You're heading to Frankfurt. Maybe you're moving into a sleek apartment in the Europaviertel or just trying to mail a heavy box of Lebkuchen to a friend. You search for the Frankfurt am Main postal code and suddenly, you're looking at a list that seems to go on forever.
It’s confusing.
In many cities, you have one or two codes to worry about. Frankfurt? It has dozens. It’s a city where the "PLZ" (Postleitzahl) tells a story about whether you’re living in the high-stakes shadow of the Commerzbank Tower or the quiet, leafy streets of Bergen-Enkheim.
Honestly, getting the code wrong in Germany isn't just a minor "oops" moment. The Deutsche Post is incredibly efficient, but their automated sorting systems are ruthless. If you put 60311 when you meant 65929, your package is going on a scenic tour of the Hessian countryside before it ever finds your door.
The Logic Behind the Numbers
Germany revamped its entire postal system back in 1993. Before that, codes were only four digits long. Now, they are five. For Frankfurt, every single code starts with the digits 60.
Why 60?
The first digit (6) represents the postal zone, which covers parts of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and the Saarland. The second digit (0) specifically points toward the Frankfurt metropolitan area. If you see a code starting with 61, you've drifted north toward Bad Homburg. If it’s 63, you’re looking at Hanau or Offenbach.
The Inner City Core
If you’re hanging out near the Römerberg or shopping on the Zeil, you are in the heart of the 60311 and 60313 zones. These are the "prestige" codes. They cover the Altstadt and the Innenstadt.
Most people don't realize that 60311 is arguably the most valuable "real estate" code in the country because it houses the European Central Bank's former headquarters and the massive financial institutions that keep the Euro afloat. It’s dense. It’s loud. It’s the Frankfurt everyone sees on postcards.
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But move just a few blocks west toward the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), and the Frankfurt am Main postal code shifts to 60329. This area is a gritty, fascinating mix of high-end hotels and the red-light district. It’s a perfect example of how a single digit change in a postal code reflects a total shift in neighborhood character.
Breaking Down the Neighborhoods
Frankfurt isn't just one big blob of steel and glass. It’s a collection of former villages that got swallowed up by the city over centuries. This history is baked into the postal map.
Sachsenhausen (60594, 60596, 60598, 60599)
South of the Main River lies Sachsenhausen. It’s famous for Apfelwein (apple wine) and the Museumsufer. Because it’s so large, it’s split across four main codes. If you're near the river, you're likely 60594. As you move toward the City Forest (Stadtwald), the numbers climb.
Westend (60322, 60323, 60325)
This is where the money is. Think grand 19th-century villas and manicured gardens. If you are writing a letter to someone in the Westend, you’re usually using 60325. It feels different here. The streets are wider, and the air feels—well, more expensive.
Bornheim and Nordend (60316, 60318, 60385)
These are the "cool" neighborhoods. Students, young professionals, and families who want to be near Berger Straße. 60385 is the classic Bornheim code. If you’re looking for a trendy cafe or a boutique that only sells handmade notebooks, this is your zone.
The Outskirts: Höchst and Beyond
Way out west is Höchst (65929). Notice something? It doesn't start with 60. This is a common point of confusion. Because Höchst was historically an independent city with a massive industrial footprint (the Hoechst AG chemical giant), it retains a 65xxx series code. Even though it’s part of Frankfurt am Main now, the postal system treats it like its own entity.
Why Businesses Get Their Own Codes
Here is a fun fact: some buildings in Frankfurt are so big they have their own postal code.
The Messe Frankfurt (the trade fair grounds) is a monster. It’s one of the largest exhibition centers in the world. It doesn't share a code with the neighbors like a normal house. Large corporations often have "Postfach" (PO Box) codes that differ from their physical street address.
If you're sending mail to a major bank, don't be surprised if the Frankfurt am Main postal code provided starts with 602xx. These are "Großkunden" codes—reserved for big customers who receive thousands of pieces of mail daily. Using these specific codes actually speeds up delivery because the mail doesn't have to be sorted by a local mail carrier; it goes straight to the company’s internal mailroom.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing Frankfurt (Main) with Frankfurt (Oder): This is the classic rookie error. Frankfurt am Main is in the west (Hesse). Frankfurt an der Oder is in the east, on the Polish border. Their postal codes start with 15. If you use a 15xxx code, your letter is going 300 miles in the wrong direction.
- Ignoring the "60": People sometimes think the first zero is optional. It isn't. German postal codes are always five digits.
- The "Am Main" Suffix: In official documents, always include "am Main" or "(Main)." There are many Frankfurts in the world, and while the postal code is the primary sorter, the full name prevents manual sorting errors.
Mapping the Most Searched Codes
To make your life easier, here’s a quick rundown of where the most common codes actually land on the map:
- 60311: Altstadt, the historic center.
- 60313: The main shopping district (Zeil).
- 60327: The Gutleutviertel and the area around the new Grand Tower.
- 60431: Ginnheim and parts of the university campus.
- 60439: Heddernheim (the old Roman settlement area).
- 60528: Niederrad, including the office city and the stadium (Deutsche Bank Park).
- 60549: Frankfurt Airport. Yes, the airport has its own dedicated code.
The Airport (60549): A Special Case
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is basically a city within a city. It has its own hotels, its own clinics, and its own postal code: 60549.
If you’re staying at the Sheraton or the Hilton Garden Inn at the airport, you’ll use this code. It’s one of the most active postal zones in the country because of the massive volume of international airmail passing through the DHL and Lufthansa Cargo hubs located right there on the tarmac.
Practical Steps for Getting it Right
If you are unsure of a specific Frankfurt am Main postal code, don't guess.
Verify via Deutsche Post: The official "PLZ-Suche" on the Deutsche Post website is the gold standard. You enter the street name and house number, and it gives you the exact five-digit code.
Check the Street Sign: In Frankfurt, many street signs actually have the postal code printed in the corner. It’s a small detail, but incredibly helpful if you're standing on a corner trying to fill out a shipping label on your phone.
Mind the District Name: When filling out forms, you'll often see a field for "Ortsteil" (District). While the postal code is the heavy lifter, adding "Sachsenhausen" or "Bockenheim" provides a safety net for the delivery driver.
Update Your Address Book: If you have friends in the Westend, check if they are 60323 or 60325. These two often overlap on certain streets, and the boundary line can cut right through the middle of a block.
When sending international mail to Frankfurt, always prefix the code with "D-" or "DE-" (e.g., DE-60311), although this is becoming less mandatory with modern scanning. The most important thing remains those five digits. They are the DNA of the city’s geography. Get them right, and your mail arrives in 24 hours. Get them wrong, and it’s lost in the machinery of the Bundesrepublik.