Under $100: Frankfurt

Contrasts meet in Frankfurt. Located in the heart of Germany, the city mixes traditional and modern, business and culture and big-city bustle and tranquil scenery.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe House © Johnypan | Dreamstime

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Café Karin. Choose from classic European breakfast items including pastries with jams and butter, meats, cheeses and coffee. Spend $7–10. Stroll through Römerberg, Frankfurt’s old central square. Take in the beautiful architecture of the gambled half-timber buildings. During Christmastime, the square transforms into a bustling Christmas market. Visit the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Open daily, Goethe-Haus museum features exhibits related to the German writer and statesman. Adult admission is $8.

Kleinmarkthalle, Frankfurt, Germany © Jorg Hackemann | Dreamstime

A trip to Kleinmarkthalle is a must. Located near Zeil, one of the busiest shopping streets in Frankfurt, this indoor market boasts a wide variety of German and international foods and goods from more than 60 vendors. While you’re there, enjoy lunch from one of the many food stands for about $16. Kleinmarkthalle is closed Sundays and holidays.

Experience Frankfurt from the Main River during a 50-minute (about $9) or 100-minute (about $11) sightseeing boat tour run by Primus-Linie. Visit Frankfurt’s Museum of Modern Art. The museum focuses on European and American art from the 1960s to the present. More than 5,000 works of art make up the permanent collection. Special exhibits are ongoing. Admission costs $13.

The Museum of Modern Art © Antony Mayfield | Flickr

For dinner, experience a traditional German meal complete with apfelwein (apple wine) at Lorsbacher Thal. Schnitzel with Frankfurt’s famous green sauce (a mixture of sour cream and herbs, traditionally served with hard-boiled egg) is a standout. Dinner costs about $25–30.

If you’re planning your trip in October, make sure to check out the Frankfurt Book Fair — the largest of its kind in the world.