8 hour layover in Frankfort International Airport

(cont'd) Museums I recommend that are free this Saturday would be the Archeology Museum, as they have a great Celt & Etruscan exhibit and it is in English; the Judengasse Museum by the Jewish Holocaust Memorial as this has not only the history of the over 300 years old Ghetto in Frankfurt, but also the cellars and foundations from 5 of the houses. This exhibit is also all in English. The Kunsthandwerk Museum (Applied Arts) is fascinating for me. The Icon Museum has a Marilyn Monroe Exhibit that has just been extended. In case the weather isn't ideal and you don't feel like trooping around the city, consider going to the Palmengarten. This is our beautiful Botanical Gardens and right now their Spring Flower show is on. To get here, take the U-4 2 stops to Bockenheim and the Palmengarten is a 5 min. walk from here.

IMO, I would hunker down in the airport. Your flight in will ( could ) be a little late. Frank. is very tough on incoming screening and there are few treasures to see in only 4 hours available to you. You mentioned being retired, which may or may not mean anything, but the flight over may prove taxing. Consider renting a mini room in the airport for a 2 hour nap. Have a great trip!

I'd make a game day decision, depending on the arrival of your flight, how long immigration takes, and how you feel. In advance of leaving, I'd research sights to see in Frankfurt that are of interest. Jo, a frequent poster on this site who currently lives in Frankfurt, has written before that the train from the airport to downtown takes something like 10-15 minutes, so it doesn't seem unreasonable to me to spend a few hours bumming around rather than sitting in the airport. Speaking of Jo, hopefully she'll come along here soon and give you some ideas of where to go, but it would be helpful for her to know what kinds of things you might be interested in seeing. In the meantime, maybe search the archives here a bit - she's written a lot about things to do in Frankfurt.

I fly out of FRA a lot, and I usually try to get to the airport about 2-2½ hrs before flight time. If your arrival flight is on time that gives you 5½ hrs to negotiate the airport head into town. FRA to the Hauptbahnhof takes 11 min and there is an S-Bahn every 15 min. BTW, Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky. You'll be in Frankfurt.

My experience with Frankfurt airport is that you will be out in the main part of the airport with-in 30 minutes of landing. So, this has you heading down to the Regional train station at about 10:00, though you might want to store your carry-ons at the luggage storage next to Arrival Gate B-1. This costs 4 euro per bag. The escalator down to the Regional train station is right near there too. The ticket machines are all touch screen now and will change to English, and the best bet is a group day ticket for 14.70. The machines take small bills up to 20 euro, as well as change. No credit cards. This ticket will be valid all day long for the 2 of you, as well as travel in Frankfurt itself. You do not need to validate tickets in Frankfurt as the time is already on the ticket. Take the escalator down to Track 1 and get on any train coming by. They will all take you to the main train station - Hauptbahnhof, 11 min. or 3 stops away. Get off here and walk straight down the street out front - Kaiserstrasse. Admire the gorgeous buildings. Or take the #11 tram to the Roemer. For your next flight, since you don't have to check bags and it is an inter-Europe flight, I would plan on being back to the airport by about 16:00. This leaves you about 5 hours to explore Frankfurt. It is SATOURDAY this Sat. and many of the museums are free. What to see in Frankfurt? The Kaiserdom, the Römer, the Archeological Garden, Eisener Steg, the Deutsche Ordens church, Pauls Kirche, Alte Nikolai, St. Leonhards, the Jörg Ratgeb Frescos in the Karmeliter Cloister, the Klein Markt Halle, the Farmers Market at the Konstablerwache, the Jewish Holocaust Memorial Wall, Eschenheimer Turm, the Alte Oper, the Leinwand Haus, House Wertheim, Thurn & Taxis Palace, My Zeil. If the weather is clear, walk to the top of the Kaiserdom, only 323 steps. Have lunch above the Klein Markt Halle. Get some Green Sauce and have a glass of Applewine. Or eat at the Farmers Market.

Thank you all for your information, especially Jo. Unless we are late or very tired, I plan to take the train into Frankfurt, visit one of the museums, and have a truly wonderful lunch. Thanks again.

I am generally not a Frankfurt fan, however in 4 or 5 hours strolling around the Old town area, the cathedral and the adjacent (very large) pedestrian shopping area is a very nice experience. Also it is wonderful to get to stretch your legs and get fresh air in between flights- especially if you have just flown in from USA. I would aim at that, unless some glitch occurs in your flights. The train to downtown is convenient and quick

Brian, the next time you are in Frankfurt, try a visit to one of the Farmers Markets, or one of the beautiful old neighborhoods of Frankfurt. Höchst is amazing with its' schloss, palace and Justinus church built in 850 and all set up on top of the old, original city walls with lots of fachwerk houses lining narrow, little cobblestone streets. The Berger strasse in Bornheim has beautiful architecture as well lots of great restaurants and cafes. Some are in fachwerk houses from the late 1600's. The Schweizer strasse is also very pretty with its' turn of the century architecture and is lined with cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. Farmers Markets are in Borheim on Wed. and Sat. and at the Konstablerwache on Thur. and Sat. and on the Schiller Str. by the Stock Exchange on Fri.

Jo, unfortunately i have never spent much time in Frankfurt - mostly on business (but did enjoy the old town area). But I have decided next time i am going to get some suggestions from you first. I am already making notes of the towns you recommend