Städel Museum Frankfurt: Tickets, Opening Hours & Highlights

If you can visit only a single art museum in Frankfurt, make it the Städel. On the southern bank of the Main, in the middle of the famous Museumsufer, it gathers around 700 years of European art history under one roof — from the Middle Ages to the present. For me it’s not only the city’s most important museum but one of the finest art institutions in Germany. Let me show you what awaits, which masterpieces you shouldn’t miss and how to plan cleverly and cheaply.

A citizens’ museum with a long history

The Städel goes back to the Frankfurt banker and merchant Johann Friedrich Städel, who in 1815 bequeathed his fortune and his art collection to a foundation. That makes it one of the oldest and most tradition-rich citizens’ museums in Germany — founded not by a prince but by a private citizen for the general public. That spirit still shapes the institution today: it is a private foundation, strongly supported by the civic engagement of Frankfurt’s residents.

The neo-classical main building on the Schaumainkai has been extended repeatedly over the decades. The most spectacular addition came in 2012 with the Garden Halls (Gartenhallen): an underground exhibition space for contemporary art whose curved ceiling is pierced by 195 round skylights. From outside it looks like a gently domed, grass-covered hill in the garden — an architectural highlight in itself.

The collection: from Vermeer to Richter

The Städel’s collection comprises around 3,000 paintings, 600 sculptures, over 100,000 drawings and prints, and a large photography collection. It is arranged chronologically, so a tour takes you walking through the centuries — from the old masters through classical modernism to the present.

Among the most famous works are:

• Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein: “Goethe in the Roman Campagna” (1787) — probably the best-known portrait of Goethe of all and a quiet emblem of the house.
• Jan Vermeer: “The Geographer” (1669) — one of the few securely attributed works by the Dutch master.
• Sandro Botticelli, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach and Rembrandt — glories of the old masters.
• Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Max Beckmann — highlights of modernism.
• Francis Bacon, Alberto Giacometti and Gerhard Richter — important contemporary positions in the Garden Halls.

This breadth is what makes it special: hardly any other German museum spans the arc from the Gothic to contemporary art so completely.

Opening hours (as of 2026)

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (extended)
• Monday: closed

The long Thursday is ideal if you have other plans during the day or want to avoid the biggest crowds. Check the current times before your visit, especially on public holidays.

Admission prices and the Tuesday Special

Regular admission is around €17 to €19 (as of 2026), sometimes a little higher at weekends. Children and young people under 18 get in free.

My most important money-saving tip: the Tuesday Special. On Tuesdays from 3 p.m. you can visit the collection and all temporary exhibitions for a flat €10. If you’re flexible, you save considerably — though this slot is correspondingly popular. It’s best to buy your ticket online in advance, which saves you queuing on busy days. Prices can change; if in doubt, check the current rate on the official website.

Temporary exhibitions in 2026

The Städel is famous for its major temporary exhibitions. Announced for 2026 are, among others: “Bruegel. Printed” (18 June to 20 September 2026), the installation “Elmgreen & Dragset. Still Life with Vegetables” (from 20 May 2026) and “Mary Magdalene” (from 17 September 2026). You’ll always find the exact dates and further exhibitions up to date on the museum’s website — a glance before your visit is worthwhile.

Getting there

The Städel is at Schaumainkai 63, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, on the Sachsenhausen bank of the 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 Museumsufer. From the Römer it’s a lovely walk across the Eiserner Steg footbridge to the other side of the Main. By car, parking in the district is limited — the U-Bahn is clearly the better choice.

Practical tips for your visit

• Use the Tuesday Special: from 3 p.m. for €10 into the whole museum — unbeatable value.
• Free audio guide: the free Städel app guides you to the highlights from the Middle Ages to the present.
• Don’t miss the Garden Halls: the underground contemporary art with its skylight-dotted ceiling is an experience in itself.
• Allow time: for a good tour through all the eras, reckon on at least two to three hours.
• Combine with the Museumsufer: further museums line up all around — a perfect day for culture lovers.
• Take a break: the café and the garden invite you to pause before moving on.

Is it worth it?

Without doubt. The Städel is the heart of Frankfurt’s Museumsufer and a museum of international standing. Where else do you stand first before Vermeer’s “Geographer”, a few rooms on before Monet, and finally in the light-flooded Garden Halls before Gerhard Richter? This journey through 700 years of art is dense, varied and never dull.

My advice: come on Tuesday afternoon for the special price or on the long Thursday, download the free app beforehand and take your time. And if you’re still in the mood afterwards: the Museumsufer lies right at your feet. The Städel is the best starting point for a day of culture in Frankfurt — and for many the highlight of their trip.