Frankfurt, Germany sightseeing
 

7 of us will be in Frankfurt next week, arriving on Friday October 6. We will have about a 9 hour layover there, before continuing on to Johannesburg. We plan on taking the train into Frankfurt from the airport, but where to go, what to see? We actually will have about 5 hours to look around, grab a bite, then head back to the airport. We are looking to have a nice German meal too. Any ideas on where to eat, and what to see??? Thanks!!!

Consider going to Mainz. It is about 15-20 minutes away on the airport train.

Skip Frankfurt and take the train to either Mainz or better yet Heidelberg.
Frankfurt is a very modern city, but if your looking for a more traditional city than the Altstadt in Mainz is great and you could easily kill the day in Heidelberg exploring the castle and the old town near the river.

I would recommend Adolf Wagner for a "nice German meal" -- great roast pork knuckles and potatoes, washed down with apple wine. While Frankfurt is not among my favorite German cities, I have taken the train from the airport to the main train station during lengthy layovers, and you could walk to the restored old square, Goethe's house, the art museum or take the train to the zoo. Heidelberg is more interesting, but its too far on a short layover.

Make it 3 votes for Mainz! There really is no question about it. You'll be devoured by huge Frankfurt, while Mainz gives you a nice Altstadt and square, good food, and as I've told others on this web site, do not miss the church with the Chagall windows. Many visitors to Mainz never make it to this church, because they don't know it is here, and that is a pity.

Thanks everybody!! Mainz it is!!

I'm going to be in Frankfurt for like a day and a half. Is it easy for one to stay in Frankfurt and travel to / from Mainz?

My thought is to take the train into Frankfurt to my hotel, then on to Mainz...tour, back to the hotel to sleep, back to the airport for my flight the next day. Sometime in there, I will see some of Frankfurt.

Well, the airport is between Frankfurt and Mainz, so it is kind of silly -- but not impossible.