£20 in... Frankfurt

£20 IN... FRANKFURT

Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is the economic hub of Germany - where stock-brokers spend their days making cold hard cash in looming skyscrapers.

But it’s not all Wolf of Wall Street, deutsche-style.

Frankfurt is also the techno capital, where abandoned warehouses fill up with hardcore beats every goddam night.

But just how far will £20 get you in this mish-mash world of suits and glow-sticks?

Do This

‘I’m too cool for this’

No you’re not pal, no one is.

The Ebbelwei Express is a psychedelic tram that ferries passengers on an hour-long loop round the city, complete with a glass of local cider and traditional pretzels. You’ll see loads of Frankfurt’s finest sights, all while listening to dubious German pub music. Score. £7
Enjoy that sicky feeling of vertigo as you look down over people as small as ants? Then get climbing the Main Tower - its famous observation deck over the city costs £6.
If like Gandalf you like Two Towers, head to Eschenheimer Turm, one of the only surviving bits of the city’s medieval wall. £0 to have a look, wildly expensive to eat inside its Michelin starred restaurant. Outside it is then.
If Eschenheimer Turm got your old-juices flowing (ick) get yourself to Römerberg, the prettiest square in the land. There’s shops and cafes, but mostly you’ll just want to gaze at it adoringly.

More free walking can be done on Berger Strasse - Frankfurt’s longest street is always buzzing with events and bars.
Don’t let the suits put you off, Frankfurt’s got its share of weirdos. Check out Schirn Kunsthalle - it’s a modern art centre full of artsy fun like giant pom-pom pits and queer cabaret nights.
Palmengarten champions the three ‘P’s: palm trees, picnics and pedalos. There’s concerts in the evening and a light festival in winter. £6 for regular entry.
Ypsilon Buchladen & Café has been the city’s fave leftie bookshop and cafe since 1978. It’s even still got political slogans covering its walls #atrumpisafartinengland

Eat This

Apfelwein (apple cider) and pretzels are Frankfurt’s fave snacks - get ‘em at any stall for a couple of quid.

Feeling a little hungrier? ‘Green sauce’ is an egg based sauce stuffed with seven herbs and served with boiled potatoes and hard-boiled eggs - you can get it from all local taverns. Erm, yummer.
Kleinmarkthalle is the real foodie hub - a giant indoor market dating back to the 1980s. There are more than 60 stalls, selling German wurst, Italian ravioli, Turkish pistachios and Japanese sushi, as well as having a wine hall on the balcony.

Locals love Ilse Schreiber, the best hot dog in Frankfurt (and that’s saying something). Just follow the queue to find it. (£2.50)

Drink This

Ebbelwoi cider or ‘apple wine’ is King here. Get your tangy fill at traditional Gemalte Haus.

One of the best things about Frankfurt is that they’ve transformed all their farmers’ markets into alcoholic drink pits. Head to Kleinmarkthalle (every day except Sun), Konstablerwache (Thurs and Sat), Friedberger Platz (Fridays), Erzeugermarkt Konstablerwache (Tues and Sat) and Schillerstraße (Fri) for local wines, beers and schnapps.

Dance Here

At night, Frankfurt sheds its buttoned-up-shirt and goes raving. Tanzhaus West is the best rowdy warehouse to lose your little mind in. Entry fee depends on the night, but around a fiver.

Sum Up:

Frankfurt is a city with a split-personality. Uptight in the day, loose AF in the night. But it’s also just one of those places that’s great to roam around, stumbling on hidden gardens and secret sausage shacks. You can’t do everything here on £20, but you can see Frankfurt’s layers (and do it all with an apfelwein in hand).