuous dining room, deluxe breakfasts, snacks, schnitzel, burgers, waffles, and flammkuchen (tartes flambées), 10am to 4pm daily.

Suvadee Thai (Baumweg 19 and Steinweg 7), authentic, award-winning Thai cuisine, a gastronomic orgy and quite gay-friendly. Thai interior decor and gracious service.

Zur Schönen Mullerin (Baumweg 12), one of Frankfurt's oldest apfelwein (apple wine) restaurants; gay-owned and popular. Hessen-style cuisine, leaning heavily to meaty treats (such as schnitzel). Reasonable prices, outdoor seating.

 

Saunas

Club Sauna Amsterdam (Waidmannstraße 31), 10-minute subway ride from the Zeil, in large villa on residential block. Cabins, steam and sauna rooms, whirlpool, plus a restaurant and bar.

Metropol Sauna (Grosse Friedberger Strasße 7), dry and steam saunas, open to 4am or later, 24 hours on weekends, daily reduced rates for under 26, Centro Delfino massage therapists.

Saunawerk (Eschersheimer Landstrasße 88), complete with swimming pool and jacuzzi, and, in the center of the gay area.

 

Swimming

German public swimming pools are often elaborate recreational complexes with saunas, fitness centers, and massage services, in addition to indoor and outdoor pools. See BBF for an overview of area facilities: Freibäder are outdoor facilities;  Hallenbäder are indoors; and Erlebnisbäder are waterparks.

Langener Waldsee (Langen Lake). Take the S3 or S4 train for Darmstadt to Dreieich-Buchschlag stop. The path to the gay beach branches to the left of the one leading to "Badesee."

Rebstockbad (Zum Rebstockbad 7), general public waterpark, gay-popular on Thursdays, especially in the sauna section.

 

Shopping

Jerome (Elbestraße 17) gay sex shop, DVD sales, magazines, erotic video cinema.

Oscar Wilde Bookshop (Alte Gaße 51) gay and lesbian bookstore in the thick of all things gay, book readings by prominent authors, nice gift items, online store too.

Skyline (An der Staufenmauer 5), helpful and knowledgeable staff, over 15,000 original DVD sex video titles for sale, also rentals, plus toys, accessories and magazines.