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Frankfurt has the rather unfair reputation of being a rather stuffy and dull city. After all, it is well known for its trade fairs and it has become the center of Germany’s banking industry, and an international business center. But visitors to Frankfurt, whether on business or vacation, will find a cosmopolitan city, with excellent shopping, museums and picturesque neighborhoods.
Frankfurt is a modern city, having constructed many skyscrapers and has given itself the nickname of ‘Mainhattan’ after the river Main that flows through the city. However, the city has preserved and reconstructed several historic areas, and much of Frankfurt is often a fascinating contrast between old and new. A good place to start any visit to the city is the Romerberg, the large square that has been the heart of the city for centuries. On one side of the square is the city hall; on the other side is a row of beautiful half-timbered houses, most of which house gift shops and restaurants. An evening meal in one of these restaurants overlooking the square is a memorable dining experience.
The narrow streets leading off the Romerberg retain some of the atmosphere of the old city, and there are several picturesque buildings in this area worth visiting. The Kaiserdom church dates from the 13th century and offers magnificent Gothic woodcarvings, as well as a panoramic view of the city from the top of its tall sandstone tower. The Carmelite Monastery has a museum of early history and is famous for displaying one of the largest religious frescoes in Germany. You can also see the house where Goethe, Germany’s most famous poet was born; the house has been faithfully reconstructed after being destroyed by bombs during World War II.
A few minutes walk from the Romerberg is Frankfurt’s main shopping area - a pedestrian street called the Zeil, lined with department stores, cafes and restaurants and even an IMAX cinema. It’s supposedly the busiest and most exclusive shopping street in the country. At the other end of the shopping spectrum is the weekly flea market held on the other side of the river in the Sachsenhausen district.
Frankfurt has a selection of museums to rival any in Europe, all grouped together in a park like setting on the south bank of the river Main. There are excellent museums devoted to architecture, sculpture, and communications. Perhaps the best museum in this area is the German Film Museum, chronicling Germany’s long association with the cinema. The museum regularly shows historic and avant-garde movies.
One thing you must do while in Frankfurt is sample the local delicacy – apfelwein, or apple cider. This highly alcoholic drink is brewed and served in taverns all over the city and often it is the only thing on the menu in some of the more authentic places. If you see a pine wreath hanging over the door of an apfelwein tavern, it means the establishment brews its own wine.
ou can find apfelwein taverns all over the city, but especially in the neighborhood called Sachsenhausen. This is one of Frankfurt’s oldest neighborhoods with a distinctly medieval atmosphere; apart from the many authentic taverns it has cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and small family-run shops. It’s a lively place to come at night, when the customers in the taverns spill out onto the narrow streets. At the edge of the district, you can still see the remains of a tower dating from the 15th century, when the area was a separate village and had its own fortifications.
ecause of its convenient location close to the center of the country, Frankfurt makes a great base from which to explore other parts of Germany. The Taunus Hills are an easy day trip from Frankfurt, and many Frankfurters escape to this wooded area at the weekend. The beautiful range of hills offers walking and outdoor sports as well as a chance to sample the supposedly rejuvenating spring water from the fountains in the spa town of Bad Homburg.
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