More Than An Airport: Frankfurt am Main and its Major Sights

Like many travelers to Germany, I too often mistake Frankfurt as a point of arrival and departure. Thousands of people bustle through the airport on a daily basis, with many more arriving by train from all over Europe. Until recently, most of my trips to this famed international city consisted of quick jaunts in and out of airport terminal parking. Simple curiosity finally prompted me to take a closer look at Frankfurt, and I am delighted with what I found. Easily accessible from the airport by train, the city possesses a great internal transportation system and a large pedestrian ring that makes getting around convenient. Whether you wish to shop, sightsee, explore museums, or attend a festival, Frankfurt offers you a taste of contemporary Germany. Fall is a particularly vibrant time in the city, and I have listed a few events and places to consider should you be in town.

Books a Million

Every Fall, Frankfurt turns into a book-lover's paradise. The annual Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest international book convention. This October 9-14, the Frankfurt Fair Center will house some 400,000-book titles, including 100,000 new publications on display. The general public is invited to participate on October 13-14, and for a scant 7.50 EUR will be able to access a global book market incomparable to the largest mega-bookstore.

EuroCity Marathon

You have to love a city that not only hosts a marathon, but also a marathon festival. With festivities leading up to the October 27th race day, the Frankfurt Fair Center is abuzz with activity connected to the annual EuroCity Marathon. If you're not a runner, don't worry. Cheering for the runners is part of the fun. Plus, the traditional 26.2 mile road race is just one of the races being held. The festival includes a Class 1 Inline Skating race, featuring some of the world's fastest bladers.

Museum Row
The suburb of Sachsenhausen boasts a delightful promenade along the Main River of Frankfurt's best museums, cafes, restaurants, and walkways. The best way to arrive to this area is by using the Eiserner Steg, and old iron footbridge that dates back to the 1860s. Once you arrive, however, you may be overwhelmed with your choices. Nevertheless, whatever your personal interests, there is something along Schaumainkai Street to satisfy. Art lovers might bypass them all, and begin with the Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, one of Europe's most significant art museums. Housing pieces from medieval religious iconography and Renaissance masters, to French impressionists and European modernists, the Städel Gallery offers an impressive survey of art from the 14th century to the present day. Travelers with children might wish to take in the Museum für Kommunikation (Museum of Communication). Though the thought of spending an afternoon exploring the development of postal systems, transport networks, telephones, and radios might not seem exciting, the museum excels in making the ordinary completely captivating. Other museums that easily entice visitors include the Deutches Architekturmuseum (Museum of German Architecture), the Museum fur Volkerkunde (Museum of Ethnology), and the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Arts). The close proximity of these places truly makes selection a difficult process. Lastly, visitors with more time at their hands may wish to explore the newly built Deutches Filmmuseum, where you can learn about the history of German cinema as well as take in a film in the museum's theatre.

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