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Frankfurt Germany Profile and Travel Information

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Frankfurt Location Map: Frankfurt, Germany

James Martin

Frankfurt, Germany Location:

Frankfurt, Germany, is located along the Main river near where it connects to the Rhine. Frankfurt is in southwest Germany, in the region of Hesse or Hessen. See the location map of Frankfurt on the upper right.

Frankfurt Population:

Frankfurt is Germany's fifth largest city, with about 650,000 population. More than a quarter of these are foreigners.

Frankfurt Airport:

Frankfurt Airport is located at the intersections of the A3 and A5 autobahns. Terminal 1 is well connected to the transportation system of Frankfurt, offering S-Bahn and Train connections for long or short journeys. See a Map of Frankfurt Airport.

Frankfurt Airport is the second busiest in Europe. Many Lufthansa flights from the US use it as a hub. Tours of the airport are available.

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof - The Main Train Station:

Frankfurt's main train station, or Hauptbahnhof is on the western side of the city, just north of the Main river. The historic center of Frankfurt, called Römerberg is straight ahead in front of the station. Tourist information is found at the front of the station, as are S and U-Bahn stops. Another tourist info is found in Römerberg.

There are many hotels around the station. You can rent bicycles here; bicycling is very popular in Frankfurt and drivers do exhibit courtesy toward bikers.

Museumsufer - Frankfurt's Museum Embankment:

Along the south bank of the Main river you'll find a string of Museums and galleries called the Museumsufer. You can buy a Museumsufer discount ticket at the first museum you visit. There is a Saturday morning flea market here as well.

Frankfurt Drink:

Beer, of course, and the famous apfelwein, or apple wine. Look for a pine wreath above the door for a place that serves homemade apfelwein.

Frankfurt Eats:

Frankfurter Wurstchen you know. Handkas mit Musik is a raw onion, cheese and vinegar sorta deal served with bread--and the music comes, well, from your overwrought digestive system.

Best Time to Visit Frankfurt:

Late spring and early fall are best. The best time not to be in Frankfurt are during the larger trade fairs, when accommodation is difficult. Here is a list of trade fairs in Frankfurt.

For Frankfurt historic climate charts and information, see: Frankfurt Travel Weather.

Where to Stay:

To search for a user-rated hotel, see Frankfurt, Germany Hotels (book direct). If you want a "homier" vacation in the Frankfurt area, see Frankfurt, Germany Vacation Rentals.

Frankfurt Top Attractions:

Frankfurt, known for its modern, industrial skyline, has more to offer the traveler than you might think. Besides excellent nightlife, as you might expect, there are many museums and an interesting historic center.

  • Zoologischer Garten - One of the best zoos in Europe. At the end of the Zeil, Frankfurt's pedestrian zone.
  • Keiserdom, Frankfurt's cathedral, with remains of Roman baths alongside. Good view of Frankfurt from the top of the tower.
  • Goethehaus und Goethemuseum - Goethe's House and Museum. See where Germany's most famous writer was born in 1749, with furniture from his family and hand written manuscripts.
  • Grueneburgpark - Frankfurt's largest public park.

Sachsenhausen, once a separate village said to have been founded by Charlemagne, is a well-preserved neighborhood with pleasant strolling streets and beergardens on the south side of the Main. This is also where the Museumufer is, with the following museums:

  • Deutsches Architekturmuseum (German Architecture Museum)
  • Deutsches Filmmuseum (German Film Museum)
  • Städel-Museum Frankfurt - 2,700 paintings, 600 sculptures and 100,000 prints and drawings by artists ranging from Dürer, Holbein and Cranach to Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, Van Gogh and Cézanne to Matisse and Picasso, Bacon and Baselitz, Serra and Palermo.
  • Museum Giersch (Museum of Regional Historic Art and Culture)
  • Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Applied Arts)
  • Liebighaus (Liebig House)
  • Museum der Weltkulturen (Ethnological Museum)
  • Museum für Kommunikation (Museum of Communication)
  • Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum)

Plan a Trip to Frankfurt, Germany: The Travel Planning Toolbox

Learn German - It's always a good idea to learn some of the local language in the places you're going, especially the "polite" expressions and a few words pertaining to food and drink.

German Rail Passes - You can save money on longer rail journeys, but Railpasses aren't guaranteed to save you money, you'll have to plan your trip to use the pass on longer journeys, and pay in cash (or by credit card) for the short runs.

Rent or Lease a Car? If you're going to Germany for three weeks or more, leasing may make more sense.

How Big is Europe? - Taking your own Grand Tour? How big is Europe compared to the US? Here's a map that shows you.

Driving Distances in Germany - Distances between the major cities in Germany.

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