The city of Frankfurt is not only the financial centre of Germany and Europe, it also has a great deal to offer tourists.
During the Second World War, the city was heavily damaged but a few historic buildings survived. The lovely Römerberg square is certainly worth a visit, with the impressive Frankfurt Cathedral just around the corner. Museum lovers are bound to love the city. Frankfurt has no fewer than 14 museums including the German Film Museum, the Rosso Bianco Car Museum and the Chaplin Archive.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt. The house where this author was born is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Not far from this, you will encounter the town of Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. During your time in Frankfurt, don't forget to taste the local specialities: Frankfurter sausages and Stöffche, a kind of apple wine.
City centre
Introduction
The commercial heart of Frankfurt is
known for its impressive skyscrapers,
but it also boasts historic architecture
around the Römerberg and great
shopping along the pedestrianised Zeil.
Hotels
Not far from the
trade fair complex, relax at the Hotel
Excelsior (7-9 Mannheimer Strasse,
tel. (0)69 256080, hotelexcelsiorfrankfurt.
de, rooms from €55).
Cultural
Around the
Römerberg, look out for the Schwarzer
Stern (Black Star) and Goldener Greif
(Golden Griffin) – two of the historic
houses that give the square its charm.
Restaurants
Love bagels? Then head
for Bagel Brothers (49 Kaiserstrasse,
tel. (0)69 976921) to indulge in a tasty
bite with a seemingly endless array of
savoury or sweet fillings.
Pubs
The Living XXL bar
and restaurant (29 Kaiserstrasse, tel.
(0)69 242 9370) is a super-chic place
under a huge glass canopy, where the
wine list and dishes on offer are pure
gastro. Be sure to order the delicious
wiener schnitzel.
Shops
The Zeil is a must.
For gadgets, head for T-Punkt (94), for
perfumes try Kobberger Gustav (123)
and for everything else, the brand-new
shopping mall MyZeil (106).
Bockenheim
Introduction
This elegant district is within walking
distance of the Frankfurter Messe,
where major exhibitions and events
take place (including Musikmesse – see
musikmesse.de), and is bordered by the
Goethe University Frankfurt.
Hotels
Ideally located for
the Bockenheimer Warte, the university
and the fair ground, the Hotel West
(81 Gräfstrasse, tel. (0)69 247 9020,
hotelwest.de, rooms from €55) makes
a welcoming place to stay.
Cultural
Frankfurt has
many medieval watchtowers, but the
Bockenheimer Warte (Bockenheimer
Landstrasse) is notable as being the
only one without fortification.
Restaurants
The cosy Restaurant
Estrella (14 Ginnheimer Strasse, tel.
(0)69 7079 1103) boasts a lengthy
menu of classic German dishes, with
fine wines to match.
Pubs
For a wide range of
beers from around the world, including
German brews such as Kölsch (from the
Cologne region) and Pilsener, make
for The Castle Inn (24 Schloss Strasse,
tel. (0)69 779239).
Sachsenhausen
Introduction
The largest Stadtteil, Sachsenhausen
was once the fortified heart of the city.
Today, it’s famous for being the location
of Germany’s finest museums.
Hotels
The super-stylish
Hotel Cult (56 Offenbacher Landstrasse,
tel. (0)69 962 4460, hotelcult.de, rooms
from €55) is ideally located for the
museums. Be sure to relax in its sauna.
Cultural
Alongside the
Main River, the Museumsufer – or
Museum Embankment – hosts more
than 10 museums, including the famous
Städel Museum and Gallery (63
Schaumainkai, staedelmuseum.de).
Restaurants
For an Oriental taste
sensation, check out Sushi Live (106
Darmstädter Landstrasse, tel. (0)69
353 59286, a Japanese-themed
restaurant not far from the museums.
Pubs
Sit back and enjoy the
refreshing apfelwein (apple wine) at one
of Frankfurt’s oldest cider houses, Zum
Gemalten Haus (67 Schweizer Strasse).
Northend
Introduction
With its eclectic mix of tiny art shops,
dusty bookshops, café society-style
restaurants and bohemian bars, this
district is popular with artists, actors
and students. Spend the day here and
feel like a Frankfurter.
Cultural
The Hauptfriedhof
(194 Eckenheimer Landstrasse) is the
city cemetery where famous people
and those who died in the Hindenburg
zeppelin disaster are laid to rest.
Restaurants
The atmospheric La Concha
San Sebastian (46 Spohrstrasse, tel.
(0)69 596 7428) serves up a wide
selection of delicious tapas.
Pubs
For imaginative cocktails
and a lively atmosphere, with salsa music
playing in the background, head for the
Latin Calypso Bar (42 Im Prüfling).
Population
Currency
Telephone
Frankfurt Airport is 12km outside the city centre.
Train: The easiest
way to get into the
city centre is on
regional S-Bahn
lines S8 and S9. The
journey takes about
11 to 13 minutes, and
a single ticket costs
around €4.
Taxi: A trip to the
centre of Frankfurt
costs about €20
and takes 20 to 30
minutes, depending
on the traffic.
Tourist information: The main office is
at Hauptbahnhof
(tel. (0)69 2123
8800, frankfurttourismus.
de).