Getting there
There are a number of scheduled flight options from Manchester.
Lufthansa have a few flights a day, as do
BA. Another option
is
Swiss Air via Zurich, with decent flight
times and good connections in Zurich.
Getting from the airport into Frankfurt couldn't be easier - there's a
direct S-bahn (local train) service. It's the S8
that you want; it runs every 15 minutes and only takes 11 minutes. Keep an eye
out for the ground on the way in.
Incidentally, don't be tempted by any cheap budget flights into Frankfurt
Hahn. It's actually quite scandalous that they make
Hahn out to be a Frankfurt airport because it's sixty odd miles
away. The transfer time will make you wish you'd forked out the extra for a flight to Frankfurt proper.
Manchester airport
Frankfurt airport
Getting around
This being Germany, they've got a fully integrated, efficient transport system
incorporating buses, trams, underground trains (U-bahn and S-bahn) and normal
trains.
And it doesn't just cover Frankfurt, but extends about 50 miles in every
direction. You can buy single tickets (from machines or bus
drivers), or an All Day ticket which is a good deal if you're going to be
catching more than a couple of rides. Don't be tempted to try riding without a
ticket because plain clothes inspectors are quite common.
Local transport
(everything you could possibly want to know..... and it's in English!)
Transport map
(whole city)
Transport map
(centre only)
Guides & info
Unfortunately there isn't really much to see in Frankfurt. There used to be a
big medieval old town (Altstadt) in the centre, but it basically got totally
flattened in the last war. Just about the only thing left standing was the
cathedral, and even that was badly damaged. A few of the replacement buildings
were built in traditional style, but most of the place is pretty characterless.
Nowadays Frankfurt is Germany's major financial centre, which is reflected in
the numerous modern skyscrapers.
Football Supporters' Federation (top quality guide to city and ground)
Frankfurt tourism site
(good site)
Rough Guides
SideStep (American site, but good)
inyourpocket
Where to drink (or possibly not to)
There's an area around the station where there are quite a few bars. Be aware
though that it can be a bit dodgy, especially after dark -
SideStep
says "In a 16-square-block area in front of the Hauptbahnhof, you'll
find a rowdy kind of entertainment: what the Germans call
erotische Spiele. Doormen will
practically pull you inside to view porno movies, sex shows, sex shops, and
discos teeming with prostitutes.
Warning: This area can be
dangerous - don't come here alone." As it
happens, the main drinking area in Frankfurt is actually on the other
side of the river in Sachsenhausen (map).
The local name for this part of town is Ebbelweiviertel (a colloquial term for
Apfelwein Viertel, or Cider Quarter - cider being a big thing in Frankfurt
apparently). There are a three or four narrow cobble streets literally lined
with bars. Most of them are very un-German mind! And although there must be best
part of a hundred bars altogether, all but 4 or 5 are only open from 5pm. From
Rough Guides:
An Sibin: One of Frankfurt's main Irish bars, popular with local
ex-pats and with Kilkenny, Guinness and Murphys on tap; live music at weekends
Irish Pub: Frankfurt's original Irish pub, established in 1971 and still
one of the best in the country, with regular live music sessions
Tannenbaum: Friendly English pub-style place with beer garden and tasty
food
Zum Jodler: Czech speciality place with Budweiser
Budvar (the original) on tap
There isn't very much at all in the city centre proper. There are one or two
bars around the main square in the Altstadt (map).
In summer you can sit at tables in the square, otherwise
there isn't much to attract you to this part of town.
A final option is a small area to the north east of the Altstadt (map).
Again, this is an extract from
Rough Guides:
Bar Central: A long-established pillar of the Frankfurt Szene;
happy hour 8–9pm, and good music at all times
Zu den Zwölf Aposteln: Frankfurt's first Hausbrauerei (home brew pub),
producing organically brewed light and dark beers; the ground-floor restaurant
serves Balkan cuisine
Pub guide
O'Reillys (massive Irish bar opposite the station)
MacGowan's ('genuine' Irish pub, run by two brothers from just south of
Dublin)
Even though there's absolutely nothing
around the ground (it's in the middle of a wood!), come match time there'll be
loads of vans there selling all manner of food and drink.
Hotels
Frankfurt is very much a business city, so budget accommodation is very thin on
the ground. Your best bet might actually be to stay a few miles away in
Offenbach.
LateRooms.com
Venere.com (enter a discount code of BP93PTS on the Booking Details
screen to get 4% off)
Accor Hotels
Frankfurt tourism booking service
Club and ground
Eintracht play at the spanking brand new Commerzbank Arena, which has a
capacity of 52,000. The ground is a couple of miles out of
the centre (map),
but this being Germany there are really good public transport links.
The same S8 that you got from the airport will take you to the ground, although you'll have a half
a mile walk from the station. There are also special trams (no 21) every 3
minutes from outside the main
station in Frankfurt. Away fans are housed in the southern section of the east end
of the ground. Naturally this is the part of the ground that's furthest away
from all the transport! Note that your match ticket covers you for a return
journey (from anywhere within the area, and starting 5 hours before kick-off) to
and from the ground.
Official Eintracht site (in German, but with a link to a cut-down version in
English)
Stadium site
