Because it is an international centre of financial activity, Frankfurt is an important destination for many business travellers. The city is not all business though as there are many top quality nightlife venues spread throughout the city. There are also many intriguing arts and entertainment options available. Offering a selection of world-class museums, shopping venues, sport, and a long and interesting history, Frankfurt is an amazing German city with a skyline that is difficult to beat.
Frankfurt Accommodation
The hotels in Frankfurt offer visitors a variety of types and styles from which to choose. Business travellers will find an extensive range of hotel accommodation near the city's large financial district, while leisure travellers and families on holiday can find hotels that cater to their needs in several other parts of the city, including the Sachsenhausen district, which is also home to the city's largest flea market.
It's a good idea to book your Frankfurt hotel in advance as the city is also a hotspot for trade fairs at different times of year and accommodation prices can leap accordingly.
Youth hostels are also available and can be found in many areas of the city.
Top Things to do in Frankfurt
Though it is a major business centre, Frankfurt also has many fun things to do. Here are some of the top things to do when visiting the city:
Go to a Museum - Celebrated as an efficient transport super-hub, Frankfurt is also a cultured city of museums. In fact, so many of them are lined up along the south bank of the River Main that it is known as the Museumsufer, or museum bank. The Stadel art gallery is possibly the major offering here with its collection spanning 700 years of European painting. However, not to be overlooked are the Museum of Ancient Sculpture, the Jewish Museum, and the German Film Museum. In August each year, the river bank comes alive with Museumsuferfest, when you can buy one ticket for entry to all the museums and outside there are musical performances, rides, international food stalls and boat races on the river. When you're tired from all the walking, you can rest aboard the Apple Wine Express, where you'll be given a bottle of the local cider and a pretzel to tide you over as you see the sights. For those who want to learn about the nature of the Earth, there is also the Senckenberg Natural History Museum to visit.
Go Shopping on Goethestraße - This street has been called the Fifth Avenue of Frankfurt and a visit there will show you why. There are clothing shops everywhere; they range from trendy to thrifty.
Take a Guided Tour - There is no better way to take in all that the city has to offer than with a professionally guided tour. A guided tour will show you the less-well known parts of the city as well as the best of Frankfurt, including the Apple Wine Quarter and the Museum Riverbank.
Visit the Romerberg District - This section of Frankfurt is a part of what once was the largest Medieval quarter in all of Germany.
Take a Hike in the Taunus Mountains - This is a great way to get a unique view of the city's amazing skyline, as well as a good workout.
Arts and Entertainment
Though not as well known for the arts as other German cities such as Berlin or Munich, Frankfurt still offers visitors a unique selection of arts and entertainment. First and foremost, there is the Oper Frankfurt, which holds performances at the Old Opera House on Opernplatz. The company produces mostly classic operas, as well as themed pieces for the holiday season.
There are several theatres in the city that offer live performances throughout the year, including the English Theatre and the International Theatre; traditional as well as musical theatre performances are staged at these venues. For a truly diverse blend of theatre ranging from ancient works by Aeschylus and Euripides to cutting-edge modern pieces by up and coming playwrights, Schauspielfrankfurt is a unique venue that has it all; the variety is truly staggering. This theatre is located on Neue Mainzer Straße.
Frankfurt is also host to a number of festivals throughout the year, including the Apple Wine Festival that is held in mid-August, the Museum Embankment Festival, and the Spring Dippemess folk festival, which is held in late March and early April each year.
Sport
Frankfurt plays host to a variety of professional sports teams and if you are in the mood for some sporting action while you are in the city, you won't be disappointed. Eintracht Frankfurt is the city's premier football club; the team plays in the Commerzbank Arena and more often than not this facility is sold out for the home games. For a taste of local hockey, travellers should check out a Frankfurt Lions game. There is also a thriving basketball team in the city called the Deutsche Bank Skyliners.
Besides the teams that play in the city on a regular basis, there are also sporting events that take place annually including the ever-popular European Iron Man Competition. The Henniger Turm Bike Race brings riders from all over the world to Frankfurt, while the Frankfurt Marathon is one of the top marathon events in Europe and draws some of the biggest names in the world of marathon running.
Beer and Wine
Everyone knows that Germany is the land of great beer and Frankfurt is as into beer as the rest of the country; there are several beer gardens in the city. These are a great place to enjoy a stein of a local brew to wind down after a long day of business meetings or sightseeing.
One of the more popular beer gardens is named Oberschweinstiege - it is located on a peninsula off Lake Jacobiweher. This beer garden offers a large variety brews in several different price ranges. Gerbermühle is another popular choice for those staying in Frankfurt; this beer garden is a 500-seat venue that serves half litres of beer from the afternoon onwards.
Zur Stalburg offers visitors a different kind of drinking experience. That is because it is an apple wine garden, though it is included in the city's beer garden directory because dark beer is also available there. Bürgelstollen is yet another popular place to whet your whistle and it also offers apple wine in addition to beer.
Nightlife
If you want to have a night out on the town while visiting Frankfurt, a vast array of bars and clubs await you.
For the hippest in music venues, Jazzkeller is the place to go. Despite its name, there are a number of different types of music played at this venue besides jazz.
There are also several techno dance bars in the city. For example, at the base of the European Central Bank is the Living XXL Club, where business people come to play. For a more thrilling view while you dance, Club 101 is located at the top of a skyscraper in the downtown area.
If you are into clubs that provide a more glamorous experience, you probably want to spend an evening at Sansibar, which is the glitziest club in the city.
If you happen to be looking for an Irish pub you will be interested in Anglo Irish, which is located right in the middle of Old Sachsenhausen. This pub shows local football matches, and the crowd can get rowdy.
Far from being all business, Frankfurt is a lively, fun city that has a great deal to offer any type of traveller.