A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Frankfurt vs. Seattle for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Frankfurt or Seattle?

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 Seattle can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a connected, energetic, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Seattle

Seattle is a outdoorsy, laid-back, and bustling city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and theater.

Frankfurt and Seattle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Seattle?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Seattle. Although Frankfurt and Seattle are popular destinations, Seattle has more sights and attractions for tourists. Seattle is very popular for its theatre productions, music, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Frankfurt attracts visitors for its historical sights and shopping. Seattle is more touristy than Frankfurt and is popular for its beautiful waterfront setting, diverse culinary scene, thriving art and cultural venues, and being the home of many international tech companies. It is also well known for The Space Needle. Frankfurt is famous for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife.

How is Frankfurt different from Seattle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Seattle 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 Seattle?

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Seattle and Frankfurt.

Many visitors head to Frankfurt specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Seattle can be an interesting and educational experience. The city's most iconic landmark is the Space Needle. There's also a zoo, aquarium, and a handful of nice museums. Several favorites include the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of History & Industry, and the Seattle Art Museum.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Theater?

Seattle is very good for its shows and theatre. However, Frankfurt is not a theatre destination.

You'll find a nice selection of shows in Seattle. There are a handful of theaters where you can enjoy traveling Broadway shows or smaller productions.

Frankfurt is not a theatre destination.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Frankfurt and Seattle 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, Seattle makes for a great culinary experience. The city has many diverse dining options that make it a popular foodie destination. The seafood is world-class with many restaurants offering fresh caught salmon and oysters. There are also many great Asian restaurants with Pho, sushi, and dim sum all being popular around town. Seattle is also famous as the birthplace of Starbucks coffee, and both chain and independent coffee shops are common. Finally, make sure you check out the donuts at Pike's Place Market.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Nightlife?

Both Frankfurt and Seattle have excellent vibes after the sun sets.

Frankfurt has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

The people in Seattle know how to have a good time. The city is known for its breweries and eclectic nightlife scene. There is a thriving theater scene as well as many bars and trendy restaurants. The best neighborhoods for nightlife include Capitol Hill, Belltown, and Downtown.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Music?

Seattle is an excellent place to visit for its music scene. However, Frankfurt is not a live music destination.

Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Seattle has diverse options. The city has developed its own music culture around several genres including alternative rock and grunge.

Frankfurt is not a live music destination.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Beaches?

Seattle is very good for the beach. However, Frankfurt is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Seattle to enjoy the beach. The city is surrounded by water so there are a number of rocky and sandy beaches nearby. Some beaches are more popular with locals while others attract a large amount of tourists. Alki Beach Park, Discovery Park, and Golden Gardens Park are among the best.

Frankfurt is not a beach destination.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for its Old Town?

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

Frankfurt offers a nice historic old town area. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Seattle does not have a historic old town.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Hiking?

Seattle is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Frankfurt is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Seattle. It's famously an outdoorsy city and the hiking will not disappoint. Within a half hour drive of town you'll find beautiful forests and stunning natural beauty. Head into the Cascades, to the coastal rainforests, or around Mount Rainier for all kinds of diverse landscapes. Seattle is well situated for you to experience hiking through the diverse Pacific Northwest landscapes.

Frankfurt is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Seattle?

Frankfurt is notable for its shopping areas. Also, Seattle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Frankfurt. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Seattle. Shopping in town has an eclectic mix of high end brands, local vendors, and vintage shops. There are farmers markets as well as the famous Pike Place Market, but also major malls with all of the standard department stores.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Families?

Frankfurt is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Seattle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Seattle is a family-friendly city. This is an outdoor city with plenty of places where kids can run around and experience nature. There are several good museums as well as outdoor activities, parks, and a zoo. Make sure you check out the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Volunteer Park, and Artists at Play Playground.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Couples?

Both Frankfurt and Seattle are nice 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.

Seattle is a nice destination for couples. The city has a laid back vibe, a nice downtown area, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are a diversity of restaurants to enjoy and a great nightlife scene that makes for a good couple's getaway.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is notable for backpackers. Also, Seattle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Seattle is a good city to visit for backpackers. Although it's not the most popular city for backpackers in America, the city's chill vibe, fun breweries, and lively setting make it a great spot for young backpackers.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle Better for Students?

Frankfurt is renowned for students. Also, Seattle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a great destination for students. 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.

Students come from all over to stay in Seattle. It is a major IT center with a large university, so international students will have plenty of opportunities here. It's also a vibrant city with many outdoor recreational opportunities and a fun nightlife scene.

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

Frankfurt is renowned for its public transit. Also, Seattle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Frankfurt has a great 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.

Seattle has some public transit options. There is a light rail system, a monorail, a street car, and buses.

Is Frankfurt or Seattle a more walkable city?

Frankfurt and Seattle are excellent when it comes to walkability.

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

Seattle is very walkable. Many neighborhoods are very walkable, particularly in the downtown and major tourist areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Seattle or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Seattle?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Frankfurt and Seattle. In our opinion, Frankfurt has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Frankfurt than Seattle. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Frankfurt, and 2-3 days is enough time in Seattle.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Seattle 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Frankfurt or Seattle?

Because Frankfurt is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find museums and theater around the city of Seattle. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Seattle?

Because Frankfurt is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Frankfurt has to offer.

You'll find theater and nightlife around the cultural big city of Seattle. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Seattle?

Frankfurt is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the cultural city of Seattle. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Frankfurt or Seattle?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Frankfurt. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Frankfurt. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Seattle is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Frankfurt and Seattle, we can see that Seattle is more expensive. And not only is Frankfurt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Frankfurt is in Europe and Seattle is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Frankfurt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Frankfurt and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle than you might in Frankfurt.

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

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Seattle?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 14% larger than the population of Seattle. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt and Seattle, 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 Seattle?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Seattle in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Seattle. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Seattle for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Frankfurt is around the same temperature as Seattle in the summer. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Seattle fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seattle. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Frankfurt this time of the year. In the summer, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Seattle. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 313 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in July than Seattle. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Seattle in the Autumn?

Both Seattle and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Seattle in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Frankfurt is cooler than Seattle. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Frankfurt in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Seattle averages at about 54°F (12°C).

Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Seattle during autumn. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 143 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Seattle. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Seattle in the Winter?

Both Seattle and Frankfurt during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Seattle for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.

Frankfurt can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Frankfurt is generally much colder than Seattle. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 1°C (34°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 42°F (5°C).

In the winter, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Seattle. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 67 hours of full sun.

Seattle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Frankfurt usually gets less rain in January than Seattle. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 5.4 inches (136 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Seattle in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Seattle. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Seattle because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seattle this time of the year. Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Seattle during spring. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Seattle. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Seattle and Frankfurt