Last Saturday, 1 November, Frankfurt city centre once again presented itself as a lively stage for urban life. Under the motto "Visiting Frankfurt", the city invited visitors to a diverse day of activities, which, according to the organisers, attracted more than 110,000 passers-by to the Zeil – around ten per cent more than in the previous year. Other shopping streets and squares also recorded significantly higher visitor numbers. With art installations, music, culinary delights and numerous retail and catering promotions, the city centre was transformed into a diverse world of experiences. Between Hauptwache, Opernplatz and Konstablerwache, the offerings ranged from impressive art objects such as the tetrapods of the "BYCATCH" installation to walking acts and selfie spots to street food and gourmet markets. Sports and cultural attractions such as goal wall shooting against the Robo-Keeper in front of the MyZeil shopping centre and free museum admission for children and young people also contributed to the high response.
Strong visitor numbers despite rain
According to the latest frequency measurement by the portal Highstreet.com, the Zeil counted 113,662 passers-by, compared to 103,194 in 2024. This represents an increase of ten per cent. Compared to a regular Saturday, the increase was as high as 15 per cent. Goethestraße reported a 49 per cent increase in visitors, while the shopping centre MyZeil recorded just under 18,264 visitors.u0022>MyZeil shopping centre recorded just under 84,000 visitors, an increase of almost 19 per cent compared to a normal Saturday and over 28 per cent compared to the 2024 campaign day.
"The campaign day was a complete success. The energy in the city centre was palpable from morning till night," said Andrea Poul, manager of the MyZeil shopping centre. "'Zu Gast in Frankfurt' brings people, commerce and the city together in a unique way. Our visitor numbers speak for themselves – Frankfurt is alive, inspiring and connecting."
Campaign with regional appeal
The event was part of the new city centre campaign "Treat yourself to Frankfurt", which was advertised within a 100-kilometre radius with digital advertising spaces, social media campaigns and radio spots. The concept aims to attract visitors from across the Rhine-Main metropolitan region to the city. According to the city administration, the response was "enormous" – many guests travelled from neighbouring federal states.
Head of Economic Affairs Stephanie Wüst emphasised the importance of such initiatives for urban life: "'Zu Gast in Frankfurt' shows how the city, retailers and restaurants can work together to create experiences that draw people into the city centre. The campaign day strengthens brick-and-mortar retail, revitalises the city centre and showcases Frankfurt as a city of togetherness – lively, open and economically strong."
Eduard M. Singer, Head of City Marketing, also drew a positive conclusion: "The great cooperation between all partners has made this success possible. This form of city marketing creates identity and enthusiasm far beyond the city limits."
Easier travel by public transport
The campaign day was supported by the municipal transport company traffiQ, which offered a three-euro day ticket for easy and affordable travel by bus and train. According to the city, the offer was widely used and contributed significantly to the high visitor numbers.
Continuation planned
Following its great popularity, the format is to take place regularly in future. The city of Frankfurt am Main plans to establish "Zu Gast in Frankfurt" as an integral part of its city centre strategy – as an event that brings together commerce, culture and citizenship and revitalises the city centre in the long term.
