Frankfurt is the centre of one of the most productive and dynamic regions in Europe. As continental Europe’s largest financial centre, home of the European Central Bank and to the headquarters of many companies, the international importance of Frankfurt continues to grow. Frankfurt is a dynamic European metropolis, a global village, a melting pot of cultures, languages and lifestyles. The imposing skyline is what newcomers remember most. But behind those glass facades the atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed.
Frankfurt’s high-rise buildings conjure up images of Manhattan, leading some locals to refer to the city as “Mainhattan”. On warm summer evenings people converge on the banks of the river Main to enjoy a cool beer in the delightful outdoor setting of a beer garden or a glass of apple wine in one of the city’s many taverns.
The range of dining to be found in Frankfurt pays further tribute to the internationality of the city. From hearty, down-to-earth cooking through to gourmet temples, not to mention the exquisite Lebanese, Italian or Japanese restaurants, you will appreciate the good dining as well as the fun and entertainment offered in the bars and nightclubs.
Nightlife in Frankfurt
Traditional Kneipen (bars) cluster around the Alt Sachsenhausen district (between Brückenstrasse and Dreiechstrasse), but are increasingly being crowded out by more modern establishments with an international ambience. Many of Frankfurt’s top hotels have excellent bars that attract outsiders as well as guests and are particularly popular with visiting businesspeople.
shopping in Frankfurt
The pedestrian street, Zeil – from Hauptwache to Konstablerwache – is the city’s major shopping street and is lined with well-known department stores, including the super-modern Zeilgalerie, with approximately 50 shops. Goethestrasse is known for its exclusive designer clothing and jewellery boutiques. Oeder Weg and Berger Strasse offer just the opposite – small but interesting bargain and curiosity shops in which to rummage. The largest shopping centres are the Nordwest Zentrum and the Main-Taunus-Zentrum.
Attractions in Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s cultural life is known for its diversity. There are renowned museums with exhibitions from all fields and epochs. Contemporary art is presented in more than 100 galleries. International stars of the theatre and musical world perform here regularly. The Old Opera, the Städel Museum, the Schirn Museum and the “Museumsufer”, the museum embankment along the river Main, are internationally recognized.
Frankfurt Transportation
Getting round in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main area is easy and convenient, thanks to a modern, efficient and well-run public transportation system. You can use streetcars (‘trams’), buses, underground and surface rapid transit trains.The fastest way of travelling within the city of Frankfurt is the “U-Bahn”, the underground train. There are several lines covering a large part of the city, particularly the central, northern and eastern areas.
The S-Bahn or Schnellbahn (fast-train) services many of the districts not covered by the U-Bahn. It also serves many outlying areas, including the Taunus mountains and other cities within the region such as Wiesbaden, Mainz, Offenbach, Hanau and Darmstadt. The local bus system completes the public transport network with frequent stops ensuring that you are delivered close to you final destination.