Frankfurt Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany)

Named after its prominent river, which runs from east to west and divides much of the northern area, the city of Frankfurt Am Main is a true European metropolis. City life in Frankfurt is a true mixture of business and pleasure, being home to huge numbers of major corporations, financial institutions and huge bank headquarters, together with world-class restaurants and impressive cultural attractions, and also the most historic trade fair in Germany.

Many areas of Frankfurt have been redeveloped in recent years, securing the city's future as a tourist destination and centre of commerce. Popular amenities for tourists visiting Frankfurt include Internet booths within many of the centrally located bars and cafes, foreign currency exchange at the Hauptbahnhof (train station), and various travel agencies, including the Lufthansa branch at the Hauptwache U-Bath station. Some useful travel tips about life in Frankfurt are below.

Tourism and Tourist Information

Offering a range of services for both tourists and long-stay visitors, the Frankfurt tourist offices offer the latest events information, hotel reservations, information about guided tours, suggestions on what to see and do, and also a range of souvenirs. Also lookout for the 'Frankfurt Card', a discount card which is available for purchase, valid for either one or two days and providing not only free use of public transport, but also up to 50 percent off at the main art galleries, museums, the city zoo and more.

Frankfurt Tourist Information Centre (Tourismus and Congress GmbH Frankfurt am Main)
Address: Kaiserstrasse 56, Frankfurt, 60328, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 069 2123 0808
Email address: info@tcf.frankfurt.de
Website: www.frankfurt-tourismus.de
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 21:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 18:00

Frankfurt Tourist Information Hauptbahnhof
Address: Hauptbahnhof, Reception Hall, Frankfurt, 60329, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 069 2123 8849
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 21:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 18:00

Frankfurt Tourist Information Centre Römer
Address: Römerberg 27, Frankfurt, 60311, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 069 2123 8708
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 17:30, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00

Germany National Tourist Office
Address: Beethovenstrasse 69, Frankfurt, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 069 974 640
Website: www.germany-tourism.de

Currency

Germany's ambitious plan to replace the Deutsche Mark with the Euro to become the country's single currency has proved successful within Frankfurt and throughout Germany. The Deutsche Mark was exchanged at a rate 1.95583 and is structured as follows:

• Euro coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents (eurocents) / 1 and 2 Euros
• Euro notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Euro

Language, Dialect and German Phrases

If you intend to learn German prior to visiting Frankfurt, it can be a difficult language to get to grips with, since the nouns alone have three different genders, feminine, masculine and neutral. However, don't be put off, as with just a basic grasp of German, you will be able to pick out the main words and attain a basic level of communication with locals in Frankfurt, particularly if you choose to bring a German phrasebook of some description.
The following useful German phrases will give you a flavour of the language.

I am called... - ich heisse...
I live in... - ich wohne in...
How much is that? - was kostet das?
I am looking for - ich suche
That is far too expensive - das ist zu teuer
When do you close, please? - wann schliessen sie, bitte?
Where is the butcher? - wie komme ich zum fleischerei?
What are the most notable things worth seeing? - was sind die wichtigsten sehenswürdigkeiten?