When in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is often forgotten by young travellers choosing a weekend break, which is unfortunate as the city has more to offer visitors than they might imagine. Admittedly a hubbub of business, it also has much in the way of culture, while the breathtaking skyscraper-dotted landscape will appeal to cityscape lovers.
Although only the fifth largest city in Europe, it has a cosmopolitan air, creating an aura of something larger and more ambitious. Frankfurt succeeds in encapsulating the idea of a global village. Home to just 650,000 residents, a quarter of whom hail from outside Germany, while as Europe's biggest financial centre and the seat of the European Central Bank it attracts more than its fair share of international businessmen.
This concentration of wealth and business brings knock on benefits even to those who baulk at the sight of a pinstripe suite. The city has money to throw at the arts and it succeeds in doing so with abundance. This has created a wealth of cultural attractions and opportunities, bringing with it a surprisingly bohemian edge, as the city boosts "behind those glass facades the atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed".
The River Main cuts the city in two, separating the businesslike hullabaloo in the north from the more laid-back charms of the south. It is along the south bank that you find many of Frankfurt's main museums and galleries, as well as an impressive range of bistros, cafes, bars and restaurants.
The city prides itself on offering plenty of scope for sightseeing, starting with its famously impressive cityscape, which welcomes visitors when they first fly in. In the city centre itself, travellers are advised to explore the banking district before heading to St Paul's Church, Frankfurt Cathedral, Romer and Goethe-House. If close proximity to all that money induces some shopping urges, head downtown where the best shops and boutiques can be found, as well as some interesting little cafes for that all important mid-spree coffee and cake.
Travelling to Frankfurt could not be simpler, as the old-worn jokes about all autobahns going to Frankfurt holds more than a grain of truth. Most major roads do converge in the city, making it an ideal stop over for anyone planning a driving tour of Europe. The main railway station also welcomes 90 long-distance trains every day for those travelling on a budget, while a number of cheap airlines also serve Frankfurt airport. Once in the city, travel is also quick and convenient, with a well-planned selection of trains and trams ferrying visitors around. Tourists are warned, as ever, against trying to use public transport without a ticket; inspectors frequently travel on the trams and will impose fines of €40 a time for anyone caught without a valid pass.
Winters in Frankfurt are cold and frequently stormy, so this is perhaps not the best time for travel. Summers are hot, although visitors shouldn't be surprised if it rains. 2006 sees Germany hosting the World Cup and Frankfurt will be the site of many games, meaning anyone travelling during June and July should expect the streets to be busier than usual and may well find themselves paying over-inflated prices for accommodation and entertainment. Those looking for cheap accommodation should head to Bockenheim, Bornheim and Hauptbahnhof, although be warned, the latter has a reputation for sleaze.
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Introduction
