A Travel Price Comparison for Germany Frankfurt vs. Berlin for Attractions, Nightlife, Backpackers, and Food

Should you visit Frankfurt or Berlin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Berlin can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a modern, connected, and energetic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Berlin

Berlin is a historic, cultural, and artsy city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Frankfurt and Berlin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Berlin than Frankfurt, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Berlin is more popular for its museums, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Frankfurt is known for its historical sights. Berlin is more touristy than Frankfurt and is known for its art scene, cultural activities, and war torn history. It is also home to the Brandenburg Gate. Frankfurt is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife.

How is Frankfurt different from Berlin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Berlin and Frankfurt. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Berlin is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Berlin has many famous sights for visitors. Famous landmarks include the rebuilt Reichstag, the Berlin Wall Memorial, and Berliner Fernsehturm. Many of the city's oldest and most famous museums are found on Museum Island, where you'll find the Pergamon Museum, the James Simon Gallery, the Altes Museum, and the Neues Museum, among others.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Frankfurt can be an interesting and educational experience. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

Is the Food Better in Frankfurt or Berlin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Frankfurt and Berlin can be an enjoyable experience.

Frankfurt has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Berlin makes for a great culinary experience. There's a great international food scene, but also all of the traditional favorites like currywurst, spätzle, and schnitzel. You'll find many diverse food halls, street markets, and local restaurants, as well as a large selection of traditional German restaurants that cater to the tourists.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Nightlife?

Berlin is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

The nightlife in Berlin is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene here is legendary. There are club nights that last for days, bars and parties that appeal to every personality, and a diversity of venues that you can choose from. You'll find the classic techno warehouses, but there are also modern dance clubs, bunker parties, and raves.

The people in Frankfurt know how to have a good time. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Music?

Berlin is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Frankfurt is not a live music destination.

Berlin has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. From the raves to the techno parties, there is a hugely diverse music scene in the city. It is so much more than the stereotypical punk and techno music that Berlin is known for. Rock, pop, and other genres are popular as well.

Frankfurt is not a live music destination.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for its Old Town?

Frankfurt is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Berlin does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Frankfurt. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Berlin does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Berlin is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Berlin specifically to go shopping. Bookshops, flea markets, luxury boutiques and artisan shops all make up the shopping scene in the city. Kurfürstendamm is one of the most famous shopping districts in the city.

Frankfurt is an extremely popular place for shoppers. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Families?

You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Frankfurt or Berlin.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Frankfurt. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Berlin is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of great kid-friendly museums such as the Museum of Natural History and the Computer Games Museum. There's also Legoland, an impressive aquarium, and lots of parks and playgrounds to explore.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Couples?

Both Frankfurt and Berlin are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Frankfurt is a good city for couples to visit. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Berlin is a nice destination for couples. Romantic activities in the city include wandering through Schloss Charlottenburg gardens and learning to dance at Clärchen’s Ballhaus. For couples who enjoy a night out on the town, there are many great restaurants and nightclubs that you can check out.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Berlin is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Berlin, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city has no shortage of hostels to choose from, many of which organize activities and tours that guests can enjoy.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Frankfurt. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Students?

Both Frankfurt and Berlin are terrific destinations for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Berlin is a great destination for students. With it's rich culture and eclectic creative side, this city appeals to many international students. There's also a great social scene that is perfect for university students.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find terrific public transit in both Frankfurt and Berlin.

Visitors in Frankfurt can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Berlin has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The transportation system is diverse and includes the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, and trams.

Is Frankfurt or Berlin a more walkable city?

Frankfurt is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Berlin is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

Frankfurt is a very walkable city. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

Berlin is a somewhat walkable city. While parts of the city are very walkable, the neighborhoods are spread out and the city covers a large amount of space, so walking isn't always practical.

For even more information, also check out Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting? and Is Berlin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Berlin or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Both Frankfurt and Berlin have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Berlin than in Frankfurt. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Frankfurt, and 2-7 days is enough time in Berlin.

Families should spend more time in Frankfurt than Berlin. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Frankfurt, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Berlin than Frankfurt. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Berlin that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Berlin than Frankfurt if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Berlin.

One day in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Frankfurt is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Berlin. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Frankfurt is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find live music and food around the historic big city of Berlin. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Frankfurt or Berlin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Frankfurt. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the diverse city of Berlin. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Frankfurt or Berlin?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the energetic big city of Frankfurt. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Berlin is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Berlin, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Cultural Tours in Germany, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Berlin, we can see that Berlin is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Frankfurt Expensive? and Is Berlin Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Berlin?

Berlin has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Frankfurt. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt and Berlin, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Frankfurt or Berlin?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Berlin in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Berlin. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Berlin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Frankfurt is generally around the same temperature as Berlin. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 19°C (67°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Berlin this time of the year. In Frankfurt, it's very sunny this time of the year. Frankfurt usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Berlin during summer. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Frankfurt usually receives more rain than Berlin. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Berlin in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Berlin. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Berlin in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Frankfurt is around the same temperature as Berlin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Berlin fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Frankfurt often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Berlin. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 106 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in October than Berlin. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Berlin in the Winter?

Both Berlin and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Berlin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Berlin can be very cold during winter. Frankfurt can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Frankfurt is much warmer than Berlin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Frankfurt in January average around 1°C (34°F), and Berlin averages at about -0°C (31°F).

Frankfurt usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Berlin during winter. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 42 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Frankfurt usually receives more rain than Berlin. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Berlin in the Spring?

Both Berlin and Frankfurt during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Berlin because of the activities around the city.

In April, Frankfurt is generally a little warmer than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 10°C (50°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Frankfurt often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Berlin. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 160 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in April than Berlin. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Berlin and Frankfurt