Schmap Frankfurt Neighborhood Guide

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Frankfurt - Neighborhood Guide
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Frankfurt Home
Schmap Frankfurt guide and map

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt's most famous resident, once said that "Frankfurt is full of curiosities", and there is still a lot of truth in these words today. One such curiosity is the interplay between the traditional and the modern, which is manifested in the mishmash of towering skyscrapers and tiny, half-timbered houses. With over half a million residents, a large immigrant community, the highest crime rate in the country and, to top it all, the notoriously bad-humoured Hessians, Frankfurt displays all the signs of being an extraordinarily ordinary metropolis.

Ever since the first trade fair took place here in the Middle Ages, Frankfurt has been shaped by business and commerce. Bankfurt is home to over 400 banks including the European Central Bank and Bundesbank, as well as continental Europe's biggest stock exchange. This, in turn, means that the city has become a place of transit, temporary home to many, but permanent home to few.

Yet this does not mean that you'll be twiddling your thumbs and wondering what to do here. Frankfurt has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment and culture. Just read on!

The City

After severe Allied bombing in March 1944, Frankfurt's Altstadt (old town) was almost completely destroyed. Yet there are still many sights to see here; the Römer, Leinwandhaus, Paulskirche, Dom and Goethe Museum are only a few yards apart from each other. If you want to go shopping, you'll find plenty of choice in shopping malls such as the Schillerpassage or the Freßgass Passage. Evening entertainment in the form of theatre or other cultural pursuits can be found in places like Schmiere, Tigerpalast or the Volkstheater.

Bahnhofsviertel

In the 1920s, more than 20,000 people lived in the ornate houses close to the main station, the Hauptbahnhof. Today the Bahnhofsviertel (station quarter) is home to just 4,000 residents. The descent of the neighbourhood into a dubious red light district began in the seventies and a multitude of sex shops, gambling dens, brothels and strip bars now dominate the landscape here. Yet places like the English Theatre and the chamber choir, as well as numerous bars and restaurants means that business people still flock here after finishing work in the nearby banking quarter.

Bockenheim

The district of Bockenheim, home to Frankfurt's Johann Wolfgang Goethe University and some 40,000 students, is extremely lively. The cafés, bistros, pubs and shops near the university have focused their attentions on the young clientele. The Theater am Turm, in the former tram depot, is one of Frankfurt's top addresses for theatre and ballet productions.

Bornheim

The "merry village" of Bornheim spans the divide between the traditional and the trendy. The old-world cider pubs, spanking-new bars, exclusive boutiques and simple corner shops attract a mixed clientele. At the heart of this residential area is Berger Straße, a great place for a bit of shopping. You'll find entertainment a plenty in the Mousonturm and in the Berger Cinema. If you are in need of relaxation, why not try the Chinese Garden or the Ice Rink for a spot of energetic relaxation. The Dippemess Festival, which takes place twice a year, is also a good bet for entertainment.

Höchst

The district of Höchst, which gave its name to the world-famous paint factory, was incorporated into Frankfurt in 1928. The old town and the Bolongaro Palace on the Nidda estuary have been undergoing careful restoration since the 1970s. The Neues Theater Höchst, a busy cultural centre with cabaret, comedy and children's theatre has established itself as a magnet for the public. Big-time concerts and artistic performances take place in the Jahrhunderthalle. The highlight of Höchst's entertainment calendar, however, is the Schloß- und Altstadtfest (Castle and Old Town Festival) in the summer.

Nordend

The most densely populated and popular residential area of Frankfurt, Nordend boasts attractive streets and quaint Nineteenth century houses, as well as numerous pubs and small shops. The area used to be dominated by the left-wing alternative scene but is now home to a community of wealthy bankers who live here alongside the student population. People meet up in one of the many Italian, Greek or Turkish restaurants in the area, or in bars such as Harveys or Kasimir.

Ostend

Once a run-down working-class district, Ostend is today a much sought after residential area. This neighbourhood now has much more to offer than just industrial parks, it also has countless ornate villas, and plenty of culture and entertainment possibilities: Literary enthusiasts meet in the Romanfabrik, while young party people head for the LOFT House. Furniture design shops such as Kontrast, as well as dozens of advertising agencies and film producers have moved into the old warehouses in the area.

Sachsenhausen

The district of Sachsenhausen on the opposite bank of the River Main is known for its cider and its old, half-timbered houses. Old Sachsenhausen has lost some of its charm over recent decades, but still has a lot to offer, like the elegant town houses on the river bank and fine boutiques on the elegant Schweizer Straße. Art and culture are alive at Museumsufer, where the National Film Museum, Museum of Ethnology and the Städel Museum are all located.

Westend

Westend is situated in the shadows of the skyscrapers and high-rises which are home to the city's banks and financial companies. In the Seventies, the district was full of students and squatters demonstrating against the destruction of the area's old buildings. Today, offices and banks lend the area its character, and owners of the luxury flats and penthouse suites meet up to jog in Grüneburg park or relax in the Palm Garden. The recently restored Synagogue, the monumental IG-Farbenhaus and the Alte Oper are all well worth a visit.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Bahnhofsviertel

Frankfurt
Germany

In the 1920s, more than 20,000 people lived in the ornate houses close to the main station, the Hauptbahnhof. Today the Bahnhofsviertel (station quarter) is home to just 4,000 residents. The descent of the neighbourhood into a dubious red light district began in the seventies and a multitude of sex shops, gambling dens, brothels and strip bars now dominate the landscape here. Yet places like the English Theatre and the chamber choir, as well as numerous bars and restaurants means that business people still flock here after finishing work in the nearby banking quarter.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Thomas Pitz

Bockenheim

Frankfurt
Germany
The district of Bockenheim, home to Frankfurt's Johann Wolfgang Goethe University and some 40,000 students, is extremely lively. The cafés, bistros, pubs and shops near the university have focused their attentions on the young clientele. The Theater am Turm in the former tram depot is one of Frankfurt's top addresses for theatre and ballet productions.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: fishy_

Bornheim

Frankfurt
Germany
The "merry village" of Bornheim spans the divide between the traditional and the trendy. The old-world cider pubs, spanking-new bars, exclusive boutiques and simple corner shops attract a mixed clientele. At the heart of this residential area is Berger Straße, a great place for a bit of shopping. You'll find entertainment a plenty in the Mousonturm and in the Berger Cinema. If you are in need of relaxation, why not try the Chinese Garden or the Ice Rink for a spot of energetic relaxation. The Dippemess Festival, which takes place twice a year, is also a good bet for entertainment.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: citylovesyou_ffm
Photo: uncle.o.
Photo: uncle.o.
Photo: bornheim.mitte
Photo: Birger Hoppe
Photo: Yvonne Schüttler
Photo: julia.schlegelmilch

City Centre

Frankfurt
Germany
After servere Allied bombing in March 1944, Frankfurt's Altstadt (old town) was almost completely destroyed. Yet there are still many sights to see here - the Römer, Leinwandhaus, Paulskirche, Dom and Goethe Museum are only a few yards apart from each other. If you want to go shopping, you'll find plenty of choice in shopping malls such as the Schillerpassage or the Freßgass Passage. Evening entertainment in the form of theatre or other cultural pursuits can be found in places like Schmiere, Tigerpalast or the Volkstheater.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: gwanyerselsun
Photo: Albert Pang
Photo: Jem Richardson
Photo: Jakob Moehs
Photo: Daniel Daranas
Photo: Pete
Photo: suvarn

Nordend

Frankfurt
Germany
The most densely populated and popular residential area of Frankfurt, Nordend boasts attractive streets and quaint 19th century houses, as well as numerous pubs and small shops. The area used to be dominated by the left-wing alternative scene but is now home to a community of wealthy bankers who live here alongside the student population. People meet up in one of the many Italian, Greek or Turkish restaurants in the area, or in bars such as Harveys or Kasimir.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: David Weekly
Photo: zigarrenberger

Ostend

Frankfurt
Germany
Once a run-down working-class district, Ostend is today a much sought after residential area. This neighbourhood now has much more to offer than just industrial parks, it also has countless ornate villas and plenty of culture and entertainment possibilities: Literary enthusiasts meet in the Romanfabrik, while young party people head for the LOFT House. Furniture design shops such as Kontrast, as well as dozens of advertising agencies and film producers have moved into the old warehouses in the area.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Daniel da Rocha
Photo: Nils Bremer

Westend

Frankfurt
Germany
Westend is situated in the shadows of the skyscrapers and high-rises which are home to the city's banks and financial companies. In the seventies, the district was full of students and squatters demonstrating against the destruction of the area's old buildings. Today, offices and banks lend the area its character, and owners of the luxury flats and penthouse suites meet up to jog in Grüneburg park or relax in the Palm Garden. The recently restored Synagogue, the monumental IG-Farbenhaus and the Alte Oper are all well worth a visit.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: David Jalbert-Gagnie
Photo: DRK OV Schwanheim-Goldstein
Photo: Rene Godder

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Frankfurt - Neighborhood Guide"
Frankfurt
Frankfurt - Historical Background
Frankfurt - Where to Stay
Frankfurt - Dining & Drinking
Frankfurt - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Bonn (132 miles)
Cologne (153 miles)
Dusseldorf (184 miles)
Munich (301 miles)
Brussels (316 miles)
Antwerp (325 miles)
Amsterdam (365 miles)
Hamburg (396 miles)
Prague (409 miles)
Salzburg (410 miles)

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