Goethe House & Museum (Goethehaus)

The basics

Located in the building where Goethe was born in 1749, the Goethe House is dedicated to the life and times of one of Germany’s most celebrated writers. It was in this house that Goethe composed his famed The Sorrows of Young Werther and began working on Faust. Today, exhibited mementos range from Goethe's writing desk to his childhood playthings. In the adjacent museum, paintings from the author's era are displayed to evoke a sense of the time period.

The Goethe House is a stop on many walking tour itineraries. Given the joint landmark’s central location, it’s also easy to plan an independent visit.

Things to know before you go

• The Goethe House is not accessible to wheelchair users.
• Discounted tickets are available for families; admission is free for children age 6 and under.
• German-language tours are offered once or twice a day, while foreign-language tours can be booked upon request.
• Food and drinks are not permitted, and there are no on-site eateries.
• Free lockers are available to store bags, coats, and other belongings.

How to get there

The Goethe House is located in Frankfurt’s central Innenstadt district. By public transit, take U-Bahn line U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, or U8, or tram 11 or 12, to Willy-Brandt-Platz station. The landmark can also be reached on foot, by car, or by bike.

When to get there

The Goethe House is open daily, except on Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, with reduced hours on a few other holidays. The space is open later on Thursday evenings.

Other local museums

For a cultural day out in Frankfurt, the Goethe House is close to several of the city’s other highlights, including the Frankfurt Archaeological Museum, the Frankfurt Historical Museum, the MMK Museum of Modern Art, and the Caricatura Museum for Comic Art.