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“On the 28th of August 1749, as the midday bell struck twelve, I was born into Frankfurt by the Main. The stars were favourable …” This is how Johann Wolfgang von Goethe describes his own birth in the book “Poetry and Truth.”
The greatest German poet experienced the hustle and bustle of this unique city throughout his youth and many of his experiences reflect in his work.
Centuries later, Frankfurt is one of the most multifaceted places in Germany.
A place full of contrasts, it hosts both super modern and historic aspects. The mixture of latest high-rise architecture, remains of the ancient Romans, medieval streets and 19th century parks makes the financial capital of Germany unique.
If you are from a major U.S. city and you feel a little homesick, downtown Frankfurt is the place to be – it has a skyline like Manhattan and is full of office towers. It is the home of the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange and hosts some of the world’s most important trade shows, such as the Frankfurt Motor Show (the next one will be in 2013) and the Frankfurt Book Fair (which takes place in mid October).
Talking about money: Although Frankfurt is one of the most expensive places to live in, it is one of the most interesting ones to visit. Quite fittingly, it hosts the Money Museum of the German Central Bank. If you want to experience the money market in action, register in advance for a guided tour of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
While rejected by some and loved by others, Frankfurt is undeniably the capital of arts. From architecture to paintings and sculptures, from nouveau art to medieval architecture, it’s all there.
“You need to bring a lot of time, because the amount of musuems and galleries is overwhelming,” said Jördis Hille from the Frankfurt Tourism Office.
Most conveniently, many of the museums are clustered in a district called “Museumsufer.”
“With the special Frankfurt Card, you have on one or two days reduced access to most of them,” Hille said.
For partying, the best place to go is Sachsenhausen, said Frankfurt native Susanne Till, who now lives in the Stuttgart area. Located on the southern banks of River Main, Sachsenhausen is known as the stronghold of apple wine consumption in Frankfurt.
“It’s like a village of pubs, bars, restaurants and discotheques,” she said. “Whenever I make it back home to Frankfurt, Sachsenhausen is a must. We’ve had our best parties there.”
This part of Frankfurt was home to thousands of U.S. Soldiers when they were stationed there after the war.
If you bring your children, the Frankfurt Zoo with its 5,000 animals might be a good place to go. If they prefer animals from a long ago time, show them the T-Rex at the Senckenberg Natural Museum. However, if just looking at exhibits is not enough, take your family to the Frankfurt Children’s Museum. It offers hands-on learning experiences and encourages visitors to be active, to touch and try things out.
As for accommodation, experienced travelers recommend staying in nearby cities like Darmstadt or Wiesbaden and using the S-Bahn trains to go to Frankfurt. It takes less than an hour. Families might find it less suitable to stay overnight in the Frankfurt main station area, as this is the city’s red light district.
Some final advice before you start your tour to Frankfurt: Before you go, make sure you’re booking the right place. If it says Frankfurt/Oder on your ticket, then you are going the wrong way. Frankfurt am Main is the correct destination.
For general tours, information on the Frankfurt Card or trips with themes like Goethe’s footsteps, visit http://www.frankfurt-tourismus.de. The following online brochure offers all relevant maps, ticket and travel information as well as a mini-travel guide for a two hour tours of Frankfurt: http://www.traffiq.de/fm/20/traffiQ_travelling_2011_web.pdf.
