Although most international flights to Germany arrive
in Frankfurt (pop. 647,200), don’t take that to mean that this is one
of the country’s main cities of interest. Its emphasis on banking and
commerce has resulted in such nicknames as Bankfurt or Mainhattan. Its
reputation, however, as one of the dullest large cities in the country
is misleading: It has serious drug problems, and it has one of the country’s
highest crime rates. In all fairness, the city has plenty of cultural
offerings, and nightlife, particularly during big trade shows, can be
vibrant. But unless you’re staying in Germany for at least 25 days, or
you’re visiting one of its trade shows or conferences, don’t plan more
than one night there. It’s important for all travelers to keep in mind
that when a big show is in town it’s virtually impossible to get hotel
space—sometimes, the closest you can get is Dusseldorf! As a result, prebook
hotels there as far in advance as possible, especially if Frankfurt is
your gateway and you want to stay there the night before your departure. Rhine
River Day Cruise
The downtown pedestrian mall has some interesting shops,
colorful fruit stands and great bakeries. Among the buildings of historical
significance are Katherinenkirche (where Goethe was christened), the Hauptwache
(a coffeehouse built in 1730) and the Opera House (attend a performance
if possible). Roam the area around the Romer Square, which has several
15th- and 16th-century Gothic buildings. If time permits and the weather’s
nice, visit the 400-ft/122-m Henninger Tower on Sachsenhauser Hill (for
the view), the Frankfurt Zoo (one of the finest in Europe) and the Palmengarten
(with the largest collection of tropical plants and flowers in Germany).
There are plenty of museums in the city to explore: the
Historisches Museum (German historical displays), the Goethe House and
Museum (reconstructed after the war), Museum fur Kunsthandwerk (arts and
crafts of Germany), the Stadel (Flemish and German art) and the Naturmuseum
Senckenberg (natural history). Look for signs on posts and kiosks telling
what’s on display at some of the smaller galleries and what concerts are
being held. If you like fleamarkets, you should try the Saturday market
held along the south bank of the river. Some of the city’s best nightlife
can be found in Sachsenhausen—while you’re there, try the traditional
apple wine.
Even though it sounds like there’s a lot to do, we still
recommend a very short stay because most of what Frankfurt offers is similar
to (and often not as nice as) attractions in other parts of Germany. If
you’re interested in seeing some of the surrounding towns, try Kronberg to see a typical German village with castles and half-timbered houses,
and Mainz, where Gutenberg was born (and where there’s a Museum
of Printing, which displays a Gutenberg Bible). We recommend using the
town of Wiesbaden, an old-fashioned resort on the Rhine River,
as your base, rather than staying in Frankfurt. 75 mi/120 km southeast
of Bonn.