Destination Guides > Germany > Hesse

Hesse (Hessen)

Frankfurt-am-Main

There's not much to see in Frankfurt, however it is a major business centre and one of Europe's most American cities. Because of Frankfurt's central location, there is a good chance that you'll pass through here, either to change trains or catch a flight from its busy airport.

Practical Information

Frankfurt Tourist Information Centre

Romerberg 27, Frankfurt

Tel (069) 2123 8708

Website www.frankfurt-tourismus.de

American Express

Kaiserstr. 8, Frankfurt

Tel (069) 720 016

Website www.americanexpress.com

Local Transport

Frankfurt's transit system, operated by Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV; website www.rmv.de), is made up of the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses. The two subway systems are pretty much the same, except the S-Bahn runs above ground once it leaves the centre. You can buy tickets from automatated ticket machines at all stations and major bus and tram stops. The main sights in central Frankfurt are covered by the central fare zone (press the Preisstufe 3 button on the ticket machine) although you will need a two-zone ticket to get to the airport (press the Preisstufe 4 button on the ticket machine). A single ticket is €1.55 for a short trip up to two kilometres, otherwise a single ticket is €2.05. A day pass is €4.80, while a weekly pass is €18.50.

Coming & Going

Frankfurt's Hauptbahnhof is one of Germany's busiest train stations with frequent departures to destinations throughout Germany and central Europe. The information centre (tel 194 19) is located at the end of platform nine.

The bus station is located south of Hauptbahnhof at Am Romerhaf 17. You can contact the Europabus office on (069) 230 735.

There are several Mitzfahrzentrale (ride sharing agencies) who can match you up with someone driving to your destination.

ADM-Mitfahrzentrale

Baselerplatz, Frankfurt

Tel (069) 19440

CityNetz Mitfahrzentrale

Homburger Straße 36, Frankfurt

Tel (069) 19444

Frankfurt Airport (website www.frankfurt-airport.de) is Europe's second busiest and is accessible from Haupbahnof by S-Bahn line 8. The 11-minute journey costs €3.15. There are also a variety of city and regional express train services to surrounding cities including Mainz, Weisbaden and Hanau. Frankfurt Airport's train station also handles frequent InterCity train departures so you can even avoid Frankfurt completely and spend your time somewhere more interesting.

There are direct bus connections from Frankfurt airport to central Frankfurt and other German and international destinations including: Heidelburg, Mannheim, Dusseldorf, Ostrava and Strasbourg.

Being a large airport, Frankfurt airport has loads of facilities including a supermarket, bars, overpriced restaurants and shower facilitites.

Accommodation

Frankfurt - Haus der Jugend

Deutschherrnufer 12, 60594 Frankfurt am Main

Tel (069) 6100150

Stay & Learn Hostel (Frankfurt Hostel)

Kaiserstraße 74, 60329 Frankfurt am Main

Train/U-Bahn Hauptbahnhof

Tel (069) 24 75 13 0