Frankfurt layover
 

I will have a 6 hour layover at the Frankfurt airport. From Frankfurt, we head to South Africa. Can anyone recommend a great restaurant where I can relax and enjoy wonderful food and wine? Is it possible to visit the city?

Thanks!

We just returned from Europe, and had a 10 hour layover in Frankfurt. We took the train into the center of Frankfurt and wandered around for a few hours, had lunch, took a little boat cruise on the river, and managed to get back to the airport with lots of time to spare. Check out my log for the details.

I think that you can definitely go in to the city with no problem!

Enjoy!

You can also take a quick train directly from the airport to Mainz - no further than Frankfurt. It's a much smaller town, right on the Rhine river.

What time is your layover?

Six (or maybe 7 ?)years ago, when I had 5 free hours layover in Frankfurt, I asked at Information desk if I haave enough time to go to the city and how is the best way to do this. They called for me a guide with a car and he took me for a tour of Franfurt and then returned me to airport. I had enough time to see the city (as with guide is faster), to walk a little, to have lunch. I was very relaxed as I knew that with the guide, I am sure that I'll arrive in time at airport. I was the only passanger, and I remember that I paid 50 DM (this time was DM).

Wow! Thanks to all of you for this information. Our layover will be during the day in Frankfurt.

First, I don't know on what airline you are arriving, or what terminal they use. That could have some effect. If you are arriving at terminal 2, it will take some time to get to the regional train station, shortening your available time a bit. Fortunately, both South African Airways and Lufthansa use terminal 1, so getting to your departure gate won't be so bad; the regional train station is underground, directly across the street from terminal 1. Still, even if your luggage is checked through, and you already have a boarding pass, you should probably allow at least 2 hours for security check-ins, etc.

The Frankfurt main station is closer (at least timewise) than Mainz. According to RMV (Frankfurt transit district), there are four trains per hour that make the trip to Frankfurt main station in only 11 minutes. There are only two trains per hour to Mainz that make the trip in 26 minutes. In both directions, there are a few more trains, but they take longer. Nevertheless, I think the area around the Frankfurt station is a bit seedy; I would prefer Mainz, but I don't know of any good restaurants in that area. I have stayed there twice before flying home, and both times I ate dinner at Wiener Wald, handy but hardly a classy restaurant.

Thanks to all of you. Is there an area in Frankfort that is nice with galleries, cafes, museums, etc.? If so, what is it called? I am trying to figure out of we should bother going in or try Mainz. Also, if we took a cab to either Mainz or Frankfurt, how long would that take?

I would catch a train to Frankfurt and then catch the U-Bahn to the Dom/Romer. Lots of sights, shopping, and places to eat.

This past summer we had the same exact problem you are faced with. We took the S-bahn from the airport directly into Frankfurt..about 15 minutes ride. The walked out of the train station, keep walking straight ahead, through an area of porn shops and cafe's until we came to a park like area, we kept walking straight ahead and came to a plaza with a LOVELY restaurant on the right hand side of the street. It had an outdoor seating area for coffee/beer etc with pillars almost Roman in feel... tables in the courtyard and a restaurant inside. We had a light meal that was perfect. Then we walked a little more and even found the Goethe museum, which was by then closed. We retraced our steps and got back to the airport in plenty of time.

Two nights ago we stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel at the Frankfort Airport. Their "Waldrestaurant Unterschweinstiege" restaurant was quite good. They had a buffet and a menu dinner available. If you have only six hours, this might be less hectic than going into Frankfort. ((*))

The menu for Waldrestaurant Unterschweinstiege can be found at http://www.airporthotel.steigenberge...weinstiege.pdf

i think mainz would be more manageable and quaint.

i haven't been there but i sent a client there during her layover and she was very happy with it.

http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/onl...l/default/home

For shopping and site-seeing, you can go to the "Zeil" in Frankfurt, which has both department stores and boutiques. Also, if you're there on a Saturday, there are many farmer's markets set up here and a lot of pedestrian traffic, so there's much going on! You can go to the Zeilgalerie--located in this area--which is a large mall. The attraction here is that if you go to the top of the mall, there is a great view of Frankfurt! The Zeil and Zeilgalerie are near the Kaiserdom (or just say the "Dom") which I suggest visiting both for it's history and architecture. Also, Romer is within walking distance and is beautiful to see; it's the "city hall" and the architecture of the building is amazing.
There are also many restaurants and cafes in this area. I would say that given the short amount of time you’ll have for your layover, Zeil is definitely a great place in Frankfurt to get shopping, restaurants, and historic sites all within reasonable walking distance. I just returned from Frankfurt and I did all of the above mentioned activities in only three hours.
You’ll LOVE Frankfurt; it’s such a beautiful city and the people are so nice. Have fun!

You all have been so helpful! Thanks!