Frankfurt - 5 hr. layover

Old Nov 7th, 2008, 03:22 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Frankfurt - 5 hr. layover

Can any suggest what to do with a 5 hour layover at the Frankfurt airport?
CMA05 is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 03:46 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
5 hours isn't a lot since you'll have to go back through security. One possibility: If you have any interest in Holocaust memorials and it's a nice day, there is a Holocaust memorial wood about a 10-minute cab ride from the airport--on the northern edge of the town of Walldorf. The town borders the southern side of airport.

It was a workcamp for Hungarian Jewish women. They were assigned to upgrade the airport's runways for use by the jet aircraft Germany produced at the end of the war.
There is not much left of the camp itself--a few foundations and steps. Some schoolchildren from Walldorf found the site several years ago and researched it as a class project. It ended up being turned into a memorial wood.

There is a walking path through the woods with numbered markers along the way telling the story of the women, where they came from, what they did at the airport, where they ended up as they were moved around at the very end of the war (most died). There are copies of women's letters, quotes from interviews with survivors, etc.

It's not as visually impressive as more well preserved camps, but my wife and I were both moved to tears as we followed the story of these women and the horrors they experienced in what is now a peaceful and pleasant little wood.

It's accessed via Nordendstrasse in northern Walldorf. Just a few feet east of the intersection with Farmstrasse, there's a little road that goes north into the woods. That's where the memorial starts.

Doesn't take long to see, but if you've got some time left over at the airport, it's not a bad way to spend it.
RufusTFirefly is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 06:43 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If your flight does get to Frankfurt on time you will have a 5 hour layover. Many flights are so delayed now that having that buffer of a few hours is desirable. A 5 hour layover seems to turn out to be much shorter than the 5 hours. We had long layovers and we were very thankful because of our flight arriving lte, the different routings through the airports, finding something to eat and getting ready to board again.
bratsandbeer is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 07:49 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Be sure that it is really a full five hours, and even then there are several Ifs.

FRA is a huge airport, if you get in at an outer gate on one of those endless concourses, it can take ages just to walk into the main terminal, Then there is the line for the passport check (Grenzpolizei), it can be quick, or it can be excruciatingly slow.

Then the walk downstairs to lugage carousels/customs (not usually a problem), and the long walk to the local train into Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (central station).

Still, once there, you can certainly walk out the front of the station and stroll around the old part of town (Altstadt) and down by the river (the Main). It is not spectacular in any way, but if it involves no stress about time constraints, it can be a nice leg stretch.

Google Kaiserstrasse Frankfurt am Main on googlemaps and see how it leads to the Willy Brandt square and beyond into the old part of town.

Trains are frequent, but getting back, and going through security and finding your gate can eat up time, so allow for lots of cushion.

Good luck!
DalaiLlama is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 08:17 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>local train into Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof

If you want to see Frankfurt, it does not make sense to get off at Hauptbahnhof. Stay on the train until Konstablerwache and you are right in the city center.
altamiro is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 08:36 AM
  #6  
DAX
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would recommend taking the S bahn (S8 direction Offenbach, S9 direction Hanau) from the local train track Regio 1 and get off in the Hauptwache station which is just a coupem station beyond the main train station (Hauptbahnhof). I would avoid the main train station area because it is not an attractive area with some seedy parts. The Hauptwache is a nice renovated baroque style building where the shopping street Zeil starts all the way to the Konstablerwache (the next S bahn station). If you want to see a reconstructed old Frankfurt square then head to Roemer by taking the U4 underground (3 minute ride) or street trams # 11 or 12 (4 - 8 minute ride) to Roemer/Paulskirche. Lots of places to eat in both areas.
DAX is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 08:40 AM
  #7  
DAX
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with altamiro, Konstablerwache is definitely better than Hauptbahnhof, but I think Hauptwache is even better than Konstablerwache plus it's one station closer.
DAX is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2008, 11:36 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If your plane arrives early in the morning (7-8am), there won't be a lot open in town. I would second RufusTF's advice about Walldorf.
Dutch is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
xyz99
Europe
16
Mar 21st, 2011 07:57 PM
JeanneO
Europe
6
May 19th, 2007 03:11 PM
Bloom
Europe
8
Apr 30th, 2007 06:30 AM
lregeane
Europe
8
Jan 29th, 2004 02:45 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -