Sign in with Facebook"My (rather large) VIP lounge" Frankfurt am Main by mikey_e
Frankfurt am Main Travel Guide: 1,667 reviews and 3,684 photos
I have been to Frankfurt a number of times, but this past January was the first time I was there with a digital camera. I was en route from Canada to Kuwait and had 10 hours to burn between flights. Armed with my camera, I decided to venture into the centre of the city and add to my collection of travel pictures. I didn't really remember much of the city, as the last time I was there - in 1999 - we spent little time exploring and most of our time, again, waiting for a flight. The weather in the city probably should have deterred me from go downtown, as it was gray and rainy and quite cold, but nothing could be worse than an extended period of time at Frankfurt Airport (I know, I did it on the way back). To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect of the city, as I had done little to no research before heading in and was at a loss even in terms of how to navigate from the train station to the main attractions.
There were two characteristics of the city that I knew to be certain: Frankfurt is the centre of Eurozone financing and the city is better know for its commercial interests and book fair than anything else. In truth, that largely sums up the main image Frankfurt gives to those who do not have an inside track to exploring the city more in depth. There are numerous art galleries and museums, but none of the sort of artistic ambiance that accompanies them in cities such as Barcelona, Florence or Budapest. There are plenty of old churches and Mediaeval civil structures, but these are often close by the ultra-modern shopping centres and office space, so the city does not have a uniquely historical feel, as does Toulouse or Brussels. Ironically, the city also lacks the go-go atmosphere of business hubs in North America, where you fear being trampled by the crowds if you don't keep up.
Frankfurt is an odd mix of worlds and I can't say that it creates a wholly positive effect on the visitor. The area near the train station is noticeably undesirable from a touristic point of view, but then again it is pretty standard for areas near train stations in just about any city in the world. The rest of the downtown area is one that is not likely to leave a strong impression on the visitor, especially if she's visiting for a short time. The city is rather expensive, especially compared to North America, and the downtown area does not have a unique fashion strip that calls to those looking for unique items to remind them of their sojourn. In all, Frankfurt is what it is for most people: a transit point between long journeys. The city should not be overlooked just because you are only traveling through, but then again, I wouldn't recommend you go out of your way to stop and see what it has to offer.
Reviews (23)
Hauptbahnhof
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Frankfurt U- and S-Bahns
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Frankfurt Architecture
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Comments (3)
Great page. Very helpful. All the best. Irene
I was impressed by this red brick cathedral, and the stark white interior, great organ! Strong feeling of historic significance. Saw some interesting Roman ruins nearby. Tks mikey.
Glad you ventured into the city this time and had a look around, instead of just staying at the airport. I've been living here in Frankfurt for forty years now and love it, but I must admit it took me a while to get acclimatized at the beginning.