I have bad allergies. We are plannaing to go to Frankfurt in a few weeks and I am just learning that many public places have smoking. Anyone know - i.e., trains, restaurants, museums, etc? Is this possible to go to Frankfurt for a week and avoid smoking places? Hotel does have no-smoking room.

Honestly, I do not think it is possible to avoid smoke in Frankfurt. Trains will have non-smoking cars, but your big problem will be restaurants, in my opinion. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat in the non-smoking section of a restaurant and had smoke from the next table or the floor below overwhelming me.

I have not been to Frankfurt for a few years, but to the best of my knowledge, nothing has changed.

Hopefully you're going in April or later so you can eat on the outdoor tables such as in front of the Roemer where it's picturesque. My son has a bad allergy so that's what we did.
This subject just came up in the german media recently, they're slow to move because most Germans smoke. Our clothes & suitcases always smell like smoke when we return. It's a fact of life for us travellers.

In Germany we hv many non-somking places. All Museums, theaters, cinemas are non-smoking places. Also many train-stations are non-smoking area and it is not allowed to smoke in SUBWAYs, BUT I must say that it will be hard to avoid smoke all day.

pwwtchorus,

Good luck!!!! You might want to stay home. Germans smoke. It is their country. It is up to you.

Curious

My wife and I have the same problem with smoke. A few suggestions.
Make sure that the breakfast room at your hotel is non-smoking. That is not a given just because they have non-smoking rooms.
Museums are non-smoking but do not assume the Museum cafe is- The Pinothek museums in Munich did not have a non smoking area.
When we tried a new restaurant- we asked about non-smoking and then used the nose test for ambient smoke before sitting down.. As you say, having a non-smoking area does not make it so. Many restaurants will attempt to create a non-smoking area for you by sitting you in an alcove or corner by yourself--especially if you are there early enough. Most of the time this worked for us and we thanked the staff for their efforts. A little show of appreciation usually reaps large results.
I went to the Internet via google.com and looked for any site with non-smoking information like "non-smoking restaurants in Frankfurt". This got me some names to check with the guidebooks.
Good luck with your trip. Hope this helps.

You won't have a problem with the museums, but outside places and restaurants will be your challenge. What we did was try to get to restaurants early and sit yourself away from other people in a corner etc. (As also suggested by payant) Germany is a country that is full of smokers so I know the routine of trying to avoid the smoke. Try to sit at an outside table, make sure that the wind is not blowing your way. It may not be very practical trying to preplan all of your restaurants, since your travels may lead you elsewhere during the day.

Just tell us where you reside and we ll come over with a load of cuban montechristos and cohibas.
Well all die early and you cant avoid smoke in Germany, it the way it is!

I have been to Europe for the past ten summers and I usually find myself eating outside. The smoke outside is not bad. I don't think I could handle it during the winter, tho.

I assume you go "outside" near your home and unless you live somewhere that nobody smokes out side..how do you avoid smoke there?

Not everyone in Germany smokes and I would think that when you are outside it will be OK. Eating outside in Europe is always better IMO if you are trying to avoid smoke and hopefully it will be warm enough when you are there to do so.

Trains definitely have non-smoking sections; restaurants are going to be a little dicier.