Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Frankfurt

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

Germany : Frankfurt - March 2010

Country Code: Dial for Germany

As Frankfurt prepares for international music trade fair Musikmesse (24-27 March), its fashion houses are displaying their new collections, its restaurants are introducing spring menus and its art galleries are hosting some great exhibitions. The business and financial capital of Germany is buzzing, as usual. Carole French explores four of the city’s Stadtteile (districts)

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. , frankfurttourismus. de).

CITY CENTRE

The commercial heart of Frankfurt is known for its impressive skyscrapers, but it also boasts historic architecture around the Römerberg and great shopping along the pedestrianised Zeil.

Sleep soundly – Not far from the trade fair complex, relax at the Hotel Excelsior (7-9 Mannheimer Strasse, 6080, hotelexcelsiorfrankfurt. de, rooms from €55).

Culture vultures – Around the Römerberg, look out for the Schwarzer Stern (Black Star) and Goldener Greif (Golden Griffin) – two of the historic houses that give the square its charm.

Must eat – Love bagels? Then head for Bagel Brothers (49 Kaiserstrasse, 6921) to indulge in a tasty bite with a seemingly endless array of savoury or sweet fillings.

Must drink – The Living XXL bar and restaurant (29 Kaiserstrasse, tel. ) is a super-chic place under a huge glass canopy, where the wine list and dishes on offer are pure gastro. Be sure to order the delicious wiener schnitzel.

Shop til you drop – The Zeil is a must. For gadgets, head for T-Punkt (94), for perfumes try Kobberger Gustav (123) and for everything else, the brand-new shopping mall MyZeil (106).

BOCKENHEIM

This elegant district is within walking distance of the Frankfurter Messe, where major exhibitions and events take place (including Musikmesse – see musikmesse.de), and is bordered by the Goethe University Frankfurt.

Sleep soundly – Ideally located for the Bockenheimer Warte, the university and the fair ground, the Hotel West (81 Gräfstrasse, tel. , hotelwest.de, rooms from €55) makes a welcoming place to stay.

Culture vultures – Frankfurt has many medieval watchtowers, but the Bockenheimer Warte (Bockenheimer Landstrasse) is notable as being the only one without fortification.

Must eat – The cosy Restaurant Estrella (14 Ginnheimer Strasse, tel. ) boasts a lengthy menu of classic German dishes, with fine wines to match.

Must drink – For a wide range of beers from around the world, including German brews such as Kölsch (from the Cologne region) and Pilsener, make for The Castle Inn (24 Schloss Strasse, 9239).

SACHSENHAUSEN

The largest Stadtteil, Sachsenhausen was once the fortified heart of the city. Today, it’s famous for being the location of Germany’s finest museums.

Sleep soundly – The super-stylish Hotel Cult (56 Offenbacher Landstrasse, tel. , hotelcult.de, rooms from €55) is ideally located for the museums. Be sure to relax in its sauna.

Culture vultures – Alongside the Main River, the Museumsufer – or Museum Embankment – hosts more than 10 museums, including the famous Städel Museum and Gallery (63 Schaumainkai, staedelmuseum.de).

Must eat – For an Oriental taste sensation, check out Sushi Live (106 Darmstädter Landstrasse, tel. , a Japanese-themed restaurant not far from the museums.

Must drink – Sit back and enjoy the refreshing apfelwein (apple wine) at one of Frankfurt’s oldest cider houses, Zum Gemalten Haus (67 Schweizer Strasse).

NORTHEND

With its eclectic mix of tiny art shops, dusty bookshops, café society-style restaurants and bohemian bars, this district is popular with artists, actors and students. Spend the day here and feel like a Frankfurter.

Culture vultures – The Hauptfriedhof (194 Eckenheimer Landstrasse) is the city cemetery where famous people and those who died in the Hindenburg zeppelin disaster are laid to rest.

Must eat – The atmospheric La Concha San Sebastian (46 Spohrstrasse, tel. ) serves up a wide selection of delicious tapas.

Must drink – For imaginative cocktails and a lively atmosphere, with salsa music playing in the background, head for the Latin Calypso Bar (42 Im Prüfling).

Compiled by Carole French