4* LUME Boutique Hotel

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.

Hilton gives you a surprisingly calm base for such a central location. It backs onto the green Bockenheimer Anlage, while Hauptwache, Zeil, the Alte Oper and the restaurants around Fressgass are all an easy walk away. The gay bars around Alte Gasse are close enough to walk to for the evening, and Eschenheimer Tor station is only a few minutes away when you want to explore further. That makes the hotel particularly easy for a weekend where nightlife is important but not the only thing on the agenda. There’s also a large indoor pool, which is a rare enough sight in a city-centre hotel to be genuinely worth mentioning. GayMapper tip: a good luxury compromise if you want the gay scene nearby but prefer coming back to somewhere quieter at the end of the night.

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.

If you’re arriving by train, you really couldn’t make things much easier. Motel One sits directly opposite Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, giving you S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses practically outside — including direct airport connections and an easy ride across town to the gay bars around Alte Gasse. The surrounding Bahnhofsviertel is one of Frankfurt’s most international neighbourhoods, with a huge choice of Middle Eastern, Asian and increasingly fashionable restaurants mixed amongst its rather grittier edges. It won’t appeal to everyone, but it certainly isn’t dull. The hotel itself follows the familiar Motel One formula: comfortable, uncomplicated and usually reasonably priced, with a large lounge and bar downstairs. GayMapper tip: particularly handy for a short stay, an early train or anyone who values excellent transport connections more than having the gay bars immediately outside.

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.

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.