Travel to Frankfurt

Travel to Frankfurt

This modern, international city is a major communications and transport hub as well as one of the worlds leading financial centres. Although many people use it as a transit point, it has a surprising amount to offer and can also be used as a good base from which to explore other parts of the country. Frankfurt is a worthwhile tourist destination, with many historical buildings and interesting museums that complement a varied and lively nightlife.

Transportation to Frankfurt

Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, also known as Frankfurt International Airport, is one of Europes largest and busiest airports, and nearly every major airline flies here from around the world. There are two huge terminals that are connected by the complementary Frankfurt Skyline as well as an inter-terminal shuttle that is also free. You can reach central Frankfurt by taking a bus from Terminal 1, or you can take the S8 commuter train and selected suburban trains. Taxis are also available, but tend to be expensive. The main railway station, the Hauptbahnhof, is located to the west of the city centre. It receives over 1,600 trains a day from around Europe.

The regional public transport company (RMV) operates the citys buses, tram S-Bahn and U-Bahn services. A 24-hour rover ticket is available, although it's probably better to purchase the 1 or 2-day Frankfurt Card, which includes half-price entry to virtually all of the city's museums.

What to see

Frankfurt is a busy metropolis, set in a lovely valley between Hamburg and the Alps. The busy financial and business sector is on the north bank of the Main River, while the south side is more laid-back and easy to navigate on foot. The Altstadt is the focus of the city, with interesting sidewalk cafs and historical buildings. The area known as Museum Embankment has many of the citys art and film museums including the German Historical Museum, with fine exhibitions of pre and post-war Frankfurt. Renowned writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe was born here and his restored house and the accompanying Goethe Museum are worth visiting.

The relaxing Sachsenhausen area has a good choice of bars and restaurants, shops and a flea market, held every Saturday. Chic boutiques and trendy restaurants can be found in the fashionable part of Frankfurt known as Schweitzer strasse.

Daytrips

There is a wide choice of attractions and places to visit in the area around Frankfurt. Just 10kms away is Hoechst, with some stunning Baroque palaces and buildings. Here, you can find the popular Town Castle, which hosts a lively street festival and local market. Nearby, is the spa town of Wiesbaden, known for its thermal baths and attractive parks. A short drive northwest of Frankfurt is Bockenheim, an interesting university town with an alternative atmosphere. At night, the streets are lively with folk dancing and many local bands. Heading east, you will reach the Rhines beautiful scenery between Mainz and Koblenz. The stunning landscape in this areais home tonumber of quaint wine-producing villages.

Activities and leisure

Inline skating has taken Germany, and in particular Frankfurt, by storm. It is even an officially recognised form of transport in the city. Outdoor swimming is also popular and the swimming pools usually have a number of slides and waterfalls, table tennis, volleyball and grassy areas for sunbathing.

Safety issues

In general, Frankfurt is a safe city to visit. However, bag snatching and pick-pocketing are fairly common, so you should take extra care when visiting tourist areas or night-time entertainment venues. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family, to safeguard against accidents and unforeseen problems.