Frankfurt am Main
There are two different types of people, those who prefer a relaxed life and there are those who seek for adventure. The place to bring both types together will probably be Frankfurt am Main.
Frankfurt am Main is situated on the Main River (pronounciation: mine) and is the largest city in the German state Hesse. It is a dynamic and international financial and trade fair city in the heart of Germany with the most impressive skyline in Germany. When people think of Frankfurt they would more likely think of Frankfurt Airport, since it is one of the biggest airports in Europe, or they might think of the European Central Bank. However, there is definitively more too Frankfurt than just business. As the smallest metropolis in the world, with about 700,000 inhabitants, it shows how modern age and history interact. Only a few steps away from the skyscrapers you will discover the city’s cosiness and historic backgrounds. On the one hand there is the breath-taking skyline including Commerzbank Tower, Garden Towers and Japan Centre Frankfurt, and on the other hand you can find one historical sight after another, for example Kaisersdom, Paulskirche or Alte Oper. Most of the sights can be reached by walking or by bus and train since they are very close to one another.
Frankfurt brings opposites together. One out of three people in Frankfurt don’t have a German passport. People of about 180 nationalities live here together which contributes to a very multicultural feeling and keeps the dynamic going. The city is young, impulsive, trendy and sexy.
Tip for transportation in Frankfurt: Don't worry about getting lost in Frankfurt. The German national railway company Deutsche Bahn has the largest railway infrastructure in Europe and provides all the information needed. The service team might have a wonderful German accent when speaking English but it will definitively garantuee a smile on your face! "Senk ju vor traewelling with Deutsche Bahn, gott bye."
So what to do in Frankfurt?
You probably can’t call yourself a tourist if you are not going on a sightseeing tour. So, you shouldn’t miss any of the sights in Frankfurt. There are about 24 main attractions in Frankfurt that can be visited and plenty of possibilities for going on an excursion and some of the most important sights have already been mentioned before. Frankfurt is divided into 43 districts and each has its individual style and atmosphere. That’s why you might spend your whole life there to discover everything that Frankfurt has to offer or at least you should stay longer. If you search for a suitable accommodation click on Frankfurt Hotel.
Tip if you want to see a part of history: The Roemer, the city’s town hall where the city councillors meet, has the most coveted balcony in Germany where a lot of celebrities have already stood. The Roemerberg is the place where the town hall is situated and which has been considered as the city’s heart throughout the centuries where the people of Frankfurt as well as people from all over the world meet.
Actually, we could spend an entire book writing about the attractions in Frankfurt. That’s why you can combine it with an intense shopping tour through Frankfurt. For shopaholics Frankfurt will be an incarnation of “El Dorado” with its numerous shopping streets and centres. You will love walking down the Zeil, which is the main shopping mile in Frankfurt and one of the most crowded in Germany. It is bordered by two plazas, Hauptwache in the west and Konstablerwache in the east. The Zeil is a leafy pedestrian zone where you will find all well-known department store chains and also a lot of speciality shops offering an extensive range of goods. So, you see there is a reason why there are so many banks situated in Frankfurt: If you need money because you spent too much on shopping just go and take out a loan!
Tip when you go shopping in Frankfurt: Your bags are too heavy? No problem. In the Hauptwache (Level B) there are plenty of lockers which are longingly waiting for you to store your loot. For fresh vegetables, fruits, delicious cheese or a fine bottle of wine it is definitely worth it to go to the Erzeugermarkt (growers’ market) at the Konstablerwache where you will find many regional specialities, such as the Gruene Sosse, a traditional sauce usually made of hard-boiled egg and seven different types of herbs.
Talking about food in Frankfurt, of course there is also an entire street for those who prefer to relax and enjoy a good meal. This street is situated between Opernplatz and Boersenstrasse and its official name is actually Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse but the Frankfurter just call it - what else could it be – Fressgass’, which could be translated as “devour alley” (fressen = devour; Gasse = alley). Gourmets won’t be able to resist the culinary temptations here. The restaurants and delicatessens in Frankfurt will take you on a journey through national and international cuisine.
Tip for restaurants in Frankfurt: For those who love challenges and meat, I would definitively recommend the XXL restaurant Waldgeist in Hofheim near Frankfurt. Even though it would probably take you 30 minutes by bus to go there it is worth it: imagine eating 1.2 kilograms of rump steak. The street is called Schlossstrasse 70 in Hofheim im Taunus, in front of the sports park Heide (Bus line 404).
However, the thriving and dynamic city of Frankfurt is also the right place to be for those who seek more nature and rather enjoy walking since Frankfurt offers an impressive variety of public gardens, from the Chinese Gardens to baroque style gardens such as the Bolongaro Garden. Except for the Palm Garden all of these facilities are free of charge. Take for example the Botanical Garden which is situated between the Palm Garden and Grueneburgpark and is the property of the Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main. Actually, the Botanical Garden of Frankfurt was made for the purpose of research and study in the field of biological science but currently it can be visited by all Frankfurter as well as by tourists every day from 1st of March to 31st of October. Within its very impressive setting there can be seen more than 5,000 plant species.
Tip when you want to relax in Frankfurt: Only a few minutes walk from the Zeil/ Konstablerwache right in the heart of Frankfurt you may find your peace of mind. Protected by thick walls you can take a rest in a wonderful Chinese Garden at any time. It feels like a journey to the Far East without leaving Frankfurt.
After spending a nice day with shopping along the Zeil, enjoying the culinary variety of the Fressgass and taking a relaxing walk in one of the impressive gardens the people will go home just to change clothes and then go out again. Whether you want to go to the club or meet at the bar for cocktails and drinks, Frankfurt is definitely the place to be at night. The best locations with an amazing setting for having party in Frankfurt are probably - just to name some of them - the Cocoon Club, King Kamehameha, Brown Sugar and many more.
Tip for staying out late: There are overnight buses which go every half an hour from Konstablerwacher. So, you can stay until the roof comes burning down and hopefully you will have the time of your life!