Thinking of taking a city break in the German city of Frankfurt-am-Main? Here’s all you need to know before you visit!
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While Berlin is probably the most popular location for a city break in Germany, Frankfurt-am-Main tends to sit under the radar.
It’s the largest city in the central state of Hesse, and the fifth largest city in Germany. Frankfurt is a major financial centre, but it’s also a great city to visit for a few days away.
September is the perfect time of year to visit, when Frankfurt has beautiful autumnal weather and the risk of it being rainy isn’t too bad. There are plenty of events in Frankfurt in September, so you’re sure to find plenty to do.
Alternatively, you might want to push your visit back a little so that you’re in the city for a genuine German Oktoberfest. This year’s festivities run from 21st September to 6th October 2019.
So here are a few of the best things to see, do and eat during a city break in Frankfurt.
How to Get to Frankfurt-am Main
Frankfurt is really easy to get to from the UK, and is only a 90 minute flight away. Direct flights leave from several UK airports including Birmingham International, Manchester, Edinburgh and London Stansted.
Where to Stay in Frankfurt-am-Main
There are plenty of hotels in Frankfurt to suit every taste and budget, but you might like to take a look at serviced accommodation in Frankfurt instead.
Serviced accommodation basically means a hotel room that’s more like an apartment. You still get the service and attention of a hotel, but with a little more space than in a hotel room.
It can be nice to spread out and relax in a studio or one-bedroom apartment, especially if you are staying for a few days.
There’s a restaurant on-site, but you’re also within easy walking distance of endless bars and restaurants. And if walking around Frankfurt isn’t enough exercise, there’s also a gym on-site!
The Best Things to Do in Frankfurt-am-Main
Obviously you’ll want to check out the old-style houses and town hall in Römerberg Square, visit the birthplace of Goethe, and climb the 324 steps to the viewing platform at the top of the cathedral.
But sticking to the tour guide doesn’t always ensure that you get to see the best of a city. So for some other must-see spots in Frankfurt, don’t forget to visit:
The Palmengarten
As you’ve seen from my visit to Puerto de la Cruz, I love visiting botanic gardens. So a visit to the Palmengarten is high up on my list of things to do in Frankfurt.
The Palmengarten is over 140 years old and is one of two botanic gardens in Frankfurt. The garden covers over 20 hectains, and the giant glasshouse contains a fabulous collection of tropical plants.
The Pinkelbaum
The Pinkelbaum is a tree that has been turned into a humorous art installation. Turning the tables on humans who have peed on trees for thousands of years, this tree will spray you with water if you get too close!
The Pinkelbaum sits fairly close to the restaurant Oberschweinsstiege. You can reach it by taking Trolley Car No 17, alighting at the Oberschweinsstiege stop, or by a short walk along lake Jacobiweiher.
Dialogue in the Dark
DialogMuseum is currently closed for refurbishment, but should reopen in Autumn 2019.
The museum is based around the principle that we learn best through experience. Blind guides help visitors to walk through a pitch black room that may be set up to resemble daily situations like a park, a city or a bar.
You’ll carry out simple daily activities, but without the benefit of sight. This means you have to trust your guide, which helps to change perceptions of disabled people in the real world outside
The Best Things to Eat in Frankfurt-am-Main
I love German food and of course Frankfurt, like every German city, has its own local speciality sausage. The Frankfurter sausage is definitely worth a try, but there’s a lot more to Frankfurt cuisine than sausages.
One thing that you absolutely have to try is the local speciality of Grüne Soße. It is a cold, creamy sauce that is kind of a hybrid of salsa verde and hollandaise sauce. The sauce is made of parsley, chives, chervil, borage, sorrel, cress, and salad burnet mixed with sour cream, oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and finely sieved hard boiled eggs.
Those with a sweet tooth should definitely try the Frankfurter Kranz, which is a popular ring shaped cake. It’s a simple sponge, which is cut into three layers, spread with jam and butter cream and then covered with caramelised nuts.
And if you have had enough of the local beer at Oktoberfest, then Apfelwein (known locally as Äppelwoi) will give your tastebuds a refreshing change. It’s the local cider, which is made to be on the sharp side!
Great place to visit especially the cider quarter. Take a big appetite for all the wonderful food whether your taste is for the sweet or savoury.