Print
Email
Bookmark & shareOrientation
All roads lead to Frankfurt. Well, maybe not all, but most of Germany's Autobahnen converge there. It's neatly pocketed in a valley below the northern Taunus Hills, equidistant from Hamburg and the Alps, in the centre of the greater Rhine-Main region. The Main River flows east-west through the city, separating the north bank's skyscrapers and bustle from the south's more laid-back charms. The massive Hauptbahnhof train station dominates the west of the city, squatting in the red-light district on the north bank, just outside the old city walls; the financial district and trade fair centre are just northwest. A 15-minute walk east brings you to the city's traditional heart, Römerberg in Altstadt (old town).
The pedestrianised and shop-lined Zeil runs west to east from the baroque Hauptwache U/S-Bahn station to the Konstablerwache U/S-Bahn station, and further east towards the zoo. Go to studenty Bockenheim in the northwest for all things bohemian; cafe-filled, cosmopolitan Bornheim is northeast. A section of The Main's south bank is dubbed Museumsufer for its stash of impressive museums, backed by lovely Sachsenhausen's quaint houses, narrow alleys and apple-wine taverns. Cheapish accommodation clusters around the Hauptbahnhof ( although it can be sleazy), Bockenheim and Bornheim, with pricier options in Westend. For food, bevvy and entertainment, head to Fressgasse ('Munch Alley'), Sachsenhausen, Bockenheim and Bornheim.
Getting There
Frankfurt is the mother of all transport hubs. Flughafen Frankfurt-am-Main is Germany's main gateway and continental Europe's busiest airport.
Frankfurt's Hauptbahnhof is Germany's busiest main train station, and 90 long-distance trains also stop daily at the airport's train station. Long-distance buses connect Frankfurt with most eastern and western European countries, as well as North Africa. With most of Germany's Autobahnen converging on the city, cars can often seem to outnumber people in Frankfurt. The city hosts the country's biggest Los Angeles-style spaghetti junction, Frankfurter Kreuz, and parking is a nightmare proposition.
-
bus
Long-distance buses leave from the south side of the Hauptbahnhof, where there's a Eurolines office catering for most European destinations; an interesting domestic option is the Romantic Road bus. German Eurolines services are operated by Deutsche Touring (Am Römerhof 17).
-
train
The Hauptbahnhof west of the centre handles more departures and arrivals than any other station in Germany. The information office for connections and tickets is at the head of platform 9; for train information call 01805-996 633.
-
air
Flughafen Frankfurt-am-Main is a mini-city of two massive terminals linked by the Sky Line elevated railway, and just about every major airline flies here from around the world. You can get to central Frankfurt by bus 61 to Südbahnhof in Sachsenhausen from Terminal 1, level 1, but the fastest and cheapest route is via the S-Bahn No 8 or No 9 from Terminal 1 to Hauptbahnhof. Taxis are also an easy, albeit expensive, option. Expect to spend about €25.00 for a trip into town. Departure tax is included in the price of an airline ticket purchased in Germany.
-
road
Frankfurt features the Frankfurter Kreuz, Germany's biggest autobahn intersection - modelled, it would seem, after the kind you might find in Los Angeles. All major (and some minor) car-rental companies have offices in the Hauptbahnhof and at the airport.
Getting Around
You'll get footsore pretty fast in Frankfurt, but luckily the public transport system is excellent and integrates the city's bus, tram, S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines. It's expensive but effective, and you can buy hourly or daily tickets at almost any stop (as long as you can decipher the ticketing machines' enigmatic instructions). The underground S-Bahn and U-Bahn train lines are convenient and run more frequently than buses. Trams run on major routes and offer above-ground views. Cycling isn't a bad way of getting around, and most streets have designated bike lanes. The maze of one-way streets in the centre of the city makes driving a somewhat frustrating experience, so you're better off parking as close as you can get and hoofing it or hailing an expensive but easy-to-find taxi.
-
bicycle
The city is good for cyclists, with designated bike lanes on most streets. Bikes are treated by the law as cars, so watch out for red lights. You can rent bikes from the Hauptbahnhof or Radschlag (Hallgartenstrasse 56, Bornheim); Deutsche Bah's remote operated Call-a-Bike scheme (tel:07000-522 5522) costs €0.06 a minute.
-
road
Traffic flows smoothly in central Frankfurt, but the one-way system makes it extremely frustrating to get to where you want to go. Throughout the centre you'll see signs giving directions and the number of places left in nearby car parks.
-
underground rail
Frankfurt's excellent - if expensive - transport network (RMV) integrates all bus, tram, S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines.
-
Disabled Travellers
Frankfurt has a good standard of accessibility for disabled travellers, and is keen to keep upgrading facilities. This website is an excellent city guide giving detailed information on disabled access to many of Frankfurt's attractions and venues. Public transport has low-floor trams and buses on many routes and the underground train systems has lifts at a number of stations and adapted trains on some lines. For details see the 'Mobility for all' section of the transport company website (Click to 'English', then 'Passenger Service', then 'Mobility for all')
The web page of the German National Tourism Office has an entire section dedicated to information about vacationing in Germany with a disability (under Travel Tips) with helpful links. Many local and regional tourism offices also have special brochures for people with disabilities.
Advertisement
Book Your Trip
Hotels & Hostels
Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels in one place and book online. Browse hotels ›
Lonely Planet Newsletters
Updates, offers and inspiration - straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now ›
Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
