Frankfurt Essentials

Frankfurt Essentials & Tourist Information

Frankfurt Tourist Attractions
Frankfurt cannot compete with some of the classic capitals of Europe for historic sites, however it does have an unrivalled variety of museums and galleries. The German Film Museum is one of the best and is found on the corner of Schweizerstrasse and costs just €2.50 entrance. It has continuous screenings of vintage movies and displays a wide range of props and exhibits from over a century of film history. It is open until 8pm Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. The Goethe Haus is another impressive attraction and highlights the life and work of one of Frankfurt's most famous sons - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It is one of the oldest established museums in Frankfurt, first opening to the public in 1863. It features a massive collection of paintings, manuscripts and graphic drawings and has long been a shrine for Goethe enthusiasts from around the world. It costs €5 and is open daily from 10am-5.30pm.

Frankfurt Opening Hours
Shops are allowed by law to remain open until 8pm on Mondays to Saturdays and until 4pm on Sundays. Most shops follow these guidelines although many close at around 6.30pm daily. In busy tourist and business areas and at mainline rail stations most businesses stay open later often until 10 or 11pm nightly. Banking hours are usually from 9am-4pm on weekdays.

German Phrases For Tourists

Tipping & Etiquette in Frankfurt
For German waiting staff tips do not constitute a part of wages but any gratuity is still very much appreciated. It is customary to give 5 to 10% depending on the level of service and satisfaction even though a service charge will already be added to your bill. A very low or even no tip at all will be viewed unambiguously as an unsatisfactory level of service. Tipping etiquette extends to taxis, hairdressers and hotel room service where rounding up a bill by a couple of Euros should be sufficient. 

Frankfurt Food & Drink
A visit to the city should of course sample the myriad varieties of the simple Frankfurter - the sausage is cooked by boiling and can be made from pork or a combination of pork and veal. Tafelspitz beef is another noted speciality which is served with horseradish, asparagus and deliciously crunchy potatoes. Most main meals come with a dizzying array of dipping sauces which include traditional onion gravy, garlic, sweet chilli, apple sauce and much more. No Frankfurt meal would be complete without a filling and tasty dessert to round it off. Traditional apple and cherry strudel is always a big hit with diners or try a totally unique version using elderflowers as a filling - sprinkled with copious amounts of sugar and cinnamon and served with fresh cream. Strong apple wine makes a refreshing aperitif that can be served sweet or dry and is forever popular in the restaurants and bars of Frankfurt.

Frankfurt Useful Numbers
• Calling the UK from Frankfurt – 0044 + area code minus zero + number
• Police – 110
• Ambulance – 112
• Fire – 112

Disabled Access in Frankfurt
Virtually all museums and civic building are equipped with ramps or lifts to accommodate wheelchair users and many also have free or much reduced entry prices, which also extends to theatres and cinemas. All train services - mainline and suburban from Frankfurt have dedicated wheelchair spaces onboard and disabled assistance teams at stations. At street level, Frankfurt is relatively flat and easy to negotiate for the disabled and infirm and there is a fantastic range of hotels that offer adapted accommodation.

German Embassies
• British Consulate Bockenheimer Landstr 2 60323 Frankfurt am Main. Germany. Telephone: 069-1 70 00 20
• German Embassy - 23 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PZ Telephone 020 7824 1300

Frankfurt City Breaks  Getting Around Frankfurt

Things To Do In Frankfurt  Frankfurt Weather