I am traveling with a friend on a Christmas market cruise from Cologne to Mainz and back to Cologne Dec. 2-8, 2024. We will be arriving in Frankfurt on Saturday, November 30. Should we stay and explore Frankfurt our first night? Any suggestions of activities in Frankfurt? Also, are there any hotel suggestions for Cologne and Frankfurt?
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1488 posts
I'd just go straight to Cologne. It's only a 2 hr train ride and you can do that right from the terminal. Frankfurts Christmas market is nothing special. If the boat stops in Koblenz, get tickets for the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress Christmas Garden.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you
Posted by
164 posts
Please don’t take answers like “nothing special” they are all special in their own right. Frankfurt does have a fairly good market and a nice old town area. Maybe Miss Jo will come on and give you some details.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you. We don’t necessarily need to go to the Christmas market in Frankfurt, we will have lots of opportunities for that on our cruise. I guess I should have phrased my question, what should we try to see while in Frankfurt.
Posted by
Vancouver, WA
522 posts
At what time do you arrive in Frankfurt? You may want to check the website for Frankfurt on Foot; they offer a daily tour of the city. They also offer a "layover" tour intended for travelers with a long layover at FRA, as well as private tours. I had a 24 hour stay in Frankfurt; taking a tour was an excellent use of my time as I was able to get my bearings more quickly and see more sites with a qualified guide. (Disclaimer-I was able to split the cost of a private tour with my three travel companions.)
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9222 posts
The Frankfurt Christmas market is actually a very nice one, very large, and has grown over the last few years, spreading out over the city. The stalls are all individually decorated and it looks so beautiful at night. On Sat. evenings, there is a brass band playing from the gallery of the Alte Nikolai for 30 min.
On 30 Nov. there will also be the "Pealing of the Bells" as this is the Saturday before the 1st Advent. This is 50 bells from 10 downtown churches ringing for 30 min. One of those things you have to experience to realize how loud they are.
So, yes, staying in Frankfurt that first night is my recommendation. Maybe on the next day, stop by the Mainz market on your way to Cologne?
If you are on FB, there is a Christmas Market page and the Frankfurt market has a lot of fans. As does the Stuttgart market, Esslingen, Mainz, and Wiesbaden. People really dislike the Nuremburg market, it is too crowded and kinda looks boring with all the stands the same. Once you go to a market with decorated stands, you will see the difference.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you Den and Ms. Jo. I think a walking tour of the city will be a good start to fight the jet lag and see the city with a knowledgeable guide. The pealing of the bells sounds like an amazing experience. Thank you for the advice. I believe we will be staying the night in Frankfurt.