10 Best Markets in Frankfurt

Kleinmarkthalle is an indoor covered market where locals gather for a meal, a browse and a glass of wine to exchange stories about what happened this week. It’s a fantastic place to soak up local culture and colour and discover unique delicacies like authentic Hessian Grie Soß. Even if you’re not into German food, you’ll find many international ethnic cuisines here, including Italian, Spanish, Asian and seafood stalls.

It’s not all about prepared foods here, however. You’ll also find plenty of fresh local ingredients to cook your own meals. Vendors sell farm-fresh produce, meats, baked goods, cheeses, herbs and spices. It’s all in the heart of the city centre.

Bauernmarkt Konstablerwache (Konstablerwache Farmer Market) is a local farmers’ market situated in the heart of the city centre on the famed Zeil shopping mile, offering fresh food and good times. This spot is wildly popular among locals who come here in the morning, on their lunch breaks or after work to buy groceries, pick up flowers for their partner and sit down to chat about the day with their good friends over delicious homemade food.

The market is open daily but becomes a party atmosphere on Saturdays. If you’re into Hessian Apfelwein, you’ll find many quality options. Many vendors sell international delicacies as well as authentic German cuisine.

Frankfurt Christmas Market kicks off the holiday season in late November after a long break in the festival season, offering gifts, food, drinks and fellowship that lights up the city. The entire city centre, it seems, comes to life and transforms magically into a traditional 19th-century village, serving up mulled wines, hot cocoa, delicious and hearty German foods, and of course, vendor stalls offering just about every kind of gift idea you can imagine, much of it handmade.

You’ll find jewellery, ornaments, gift boxes, display and wall art and even practical gifts and souvenirs. The centrepiece is the gigantic Christmas tree, and the highlight is the concerts, tower bubbles and entertainment.

Bornheim Weekly Market (Bornheimer Wochenmarkt) is a farmers’ market in the neighbourhood of Bornheim offering fruits and veggies, speciality foods and a wide range of other hidden treasures. It’s located on Berger Strasse, near the old clock tower in the city centre. It takes place every Wednesday and Saturday. Here you’ll find farm-fresh produce, prepared foods, and various other goods for sale.

This massive market is among the most popular in the city for its easy proximity to a wide range of other local points of interest. That makes it an ideal place to stop for a quick look-around as you adventure throughout the city. It can also be a base to return to for a meal between excursions.

Höchst Hall and Market (Wochenmarkt und Markthalle Höchst) is a weekly fresh produce market held every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday with a serene, authentic vibe beloved by locals. Here you’ll find meats and sausages, a delicatessen, fruits and vegetables straight from the farm, fresh flowers, seedlings and urban gardening. Many residents like to come here as it’s less oriented to visitors, making it a great place to soak up the area’s culture.

The vendors and patrons here are quite friendly, and the produce and speciality foods are of the highest quality. If you’re looking for a farm-to-table venue to grab some fresh supplies while in Frankfurt, this is the place to stop.

Berger Strasse Market is held every Wednesday and Saturday on the main street offering a smaller, neighbourhood option to soak up colour and culture. Here you will find tons of options for baked goods and delicious breads as well as fruits, veggies, herbs, spices and other produce straight from local farms, The market is also famous for its sausages and wurst.

One of the things that makes it fun to visit is that it’s smaller, which also means it doesn’t draw the crowds of some of the larger markets in the heart of the city centre. This is where those from the area slip in to grab their groceries while visitors hit the bigger markets.

Kaisermarkt Wochenmarkt - Jeden Donnerstag is held bi-weekly on the main Kaiserstrasse just outside of the Hauptbahnhof in the city centre offering wine tents, food stalls and speciality goods. Some of the more unique and fun food booths here have delectable wild game meats from venison wurst to wild boar. Many of the products aren’t found in other markets.

The homemade local wines are delicious as well, and of course, you’ll find all the expected farmers’ market goods with fresh produce, fruits, veggies, cheeses, dairy and other ‘off the farm’ offerings. The tents stretch up and down the street, which becomes pedestrian-friendly so you can spend all day just exploring the sights and smells.

Friedberger Platz Weekly Market (Wochenmarkt am Friedberger Platz), called the ‘Friedi’ by locals, is among the largest open-air events in the city centre, offering delicious foods and green space. The high season for this market is May to September, and many people gather here from all over the city. During the after-work rush’s busiest times, finding a spot to sit in the green space can be hard. Among the most popular offerings here is the locally-made Riesling white wine. Vendors here also deal in meat, fruits, veggies and cheeses.

It’s open every Friday and closes around 8 pm, with crowds asked to move on by 9. Follow the crowd to see where this week’s after-market party ends up.

Schiller Street Weekly Market (Wochenmarkt Schillerstraße) is located in the Innenstadt area of the city centre with a vast array of fruit and vegetable stands and speciality food offerings. Every stand here seems to have a gigantic selection of options, and besides produce, you’ll find bakers, sausages, butcher stands with fresh cuts, bakers and many other stalls.

This place is a wildly popular after-work watering hole, with nearby white-collar workers from banks and financial centres gathering for a glass of wine or beer among the many tents to chit-chat and trade information. It gets busiest every Friday afternoon but is always a vibrant spot to soak up local culture.

Lindley Street Flea Market (Flohmarkt Lindleystraße) is a weekly flea market in the Eastern Harbour district, a short walk from the city centre, offering hidden treasures and great views. The market runs parallel to the Schwedlersee and showcases stunning views of the city centre. It’s also loaded with local charm. You’ll find everything you can imagine, from vintage clothes to collectable vinyl records, old CDs, DVDs and first-edition books. You’ll find old technology, classic toys, porcelain, pottery, vintage musical instruments, paintings, utensils, housewares, home décor and hidden treasures.

The market combines professional traders and private stalls, so the offerings change often. You can find a little bit of everything here.