Friends asked me recently what to do during their 24 hour overnight stay in Frankfurt.
Admittedly Frankfurt might not be one of the most charming cities in Europe. It neither has the flair nor architecture offered by more popular the  European cities. Most Germans try to avoid it if they can.
Dubbed as "Bankfurt", for it's role in the German and European banking sector, (European Central Bank, the German Federal Bank, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Trade Fair, as well as several large commercial banks), "Junkfurt", for it's high rate in Heroin trade and drug addicts in the late Seventies and Eighties, Frankfurt does have charming sites and contrary to common belief is actually worth visiting.First of all it is not really big (around 620 000 inhabitants) and it is very easy to get around by public transport Transport Company RMV.
From the airport to Frankfurt city
Services to Frankfurt city depart from the regional station, platform 1, S8 or S9 trains (direction Frankfurt Hbf., Offenbach or Hanau). These two S-Bahn lines will take you to the main railway station/Hauptbahnhof and the 'Hauptwache' and 'Konstablerwache' city stops.
The RMV ticket machines have special fast-selection buttons for the journey to Frankfurt. They are marked: 'Einzelfahrt Frankfurt' single ticket Frankfurt, 'Tageskarte Frankfurt inkl. Flughafen' day ticket Frankfurt incl. airport, and 'Gruppentageskarte Frankfurt inkl. Flughafen' group ticket Frankfurt incl. airport.
The heart of the city, The Roemer is surrounded by old patrician buildings from the early 15th century, home to the Main City Hall and next to the Bartholomaeus Cathedral, also known as the Kaiserdom, because German Kings and Emperors were crowned here. Sadly Frankfurt was severely destroyed in WWII and what we see today are only reconstructed small remains of the largest medieval city centre Germany once had.
The cities great importance in German history is also manifested in the St Paul's Church (Pauluskirche). After Germany's ill fated revolution in 1848 the first German Parliament took their seat here.
Around the corner visitors find The Schirn, a modern exhibition place for mainly modern art. It opened 1986 and also hosts spectacular dance nights on the weekend.
One of Germany's greatest writers Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt. His birthplace houses a museum, the well worth visiting Goethehaus.
If we follow Goethes footsteps we have to cross the river Main and enter the suburb of Sachsenhausen. Sachsenhausen is  home of Frankfurts famous Appelwoi houses. Most of them you'll find in Schweizer Strasse , also a U-Bahn stop (underground) and in Textorstrasse. And one of Goethe's favourite meals is also served in those pubs: Frankfurter Gruene Sauce, served with fried potatoes and boiled eggs.
[caption id="attachment_1709" align="aligncenter" width="425" caption="Gruene Sosse und Appelwoi in Frankfurt am Main"]
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It’s not quite 4 p.m. and it’s a weekday. But Wagner’s is busy already.
Everyone sits at a wooden table, oblong and glossy, and everyone faces a cylinder of tart cider. The Germans call it apfelwein. The Frankfurters call it their own; they call it aeppelwoi.
In Frankfurt’s Sachsenhausen district, bustling with pubs and clubs, there still exists a strain of haunt devoted not to the fruit of hops, but to the original forbidden fruit. The apfelwein joints are wooden, the colors all chocolate and golden. Sachsenhausen has 13 traditional aeppelwoi pubs with names such as Germania, Kanonensteppel or “Gemaltes Haus” (painted house), with frescoes of chaps in caps hefting glasses skyward. They serve traditional cheese and sauerkraut and sausages. And this time of year they’ll even cook your goose for you.  from : Stars and Stripes
Away from all the tourists, in the quiet suburban street Huehnerweg near Wendelsplatz (Wendel square) is another landmark which reminds us of Goethe, the Willemersche garden house on the Muehlberg. Marianne Willemer, a last great love of the elderly Goethe, used it as a garden retreat where Goethe spent some time with her and her family. It is situated on the Muehlberg, today a leafy suburb. also a S-Bahn station and can be visited from mid April until mid October from 11 till 4 pm. Nearby, on the left bank of the river Main is the historic building Gerbermuehle (tannery mill). Goethe celebrated his 66th birthday here as a guest of the Willemer family who owned it as a summer house.
Today the Gerbermuehle is a beautiful hotel and restaurant with a relaxing beer garden, decorated with antique furniture away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet easily accessible by public transport. For more information visit Hotel Gerbermuehle .
For those who are looking for some accommodation near the main train station in the city center the newly opened hostel 5 elements might be an attractive option.
Melbournians currently have the chance to see a bit of Frankfurt's art collection on display at the Victorian National Gallery. The Staedel Museum, a beautiful art gallery on the river banks of the Main exhibits a selection of European art until the 10 of October. The Museum is Frankfurt will be closed in September and October due to large extension and renovation works.
No matter how much time you have or what the reasons are for a stop over in Frankfurt, it sure doesn't need to be one to be dreaded. Lots to see, lots to do in one of Germany's most vibrant and international cities. Enjoy!
