We are flying into frankfurt in our upcoming trip to Germany and were not sure if we should either stay one night there or head straight to bacharach on the Rhine river area? I've read mixed things about Frankfurt and we weren't sure if we should skip it. Has anyone been there that can recommend it or not?
Posted by
Keizer, Oregon, USA
588 posts
Go to Bacharach. Hope on the train at the airport and go. Bacharach and St. Goar are two of the most charming places in world.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9222 posts
I want to recommend it! Frankfurt has played a very important part in Germany's history. We do have some great sites here besides skyscrapers. The Celts were here, the Romans were here, there has been a church on the site of our cathedral since 680, our oldest church St. Leonhard was built in 1213 and has a unique, one of a kind hanging vault along with some beautiful star vaulting on the ceiling. Frankfurt had the 2nd largest Jewish population before the war, 31,000 and we have 2 Jewish museums to reflect this history. One of them has the foundations from 5 houses that were once part of the Jewish Ghetto dating back to 1500. Next to this museum there is the Holocaust Memorial Wall. This wall has the names of the 11,200 Jewish citizens of Frankfurt who lost their lives at the hands of the nazis. This memorial is one of the most touching memorials I have ever seen.
So, yes, I do think Frankfurt is worth seeing. You can even go have dinner in one of the 700 year old guard towers, or walk the cobblestone streets of Sachsenhausen - our applewine pub district, feast your eyes on the produce, cheese, breads and yummy foods in the Klein Markt Halle or in one our many open markets.
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1528 posts
Part of the reason for travel for us is to experience another culture. If we only visit American-tourist enclaves, it is hard to get any feeling for the country that we are visiting.
Rothenburg is nice and we are visiting Bacharach ourselves this spring. However, we are also visiting places that offer both tourist sights and a work-a-day world in Germany. We like Germans as well as "quaint" old buildings.
Whether it is Frankfurt (why not?) or some other place, set aside part of trip for the Germany that Germans inhabit. It has often been the highlight our trips. Michelin Green Guide gives Frankfurt a tourist star if you want an independent judgment.
Regards, Gary
Posted by
West Sacramento, CA
55 posts
I have been to Frankfurt and I would skip it unless there is something you want to see. I like to get out of the big towns as soon as possible.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
Generally Frankfurt isn't one of Germany's highlights. They pride themselves on their modern, Manhattan-like, architecture. If you are more interested in medieval or rennaisance architecture, it's probably not the best choice.
Having said that, I had a great dinner there a few years back with a group of locals on a converted WWII mine sweeper so it's possible to have a great time anywhere you travel.
I've heard they have restored an area of town but haven't seen it yet so maybe things are changing.