4* 25hours The Trip

Avani has one of the most useful locations in Frankfurt for LGBTQ+ travellers. The gay bars around Alte Gasse are just a few minutes away, Zeil is almost outside and Konstablerwache station is only around 200 metres from the hotel. That makes evenings wonderfully simple: you can walk to Switchboard, Bar Central, Lucky’s and the rest of the Bermuda Triangle, then wander home rather than trying to work out Frankfurt’s night buses after several drinks. The hotel has a contemporary, fairly relaxed feel, with a sauna and steam room if the previous evening was particularly successful. GayMapper tip: still our favourite Frankfurt all-rounder — especially if nightlife, shopping and easy public transport all rank highly on your list.

If your tastes run more grand hotel than lifestyle hotel, the Frankfurter Hof has been doing this since 1876. It sits between the financial district and Old Town, with Römerberg, the Main, shopping streets and Frankfurt Opera all easily reached on foot. Willy-Brandt-Platz station is right outside, so getting across to the gay bars around Alte Gasse is simple, while the central location means you’ll rarely need transport during the day. The atmosphere is unapologetically traditional — think proper concierge service, afternoon tea, a serious spa and cocktails in the Autorenbar rather than DJs in the lobby. GayMapper tip: the classic Frankfurt splurge if you enjoy old-school five-star service but still want the city centre firmly outside the door.

Motel One Römer puts most of the Frankfurt sightseeing you’ll actually want to do within walking distance. Römerberg and the reconstructed Old Town are just around the corner, the river and Museumsufer are close by, and Zeil shopping is an easy stroll in the other direction. The LGBTQ+ bars around Alte Gasse are walkable too, so you can head out for the evening without automatically planning a taxi home. Willy-Brandt-Platz and Hauptwache also give you plenty of public-transport options when your feet have had enough. Rooms are compact, as you’d expect from Motel One, but the lively lounge downstairs gives the hotel a bit more atmosphere than many budget chains. GayMapper tip: one of the easiest value choices for a first Frankfurt weekend, with sightseeing, shopping and gay nightlife all comfortably accessible.

Roomers is the Frankfurt choice for travellers who prefer their luxury hotels a little darker, sexier and less buttoned-up. The interiors are deliberately moody, and the Roomers Bar attracts plenty of Frankfurt locals as well as hotel guests, so evenings here don’t have to begin somewhere else. You’re just a few minutes from Hauptbahnhof and the Main, with the restaurants and bars of the Bahnhofsviertel close by and the Museumsufer easily walkable. The main gay scene around Alte Gasse is further across the centre, but trains and taxis make that an easy trip. The spa and rooftop areas give you somewhere to recover the following day, although Roomers has never really felt designed for particularly early nights. GayMapper tip: especially good for couples or a weekend with friends when you want the hotel itself to feel part of the night out.

25hours The Trip fits the Bahnhofsviertel rather well: colourful, international and a little unconventional. You’re only a few minutes from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, but the neighbourhood itself is worth exploring, with some of the city’s best Middle Eastern and Asian food, independent bars and plenty of late-night life. The hotel carries that international theme indoors, with rooms inspired by different parts of the world and a much more playful feel than the business hotels clustered around the station. There’s also a rooftop sauna and terrace with skyline views, while Bar Shuka downstairs is a good option if you don’t fancy travelling far for dinner. Frankfurt’s main gay bars around Alte Gasse are across the centre rather than on the doorstep, but the excellent transport from Hauptbahnhof makes getting there easy. GayMapper tip: a good choice if you want personality, great transport links and a lively neighbourhood around you rather than a conventional city-centre hotel.

The Westin Grand has an unusually good location if you want five-star comfort without putting any distance between yourself and Frankfurt’s gay scene. It sits by Konstablerwache, with the Alte Gasse bars only a few minutes away and Zeil shopping practically around the corner. You can walk from here to the Old Town and Römerberg too, while Konstablerwache’s huge selection of S-Bahn, U-Bahn and tram services makes airport arrivals and getting around the wider city straightforward. The hotel has a polished contemporary feel, and the indoor pool and sauna are useful bonuses if the night before went on longer than planned. GayMapper tip: probably the strongest luxury option if easy access to Frankfurt’s gay nightlife is just as important as the hotel itself.