Trains to Frankfurt am Main

The most famous of the city’s sons, the literary hero Goethe, was born here. And, the Goethe-Haus museum, located in the writer’s family residence, is a major port of call for many visitors. It is located just to the south of the prime shopping street, Goethestraße, where shopping fans will find a whole range of international labels, such as Burberry, Gucci, Versace and Louis Vuitton. However, the real treasures are the high-end jewellery stores, and the first among them is Tiffany’s, which was modelled on the New York outlet. Still on Goethestraße but a few minutes further east, visitors will come across Paulskirche. This church is a building with historical significance for German democracy because it was the seat of the first democratically-elected government in 1848.

For visitors who are more interested in culture than history there is the Deutsches Filmmuseum (the German Film Museum), and the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (the German Museum of Architecture). Of course, that is as well as Frankfurt’s Historisches Museum (Historical Museum) and the Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum). These are all clustered around the city centre and, within this area, visitors can also take a break and relax in either of the city’s two botanical gardens — Palmengarten and the next-door Botanischer Garten.

For some food and refreshment, visitors should head back to the area around Paulskirche, where local and international dining options are on offer to tempt any hungry travellers. Traditionalists should try Rippchen (cooked pork served with Sauerkraut), or Grüne Soße (a green sauce made from a mixture of herbs, eggs, oil and vinegar), which can be served with boiled eggs, potatoes or meat.

Top 5 destinations in Frankfurt

1. Städel Museum: As well as the aforementioned historic sites, be sure to stop here and admire this glorious stately building set on beautiful grounds. It houses a fantastic selection of artworks from the Middle Ages to the present, bringing together many of Europe's finest pieces.
2. Römerberg: In Frankfurt's historic market quarter see the old houses that bring to life a sense of what Germany was like back in time. You can visit the Gothic-style church Oude Nicolaaskerk here as well.
3. Frankfurt Cathedral: Built in the 16th century, this is a wonderfully ornate building, full of Renaissance frescoes and a tower that offers more great views across this glorious city.
4. German Architecture Museum: Get a feel for the country's significant contribution to the world of architecture. It literally covers every era of German history, from how prehistoric people built their huts to the techniques used in the towering glass buildings of today.
5. Commerzbank Tower: At almost 60 floors, this is the tallest building in Germany, and indeed one of the tallest in Europe (the second tallest in Western Europe after London's Shard). On the last Saturday of the month, you can take a free tour of the tower. It is well worth visiting even just to take an impressive photo of its masterful exterior.

Getting to Frankfurt from London

Arriving in the modern heart of Germany is a simple matter from London. You'll depart from St Pancras International Station, and on the quickest route will just need to change at Brussels or Paris to carry on to Frankfurt. A typical journey might depart at 10:30am to arrive at Paris Gare du Nord at 1:50pm. You can then spend a couple of hours getting lunch at a Parisian bistro before heading on from Gare de l'Est to travel straight on to Frankfurt.

Travelling via Brussels can be simpler, as you'll arrive and carry on from the same station, Bruxelles-Midi. You'll then arrive in Frankfurt in the late afternoon, with enough time to wander around the city before grabbing a German ale and some schnitzel at a traditional restaurant, ready to wake up the next day and explore this amazing city. Services are provided by Eurostar, SNCF (France) and Deutsche Bahn (Germany). Trains tend to arrive at Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, the city's central station.