Eiserner Steg, Steel pedestrian bridge in Frankfurt, Germany
Eiserner Steg is a 173-meter-long steel pedestrian bridge that crosses the Main River in central Frankfurt, linking the old town with the Sachsenhausen district. The truss construction rests on brick piers and allows open views upstream and downstream.
The bridge was built in 1868 to replace earlier wooden constructions and shaped Frankfurt during the industrial development of the 19th century. Today it holds monument protection status and recalls the era when steel made modern city planning possible.
The railings display a collection of padlocks that visitors attach as tokens of connection, while walkers and joggers use the crossing daily for their routines. On both banks, people gather in the beer gardens and cafés, making the crossing part of Frankfurt's everyday rhythm.
The crossing remains accessible day and night and leads directly to riverside promenades, museums, and dining areas on both sides of the river. Visitors coming from the train station or the city center reach the entrance on the old town side within a few minutes on foot.
From the middle section the contrast between medieval half-timbered houses on the bank and the high-rises of the financial district on the opposite side becomes clear. At sunset the glass facades reflect in the water and offer a popular backdrop for photographers.
Location: Frankfurt-Süd
Location: Frankfurt-Innenstadt I
Location: Frankfurt
Inception: 1868
Length: 173.59 m
Width: 5.44 m
Address: Eiserner StegMain (Gew.I)Kreuzungsfläche
GPS coordinates: 50.10810,8.68212
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27
Frankfurt places you between centuries of history and one of Europe's tallest skylines. Medieval half-timbered houses at the Römer share the horizon with glass and steel towers that define the financial district. The Main Tower's observation deck shows you this contrast from above, while bridges like the Eiserner Steg let you watch how the skyscrapers reflect on the river's surface. You can photograph Gothic sandstone at the Cathedral in the morning, then walk to the Palmengarten to frame tropical plants inside 19th-century glass houses. The city's photography opportunities follow both banks of the Main River. The Museumsufer brings together classical museum buildings and modern galleries along the water, with steps where people gather when the sun comes out. Inside the Städel, natural light falls on seven centuries of European paintings. Kleinmarkthalle shows everyday life through market stalls and morning crowds, while the Alte Oper offers neo-Renaissance facades against the backdrop of office towers. Goethe's birthplace preserves 18th-century rooms in the middle of a city that keeps building upward, creating subjects that range from quiet interiors to bold geometric patterns on skyscraper walls.
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258 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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