June trip to Frankfurt from the US with 2 kids age 12 and 8. One week duration. Activities, day trips, places to stay? Thanks
Posted by
Somewhere out there
144 posts
Everyone has opinion. Ms. Jo lives in Frankfurt, perhaps she’ll chime in.
Frankfurt is a nice city and I visited often from a home near Wiesbaden. You can go to a lot of places from Frankfurt either driving or taking the train. When our kids were young we took them to the immense aviation/technical museum at Speyer. Perhaps a train/boat ride along the Rhein? Pick up a Rick Steves guide to Germany. It’s a good starting point.
Basically pick a few places around Frankfurt and your week will go quick.
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2548 posts
Do you have to stay in Frankfurt for some reason, or are you just flying into/out of Frankfurt? Will you have a car or travel by train?
If you’re open to staying elsewhere, I would recommend 3 nights or more on the Rhine. Stay in Boppard or Bacharach. See the fortress in St. Goar. Take a cruise on the Rhine. Visit Burg Eltz.
Rothenburg ob see Tauber is very popular also, and worth two nights. Wake up early and explore before the tour groups arrive. Another option from Frankfurt is Colmar, France.
Finding lodging may be a challenge. Unless your kids are ok with a sofa bed, plan on renting two rooms, or an apartment. Lots of places may be booked, if your talking about this June.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
Don't know your kids, but the Technik-Museum in Speyer is a good choice for many kids and adults as well.
https://www.technik-museum.de/en/
I'd also agree with a stay for a few days on the Rhine - or possibly on the Mosel River instead. Both rivers have nice day cruise options. Offerings in and around Cochem (on the Mosel) are a little more recreational and kid/family-oriented than in many of the Rhine towns...
Klotti Wildlife and Leisure Park (with falconry show) in Klotten
Waterpark and swimming facility in Cochem ("Moselbad" or "Freizeitzentrum Cochem")
Chairlift ride to lookout (Cochem)
Burg Eltz Castle tours
Easy biking along riverfront paths
Old-world towns (Cochem, Bernkastel and others)
Cochem Castle (Reichsburg) tours
Trier (Roman history)
When we traveled in this area as a family unit, we often booked a Ferienwohnung (vacation apartment, "FeWo" for short) for 3+ nights. The local tourist office keeps a comprehensive list of these. Here's a link to a brochure in 4 languages with a sampling of listings from Cochem and nearby towns to give you an idea of what the area is like:
The Rhine is great as well - and you might spend some time there on your way to the Mosel or after a stay there.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9222 posts
For June in Frankfurt, with kids of those ages, these are the places you might want to visit:
Film Museum
Senckenburg Museum
Climb to the top of the Kaiserdom
Goethe Turm in the City Forest - climb to the top
Palmengarten (would need to check if their butterfly house is open in June)
Frankfurt zoo
Tram museum - Sundays only, end of tram line 12
Outside of Frankfurt but within an hour by train:
Hessen Park Open Air Museum
Saalburg Roman Fort
Opel Zoo
Fun Forest Rope Courses (various locations) Also known as Zeil Gardens
Rüdesheim - ride the chair lift up to Germania, walk through the forest to the next chair lift, ride it down to Assmanshausen.
Büdingen - book a private tour so you can go inside the massive walls and up on the guard towers
Events happening in the Rhein Main area:
Mainz Night of the Museums – 3.06
Rüsselsheim Kunsthandwerker Markt in the Stadtpark – 3-4.06
Rüdesheim Magic Bike Rally – 8-11.06
Frankfurt Alte Oper Plaza Fest – 21-30 June
Mainz Johannes Nacht – 23-26.06
Eltville Sekt & Biedermeier Fest – 30.06-03.07
Staying in Frankfurt, check out Adina Apts. or some of the other apt. type hotels.
Posted by
8248 posts
Take a river cruise past the Loreli from Rüdesheim.
Heidelberg is nice for a day visit.