The Zeil is in the heart of Frankfurt and since the end of the 19^th century it is one of Germany’s best known and top-selling shopping streets; already in 1898, the first big department store opened its doors.

The main part is between Konstablerwache and Hauptwache, where the street is also a pedestrian precinct and where one shop after the next is attracting people who come from far away to buy their clothes here. Sadly, not much of the original grandeur of the street is left; during the war, the old buildings were completely destroyed and rebuild in a very simplified form.

The street is always busy, a great mixture of people can be observed here: workers who rush to their offices, stressed people in desperate need for something they don’t seem to find, or people who are strolling up the street, enjoying the drive. In only one hour, about 14.000 people are passing here!

One building that is sticking out is the Zeilgalerie near Hauptwache: it was build in 1992; around 70 shops are situated along sloped floors, visitors are therefore able to walk in circles to the observation deck on top.

The streets around the Zeil are also worth a try if you don’t find what you need on the Zeil; for the posh taste, check out the Goethestrasse, where you can find designer boutiques and everything imaginable for sky-high prices. This is the shopping paradise for Frankfurt’s high society; Germany’s richest people life in the calmer area around Frankfurt, called Taunus, they are the clientele you can meet here.

The Museumsufer is located alongside the river Main next to Sachsenhausen. Thirteen museums are situated here between the bridges Eiserner Steg and Friedensbrücke in beautiful baroque buildings. To mention all of them would be too much here, but just to give you an impression of the wide range of museums you can find here:

there is the German film museum, the museum of Architecture, the Staedelmuseum (traditional art) and, very fitting for the multicultural Frankfurt, the museum of world cultures. Another important museum of Frankfurt is located on the opposite side of the river near Konstablerwache, the Jüdisches museum where you can learn something about the life of Jews in Frankfurt during the Nazi regime.

On the last weekend in August, a festival along the museumsufer (the Museumsuferfest) is attracting many people interested in the special offers of the museums or just interested in the amazing mix of life music, food, drinks and atmosphere you can find there once a year.

The Nacht der Museen (night of museums) is another festival in spring that allurs people to the museums: they are open all night for free, some of them offer special exhibitions, too.

Parks in Frankfurt Frankfurt is not only a busy town where people are rushing down the streets, it is also a green city with many parks and green areas to chill out!

So if you just had enough people around you and need some hours to relax, Frankfurt is the place for you. Even in the city centre, you can find green areas; it is called Grüngürtel (the green belt) and is just next to the Zeil.

The Palmengarten in Bockenheim is also worth a visit; here, a lot of exotic plants in greenhouses show visitors the diversity of the world’s flora with various and changing topics. Outside, the park is very beautifully decorated with flowers all around the year and in summer, beach cairs invite you to lay down and enjoy the peace of the park.

The Günthersburgpark is another park in the north of Frankfurt that should be mentioned here: with its wide green areas, it is especially nice for sportsmen who like to play football together. For kids, there is a water playground in summer and of course a “normal” playground for the colder days.

The Ostpark near the Ostbahnhof is amazing in summer! This is the only park where you are allowed to barbecue and on warm days, one barbecue party is next to each other. With large green areas, the park attracts football players and it is also frequented a lot by joggers who run their rounds around the park; in the middle, a small lake shelters the Frankfurter ducks. These are just three of the many parks in the town, just check the green spots on the city map and enjoy the other ones as well; you can’t go wrong!

in the afternoon the staff there advised us to take advantage of the sunny weather and stroll down to the river and relax. On the way we came through some surprisingly shabby but colourful streets, passed drunk but friendly people sitting on benches on the sidewalk in front of some bars.

Only a few minutes later we came to the beautiful public green that stretches all along the river banks in Frankfurt. People were sitting on the lawn or on benches eating, drinking and partying. We had a chat with some of them, they even gave us a glass of their wine since alcohol is really cheap in Germany.

Then we crossed the river on a modern suspension bridge from where you have an impressive panoramic view on both the river banks where most of the city´s museums are in a line. On the other side we came straight toward the art school and gallery Stadel.

We decided not to go in for now but kept walking along the river until we got to a riverside café called Main Café. Apparently this is where everybody meets in summer. We got us some drinks and sat down on deckchairs that are provided by the café people. We met some nice German girls and after a while they asked us to come along to a little street festival in a lane called Bruckenstrasse, just off the river. This seems to be a neighbourhood for trendy art and fashion people. At that street party we had local food, and there was even live music and other art performances. Simply perfect for meeting local people. An hour or two later we walked on, down to the river again. By chance we discovered an apparently newly opened combined café and club on a boat next to a little island in the river. At first sight its makeshift style did not look trustworthy but we ended up dancing and drinking there till late.

Hanzel and Schnitzel
The Air Canada Flight 844 is in final approach, for another glorious visit to Frankfurt an Main. I am back again in what has become my second homeland. As the train glides into the airport station for the 15 minute ride to the Hauptbahnhof, I know my comfortable room is waiting for me at Frankfurt Hostel.

After a quick change to my German Sandles and casual clothes, I head down Kaiser street
For an invigorating 4 block walk to the Hauptwache and Zeil, the high street of Frankfurt.
My memory is directing me to the Kleinmarkthalle, which is a fantastic fine food market with a mixture of cheeses, sausage, meats, sweets and spices, The oudors attack the nostrils and taste buds and I soon find myself purchasing small samples of finger snacks to enjoy at the Hostel bar with my midnight glass of red wine. With the comfort of my goodies securely packed in a re usable BIO shopping bag, I head for the Liebefrauen Café.

This is one of the oldest traditional cafes in Frankfurt with a delisciously long menu of cakes and ice cream. Will my favourite table be free??? YES, YES. Apfelstrudel or Kaesekuchen, Capicino and people watching. I must be in heaven.
After a Main Ufer walk back to the hostel and a rest, it is time to think about dinner.
I finally decide on XXL Schnitzel. This is a new imbis on a back street in trendy Sachsenhausen. Easily accessable in 5 minutes by U-Bahn. To my suprise I realise this is not a Fussball hangout. And the XXL refers to the Schnitzel. I order a Krombacher and wait with anticipation. Sure enough my main course arrives on an oversized plater. OH MY GOD. The schnitzel is the size of a Buick with a half kilo of pomme frites as a side dish. To get it all down I had to order two more Krombachers.
Tomorrow I am planning a half day visiting Museums along the Main Ufer.

Travellers Tip: If you are lucky to be dining out with a partner, I recommend 2 famous traditional Frankfurt restaurants, Adolf Wagner’s or GemeindeHaus are both a must see.

What Frankfurt Hot spots have you visited, I would like to hear from you ???

Auf Weidersehen

Peter S.

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