A Short Guide to Frankfurt

City breaks are one of my favourite types of vacations. I love seeing the hustle and bustle of city life in a different country, being immersed in culture and sampling the local cuisine and as an avid shopper, I enjoy visiting local markets, thrift stores and shopping malls to see what I can get my hands on. Last weekend my husband and I took a trip to Frankfurt, Germany's Financial district, the birthplace of the Euro and a city known for being one of the best shopping areas in the country. Although little information can be found about visiting Frankfurt, my husband and I discovered plenty of things to do when we got there and during the 72 hours we were in the country, I have to stay that this particular city really tugged on my heart strings.

The first thing to note about Frankfurt is the plethora of skyscrapers. Frankfurt Am Main is nicknamed 'Mainhatten' for it's striking resemblance to America's Manhattan due Frankfurt's impressive skyline. If you want the feeling of being in New York, but you're tight on budget, Frankfurt comes pretty close. You can observe all the skyscrapers and Frankfurt's beautiful city from the 54th floor of one of Frankfurt's tallest buildings, the Main Tower. The Main Tower costs €8 per person and it is a 'must-see' if you're in the area.

Romerberg is one of the most popular places to visit in Frankfurt thanks to it's traditional style German buildings and authentic German cuisine. If you're looking to sample a Bratwurst or two (a traditional German sausage) or tuck into the infamous green sauce - concoction of herbs and spices usually served with potatoes, Romerberg is the place to be. 

Across the river is another traditional German district called Sachsenhausen. Sachsenhausen is famous for it's traditional Frankfurt Apfelwein. Apfelwein has been described by many as an acquired taste, but I personally loved it. The best way to describe it is a mix between flat cider and wine, which may sound revolting but it's actually quite nice and something you definitely need to try for an authentic Frankfurt experience. 

If you're looking for some history and culture, one of the first places you should head is the world renowned Stadel Art Museum. This museum features artwork from many famous painters such as Monet and Picasso and is one of German's highest regarded art galleries.

If you prefer looking at prehistoric animals, then consider paying The Senckenberg (Natural History Museum) a visit. This museum has a large collection of dinosaurs and is one of Germany's largest natural history museum.

One of my favourite free places to visit in Frankfurt was the Chinese Gardens (Chinesischer Garte) at Bethmann Park. This little garden is perfect for those looking for serenity and a little bit of peace and quiet. The gardens consist of a marble bridge over fresh lily ponds and several Chinese style buildings.

There are so many things I could write about Frankfurt and only so much space in one blog post. Keep an eye out for more of my Frankfurt write ups coming in the next few days. If you're looking to visit Germany and want somewhere a little bit more traditional and non-touristy, I do recommend visiting Frankfurt.

Have you been to Frankfurt before?