Frankfurt am Main

From a historical downtown to the skyscrapers

What are you thinking about when you hear Frankfurt? I think, for many people it’s either the big international airport or the world of banks and finance. Or the skyscrapers for which the city is also called ironically Mainhattan (the river’s name is Main). Well, I made a trip there and found the city very interesting. I would like to share my experiences with you. 😊

First, I had the feeling that Frankfurt am Main (that’s its official name) is very similar to Berlin: a German metropolis, multicultural, with similar weather… Later, as I was walking around the river side and went through a famous bridge, I felt that it’s a bit similar to Budapest where I was born. Actually, big cities are somewhat similar, especially here in Europe, but they are also different, each having its own character. For example, one difference between Frankfurt and Berlin is that the former is richer, you can just see and feel it, the people are more elegant, etc. However, when I arrived at the main train station, I didn’t think that it will be a nice city… So many strange people and the station is not a nice place. But then I was surprised when I arrived in the downtown – after checking in to my aparthotel which was nicer than I had thought. The downtown is beautiful, with a very nice cathedral and historical building, small shops and cafés. It’s a nice feeling to walk around in the small streets and at the riverside. My favorite part of the city was that: with the bridges, the ships, the shore and the skyscrapers in the background. That was the most interesting for me: the different types of buildings, the architecture, the variety of the whole city.

Some things that Frankfurt is famous for is indeed the airport (that’s why you can see so many planes flying over the city and the river), the banks, included the European Central Bank (which I saw from the outside), the stock exchange (Börse) and the bookfair (Messe). My hotel was near the Messe where you can also find Frankfurt’s highest building. Because of these things, people in Frankfurt are generally well-dressed, restaurants and cafés are pretty expensive, and you can find a lot of good bookstores in the city.

To be honest, I felt good in this atmosphere, but there was something I had never thought about before this trip: that I will have some true culinary experiences here. It turned out that there are some nice, traditional Italian restaurants and cafés / ice-cream places in Frankfurt. I could order gluten-free pizza in Italian and enjoyed it a lot to talk to the Italian waiters in their language. Also, I found some nice vegan as well as gluten-free cafés or pastry shops where I could have a nice brunch or an afternoon snack. It was so important for me, because I’m on a special diet and while travelling, it’s often tricky to find the right paces. But in Frankfurt, it wasn’t a problem at all. Here are some pictures of the delicious things I had.

An extra tip from me: if you visit Frankfurt, go to the Chinese Garden as well. It is located in the city center, though not in the old town. It’s definitely worth a visit as it is a very nice and quiet place. Especially in good weather, you can walk around, sit down and take some nice pictures. There is a small park or botanical garden next to it, with some nice flowers and plants.

I loved the diversity of this city. It’s so exciting to see old and new buildings at the same place, from the old townhall and the so called Römer to the skyscrapers. I’ve heard that not everybody liked Frankfurt, but for me, I’d be happy to go back for a second trip. 😉