One day in Frankfurt, the Manhattan of Europe

FRANKFURT, GERMANY - TOP ACTIVITIES AND PLACES TO VISIT

When you hear the name Frankfurt, the first description that comes into ones mind is that of a city of major economic importance, the place where you can start a business and at the same time, the place with one of the largest airports in Europe, here arriving people from all over the world, mostly with business purposes.

So, with these considerations in mind, we can't help but wonder if Frankfurt deserves to be taken into account from a tourist point of view. In my opinion, if you have the opportunity to visit Frankfurt, do not hesitate to allocate half a day, or even a whole day for a visit, I would not recommend more than that.

The city was mostly destroyed during the second world war. Many of the destroyed buildings were reconstructed according to the original form of the old buildings, in the central area. The city is called the Manhattan of Europe due to the impressive number of sky scrapper buildings, in this city being the tallest building in Europe.

HOW TO GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY:

If you arrive in Frankfurt by plane, from the airport to the city, the simplest and least expensive method of transport is by train. Trains S8 and S9 go to Frankfurt's central station (Frankfurt's Hauptbahnhof). The ticket can be purchased from the ticket machines.

Another option, just as simple, but more expensive, to get to the city is by booking a private transfer, I leave a link to a company that organizes both transfers for 1-3 people, and for more people.

WHERE ARE YOU STAYING?

Among the options available on Booking, the ones that caught my attention and have great ratings can be found below, grouped according to the number of stars.

- 5 star hotels:

•  JW Marriot Frankfurt - accommodation unit with double rooms or suites. It has its own parking, wellness and spa center, room service, indoor pool and accepts pets;

• Sofitel Frankfurt Opera - accommodation unit, which has double or twin rooms. It is equipped with an indoor pool, spa center, bar, parking, and on request, airport transfer is offered.

- 4 star hotels:

• Capri by Fraser - it is an one-bedroom apartment or studio accomodation unit. It has its own parking, fitness room, bar and 24-hour reception;

• Hotel Beethoven - accommodation unit with single, double rooms or suites, which can accommodate up to 4 adults and one child. It has private parking and a 24-hour reception.

- 3 stars or less hotels:

• Hampton by Hilton - accommodation unit with double or twin rooms, located near the city center. It has private parking, terrace, fitness room and 24-hour reception;

• Moxy Frankfurt City Center - accommodation unit with double, twin or family rooms. It has parking, bar, room service and 24-hour reception;

ACTIVITIES AND PLACES TO VISIT IN FRANKFURT:

- Romerberg

The most famous and most visited location by tourists is the historic market square, also known as Romerberg. Here are the most photogenic buildings in the city, rebuilt after the original model destroyed in World War II. Their elegant facades, decorated with elaborate architectural details, such as carved pediments and exposed wooden elements, reflect the charm of bygone eras. Although they are reconstructions, these buildings manage to preserve the authenticity of the historical atmosphere, transporting visitors to a period full of elegance and tradition.

In the center of the square is an impressive artesian fountain, known as the “Fountain of Justice” (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen), a powerful symbol of fairness and justice. The statue that dominates the fountain depicts the goddess of Justice, in a dignified and imposing posture, holding a sword in her right hand and a scale in her left. The sword symbolizes the firm and consistent application of the law, suggesting that breaking social norms attracts fair and immediate punishment. The scale in the left hand represents balance, impartiality, and the need to carefully weigh the arguments before pronouncing a verdict.

Also in this emblematic square is the city hall building, a special historical and architectural symbol. The building in which it is located is from the medieval era and has housed the town hall for more than 600 years. Unfortunately, this building did not escape the bomb attacks of the Second World War, being mostly destroyed, but rebuilt later.

For a complete experience, with a guide, you can choose guided tours in English, find tickets here.

Also in this area, a few steps away from the market, you can admire other absolutely gorgeous buildings. These constructions, with richly decorated facades, wooden shuttered windows and pointed roofs, remind me of the gingerbread houses from childhood stories.

- Goethe Museum

The location represents the place where the German writer Goethe was born and grew up. The house, like most buildings in Frankfurt, was rebuilt after the second world war.

Tickets can be purchased only from the museum and cost 10 euros/person. If you want a personalized tour of the city, with tickets to this museum included, find here.

- Eiserner Steg

Also known as the Love Bridge, it is located near the historical centre and crosses the river Main. Although, personally, I didn't feel Frankfurt as a romantic city, thousands of people "contradicted" me, closing the lock of love on this bridge and throwing the key into the river.

- Frankfurt Cathedral

Known as St. Bartholomew's Cathedral (Dom Sankt Bartholomäus), this impressive structure is one of the few historic buildings in Frankfurt that has managed to withstand the many unfortunate events that have marked the city over time. Although it was severely damaged by a devastating fire and suffered significant damage during the bombings of World War II, the cathedral has been restored.

Entrance costs 2 euros/person.

- Main Tower

The tallest glass building in the city, offering 360-degree views, is the Main Tower. It is mainly used for offices and is also open to tourists. It has a restaurant and lounge area on the 53rd floor, ideal if you want to spend more time in the building.

- Other activities in Frankfurt and day trips:

• Day trip from Frankfurt to the Rhine Valley, link here.

• Panoramic boat trip on river Main, link here.

• Hop on, Hop off bus tour of the city, link here.

• Day trip to Heidelberg Castle, details here;

ACTIVITIES IN FRANKFURT, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON:

• Frankfurt Christmas Market is not to be missed if you arrive in the city between November 25th and December 23rd or 24th. The dates may change from year to year, but the period remains the same. The Frankfurt Christmas Market is considered one of the oldest in Europe. It is believed that its first edition was around 1400.

• The period of the famous German festival Oktoberfest can be a pretty good reason to come to Frankfurt. Although the festival in this city does not have the same scale as the one in Munich, it is quite authentic and, perhaps, less crowded. The festival usually takes place at the end of September, beginning of October and it is recommended to book your tickets a few months in advance, because certain time slots tend to sell out very quickly.

SOUVENIRS

There are several souvenir shops in the city, but two of them particularly caught my attention. The first one is near the town hall, it's called Topferei Bauer and it was impossible not to buy one of the miniatures that were for sale.

The second shop I saw and didn't buy anything from, was with handmade clocks, with wood from the Black Forest. It is worth entering here, even if only to admire the famous German cuckoo clocks. The shop is called Handwerkskunst am Romer.

CONCLUSION ABOUT FRANKFURT:

Frankfurt is the economic "capital" of Germany, but which tries to preserve a little of what German traditional means. The city impresses with its imposing skyscrapers, which dominate the skyline, but at the same time offers visitors the opportunity to explore areas full of history and culture, well preserved or reconstructed with great attention to detail.

As I said at the beginning of the article, one day is more than enough to discover this city from a tourist point of view. The area of ​​the historic center is absolutely gorgeous and even if it does not still have the original buildings, it is just as spectacular and is not to be missed.

If you are passionate about traveling and exploring cities full of history and culture, I recommend you read about another fascinating city in Germany, the famous, Cologne. You can also get inspiration for future trips from articles written about: Zakynthos Island, Mallorca Island, Algarve, Portugal, Barcelona or Andalusia.

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