The Best Hostels and Cheap Hotels to Book in Frankfurt

This affordable modern hotel is so close to Frankfurt Airport that you can stroll here from Terminal 2. For those landing into the other terminals, it’s a quick bus ride. Meanwhile, the city centre is within easy reach, thanks to excellent public-transport links. All checked-in, you can rest your weary limbs safe in the knowledge that they permit late check-outs. So sit down and relax on the hotel terrace – and take your time over the breakfast buffet in the quirky dining room.

It may be a low-cost place to stay but at Five Elements Hostel, guests get 24-carat care. From free dinners, to unlimited tea and coffee, to onsite activities every night, this is a check-in that knows how to make its guests feel welcome. There’s also a pool table, table football and wifi throughout the property. All the dorm rooms have private bathrooms and plenty of natural light. What’s more, it’s just a short walk away from Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, the central station.

Frankfurt hostel is housed in a beautiful turn-of-the-century building, a rare find in a city known for its skyscrapers. Choose from a bunk in a dorm or a private room, complete with a private bathroom. Upon payment of a paltry €5 you can tuck into an excellent all-you-can-eat breakfast, and they even send out free evening dinners. The location is convenient too – right in front of the central station, Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof.

Boasting 105 sleeping spaces and 13 conference rooms, Jugendherberge Frankfurt is one of Germany’s biggest youth hostels. It’s a unique, comfortable home-from-home set right beside the river Main, with views of the impressive city skyline. Head out the door and you’re in the thick of the atmospheric Alt-Sachsenhausen district, with its narrow streets, timber-framed houses and general timewarped character. Top tip: try a glass or two of the heady local Apfelwein – aka apple wine, which is rather like cider – in a historic pub before heading back to the hostel for a good night’s sleep.

Capturing the spirit of the city that never sleeps, the Manhattan hotel has an open-all-hours bar and 24-hour front desk. It’s an attractively showy place – every visitor takes in the glamorous gold-mirrored reception as they’re checking in. Wake up in time to grab a continental breakfast in the hotel’s sleek restaurant or head out into the city to explore. The hotel is just a short hop from the central station, Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, and you can even bring your pets – that’s what you call creature comforts.

Jazz up your trip to Frankfurt with a stay at Moxy Hotel Frankfurt. This hotel is part of the funky, fashionable global brand Moxy, by Marriott – and the focus is on bright, urban design, nightlife and, crucially, fun. There’s an edgy hotel bar, a courtyard terrace and even free candy to help yourself to. The rooms are modern, clean and minimalist so you can sleep well after burning the candle at both ends. The hotel is also pet-friendly, so bring your pooch along for the ride.

Choose from a double room or suite at the Scandic Frankfurt Museumsufer and wake up in luxury. The in-room decor, as the hotel name suggests, is Scandi-cool, all pale-timber furnishings and whiter-than-white walls and bed. Every room has a Nespresso coffee machine and mini bar. If you opt for a Superior Best View room, you’ll get the privilege of sweeping views out over the Frankfurt skyline – ‘Mainhattan’, as some call it – or the tranquil waters of the river Main.

Located close to the inner city, Turm is a modern hotel with unique rooms. Even the names are a surprise, choose between Oriental Hip, Avantgarde, Mona Lisa, Fresco and Little Gym – our money’s on the Mona Lisa category, for its carpet based on Da Vinci’s artwork, plus terracotta tones, crimson velvet curtains and torch-style lights. Hire a bike and head out – or hole up in the computer games room or the hotel bar. Breakfast is extra, but worth it, with plenty of choice including gluten-free options.

Elegant, edgy and urban, the Ruby Louise hotel has many highlights – not least a roof terrace on the sixth floor – the dream spot for martinis and a glittery skyscraper view. Wake up to breakfast with the same city outlook. The hotel is named after Louise Rothschild, a philanthropist who established charitable foundations throughout Frankfurt. The famous figure has inspired the hotel’s design combining modern features with dark wood panelling and historic mouldings. They call the look Biedermeier meets Brooklyn, and the mixture of German classicism and transatlantic cool is a resounding triumph.