Photo: Gerda Arendt · CC0
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Frankfurt sights our friend picked out, plus Hochheim am Main, a small wine town on the River Main with an old town, vineyards and wine-estate taverns.
Sights our friend picked, all within walking distance of each other in the city centre.
The only skyscraper in Frankfurt open to the public. Its open-air deck, about 200 metres up, looks out over the banking district and the River Main. All the towers have earned the city the nickname "Mainhattan".
Opened in 1880, the opera house was bombed into ruins in the Second World War and left derelict for decades. After a citizens' fundraising campaign it was rebuilt to its original design and reopened in 1981 as a concert hall. Take in the grand façade and the fountain on the square in front.
A botanical garden opened in 1871, with several large glasshouses for tropical rainforest, desert plants and rare species, plus a butterfly house. On a cold day the warm greenhouses are a treat.
A small wine town on the River Main, under half an hour from Frankfurt by S-Bahn.
A protected historic old town full of half-timbered houses. The walk from the S-Bahn station takes about 10–15 minutes and passes vineyards and the Church of St. Peter and Paul.
Hochheim's vineyards sit on the slopes above the Main and form the easternmost corner of the Rheingau wine region, famous for Riesling. The old English word "hock" for German white wine is said to come from the name Hochheim.
A small square in the middle of the old town with a statue of the Madonna, surrounded by cafés, an ice-cream shop and benches. An easy place to meet up.
Set among the vineyards by the river. Queen Victoria once visited Hochheim, and the vineyard next to the monument is named after her: Königin Victoriaberg. The walk from the old town takes about 25–30 minutes through the vines and makes a lovely stroll.
Late October is the tail end of the harvest, when the leaves start turning gold.
The menus lean towards meat, such as Schnitzel. For a vegetarian option, ask whether they have a vegetarian Flammkuchen (a thin, crispy flatbread) or cheese dishes.