8 hour layover in Frankfurt of 5/21
 

Yes, late to the game!

My husband and I have an 8 hour layover on 5/21 in Frankfurt. From Houston. Luggage is checked through.

What can/should we do from 9a-5p?

We like history. Not art. Would love to get some good German food, a bar, and see a few things. Nothing fancy.

Your ideas?

A few ideas:

1. One of the banks of the Main (the Museumsufer) has numerous museums. Pick and choose the museum that presses your buttons : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museumsufer

2. The Römerberg is an old square, one of the few remnants of what used to be an extremely extensively preserved medieval city. Still nice to have a walk around and maybe have a meal.

3. Visit the applewine pubs in Sachsenhausen, on the opposite bank of the Main (not far from the Museumsufer). There is a small old town there. Applewine is the traditional alcoholic beverage from this area. It is an acquired taste - persist beyond the first few sips and you will like it better.

4. Visit Frankfurt-Höchst, where there is an old town and a neat little castle. If you come by car, don't make the mistake (as we first did) of locating the modern town centre, which is very blah. The old town is small but gives you a good idea of the layout of the streets in medieval times.

5. Shopping - the Zeil is the main shopping street, with malls and major department store Galeria Kaufhof and Peek & Cloppenburg.

6. The Palmengarten - a botanical garden, which has large greenhouses in case of inclement weather.

There are also a number of old churches in Frankfurt which are worth seeing - I believe some go back to the 12th century, but I confess I don't know them. The Eschenheimer Turm is the remains of one of the city gates.

You might also think of going to nearby Mainz since you have 8 hrs. Visit the Gutenberg Museum, the old town, the 1000 yr old Mainzer Dom, the Stefansdom with the Chagall windows and the Roman museum with remnants of ships dug up out of the Rhine. Or Wiesbaden with its numerous hot springs; there is the Kaiser Wilhelm spa so you could take the waters or visit the casino.

Just a few ideas.

Lavandula

Wonderful! Thanks.