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Square · Frankfurt, Hesse
Römerberg
The town-hall square of Frankfurt, with the stepped-gable façade of the Römer, half-timbered houses on the east side and the Justice fountain in the middle.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Römerberg
The Römerberg has been the central square of Frankfurt's old town since the Middle Ages. The name comes from the Haus zum Römer, a building the city bought in the early 15th century to use as the town hall (Rathaus). To this day the Römer is the seat of the city council and the municipal administration, and the three-stepped gable façade has become the city's postcard image.
On the east side of the square is the Ostzeile, a row of half-timbered houses reconstructed in the early 1980s after decades of vacancy left by the 1944 bombings. In the centre stands the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen, the fountain of Justice, and on the south side the Alte Nikolaikirche, a small Gothic church that once served as the town-hall chapel.
Inside the Römer is the Kaisersaal, the hall where imperial coronation banquets were held, with portraits of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire painted in the 19th century. Visits to the hall are usually possible at set times, provided there is no official event: check before going.
The square has been the scene of fairs, coronations and demonstrations over the centuries. Today it is the natural starting point for the Neue Altstadt, the cathedral and the riverbank of the Main, and hosts Frankfurt's Christmas market, which typically runs from late November until near Christmas.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes to 1 hour, including the Kaisersaal if it is open.
Best time
Early in the morning the square is empty and the light hits the façade of the Römer. In the late afternoon and at night the houses are lit. During the Christmas market period, from late November until near Christmas, the square gets very crowded at night and on weekends.
How to get there
Dom/Römer subway station (U4 and U5), a few steps away. From Hauptwache, where S-Bahn and U-Bahn stop, it's about a 10-minute walk. From the main station, about a 20-minute walk or one U4/U5 stop.
Tip
On days with civil weddings or official receptions, parts of the square may be cordoned off. Be attentive to your belongings in crowded places, such as the Christmas market.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Römerberg
What is the Römer?
It is the group of buildings that has served as Frankfurt's city hall since the 15th century. The name comes from Haus zum Römer, the middle house, and the stepped-gable façade is the city's best-known image.
Are the half-timbered houses on the square original?
No. They were destroyed in the 1944 bombings and rebuilt in the early 1980s, following old plans and photographs.
Can you enter the Kaisersaal?
It is usually possible at fixed times, when there is no official event at the Römer. The visit is short, to the hall with portraits of the emperors. Check before you go.
When does the Christmas market at the Römerberg take place?
Frankfurt's Weihnachtsmarkt usually runs from late November until close to Christmas, with stalls on the Römerberg and neighboring squares.