Frankfurt City Guide
Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany, and is nicknamed "Mainhattan" due to the skyscrapers that dominate the skyline and the River Main that flows through the city. Frankfurt has an intriguing history which dates back to the Roman occupation, and the city is also the birthplace of the Goethe. Visit the lively Sachsenhausen area to sample the local specialty - apple wine!
Frankfurt is 8 hours from London by train.
What to do and see in and around Frankfurt
Römerberg
Römerberg is the historical heart of Frankfurt, and was the site of Charlemagne's fort. The gothic Römer building is on the Römerplatz, and was originally Frankfurt's town hall. The top two floors of the Römer are the Kaisersaal - originally the imperial coronation hall.
Liebieghaus (Sculpture Museum)
The Liebieghaus is housed in an 1896 villa, and contains Egyptian, Greek, and Roman classical sculptures through to German baroque, and Renaissance works. Highlights of the collection include an 8th century BC bronze horse, and the altarpieces. Don't miss the sculptures set in the gardens of the villa.
Städel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery
The Städel was originally founded as an art college in the 1800s, but has since grown to become one of Europe's most influential art museums. The gallery includes paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings by major European artists such as Dürer, Bosch, Fra Angelico, Degas, Monet and Rembrandt.
Palmengarten (Botanical Gardens)
Frankfurt's Botanical Gardens are a good place to unwind after a days sightseeing. Explore the 50 acres of gardens, or visit the historical greenhouses including the Tropicarium which houses a vast collection of tropical plants including orchids. There is a small boating lake in the middle of the park, and frequent flower shows are held in the park.
Goethe House and Museum
The poet Goethe was born in Frankfurt in 1749, and his house is now the Goethe museum. The house looks as it would have looked when Goethe lived there, contains paintings collected by Goeth's father, and other family possessions. Next door to Goethe's house is the Goethe museum - containing thousands of Goethe manuscripts, and works of art that inspired the poet.
Historical Museum
The Historical Museum traces the history of Frankfurt from the 12 century onwards. The highlight of the collection is the carved wooden model of Frankfurt from 1552. Also included in the collection is gold and silverware, a child's museum, and a display on the specialty of Frankfurt - apple wine.
Sachsenhausen
The Sachsenhausen area is south of the River Main, and is known as the "apple wine quarter" - apple wine is served in almost every bar in the area! The Sachsenhausen is the most laid back and fun area of Frankfurt, with a variety of bars and restaurants around the area, tiny specialist shops and a flea market every Saturday.
Film Museum
Frankfurt's film museum is the biggest film museum in Germany. The museum covers the history of film, film production and cinema history. There is a cinema continually showing old films from the collection in the museum, and a shop selling a vast collection of film posters and music.
Fressgasse
Fressgasse or Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse is the place to go for food shopping, restaurants, delicatessens or cafés in Frankfurt. Visit the area for Frankfurt's local specialities including cheese, smoked fish and frankfurters!
Kaiserdom
The most famous building in Frankfurt's old town area is the red sandstone Kaiserdom church (known as the Dom), where Holy Roman Emperors were crowned between the 16th-18th century. The Church was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, climb up the 15th century 95 metre tower for fantastic views over Frankfurt.
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