Frankfurt am Main, known more often as just Frankfurt, is a modern, cosmopolitan city located on both sides of the River Main in south-west Germany.
Devastated by Allied bombing during the Second World War it has undergone a remarkable regeneration in the second half of the 20th and into the 21stCentury.
This has seen Frankfurt become one of the financial centres of Europe a major conference and exhibition centre and now a genuine tourist destination.
It also makes for a very rewarding short break.
Frankfurt's long history of welcoming people from all nations continues and visitors will find a bustling, vibrant and multicultural city with a great deal to enjoy.
The river flowing through Frankfurt provides its own natural attraction as do the green banks and landscaped parks and gardens that surround it.
Add to this Frankfurt's status as a major artistic and cultural centre and a visit here will not disappoint.
A city with a world class quality of life
Visit Frankfurt and one soon realises why the city has been ranked seventh in Mercer's 2010 Quality of Living Survey of world's cities.
The first and major factor for this is the majestic River Main that flows through the heart of the city, and which residents and visitors alike will walk, run, cycle along by way of the landscaped embankments and through parks and green open spaces.
This is a fine way for visitors to get to all parts of a city centre that was all but destroyed during the last world war.
The regeneration here is extensive and part of an ongoing programme to produce a 21st Century, cosmopolitan, city where people of all races and cultures can live and work together and where visitors are made welcome.
This is indeed appropriate as Frankfurt has enjoyed a history of opening its arms to peoples of all trading nations.
The Nazi era in Germany is an obvious and now much regretted stain on this record - and one from which Frankfurt suffered gravely both physically and emotionally.
But Frankfurt has emerged stronger and more determined than ever to be a modern and sophisticated European and world city.
Frankfurt is undoubtedly one of the world's financial centres and this has many spin off benefits for the tourist, with excellent transport links and a wide range of dining and entertainment venues.
The city also enjoys a global reputation for its museums and performance venues.
The Museum Embankment
The Frankfurt Museum Embankment has one of the finest concentrations of museums in Europe.
This sees 26 clustered along either side of the River Main in Sachsenhausen and in the old part of the city centre.
Most popular are :
- The Liebieghaus Museum with its ancient sculptures displayed in a former mansion and its grounds.
- The Städel Art Institute, which has works by European artists from the 13th to the 20th Century and includes old masters such as Dürer, Elsheimer, Rembrandt and Botticelli.
- The Museum of Modern Art, which houses a major collection of post-World War II works from pop art to current styles including works by artists including Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.
- The Schirn Kunsthalle, which stages exhibitions by artists including Kandinsky, Miró, Picasso, Guido Reni and Chagall.
To get the very best of the Frankfurt museum experience visit during Museum Night (May), when 50 participating museums and galleries remain open late, or during the Museum Embankment Festival (August), which is Europe's largest cultural festival featuring arts and crafts stalls, live music, world cuisine and Frankfurt's museum row.
www.museumsuferfest-frankfurt.de
Berger Straße and Old Sachsenhausen
Berger Straße
Berger Straße has many individual boutiques, book shops, specialist stores, delicatessens and grocery shops.
In the evening, the area comes alive as the cafes, pubs, restaurants and bars attract locals and visitors alike.
Twice a week, Berger Straße also holds a farmer's market with fresh regional produce.
Old Sachsenhausen
Old Sachsenhausen, with its Apple Wine pubs, half-timbered houses and narrow alleys is another very popular night time entertainment district.
The Palmengarten
The Palmengarten botanical gardens was founded in 1868 with donations from the citizens of Frankfurt.
Covering 50 acres, the gardens display numerous beautiful and interesting plants throughout the year.
In addition, the Palmengarten offers a variety of recreational activities including guided tours, summer concerts, evening festivals and exhibitions.
Restaurants with outdoor seating offer the chance to take refreshments or to dine in truly serene surroundings and there could well be the chance to enjoy one of the regular summer concerts, evening festivals or exhibitions.
The Frankfurt Christmas market
For those interested in European Christmas markets, Frankfurt has one of the best and is a highlight of the city's winter season.
It is held on the Römerberg and Paulsplatz from late November until just before Christmas Eve.
A gigantic Christmas tree is surrounded by stalls selling festive gifts, crafts and entertainment.
Needless to say hot mulled and apple wine, German beer and traditional German sausages are in great supply.
Such is the standing of the Frankfurt Christmas market that the format is taken annually to Brimingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds.
A place to stay
The four-star Linder Hotel and Residence Main Plaza
The four-star Linder Hotel and Residence Main Plaza is a modern business and leisure hotel located on the Sachsenhausen Main banks with fine views of the Frankfurt skyline.
The hotel is perfectly placed for a stroll into town or along the river and close to both tube and tram stops.
The New Brick Californian Restaurant serves international dishes during the evening and a great breakfast with wonderful omelettes.
There is an indoor swimming pool and spa and Harry's New York Bar.
…. and a real treat to eat at
The Villa Kennedy
The Villa Kennedy is a luxury five-star hotel in the centre of Frankfurt just off the south bank of the Main River.
The hotel is built around the traditional 1904 Villa Speyer and is a veritable art gallery in its own right.
Dining is in the Gusto restaurant either inside or al fresco in the hotels inner courtyard.
The whole dining experience from food, wine service and setting makes a long, leisurely lunch or dinner something to be savoured.
While in the city
Buy the Frankfurt card
The Frankfurt Card is the city's tourist saver card, which gives access to the city's public transport system and a wide range of offers on restaurants and cruises and discounted admission to many of the city's cultural attractions.
Head to the Römerberg
The Römerberg, Frankfurt's 'living room' is the heart of the city and a great point to get ones bearings from.
Although this square looks historic, it is a modern reconstruction of the old town centre, and the half-timbered houses, that were destroyed by allied bombing.
With its bars and restaurants, the Römerberg is also the focus of many of the festivals, events and celebrations that take place during the year.
Have fun at a festival
Frankfurt stages over 100 street festivals, cultural celebrations, markets, folk fairs and other events annually so there is always the chance of something going on.
Enjoy an Apfelwein or two
Apfelwein or Apple Wine (a dry cider) is the Frankfurt speciality, which is served in restaurants and sold in shops throughout the city.
Traditionally, apple wine is served in a Bembel, a blue-grey crockery jug and drunk from the Gerippte, a slightly ribbed glass.
The Old Sachsenhausen district, on the South bank of the river is Frankfurt's apple wine district.
The pubs that produce their own 'Apfelwein' will hang a wreath of evergreen branches outside or include an image on their signs.
Join the audience at …
Oper Frankfurt
Oper Frankfurtis Germany's best opera house.
Within the city there is also the English Theatre, Europe's largest English-language theatre, and over 30 independent theatre groups.
Marvel at the Old Opera House (Alte Oper Frankfurt)
The "Old Opera, which was built between 1972 and 1880, was destroyed by wartime bombing raids during 1944.
What remained was for many years known as 'Germany´s most beautiful ruins', before Frankfurt citizens raised the DEM 30 million needed for a reconstruction of the building.
Go to the top of the Main Tower
The headquarters of the State Bank of Hesse and Thuringia provides the city's first publicly accessible observation platform 100 metres above street level and with wonderful views over the city.
Take a city sightseeing tour
On foot
Guided walking tours go along the River Main and through the lesser known aspects of Frankfurt.
By bus
The city's red open top double-decker bus offers visitors a 'hop on and off' tour of the Frankfurt metropolis with audio options in ten languages.
On the river
River cruises run up and down the River Main between May and October with special Dinner and Skylight Tour's also available.
Information about and tickets for tours are available from the Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board.
The Ebbelwei Express
A one-hour city sightseeing tour on this historic tram passes many of Frankfurt's sightseeing attractions and comes with a bottle of Frankfurt apple wine or apple juice and pretzels.
Into the fresh air
With nearly 5,000 hectares of forest, Frankfurt ranks amongst Germany's most wooded urban areas.
The Anlagenring, a section of the former city walls is now landscaped and provides a five kilometre semicircle around the city centre.
The city also has several nature reserves including Enkheim Moor in the city's northeast, Schwanheim Forest in the southwest and Fechenheim Forest to the east.
Go further afield on two wheels
Frankfurt is a cycle friendly city and its Green Belt is a 70-km regional bike trail that winds through the Rhein-Main area.
One of the best in Germany, it gives cyclists the chance to get to the surrounding towns, historic sites, gardens, forests
There is also a hiking trail, which joins a network of 13 different trails that total 63 km through picturesque monuments and natural landscapes.
The facts
The late-spring, summer and early-autumn months for those wanting to enjoy Frankfurt's outdoor areas.
The Christmas market also attracts thousands of visitors.
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By air
Frankfurt International Airport
Frankfurt International Airport, seven miles from the city centre, is an international hub.
The best way to get into and back from the city is by taking the regular train or bus services into Frankfurt.
Frankfurt/Hahn
Frankfurt/Hahn is a smaller airport used mostly by no-frills airlines and lies about a one hour 45 minute drive from the city centre.
Lufthansa
One airline sure to get you to Frankfurt is Lufthansa the national flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried.
Lufthansa flies to 18 German and 203 international destinations in 78 countries worldwide.
By train
Frankfurt's main rail station, the Hauptbahnhof, is one of the busiest in Europe with high speed connections to other German and European cities
German - although English is widely spoken.
Germany is in the Euro Zone. Tipping is not expected and can be give at one's discretion.
Where to stay
Being a modern cosmopolitan city, Frankfurt offers accommodation from luxury and boutique hotels to traditional bed and breakfast establishments and campsites.
The Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board provides an online reservation service.
How to get around
On foot
Many of the city's visitor attractions are within easy walking distance of each other.
The Frankfurt CityGuide Mobile, which is a pedestrian navigation system for Java-compatible mobile telephones and handheld computers, allows users to use all the facilities offered by the City of Frankfurt am Main quickly and easily while on the move.
Public transport
Frankfurt's municipal transport authority has nine subway lines, eight streetcar or tram lines and 42 bus routes making all visitor areas easily and conveniently accessible.
The Frankfurt card gives free use of the city's public transport network
Dining out
Eating out is a very popular pastime in Frankfurt and visitors will find an excellent choice of restaurants serving international dishes and traditional or local cuisine and cafes, bars and bistros.
Sachsenhausen, on the north bank of the Main is the area of restaurants serving local fare including smoked pork chops and the frankfurter, the original sausage with green sauce served with boiled meat or eggs.
Many eating places in Frankfurt are also beer houses offering German beer and traditional dishes.
Frankfurt also has a thriving café culture with coffee houses found all over the city. The favourite Frankfurt drink is, of course, Apple Wine.
What's on
Frankfurt stages over 100 street festivals, cultural celebrations, markets and folk fairs every year including :
Green Sauce Festival
Four days in May
Frankfurt's most popular dish is honoured with a seven-day celebration.
Rose and Light Festival at the Palmengarten
Four days in June
This festival at Frankfurt's wonderful botanical gardens features guided tours, lectures, live music and a children's programme.
The highlight of the weekend is the light festival when thousands of tea lights illuminate the garden and fireworks sign everything off in style.
Museum Embankment Festival Three days in August
Europe's largest cultural festival features arts and crafts stalls, live music, world cuisine along Frankfurt's museum row.
www.museumsuferfest-frankfurt.de
Rheingau Wine Market
Ten days in August/September
A festival featuring fine food and wine from 30 vineyards from the nearby Rheingau, one of Germany's most renowned winegrowing regions.
Where to shop
MyZeil is Frankfurt's prime shopping complex and part of the new Palais Quartier (Palace Quarter) hotel, retail and office complex.
In addition, the Zeilgalerie shopping centre at Goethestraße is the city's most exclusive shopping location and the Old Town has a cluster of small art galleries and antique shops in Braubachstraße and Fahrgasse