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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Hanau
Spend one day in Hanau as a day trip from Frankfurt: see the Grimm memorial, Goldsmith House and Philippsruhe Palace in 5–6 hours. Skip the overnight unless you have a specific reason to stay.
Hanau, the birthplace of the Grimm brothers, sits 30 km east of Frankfurt. The compact centre (Grimm memorial, Goldsmith House, market square) is walkable, but Philippsruhe Palace and Bad Wilhelmsbad are 2–3 km west — take a bus or taxi. Good S‑Bahn links make it a straightforward day trip from Frankfurt or Wiesbaden.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 1 (optional) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed (check) · Mid €45–70 excl. bed (check) · High €70+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–3 (check) |
| Currywurst with fries | €4–6 (check) |
| Beer (local brew) | €3–4 (check) |
| Public bus/tram ticket | €2.50–3.00 (check) |
| Entry to Philippsruhe Palace | €5–8 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FRA · Frankfurt International Airport
- 30 km (19 mi) west, reachable by S‑Bahn in about 30 min (check)19 mi (30 km) west, reachable by S‑Bahn in about 30 min (check)
Typical fares
- Frankfurt Airport → Hanau (S‑Bahn)
- about €8, 30 min (check)
- Taxi Hanau station → city centre
- ≈ €10–12
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The Hanauer Straßenbahn network and city buses serve the centre; most central sights are within 10–15 min walk. S‑Bahn connects Hanau station to Frankfurt every 30 min; a direct S‑Bahn to Wiesbaden runs about every 30–60 min (check).
See and do
Known for
- Grimm brothers birthplace
- Goldsmith House (Goldschmiedehaus)
- Philippsruhe Palace
- Historic spa Bad Wilhelmsbad
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | S‑Bahn from Hanau station, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Wiesbaden | S‑Bahn from Hanau, about 35 min | ≈50 min |
Sleep
- Near Hanau Hauptbahnhof
- Arcadia Hotel Hanau and other chain hotels; convenient for train arrivals (check).
- Westbahnhof area
- Villa Stokkum and Birkenhof are near Westbahnhof, closer to the city centre (check).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEntschuldigung |
| Thank you | DankeDanke |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette?Wo ist die Toilette? |
| Can I pay by card? | Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? |
| I would like a ticket to Frankfurt | Ich möchte ein Ticket nach FrankfurtIch möchte ein Ticket nach Frankfurt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Check opening hours of Philippsruhe Palace (may close for events).
- Winter schedules may reduce bus frequency – verify before travel.
Hanau is generally safe; stay aware of pickpockets in crowded markets and keep an eye on personal belongings on public transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hanau yet. Suggested stay: 1 (optional) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Grimm brothers birthplace
- Goldsmith House (Goldschmiedehaus)
- Philippsruhe Palace
- Historic spa Bad Wilhelmsbad
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Hanau official website: www.hanau.de/
- Wikivoyage: Hanau, revision 4825084 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4825084
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hanau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.