2 days in Frankfurt - what to do?

Claire, I just googled "Frankfurt Tourism" and the sites you find when you do that will answer most of your questions.

You can always take the train down to the middle Rhine area. Bacharach is less than 1½ hours away by most rail connections. One way fare per person is around €10.

Lee's right, 2 days is just right for a short intro to the Rhine Valley. Trains run frequently on both sides of the river. Bacharach is a good spot on the west bank of the Rhine. So is St. Goar, or Boppard. From the first two towns you can ferry across the river and use the trains to explore the east bank too, which you'll want to do in order to tour Marksburg Castle, the best one to visit on the Rhine:

www.marksburg.de

A small shuttle takes you from the town center to the castle.

If you stay in St. Goar, maybe the most scenically situated of the Rhine villages, you'll also have Rheinfels Castle ruins and museum right in town and a view of two other castles across the river; one of them is Burg Maus, a bit to the north, where a falconry exhibition takes place in the castle courtyard.

Places to stay in St. Goar:

www.st-goar.de/612-1-host-directory.html

I've heard lots of positive comments about the Hotel am Markt, which has a great location in the heart of town and near the train station and docks.

Oh, I have been waiting for someone to ask that question. There is a ton of stuff to see and do in Frankfurt. A whole row of wonderful museums and art galleries along the river, beautiful old churches dating from 1200 on, the cathedral where the Emperors were elected for over 800 years and crowned for over 200, Holocaust Memorial Wall with over 11,000 names on it, foundations and wall from the Jewish Ghetto, the Medieval Jewish Cemetery, the tallest buildings in continental Europe, one of which is the Main Tower where every photo is a keeper, old watchtowers dating from 1425 or so where you can dine, great old applewine gardens with authentic German food where all the locals go, the Palmen Garten, and a beautiful Chinese garden located in one of the original, almost unbombed neighborhoods of Frankfurt. Outside of Frankfurt, up in the Taunus mountains, is the only reconstructed Roman fort in existence: the Saalburg.
Yes, there is a walking tour here too, "Frankfurt on Foot", 3 hours of fascinating history that will make you change your mind about Frankfurt, led by native English speakers. You can find them online at: www.insidertour.com Write me if you want more info.

I forgot to answer about 3 Oct. This is German Reunification Day. It is a Friday and the stores will be closed, but all the museums will be open as will restaurants of course. Playing at the Alte Opera that evening is "Lord of the Dance" just for something different! No real celebration right now that I know of, like fireworks.

I think your best option is to go to Bacharach at the Rhine River. I recommend stay there 2 nights, and ride on a big K-D boat on the Rhine River, from Bacharach to St. Goar (you will see castles floating by). And return to Bacharach in a train. Bacharach is a charming little town. You can be a tourist in Frankfurt 3 October.

Thanks for your replies, I've also been told that Mainz is a nice place to stay & explore...How is Mainz compared to Frankfurt? Do you know of any other scenic places out of the city that could be of interest?

Cheers

I just found out that there is a great antique market in the middle of downtown Frankfurt on 3 Oct.from morning til about 1600. I always find really cool things there and it is a great place to get German souvenirs that will be totally different. Sorry to keep posting so often, it is just that Frankfurt is well worth seeing as a destination and not just a layover or someplace to go with a few spare hours.