FRANKFURT
Behind the business and finance that drives its day-to-day is a city rich in stories. Considered a modern German hub, Frankfurt is more than a transit to the next destination.
THINGS TO DO
With one solid day to explore, begin with an organised walking tour in the morning to see the essentials. Visit Goethe House, Frankfurt Cathedral, Roemerberg, Roman Ruins, the Bull & Bear at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and more for just $33.
From there, spend the afternoon exploring the shops at MyZeil, or sit outside with a wine at former police station Café Hauptwache for some people watching.
DINING
A visit to the Kleinmarkthalle is essential; snack on a pastry or take a seat at one of the restaurants to take a break from pounding the pavement. The choice at the 60 food outlets can be a little overwhelming, however I finally settled on a selection of traditional German salads which was a true highlight (phenomenal sauerkraut!). Try the famous Frankfurt sausages at Metzgerei Schreiber, the line is worth the wait.
If you’re not in the zone for German cuisine, modern Greek restaurant Ariston is up with the best outside of Greece. Think fresh sea bass drizzled with lemon, king prawns, and traditional Greek salads with the brightest tomatoes in the northern hemisphere. I suggest not sharing the entrees, you’ll want every last bite.
BARS
Every meal deserves to be finished with a nightcap, and Old Fritz brings the class. In a quintessential setting, it is the perfect backdrop to order an Old Fashioned.
Situated near the river, Rote Bar is a moody lounge with an upscale interior dishing out specialised cocktails.
For traditional German vibes, a shout-out to Hotel Paulaner Am Dom is necessary as well as Café Hauptwache.
WHERE TO STAY
For a two-night stay, I was hardly going to be in the room when there’s a whole city to see while the clock is ticking.
Centrally located on the Berliner Strausse, Motel One Frankfurt-Römer is a modern stay in an ideal spot for work and play. With a dedicated working space and breakfast buffet that offered oat milk(!), it is the perfect location to shake off any lingering jet lag when you have the tram stop out the front and the historical sites just metres away.
While compact (it’s Europe), the rooms were modern, slick, and most importantly had great bathroom lighting.
For luxury, I did uncover ultimate Germanic chic at Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof. Opened in 1876, experience 5-star luxury if you’re after a Frankfurt treat. Pop downstairs for a cocktail at Oscar’s terrace for prime Euro-vibes or get work done over a macchiato.
ARRIVING
To break up the travel from Melbourne, I had a one-night stay at Bangkok Airport before my connecting flight to Frankfurt through Emirates. The EK 0375 was an A380 Airbus that offered unbeatable service, privacy in the Business pods, and most importantly, a cocktail bar. Naturally, I had to try the martini and mojito to send me off to sleep! Food options ranged from a prawn papaya salad to seared salmon and filet mignon. After landing in Dubai with a two-hour layover, Emirates EK47 flew straight to Frankfurt in 6 hours 45 minutes where the complimentary Emirates transfer was a handy addition when landing in the evening while traveling alone and took around thirty minutes.
DEPARTING
From Frankfurt, travel is relatively seamless. Given the next destination was Heidelberg in Germany, the train system is a no-brainer and took roughly one hour to arrive. Frankfurt (Main) train station is only a short tram ride from the CBD, which is also super convenient!
Tschüss!
