Film Museum Frankfurt (DFF): Tickets, Opening Hours & Highlights

Have you ever wondered how a single sequence of still images becomes a moving film? The Film Museum in Frankfurt — officially the DFF – German Film Institute & Film Museum — takes you on a fascinating journey through the history and technology of cinema. With interactive stations, historic apparatus and its own arthouse cinema, it’s one of the liveliest houses on the Museumsufer. Let me show you what awaits, when it’s open and how to plan your visit.

The Film Museum on the Museumsufer

The DFF is on the Schaumainkai, in the middle of Frankfurt’s Museumsufer in Sachsenhausen. It’s museum, cinema and film archive all at once — a place where film culture is nurtured in its full breadth. If you’re interested in cinema, you’ll find far more than an exhibition here: a living meeting point for film enthusiasts.

The permanent exhibition: the magic of film

The centrepiece is the interactive permanent exhibition, which explains how film comes about and how it works. On one level it’s about the prehistory of cinema: how the moving image arose at all, with optical toys, the magic lantern and early apparatus, some of which you can operate yourself. On another level everything revolves around film language — camera framing, editing, sound and trick effects that show how films achieve their impact.

It’s precisely these hands-on stations that make the visit exciting for young and old: all at once you understand why cinema works, and you discover the tricks behind the screen.

Temporary exhibitions and cinema

Alongside the permanent exhibition, the DFF shows changing temporary exhibitions on directors, genres or film themes. A special highlight is the in-house cinema, which screens a carefully curated programme daily — from classics through retrospectives to special series. A museum visit followed by a film in the same place is a rounded experience you won’t get everywhere. Check the current cinema programme in advance if you want to see a particular film.

Opening hours (as of 2026)

• Tuesday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday: closed

The cinema sometimes has different, longer hours — depending on the screening. On public holidays the museum times may vary, so check them shortly before your visit.

Admission prices (as of 2026)

• Permanent exhibition: €6, reduced €3
• Children under 6: free entry

Separate prices apply for temporary exhibitions and cinema screenings. It’s best to check the exact current rates on the official website. If you want to visit several houses on the Museumsufer, consider the Museumsufer Ticket or the Museumsufer Card.

Getting there

The Film Museum is at Schaumainkai 41, 60596 Frankfurt am Main. The most convenient way is by public transport: the U-Bahn station Schweizer Platz (U1/U2/U3/U8) is a few minutes away, as are several bus stops along the riverbank. From the Römer it’s a lovely walk across the Eiserner Steg footbridge. By car, parking in the district is limited — I clearly recommend the U-Bahn.

Practical tips for your visit

• Museum plus cinema: combine the exhibition with a screening in the in-house cinema — a perfect cultural afternoon.
• With children: the hands-on stations on film technology fascinate younger visitors too.
• Allow time: reckon on one to two hours for the permanent exhibition, more with a temporary show and cinema.
• Combine with the Museumsufer: the Städel, the Museum of Communication and other houses are right next door.
• Rainy-day tip: an ideal, weather-independent destination — first the exhibition, then a film.
• Check the cinema programme: if you want to see a particular film, it’s worth looking at the current schedule in advance.

Is it worth it?

Yes — and especially for anyone who loves films or wants to know how cinema actually works. The DFF combines clever, interactive learning with genuine cinematic magic, making it more than a classic museum. That you can watch a film in the in-house cinema straight afterwards makes the visit unique.

My advice: plan the exhibition and cinema together, take your time over the hands-on stations, and combine the visit with a stroll along the Museumsufer. That turns the Film Museum into a highlight of your Frankfurt day — for cinephiles and the curious alike.