“Bankfurt” - Germany’s Financial Capital
Frankfurt am Main is the largest city in the German state of Hesse (Hessen in German), but not the capital, which is nearby Wiesbaden. Frankfurt lies on the banks of the river Main (pron. mine). The city’s full name, Frankfurt am Main (“Frankfurt on the Main”), distinguishes it from the other, smaller Frankfurt on the Oder river (Frankfurt an der Oder) on the Polish border. Frankfurt am Main has only about 750,000 residents, but the greater Rhein-Main metro region is home to over five million people.
Frankfurt is a city of opposites where you see skyscrapers right next to half-timbered houses. It is home to Frankfurt Airport, one of the world’s most important international airport hubs and hosts the world’s largest book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse, once a year. Yet with its narrow alleys and traditional cider pubs, it still has the friendly feeling of a village and offers space for recreation in Germany’s largest urban forest south of the city center.
Just a few typical places and things you should check out:
“Bankfurt” - Germany’s Financial Capital
Frankfurt am Main is the largest city in the German state of Hesse (Hessen in German), but not the capital, which is nearby Wiesbaden. Frankfurt lies on the banks of the river Main (pron. mine). The city’s full name, Frankfurt am Main (“Frankfurt on the Main”), distinguishes it from the other, smaller Frankfurt on the Oder river (Frankfurt an der Oder) on the Polish border. Frankfurt am Main has only about 750,000 residents, but the greater Rhein-Main metro region is home to over five million people.
Frankfurt is a city of opposites where you see skyscrapers right next to half-timbered houses. It is home to Frankfurt Airport, one of the world’s most important international airport hubs and hosts the world’s largest book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse, once a year. Yet with its narrow alleys and traditional cider pubs, it still has the friendly feeling of a village and offers space for recreation in Germany’s largest urban forest south of the city center.
Just a few typical places and things you should check out:
Bethmännchen
Skyscrapers
Buchmesse (Book Fair)
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Dippemess
Sachsenhausen / Ebbelwio (Apple Wine)
Bethmännchen
Skyscrapers
Buchmesse (Book Fair)
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Dippemess
Sachsenhausen / Ebbelwio (Apple Wine)
Culinary Frankfurt: Würstchen / Grüne Sauce
/ Handkäs mit Musik
Culinary Frankfurt: Würstchen / Grüne Sauce / Handkäs mit Musik
Römerberg
The ancient center of Frankfurt lies at the central square known as the Römerberg, or “Roman hill.” The Frankfurt city hall, begun in 1405 and known as the Römer, has been rebuilt and restored over the years after being destroyed by Allied bombs during the war. It is still a functioning city hall today.
River Main / Museumsufer
The river Main is one of Frankfurt’s best attractions. The city has wisely turned many stretches along the banks of the river into pleasant places to stroll, bike, or relax. The “Museum River Bank” is a section along the Main, to the east and west of the Untermainbrücke (Lower Main Bridge), where you’ll find more than 20 museums on both sides of the river, with most located on or near the south (Sachsenhausen) bank. Some of the best: Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM, architecture), Deutsches Filmmuseum (cinema), Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK, modern art), Goethe-Haus (see more below), Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum), the Städel (art museum) and Naturhistorisches Museum Senckenberg (natural history museum, with dinosaur bones) just north of the train station.
Goethe-Haus
Germany’s most famous writer and poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), was born in Frankfurt. Today the house in which he was born is a museum. Located within walking distance of the Hauptwache, his reconstructed house and a modern museum annex can be found on a street called Großer Hirschgraben. Frankfurt’s university, founded in 1914, is also named for Goethe. Website
Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt
One of the most prestigious exhibition houses in Europe. Opened in 1986, more than 240 exhibitions have been presented on around 2000 m² to date and have been seen by more than 8.8 million visitors. Discover exhibitions of modern art as well as contemporary positions - in the heart of Frankfurt between the cathedral and the Römer in the middle of the ‘new old town’. Website
Dom St. Bartholomäus / Paulskirche
St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral (Kaiserdom, “the imperial cathedral”) was established in the ninth century and was once where the Holy Roman German emperors were crowned. The gothic church (not officially a cathedral) has been reconstructed twice, most recently in 1950 to repair damage from Allied bombs. The 66-meter (216-feet) viewing platform is reached by climbing up 386 spiraling steps. There is no elevator, but for two euros you’ll get one of the best views in Frankfurt. Until Frankfurt’s first high-rise buildings were constructed in the 1960s, this gothic church was the tallest structure in Frankfurt. St. Paul’s church was the site of the assembly of the short-lived revolution of 1848. Frankfurt became the seat of the first democratically elected German parliament, the National Assembly (Nationalversammlung), which first met in the Paulskirche (St. Paul’s Church) on May 18, 1848. Unfortunately, the revolution collapsed in 1849. Built in 1789 as a Protestant church, St. Paul’s is no longer used as a church.
Wallanlagen / Alte Oper
The “ramparts parks” are remnants of Frankfurt’s historic city wall fortifications that once surrounded the Old Town. The section between the Main riverbank and the Opernplatz, referred to officially as Taunusanlage and Gallusanlage, is also known as “Central Park” because of the skyscrapers that rise above it on both sides. A stroll through this park is a free and pleasant way to tour part of the city. Exiting the U-Bahn at Willy-Brandt-Platz you’ll see the famous blue and yellow “euro sculpture” sign as you enter the Gallusanlage. The green park stretches beyond the Opernplatz - with the ”Alte Oper” (Old Opera House) of 1880 which is no longer used for operas, but is now a concert house - into the Bockenheimeranlage and beyond.
Zeil / Hauptwache
The Zeil is a street in the city center. The name, which dates back to the 14th century, is derived from the German word Zeile "row" and originally referred to a row of houses on the eastern end of the north side. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been one of the most famous and busiest shopping streets in Germany. Before World War II it was also known for its grand buildings, but most of them were destroyed and not rebuilt. The western part of the Zeil is a pedestrian zone between two large plazas, Konstablerwache in the east and the Hauptwache in the west. This Frankfurt landmark, built in 1730, was once a guardhouse, a prison, and later a police station. Today it lends its name to the surrounding square and is a key station for Frankfurt’s S-Bahn and U-Bahn public transit system. The Hauptwache building itself is now a popular café.
European Central Bank (ECB)
Before the euro replaced the Deutsche Mark, Frankfurt was home to Germany’s “Fed,” the Bundesbank (and it still is). In 1998, when the ECB was created, Germany insisted on Frankfurt becoming the home of the new Europäische Zentralbank (EZB). At first the Eurotower in the banking district housed the ECB, but in March 2015 the new ECB skyscraper in the Ostend part of the city was inaugurated. The ECB building offers guided tours to the public, for both individuals and groups.
Neue Kräme
This street links Römerberg and Liebfrauenberg, the two most important squares of the old city center. It is one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Frankfurt and lined with small specialist shops.
Günthersburgpark
Beautiful Park in Nordend-Ost with walking trails, old trees, playgrounds, basketball, soccer and street ball courts as well as lawn for sunbathing and a nice café with a summer garden.
Bornheimer Wochenmarkt
One of the best weekly markets in Frankfurt.
Berger Strasse, around the clock tower, Wed 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sat 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Zoo Frankfurt
Opened in 1858, Frankfurt Zoo is one of the oldest animal parks in the world.
Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16, Tel: 069 21233735, Website
You will find more information and interesting places to visit on the official Frankfurt website:
Website
Römerberg
The ancient center of Frankfurt lies at the central square known as the Römerberg, or “Roman hill.” The Frankfurt city hall, begun in 1405 and known as the Römer, has been rebuilt and restored over the years after being destroyed by Allied bombs during the war. It is still a functioning city hall today.
River Main / Museumsufer
The river Main is one of Frankfurt’s best attractions. The city has wisely turned many stretches along the banks of the river into pleasant places to stroll, bike, or relax. The “Museum River Bank” is a section along the Main, to the east and west of the Untermainbrücke (Lower Main Bridge), where you’ll find more than 20 museums on both sides of the river, with most located on or near the south (Sachsenhausen) bank. Some of the best: Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM, architecture), Deutsches Filmmuseum (cinema), Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK, modern art), Goethe-Haus (see more below), Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum), the Städel (art museum) and Naturhistorisches Museum Senckenberg (natural history museum, with dinosaur bones) just north of the train station.
Goethe-Haus
Germany’s most famous writer and poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), was born in Frankfurt. Today the house in which he was born is a museum. Located within walking distance of the Hauptwache, his reconstructed house and a modern museum annex can be found on a street called Großer Hirschgraben. Frankfurt’s university, founded in 1914, is also named for Goethe. Website
Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt
One of the most prestigious exhibition houses in Europe. Opened in 1986, more than 240 exhibitions have been presented on around 2000 m² to date and have been seen by more than 8.8 million visitors. Discover exhibitions of modern art as well as contemporary positions - in the heart of Frankfurt between the cathedral and the Römer in the middle of the ‘new old town’. Website
Dom St. Bartholomäus / Paulskirche
St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral (Kaiserdom, “the imperial cathedral”) was established in the ninth century and was once where the Holy Roman German emperors were crowned. The gothic church (not officially a cathedral) has been reconstructed twice, most recently in 1950 to repair damage from Allied bombs. The 66-meter (216-feet) viewing platform is reached by climbing up 386 spiraling steps. There is no elevator, but for two euros you’ll get one of the best views in Frankfurt. Until Frankfurt’s first high-rise buildings were constructed in the 1960s, this gothic church was the tallest structure in Frankfurt. St. Paul’s church was the site of the assembly of the short-lived revolution of 1848. Frankfurt became the seat of the first democratically elected German parliament, the National Assembly (Nationalversammlung), which first met in the Paulskirche (St. Paul’s Church) on May 18, 1848. Unfortunately, the revolution collapsed in 1849. Built in 1789 as a Protestant church, St. Paul’s is no longer used as a church.
Wallanlagen / Alte Oper
The “ramparts parks” are remnants of Frankfurt’s historic city wall fortifications that once surrounded the Old Town. The section between the Main riverbank and the Opernplatz, referred to officially as Taunusanlage and Gallusanlage, is also known as “Central Park” because of the skyscrapers that rise above it on both sides. A stroll through this park is a free and pleasant way to tour part of the city. Exiting the U-Bahn at Willy-Brandt-Platz you’ll see the famous blue and yellow “euro sculpture” sign as you enter the Gallusanlage. The green park stretches beyond the Opernplatz - with the ”Alte Oper” (Old Opera House) of 1880 which is no longer used for operas, but is now a concert house - into the Bockenheimeranlage and beyond.
Zeil / Hauptwache
The Zeil is a street in the city center. The name, which dates back to the 14th century, is derived from the German word Zeile "row" and originally referred to a row of houses on the eastern end of the north side. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been one of the most famous and busiest shopping streets in Germany. Before World War II it was also known for its grand buildings, but most of them were destroyed and not rebuilt. The western part of the Zeil is a pedestrian zone between two large plazas, Konstablerwache in the east and the Hauptwache in the west. This Frankfurt landmark, built in 1730, was once a guardhouse, a prison, and later a police station. Today it lends its name to the surrounding square and is a key station for Frankfurt’s S-Bahn and U-Bahn public transit system. The Hauptwache building itself is now a popular café.
European Central Bank (ECB)
Before the euro replaced the Deutsche Mark, Frankfurt was home to Germany’s “Fed,” the Bundesbank (and it still is). In 1998, when the ECB was created, Germany insisted on Frankfurt becoming the home of the new Europäische Zentralbank (EZB). At first the Eurotower in the banking district housed the ECB, but in March 2015 the new ECB skyscraper in the Ostend part of the city was inaugurated. The ECB building offers guided tours to the public, for both individuals and groups.
Neue Kräme
This street links Römerberg and Liebfrauenberg, the two most important squares of the old city center. It is one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Frankfurt and lined with small specialist shops.
Günthersburgpark
Beautiful Park in Nordend-Ost with walking trails, old trees, playgrounds, basketball, soccer and street ball courts as well as lawn for sunbathing and a nice café with a summer garden.
Bornheimer Wochenmarkt
One of the best weekly markets in Frankfurt.
Berger Strasse, around the clock tower, Wed 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sat 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Zoo Frankfurt
Opened in 1858, Frankfurt Zoo is one of the oldest animal parks in the world.
Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16, Tel: 069 21233735, Website
You will find more information and interesting places to visit on the official Frankfurt website:
Website
The public transport system in Frankfurt is very well-developed and is mostly very reliable. It includes U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (suburban trains) and many trams and buses. The website www.rmv.de offers all information you might need, also in several different languages.
Please remember to validate your ticket before you start your journey by stamping it in one of the machines.
GENERAL SHOPPING HOURS
Large stores and city center: Mon - Sat 10 am to 8 pm
Smaller stores, stores located outside city center or in smaller towns:
Mon-Fri 9.30 am to 6 or 7 pm and Sat 9.30 am to 2 or 4 pm
All shops are closed on Sundays. Supermarkets generally open earlier, mostly 8 a.m.
Body-Life
Gym, aerobics, squash, badminton, and spa, large selection of equipment, over 35 courses per week
Friesstr. 3, 60388 Frankfurt, Tel: 069 426363, info@body-life.de
Homepage
Fitness First
4 club categories: Lifestyle (high standard, modern atmosphere), Women, Platinum (exclusive locations, additional services such as swimming pool or spa), Black Label (5-star category, exclusive equipment, club lounge, additional services), Studios in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden
Homepage
Kieser Training
Focus on strengthening specific muscle groups and offer health-oriented training for preventive and therapeutic purposes. Studios in Frankfurt, Offenbach and Wiesbaden
Homepage (available in English)
If you have a dog, you will need to register it at the local authorities and pay dog tax for it. You will receive a tag
for the dog’s collar after approx. 2 weeks of paying the invoice. It is obligatory that the dog wears this tag.
Franks Hundetraining
Dog training, day care and boarding kennels in Niddatal
Tel: 06187 9027937 / 9021436, info@franks-hundetraining.de
Hompage
Dog Walker
“Vacation camp” (day care and boarding kennels) in Burgschwalbach
Tel: 06430 9261726 / 0172 8582330
On account of repeated attacks on humans by certain dangerous dogs, the state governments in Germany
issued regulations regarding keeping certain dog races which are considered dangerous.
Dangerous dog races according to the HundeVO are amongst others Pitbull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Rottweiler.
Dogs that have in the past attacked or bitten humans or other animals without any apparent reason are also categorized as being dangerous.
For these above-mentioned dogs, the owner needs official permission from the relevant local authorities.
On account of repeated attacks on humans by certain dangerous dogs, the state governments in Germany
issued regulations regarding keeping certain dog races which are considered dangerous.
Dangerous dog races according to the HundeVO are amongst others Pitbull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Rottweiler.
Dogs that have in the past attacked or bitten humans or other animals without any apparent reason are also categorized as being dangerous.
For these above-mentioned dogs, the owner needs official permission from the relevant local authorities.
