Frankfurt
To be completely honest, Frankfurt’s huge airport makes the city seem like a more important destination than it really is. It’s not that it’s not worth visiting, it’s just that if you are not a banker there is no point in planning on a long stay. Having the largest airport and being in the center of the country makes it a good place to start or end a trip to Germany, but it’s unlikely to be the highlight of that visit.
What To Do
There are loads of museums in Frankfurt and the Museum of Modern Art is particularly interesting as the Germans are known for daring modern art. Romerberg is in a collection of 14th and 15th Century buildings and churches in the city center. It’s touristy, but very interesting and worth a visit. It’s just near the Main River, which dissects the city and is also a great place for a stroll to appreciate the skyline. The Saalberg is an old Roman Fort located just outside of town and is also worth seeing. Fans of the writer Goethe won’t want to miss the Goethe-Haus and Goethe Museum here in the city of his birth.
If you are leaving Frankfurt or just up for a side trip you should think about the Romantic Road. This is the travel agent name of a scenic stretch of highway that stretches from near Frankfurt in the north to near Munich in the south. Buses leave each morning in each direction up and down this touristy route, but it’s actually worthwhile. There is also train service through the area, although the local trains can be very slow. A particular highlight is the perfectly preserved medieval town of Rothenberg. A day visit is nice, but staying overnight can be a magical experience since the town is nearly empty after dinner yet it’s at its most charming late in the evening.
Getting There
Frankfurt is a major transit hub for all of Germany so trains come and go from all directions making it an great stop for those on a Eurail Pass. But it’s the airport and the relatively cheap flights that make Frankfurt an interesting place to stop for a day or two. Book a flight into Frankfurt International Airport and either rent a car or you can take the subway directly from beneath the airport into the city center.
Where To Stay
The center of Frankfurt is relatively compact. There are a few hostels in Frankfurt and plenty of hotels in Frankfurt and it’s advisable to stay near the center if you can afford it. Frankfurt is not only a huge banking and business city, but they have frequent trade fairs so even odd times of the year can be sold out in advance. Plan ahead all year round.
Attractions in Frankfurt
Address: Opernplatz, Frankfurt am Main
The Alte Oper in Frankfurt (the name means "Old Opera") is a one-time opera house and current concert hall in the city. Originally built in the late 1800s, it was almost a total loss after the bombings of World War II. Some officials at the time wanted to just blow up what was left and build a modern office complex in its place, but the public intervened and collected signatures and money to rebuild the hall. It was reopened in 1981. The square in front of the Alte Oper is a bustling and popular place with locals and tourists alike.
During the years when the Alte Oper's fate was in limbo, a replacement opera house - the Frankfurt Opera House (Oper Frankfurt) - was built, so when the Alte Oper was reconstructed it was for use as a concert hall instead. Because of the change in purpose, the interior was redesigned completely from its original plan; the exterior, however, remains true to the 1800s design. In addition to concerts, the Alte Oper also stages plays and the smaller rooms can be used for convention space as well. The largest hall can seat up to 2,500 people.
Hours: Hours vary depending on performance
Admission: Ticket prices vary depending on performance
Address: Grosser Hirschgraben 23-25, D-60311 Frankfurt am Main
The Goethehaus is the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's most well-known writer. He was born in this house in 1749 and lived here until he left Frankfurt to go to law school. He lived in the house again between school and when he moved out in 1775. The house was sold by the Goethe family in 1795, but the man who purchased it in 1863 restored it to the way it had been during the years Goethe had lived there.
After being damaged during World War II, it was rebuilt to its former glory in the late 1940s. The interior of the house has been reconstructed to be just as it was when the famous writer lived in it, and includes a desk where Goethe actually wrote some of his early works. Next door to the Goethehaus is the Goethe Museum, which features a huge library and more historic pieces related to the writer. Guided tours of Goethehaus are available in German only, but audioguides are available in several languages for an addition of €2 on to the ticket price.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:00-18:00; Sunday and public holidays, 10:00-17:30
Admission: €5 adults, € 2.50 students, €4/person groups (11+), € 3/person groups (20+), €8 family (max. 2 adults), €1.50 children age 7-18 (children up to 6 are free)
Address: Paulsplatz 11, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt's Paulskirche bears the name of a church, but no longer serves the purposes of a church. It was originally opened as a Protestant church - St. Paul's Church - in the late 1700s, but a short 60 years later it was already morphing into the important political building it would remain. Perhaps most importantly, in 1848, Paulskirche housed the Frankfurt Parliament during the German revolutions - this was the first Parliament in Germany elected freely by the people. Parliament met here only for less than a year, and in 1852 the building was again used as a church.
Paulskirche was the first building in Frankfurt to be reconstructed after sustaining heavy damage during World War II, and then as a symbolic gesture the Frankfurt Parliament once again met within its newly-rebuilt walls in 1948. After the war, Paulskirche has never again been used as a church, instead serving as a center where important events take place and certain records are kept. One of the more important annual events to take place in the main hall is the awarding of the German Peace Prize.
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10:00-17:00 (except during special events)
Admission: Not listed
Address: Römerberg, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Unlike most sights in Frankfurt, the Roemer - more accurately the Römer - is still used by the city as a town hall, so it is often not open for visitors. Its facade on the popular Römerberg square is all that most tourists ever see of this historic building. The Römer has served as Frankfurt's city hall for more than 600 years, and as such it's also where many civil weddings take place each year.
During World War II, the Römer was nearly destroyed by bombs and so had to be almost entirely rebuilt. While it is largely true to the original design, it was rebuilt in a somewhat simplified form. Still, you'll find the four kaisers of the Holy Roman Empire on the Römer's facade along with the city coat of arms. The building's balcony, a change from the original design, is often used during festivals and when Frankfurt hosts important visitors.
Three of the more important rooms inside the Römer are the Römerhalle, Schwanenhalle and Kaisersaal. The first two are the oldest rooms in the building (they were not destroyed during the war) and remain much the way they looked in the 1400s. The Kaisersaal is where many of the Holy Roman Emperors were crowned and where coronation banquets took place.
Hours: Hours vary depending on whether the building is in official use
Admission: Admission fees vary
Address: 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt's Roemerberg, or Römerberg, is an old square at the center of the historic part of the city. It's surrounded by buildings which once dated from the 14th and 15th centuries, but were largely destroyed during the war. They've since been rebuilt to retain the original feel of the square. The Römerberg gets its name from one of the buildings, the Römer - Frankfurt's town hall - and many of the buildings lining the square are full of shops and cafes.
Because of its historic feel (especially in a primarily modern city), Römerberg is usually the first stop for many tourists in Frankfurt. The square was once a popular place to hold trade fairs and festivals, even as long ago as the 12th cenutry, and these days there are still occasional fairs held here. In addition to the Römer (which is often not open to the public), some of the other buildings around the square include the Alte Nikolaikirche (a small church) and the Historisches Museum (which includes models of the Römerberg and history of Frankfurt), and the Fountain of Justice stands at the center of the square facing the Römer. You may notice that the statue of Lady Justice isn't wearing her usual blindfold.
Hours: Always open
Admission: Free
