Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please confirm event/venue details in advance.
Germany : Frankfurt - December 2008 Country Code: Dial ++49 for Germany
Frankfurt takes on a different
personality in December. The
Römerberg and Paulsplatz host
one of the largest Christmas
markets in Germany, while a daily
peal of bells sounds from the
Nikolai Church, infusing the whole
city with a sense of festive cheer.
Carole French rings the changes
Getting around
Frankfurt Airport is 12km outside the city centre.
Train: The easiest
way to get into the
city centre is on
regional S-Bahn
lines S8 and S9. The
journey takes about
11 to 13 minutes, and
a single ticket costs
around €4. Taxi: A trip to the
centre of Frankfurt
costs about €20
and takes 20 to 30
minutes, depending
on the traffic. Tourist information: The main office is
at Hauptbahnhof
(tel. (0)69 2123
8800, frankfurttourismus.
de).
CITY CENTRE
Frankfurt’s city centre has great
shopping along the Zeil and
Goethestraße and a massive food
market at the Konstablerwache.
Sleep soundly – Sleek and inviting, the
family-owned Hotel Münchner Hof is minutes away from the heart of
the business district.
Culture vultures – A vast collection of
renaissance, classical modern and
baroque works of art grace the walls
of the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt
(6 Römerberg, schirn.de), one of the
foremost museums in the city.
Must eat – For anyone who adores
French cuisine, the Restaurant
Français in the Frankfurter Hof hotel
(Am Kaiserplatz, tel. (0)69 215118) will
be a memorable experience. It has a
stately feel and refined menu, including
venison with red cabbage and pears or
sea bass with parsley and mussels.
Must drink – For a relaxing drink, head
for the Europa Bar (Hotel Europa,
Baseler Straße). Soft cream walls and
leather sofas give it an elegant feel.
Shop til you drop – While the Zeil
may be Frankfurt’s most famous
shopping street, the Goethestraße is the
city’s own Fifth Avenue. Expect to see
names like Cartier (11), Gucci (27),
Versace (22) and Armani (19). If your
purse doesn’t quite stretch to such
luxuries, head for Steinweg and
City lowdown
Schillerstraße, two avenues that run off
Goethestraße, with a great selection of
shops and restaurants.
ANLAGENRING
The ring of tree-lined avenues around
the centre gives this area a refined feel.
Sleep soundly – The Turm Hotel’s rooms have a clean, contemporary
look and it’s minutes from the city’s
main tourist attractions.
Culture vultures – The Festhalle (1
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage, messefrankfurt.
com.festhalle) is an historic building
that hosts events from art exhibitions to
classical and rock concerts.
Must eat – The décor of the Michelinstarred
Tiger Restaurant (Tigerpalast,
16-20 Heiligkreuzgasse, tel. (0)69 9200
2225) vies for attention with the
artful food served here.
Must drink – Get your
cocktails at the elegant
Life Style Bar (3
Theodor-Heuss-Allee)
within the Maritim Hotel.
SACHSENHAUSEN
The residential area of Sachsenhausen
not only enjoys the finest views of the
‘Mainhattan’ skyline from across the
river, but is also home to many
fashionable bars and restaurants.
Sleep soundly – Built around an
original 1900s villa, the Villa Kennedy, a
Rocco Forte hotel, combines traditional
décor with modern comforts
Must eat – The upmarket Maingau
Stuben (38-40 Schifferstraße, tel.
(0)69 610752) is run by the Döpfner
family, famed for their beautifully
presented international cuisine. It is
best known for its game and fish dishes,
and fabulous German wine list.
Must drink – No visit to Frankfurt
would be complete without a drink of
the local Äbbelwoi (cider, Apfelwein or
‘apple wine’ in High German). One of the
best places to try it is the Apfelwein
Wagner (71 Schweizer Straße), a
traditional tavern that’s usually full of
locals in animated conversation.
WEST END
The trendy West End is known for its
extensive, beautifully kept gardens.
Sleep soundly – Housed in an elegant
historic building, the small but friendly
Hotel Gölz has a great location and a
homely atmosphere.
Culture vultures – The Palmengarten
(61 Siesmayerstraße) botanical gardens
contain plants from around the world
and stage botanical exhibitions.
Must eat – Erno’s Bistro
(15 Liebigstraße, tel.
(0)69 721997) is a
fabulously elegant
French restaurant
with a seriously
upmarket wine list
Compiled by Nikolai Church
Previous issues for Frankfurt
Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please confirm event/venue details in advance.
