Frankfurt is terrible (Frankfurt)

Member Name: NickWilk

Product:	Frankfurt
Date:	26/03/01 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Transport links to rest of the country

Disadvantages: Closed on Sunday

There are few good things about Frankfurt; two to note are the airport (10 mins away, taxi DM45, train DM6) and the Hauptbahnhof.

The entrance to Frankfurt from the main station (Hauptbahnhof) leads either into a warren of an underground shopping centre, where you can watch the transport police guard over drug deals, or into the red light district for the city. Attractive. From the station, there is no more than a 20 min walk to anywhere of interest. Either way, the best way is to get out of this area quickly; take a tram, taxi, anything.

Frankfurt is divided by the Main (hence Frft am Main), with the burgeoning financial centre and cathedral on the north bank and the older Sachsenhausen on the south. The fincial centre holds the principal banking names in Germany and the most un-German architecture; if you like marble and concrete, the banking zone is for you. There's not a great deal to note other than the knowledge that the broad green swathe separating the red light and financial districts is part of the demolished old city wall which runs around the old boundary of Frankfurt.

Adjacent to the banking centre is the main shopping district, the Zeil (U & S bahn to Hauptwache). There are plenty of shops to go through, with jewellery and watches cheaper than the UK but on a par with the rest of Continetnal Europe. Shoe shops- forget it, unless you have a penchant for bowling shoes. There is a farmers' market on Friday and Saturday with very good, freshly cooked Bratwurst for approx DM3 and alcohol-free apple juice. There are plenty of nick-nacks to interest the passing trinket-collector and for reasonable prices. High-value names appear due to their proximity to the banking centre but if you want Gucci, Hermes, Tiffany, Breitling, you will be in Frankfurt for some reason other than tourism.

On the north bank is the Cathedral, a once dominating structure now dwarfed by the buildings to the new religion of Mammon. The only bu
ilding to be unscathed during the second world war (alledgedly), it has been the site of the voting of many of the Popes of the Holy Roman Empire. A depressing building but worth a visit to form your own opinion- there are smaller and more pleasant churches all over Germany.

Sachsenhausen is the older southern-district of Frankfurt. About 10 mins to walk from the main centre, there are pedestrainised streets with Anglo-Irish, Irish and German bars and pubs. Some touristy German restaurants can be found, serving good, cheap food. For a more authentic German meal though, jump a taxi from the centre (DM15) and ask to be taken to Adolf Wagner's where you can get a good German meal with Apple wine for DM30-45 per person.

You can do Frankfurt in two days and look forward to going elsewhere. It is a good hub for the rest of the country and if you have a stopover you do have things to do. A week, two weeks? You will get claustrophobic.

So, as a quick guide, this is what I wish people had told me before I came to live here:

Travel: trains and planes to every part of Germany and Europe. Car hire reasonably cheap (DM80 for 1 day hire of BMW 3 series)
Accomodation: go for named hotels or Lonely Planet B&Bs. There is plenty of choice and nothing is too grotty
Food: plenty of stalls (imbiß) serving meat. Good restaurants with every cuisine (stay clear of the golden arches)
Bars: 'upmarket' bars in main centre (Living, Lounge Bar, Kangaroo bar) with more laid back and pub-like bars in Sachsenhausen. Clubs in main centre
Things to do: Frankfurt basically closes on Sunday. Cathedral, river, opera, cinema, shops, the Rhine & Mosel valleys (need car or boat trip)

You may enjoy it. You may love it. Don't avoid it but don't plan a honeymoon here...

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