Review A Frankfurt, Germany Vacation

Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt offers a plethora of museums and exhibitions.  A must for art lovers is the Städelmuseum, home to an enormous collection of European paintings from the Middle Ages to the present day, including works by masters such as Rubens, Holbein and Rembrandt.  Another top address for art is the Schirn Kunsthalle, which hosts some fantastic temporary exhibitions and displays.  The Museum of Modern Art exhibits works by the likes of Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol.

Nature lovers and archaeologists will get their money's worth in the Senckenberg Natural History Musuem, where, among other things, you can marvel at the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Film lovers should pay a visit to the National Film Museum, while fashion victims can check out the latest designer wear (as well as the crazes of yesteryear) at the Leather Museum in Offenbach.  Frankfurt also has dozens of other museums, as well as numerous art galleries, many of which are well worth a visit.

Frankfurt has two opera houses, the Oper Frankfurt and the older Alte Oper.  Both houses are host to a constant stream of operas and concerts by an array of international artists. The Schauspiel Frankfurt is a good bet for traditional German theatre, while more experimental pieces are performed at places like the TAT and Mousonturm.  If you prefer plays performed in English, then head for the English Theatre or the Internationales Theater, which also puts on pieces in Russian and Italian.

Something for everyone here!  For rock, head to MTW in Offenbach, to das Rind in Rüsselsheim or Batschkapp in Frankfurt.  Ambient fans will be in their element at places like Opium and Living, while hard core techno enthusiasts shouldn't miss U60311. Frankfurt's most popular nightlife hotspot is the Konstablerwache, which gets particularly busy at weekends.  But if you're looking for something special, pop into the Odeon, a wonderful classical building which is the venue for various wierd and wonderful theme nights.

Should you find yourself at the airport in the middle of the night (flight cancelled?), then there's another surprise in store for you - the Dorian Gray, a club situated in the middle of Terminal One!  Here you can boogie the night away, and not even notice when your flight leaves early the next morning without you!

If you prefer things a bit quieter, then there are plenty of bars and bistros where you can have a chat over a beer, a cocktail or a glass of cider.  The district of Sachsenhausen is a particularly good starting point for a night out on the town.  The Stereo Bar is very popular, as too are most of the Irish pubs and cider pubs.

Football fans should head straight for the Waldstadion, where Eintracht Frankfurt seem locked in an eternal (but hitherto successful) battle against relegation from the Bundesliga. They share the stadium with the American football team Frankfurt Galaxy, who, unlike Eintracht, are normally fighting for the title.  Another local attraction is the Frankfurter Lions ice hockey team.  Other highlights on Frankfurt's sporting calendar include the Henninger Turm bike race and the ITP tennis tournament in the Exhibition Centre.

English is spoken by most as a second language as it is a required subject in grade school by the 6th grade.  Since I speak a little German, I really enjoy visiting Germany as I like the chance to speak the language to the locals.  I'm German by heritage. 

Germany is a beautiful country and you will enjoy your visit if you like to look back at how things were built centuries ago and more.  The Architecture is something to see.