Frankfurt is full of curiosities. The curiosity lies in the interplay between the traditional and the modern, manifested in the mishmash of towering skyscrapers and tiny, half-timbered houses. Frankfurt possesses an international flair of about 400 banks including the European Central Bank and Bundesbank, as well as continental Europe’s biggest Stock Exchange. Frankfurt is host to the most important European fairs and is the air traffic hub of central Europe.
Frankfurt Airport
Sees over 52 million international passengers annually and is the world’s 9th busiest international airport. Located in Germany, this central European airport is only a 3-hour flight from most major European cities and is nine hours from Chicago and 11 from Mumbai. For its many business passengers, the Frankfurt Airport also has a 36-room conference center that can serve up to 180 people and four on-site hotels including the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and the Steigenberger Airport Hotel. It takes less than 20 minutes to reach the city center from the airport if you take the airport bus service or a taxi. For its many business Frankfurt Airport also has a 36-room conference center that can serve up to 180 people and four on-site hotels including the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and the Steigenberger Airport Hotel. It takes less than 20 minutes to reach the city center from the airport if you take the airport bus service or a taxi.
Shopping
Shopping is fun in Frankfurt. The shopping scene is divided into different regions. On “The Golden Mile,” the Zeil, a pedestrian zone between the Hauptwache and Konstablerwache, you’ll find department stores, clothing shops, shoe stores, and furniture outlets. Once one of the most famous shopping streets on the Continent, the Zeil was destroyed in the war and hasn’t regained all of its former prestige, though it has the highest sales of any shopping area in Germany. Nearby is the Kleinmarkthalle, a covered market with international grocery products. The Hauptwache, in the center of Frankfurt, has two shopping areas, one above and one below the ground. Groceries, book dealers, flowers, clothing, tobacco, photo supplies, recordings, and sporting equipment abound. In the Hauptwache-Passage are restaurants, travel agencies, and banks. Schillerstrasse, another pedestrian zone, lies between Hauptwache and Eschenheimer Turm, near the stock exchange. Walking from Schillerstrasse northeast towards Eschenheimer Turm, you’ll pass many elegant boutiques and specialty shops. Beet Locker Frankfurt’s Christmas market dates back to 1393. The heart of the festivities is the Römerberg, the central square of Frankfurt’s Old Town, where a giant Christmas tree stands in front of the attractive town hall and rows of half-timbered houses.
Sightseeing
The Goethe Haus and Museum: The birthplace of Germany’s most famous poet is today a sizeable museum, furnished with pieces that belonged to his family. They provide a fascinating insight into the writer’s early life and influences, including the miniature theatre where he first experimented with drama.
Alte Opera
The Opera House, built between 1873 and 1880, was rebuilt after the war and today offer an opulent setting for classical performances. It has one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world and is considered one of the most important music centers in Europe.
When to go?
Weather between May and October is mild and comfortable with occasional rain, although temperatures do rise in July and August. Temperatures range between 10 and 32 degrees Celsius during these months.
