I often get asked “what can I do in Frankfurt” by my friends and readers. Over the past few years the city has become increasingly popular with its wide-range of tasty restaurants, scenic views and of course during the winter months, the Christmas markets. I thought I would compile a short guide to the city, including some of my favourite spots for lunch, a quick drink or even city-roaming! I hope you guys enjoy.
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Where can I eat in Frankfurt?
Fear not, reader, the city of Frankfurt can cater to your every needs. I know it’s a chain, but if you are from the United Kingdom, you really need to head on out to Vapiano, which is essentially a hybrid between Zizzi’s and McDonald’s. Frankfurt has one right in the centre of the city (Goetheplatz), making it absolutely perfect for a quick bite to eat. Away from your typical Italian chains, I would also like to throw a shout-out for ‘Der Grieche’, (Kaiserhofstraße) which means ‘the Greek’ in German and, as you may have guessed, is a Greek restaurant. This place really brings the country of Greece to Frankfurt and has a fantastic reputation in the area. I would whole-heartedly recommend the homemade fried squid salad; it was exceptionally tasty. If you want to get some of the classic German cuisine done whilst you are staying in Frankfurt, I would start by visiting some of the local breweries that you will find dotted around the place. If a brewery is not quite your thing, Frankfurt has some really great German-style restaurants. One of the most locally-famous is the Klosterhof (Weißfrauenstraße). Here the menu is typically German, with numerous meaty options to choose from. When in a German city, I think it is a crime not to have a Schnitzel with a side of cranberry.
Where can I grab a drink?
Germany is filled with places to have a drink and Frankfurt is no exception. With any big German cities, you of course can find many breweries dotted all over the place. One interesting one is Braustil (Oeder Weg) which serves craft beer in a very scenic location (the beer garden is particularly lovely). They also team up with lots of local restaurants so that you have a wide-range of food options should you feel peckish! If you are a bit more fancy and wish to visit a bar, look no further than the Hunky Dory bar (Baseler Strasse). This place has a very unique feel, and transports you back to a more vintage time. This place is also great for lazy people as drinks can be brought right to you, which after a long day of exploring is a bit of a game changer, believe me! Other popular places include the Luna Bar (Stiftstraße) or Harry’s New York Bar (Walther-von-Cronberg-Platz) – both great alternatives for a good drink!
How to spend your day
Frankfurt is one of the more popular tourist destinations within Germany and is jam-packed with things to do and see during your visit. My favourite place to start in any European city is the old town centre, and in Frankfurt a visit to the Römerberg is a must-see. Here, you will be greeted by a traditional German marketplace square, all of which was reconstructed in the 50’s as the majority of the Altstadt (old town) was destroyed in the war. The Römerberg is also home to the famous St. Nicholas’ church as well as both an old and new town hall, with the former of which being conjoined to an old imperial banquet hall. Outside of the Altstadt you can still continue with a Historical theme. Frankfurt was once home to one of Germany’s greatest writers, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and you are able to visit his once family home to see how the upper classes would have lived in Germany within the 18th Century. As well as this, there are numerous attractions at the Museum District, including the Film Museum, the Museum of World Cultures and the German Architectural Museum to name a few. You could also venture to the Natural History Museum located in the Senckenberg Gardens. This museum is world-renowned due to the number of unique specimens and exhibits which are held here.
Aside from the historical attractions, Frankfurt is also home to the second oldest zoo in Germany. Frankfurt Zoo has a lot of notable exhibits, such as the famous Madagascar display in Grzimek House or their aardvark or lion enclosures. It is also great value for money, with a family pass only costing 29 €! You could also visit the Palm Garden, which is the largest Botanical Garden in Germany and is home to 54 acres for you to explore. There are exhibits based around different biomes so that you can see the different flora in a more natural habitat. Overall, Frankfurt is sure to be a hit with any fan of the living world and you could easily spend a day at either of these attractions, the only difficult choice is which to do first!
Where to stay in Frankfurt?
This question is really down to you. I always like to throw myself straight into any trip, and opt for staying in the centre of the City. It may be a bit more expensive, but you will be able to find an IBIS or any other cheap hotel if you are simply using it as a base from which to explore the city. Alternatively, you could pick a hotel based upon the location of the key attractions that you want to see, or maybe just a very fancy hotel! Personally, I would always go for the Altstadt or Innenstadt to get the most out of your trip, even if this means parting with a few more pennies than you were hoping for!
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I hope that this quick guide has been helpful and if you need any tips just send me a message – I love talking to my readers and helping them plan a trip! Love V x
