Get away from the crowd and head to the soaring city, visit the
financial and commercial capital of Germany, the city's parks, gardens,
original old taverns, vibrant cultural life and elegant shops and
more. This section helps you to have an idea while traveling to
the charming city.
When to Go
The right time to fly off to Germany is mainly during May to late
October, when the weather is at its best. It is wise to avoid Frankfurt
at times of major trade fairs, when attendees commandeer all hotel
rooms and prices soar.
The climate is temperate, although cold spells can plunge the thermometer
well below freezing. Summers are usually sunny and warm, though
you should be prepared for a few cloudy and wet days.
Passports & Visas
Traveling internationally, you must always carry your passport even
if you don't need one. If you lose your passport, promptly call
the nearest embassy or consulate and the local police.
Dinning
Frankfurt offers an extensive selection of cuisine including Mediterranean,
Thai, Japanese, and Latin American and of course German. The city's
most famous specialty is Frankfurter Wurstchen, a long, thin, smoked
pork sausage, together with Frankfurt Crown Cake with a delicious
praline topping. The classic regional drink is 'ebbelwoi', an apple
wine, often found in traditional taverns and served in decorative
clay pitchers.
Etiquette & Behavior
Germans are more formal in addressing each other than Americans.
Always address acquaintances as Herr (Mr.) or Frau (Mrs.) plus their
last name; do not call them by their first name unless invited to
do so. The German language has an informal and formal pronoun for
"you": Formal is "Sie," informal is "du."
Even if adults are on a first-name basis with one another, they
may still keep the Sie form between them.
A handshake is expected upon meeting someone for the first time
and is often customary when simply greeting acquaintances.
Tipping Advice
Service charges are included in most bills, it is customary to tip
porters about 2 DM per bag and hotel cleaning staff about 3 DM per
night. Although a service charge is generally included in restaurant
bills, it is usual to tip around five percent of the bill. Give
the tip to the waiter or waiter as you pay the bill.
Banks & Offices
Banks are generally open weekdays from 8:30 or 9 to 3 or 4 (5 or
6 on Thursday), sometimes with a lunch break of about an hour at
smaller branches. Banks at airports and main train stations open
as early as 6:30 AM and close as late as 10:30 PM.
Embassies & Consulates
Australian Consulate (Grüneburgweg 58-62, Westend, D-60322,
and PHONE: 069/905-580).
British Consulate General (Bockenheimer Landstr. 42, Westend, D-60323,
and PHONE: 069/170-0020).
U.S. Consulate General (Siesmayerstr. 21, Westend, D-60323, and
PHONE: 069/75350).
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