Find it in FRM: Recreation in Nature
FrankfurtRheinMain (FRM) is one of Germany’s greenest regions. The varied, green landscape stretches all the way into the towns and offers people opportunities for outdoor recreation right on their doorstep. This is unique in Europe.
As well as recreation, people in FrankfurtRheinMain can find plenty of things to do outdoors such as hiking, climbing, cycling and many other activities. In the following section we will take you on a little tour through FrankfurtRheinMain:
It is not just important to the region to preserve the landscape, but also to shape and develop it. The Regionalpark RheinMain plays an important role here, covering 550 kilometres with around 200 places of special interest. Its routes lead through contrasting landscapes with various areas for recreation and places to explore. From anywhere in the region, it is possible to join the route on foot or by bike, and it is well signposted. If you would like to go on it, you will find many different recreational maps with photos and information on the portal, and you can even create your own route.
To the north of Frankfurt lies the Taunus mountain range. Here you can go hiking and discover old castles and relaxing spa towns.
Even further north in the city triangle of Frankfurt, Gießen and Fulda, you will find the largest continuous volcanic region in Central Europe: the Vogelsberg. In the Geopark Vogelsberg. you can have a look at various geological, biological and cultural peculiarities.
If you veer west of FrankfurtRheinMain, you will reach the Rheingau region, beginning in the two small towns of Flörsheim and Hochheim, and stretching from Wiesbaden up to the town of Rüdesheim, which is well-known internationally. If you like drinking wine, you are in the right place. The Rheingau is one of the smallest winegrowing regions in Germany, yet is one of the most important. The Riesling produced here has an excellent reputation world-wide.
Between Wiesbaden and the cities of Bingen and Koblenz in Rheinland-Pfalz, you can explore the Rheinsteig hiking route, ascending and descending over 320 km through woods and vineyards. Here you will also find the Loreley Valley with its unique landscape along the River Rhein.
In the opposite direction, to the east of the Metropolitan Region lie the Rhön Mountains around the districts of Fulda and Main-Kinzig. As well as hiking trails and numerous lakes, which you can swim in in the summer, there are also opportunities for gliding, hang gliding and canoeing in this low mountain range.
To the south of the Rhön you will find the most densely wooded low mountain range in Germany, the Naturpark Spessart. It spans parts of the districts of Aschaffenburg, Miltenberg and Main-Spessart, as well as the city of Aschaffenburg.
If you go to the south of FrankfurtRheinMain, you will find the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße stretching over an area of 3,500 km². This sweeping landscape is designated as a “UNESCO Global Geopark”. Here you can hike or cycle on several trails and participate in creative activities or tours for all ages.
This is just a small excerpt of the multifaceted green landscape in FrankfurtRheinMain. As well as the many other nature reserves in the region, the larger cities have many green spaces and parks, which are a very popular place to meet, especially in the summer.
A well-known example of this is the green belt in Frankfurt. Here, you will find woods, meadows, fields, parks and orchards as well as sports grounds and recreational areas. The green belt is in the central section of the city and makes up roughly a third of its area!
If you are interested in parks and public gardens, you will find more information on GartenRheinMain. There, the focus is on the different gardens and parks in the region, numbering over 100. From the historical to the modern, botanic gardens, monastery gardens and orangeries – they can all be found here.
Discover the variety of green spaces in FRM by clicking through the list of links on this page - or simply head outside and explore it on foot, by bicycle or public transport!
Useful Contacts
In the Hessenpark Open Air Museum in the middle of the Taunus, visitors can go back in time and learn about the history of Hessen, as well as how people used to live. On 65 hectares of open space, there are impressive displays of the different types of buildings and the way of life, as well as crafts and agricultural and domestic activities in over 100 historic half-timbered buildings. Here you can look over the shoulder of craftsmen and farmers as they work, and regularly immerse yourself in the past at the museum’s theatre. There are also guided tours on offer, as well as exciting exhibitions and lectures, seasonal events, festivals and markets.
District / Cities: District Hochtaunus
Laubweg 5
61267 Neu-Anspach
Phone: +49 (0)6081 588 0
E-Mail: service@hessenpark.de
Website: https://www.hessenpark.de/en/
We speak: German, English, French, Spanish, Turkish, Finnish
Costs: Fee-based
Launched in 2012, the Geopark introduces visitors to the origins of the Vogelsberg, the largest continuous volcanic region in Central Europe. The focus here is on geology. The mountain range's exciting past is told by relics (so-called geotypes) and various installations in the museum. The volcanic area in Schotten reopened a couple of years ago. You can go hiking through the region, with or without a nature and geopark guide, and explore the volcanic area.
District / Cities: District Vogelsberg
Goldhelg 20
36341 Lauterbach
Phone: +49 (0)6641 977 265
E-Mail: geopark@vogelsbergkreis.de
Website: https://www.geopark-vogelsberg.de/en/
We speak: German, English
Costs: Partly fee-based
Vast forests, lush meadows and fragrant wine in the valleys of the Rhein, Wisper and Aar characterize our nature reserve. Enhanced by two world heritage sites, this wild, romantic and lively region is one of the most beautiful low mountain ranges in Germany.
Our park is a treasure chest of culture and nature. Along ancient paths, you will encounter our cultural heritage at every turn, as well as an extraordinary biodiversity, with rare species such as Bechstein's bat. After you have explored the most densely wooded nature reserve in Hessen on one of our cycling and hiking trails, you can enjoy the colourful cultural events in the towns and villages.
District / Cities: District Rheingau-Taunus
Veitenmühlweg 5
65510 Idstein
Phone: +49 (0)6126 4379
E-Mail: info@naturpark-rhein-taunus.de
Website: http://www.naturpark-rhein-taunus.de
We speak: German
Costs: Partly fee-based
You can discover the Lahn Valley (Lahntal), by bicycle on the Lahntal Cycle Path (Lahntalradweg), in a canoe on the River Lahn or on foot on the Lahn Hiking Path (Lahnwanderweg). Starting in the Rothaargebirge near Siegen, the River Lahn flows over 242 kilometres through unspoilt natural terrain and varied landscapes, and past sights of cultural and historical interest until it flows into the River Rhein in Lahnstein. In addition, there are numerous palaces and castles, impressive churches, monasteries and cathedrals as well as clear traces of the Celts and Romans - all proof of the century-old culture of the Lahn Valley.
District / Cities: District Lahn-Dill
Brückenstraße 2
35576 Wetzlar
Phone: +49 (0)6441 309 980
E-Mail: info@daslahntal.de
Website: https://www.daslahntal.de/
We speak: German, English
Costs: Free of charge
Detailed information about our work can be found under www.naturpark-vulkanregion-vogelsberg.de.
Our information centre can be reached all year round by phone on 06044-9669330.
Approximately 200 events take place at the nature park every year.
Seven bus lines with bike transport operate in the nature park between May and October. Our offers are centred around the Hoherodskopf at Schotten.
District / Cities: District Vogelsberg
Am Vulkaneum 1
63679 Schotten
Phone: +49 (0)6044 966 9330
E-Mail: info@naturpark-vogelsberg.de
Website: https://www.vogelsberg-touristik.de/vulkanregion/naturpark/
We speak: German, English
Costs: Free of charge
200 km of premium hiking trails certified by the German Hiking Institute.
District / Cities: District Rhein-Lahn
Rheinstr. 48
65391 Lorch am Rhein
Phone: 0800 9477377
E-Mail: wandern@wisper-trails.de
Website: https://wisper-trails.de/
We speak: German, English, Spanish
Costs: Free of charge
The Regionalpark consists of a network of routes covering 550 km and connecting the cultural landscapes of the Rhein-Main region. Along the routes there are around 250 places of special interest which you can discover while cycling, jogging or hiking. The Regionalpark provides free recreational maps, that make it easy to plan your trips. Visit us on one of our Regionalpark portals or on the internet.
District / Cities: District Main-Taunus
Frankfurter Straße 76
Regionalpark Portal Weilbacher Kiesgruben
65439 Flörsheim am Main-Weilbach
Phone: +49 (0)6145 936 3620
E-Mail: info@regionalpark-rheinmain.de
Website: http://www.regionalpark-rheinmain.de
We speak: German, English
Costs: Free of charge
Our society was founded in 1996 and is based in Oestrich-Winkel am Rhein. The RTKT team is happy to give you advice you on hiking, stopping points, gastronomy and wine. We provide information by phone or email, compile suitable packages together with our partners, and also send out brochures, hiking maps and information on sightseeing, gastronomy and much more.
District / Cities: District Rheingau-Taunus
Rheinweg 30
Haus der Region
65375 Oestrich-Winkel
Phone: +49 (0)6723 602720
E-Mail: tourist@rheingau.com
Website: https://www.rheingau.com/en
We speak: German, English
Costs: Partly fee-based
Marketing the Bergstrasse region to tourists interested in hiking, cycling and wine. From Darmstadt to Heidelberg. (cross-state)
District / Cities: District Bergstraße
Marktplatz 1
64653 Lorsch
Phone: +49 (0)6251-17526-15
E-Mail: info@diebergstrasse.de
Website: http://www.diebergstrasse.de/en
We speak: German, English, Spanish
Costs: Free of charge
In the south-east of the Rhein-Main region you can find the most densely wooded low mountain range in Germany, the Spessart Nature Reserve. You can enjoy your visit surrounded by unspoilt scenery with the excellent hiking trails, enjoyable cycling routes along the Main and its tributaries, the idyllic river valleys, the sun-drenched vineyards and the beautifully situated inns. Alternatively, you can follow in the tracks of the Brothers Grimm und take in the legends and fairy-tales of the Spessart.
District / Cities: District Miltenberg
Industriering 7
63838 Großwallstadt
Phone: +49 (0)6022 26 10 20
E-Mail: info@spessart-mainland.de
Website: http://spessart-mainland.de
We speak: German, English
Costs: Free of charge
District / Cities: District Hochtaunus
Hohemarkstraße 192
61440 Oberursel (Taunus)
Phone: +49 (0)6171 5 07 80
E-Mail: ti@taunus.info
Website: https://taunus.info
We speak: German
The nature reserve has 210 hiking trails with a total length of 1,168 km which you can explore on your own or with a guide. There are plenty of marked trails for cyclists as well. In winter, cross-country ski trails are prepared and the many toboggan runs with steep descents are very inviting. There is plenty of space for recreation in the designated areas for camping and barbecues, as well as for sunbathing on the green meadows. Visitors who are interested in culture can explore historical highlights (e.g. the world heritage site Saalburg Roman Fort, Bad Homburg Palace, Hessenpark). Further information can be found in the book "Wandern im Naturpark Taunus"(Hiking in the Taunus Nature Reserve) or the Taunus Information Centre in Oberursel.
District / Cities: District Hochtaunus
Hohemarkstraße 192
61440 Oberursel
Phone: +49 (0)6171 97907 0
E-Mail: info@naturpark-taunus.de
Website: https://naturpark-taunus.de/
We speak: German, English
Costs: Partly fee-based