The Altstadt is the reconstructed historic core of Frankfurt, a tightly packed grid of squares and lanes between the Main and the Hauptwache. The two anchors are the Römerberg, with its trio of stepped-gable buildings that have served as the city hall since the 15th century, and the Kaiserdom — the cathedral where the Holy Roman Emperors were crowned. Most of what stands today is reconstruction: 1944 air raids levelled the medieval core, and the new Dom-Römer quarter (completed 2018) goes a step further by rebuilding some of the most distinctive lost houses in their original form.
This is where most short visits to Frankfurt begin and end. Within a 10-minute walk are the Römerberg, the Dom, St. Paul's Church, the Schirn Kunsthalle, the Historical Museum, and Goethe's birthplace. The narrow streets fill with tourists during the day and empty almost completely after the restaurants close. The riverside Eiserner Steg footbridge — covered in love locks — leads directly across to Sachsenhausen and the Museumsufer.