Holiday lettings in Frankfurt

The most beautiful part of central Frankfurt is the area around the Römer in the city’s Altstadt (Old Town). The Römer has been the town hall for the past 600 years and is an excellent example of German medieval architecture. Although most of the district was destroyed during WW2, the reconstruction is impressive and it’s a gorgeous area to call home during a visit. Surrounding the Altstadt is the Innenstadt (Inner Town), full of the hustle and bustle you would expect from a busy city. The traditional neighbourhood of Sachsenhausen is a safe place to stay, with a great selection of bars and restaurants: stay around Schweizerstraße for a mix of independent shops, delis and cute cafes. For a lively (if less family-friendly) visit, consider renting an apartment in the Bahnhofsviertel (Train Station Quarter), the site of Frankfurt’s famous red light district. As well as all the nighttime activity you might expect, the area also has some lovely architecture and fun bars.

Enjoy the architecture and half-timbered houses in the Römerberg area in the Altstadt, which date back to the 14th and 15th centuries (taking into account the massive restoration work which took place after the Second World War). Make the climb up the Dom St Bartholomaus, a Gothic tower that rises 95 metres and affords stunning views over the Altstadt, then take a walk to the Archäolgische Garten (Archeological Garden) to see the ancient Roman settlements. Culture and history buffs will also enjoy a day in the Museumsufer district - despite being smaller than Hamburg or Munich, Frankfurt has the largest number of museums in Germany after Berlin. For art, spend an afternoon in the Städel Museum, which houses a comprehensive collection from the 16th century to the present day, including a stunning collection of Renoir and Monet masterpieces. On the opposite bank of the river sits the Jüdisches Museum, a fascinating look at nine centuries of Jewish life.

Head to Grosse Bockenheimer Straße, known locally as Fressgass, or “Munching Alley”, due to the number of eating options there. If you are visiting in early summer, make sure you take advantage of the annual Fressgass Fest, which is packed with food, drink and entertainment. Notable restaurants include Main Tower Restaurant and Bar (located in a skyscraper 660 feet above the city streets), and the Michelin starred Villa Merton for an innovative (but expensive) menu. Make time for a visit to Kleinmarkthalle, a traditional food market for the locally-renowned Gräf-Völsing Rindswurst (beef sausage) and fresh fruit and vegetable. The Frankfurt traditional local tipple is Apfelwein, similar to cider. There are many cosy cider taverns throughout the city to enjoy different Apfelwein and eat from a traditional menu. We recommend the Lorsbacher Thal, in Alt-Sachsenhausen, run by the same family since the early 1800s. It serves great food and the cider is always flowing.

Visitors will find Frankfurt’s straight-forward, clean and safe S and U Bahn (over and underground trains) reassuringly easy to use. There are nine U-Bahn lines covering the city and the S-Bahn also runs through the city centre. Tickets are available in a range of options such as single trips or week tickets, and cover transport on the U/S Bahn, trams and buses. Frankfurt is a cycle-friendly city, with a network of cycle lanes, and they have the Deutsche Bahn bike rental system - register online to use the ubiquitous silver and red bikes. The centre of Frankfurt is compact and easily navigable on foot, especially on a short trip with little need to travel outside of the city. Make sure you take a detour to go via Bockenheimer Warte station, where architect Zbigniew Peter Pininski was inspired by Magritte to create a most surreal station entrance.