International Student Accommodation in Frankfurt
City Guide
The City
With its towering skyscrapers and plethora of financial institutions, Frankfurt is often referred to as ‘Bankfurt’ or ‘Mainhatten.’ Yet behind this façade, lies a city of immense charm, energy and diversity. The city is home to an extensive collection of exceptional museums, with art, architecture and sculpture particularly prominent. It should thus come as no surprise, that the birthplace of Goethe plays host to an extremely varied and diverse cultural scene.
Frankfurt is divided into districts (Stadtteile), the most notable of which include Bockenheim (university area), Westend (banking district), Bornheim (trendy district) Altsachsenhausen (old town) and Innenstadt (city centre).
City Sights
Paulskirche (Dom Cathedral)- was the setting for the Frankfurt Assembly of 1848-9, convened in order to bring about German unification and establish a constitutional democracy. The parliament was however, quickly dissolved and it was not until 1870-1 that Germany became a unified nation.
Römerberg/Römer- Frankfurt’s town hall (Rathaus) and surrounding area are located at the heart of the city centre. A collection of pretty, half-timbered buildings has earned this area 'UNESCO World Heritage' recognition. It is also a lively meeting point, and perhaps the most photographed part of the city.
Alte Oper- this impressive, neo-classical concert hall situated just a stone’s throw away from the city centre, presents a varied programme of classical performances.
Palmengarten- the city’s park/botanical garden, is situated between Bockenheim and Westend. It hosts a number of colourful botanical displays in addition to musical events throughout the summer months.
European Central Bank- this financial institution, one of the largest and most powerful central banks in the world, is located at Willy-Brandt Platz
Stock Exchange/Börse- Germany’s stock market is located just off Schillerstraße in close proximity to the city centre. Tours are organized to give visitors an insight into the fast-paced world of the stock market. Beware of the bull and the bear statues upon entry, a symbol of the highs and lows of share prices.
Zeil- Frankfurt’s main shopping street is not quite comparable to London’s Oxford Street, but numerous international brands, as well as two large department stores, cater for all needs and tastes.
Grosse Bockenheimer Straße (‘Fressgass’)- this street, which leads up to Zeil, consists of one long stretch of eateries. The cuisine on this street is not particularly diverse, but its bistro-style cafés serve up a mixture of local fare and generally hearty dishes.
Museums
The Städel art museum- offers a comprehensive collection of art, including renowned masterpieces by the likes of Monet, Van Gogh, Manet and Picasso.
The Liebighaus- possesses an extensive range of sculpture from the Egyptian, Greek and Roman periods.
Goethehaus- the world-renowned poet, novelist and painter (this list is not exhaustive) spent the formative years of life here. Displays include Goethe’s private library, home to an impressive quantity of books, in addition to the table at which Goethe composed, perhaps his chef-d’oeuvre or rather his Meisterwerk, the Sorrows of Young Werther. (Die Leiden des jungen Werthers).
Jewish Museum/Judengasse- the former gives a detailed account of the turbulent history of the city’s Jewish population throughout the ages. The latter contains part of the remains of Frankfurt’s oldest Jewish quarter.
Schirn Art Hall (Kunsthalle)- this museum offers temporary exhibitions on various forms of art and photography and is regarded as one of the leading art galleries in Europe.
Museum Senckenberg- this is the largest natural history museum in Germany, containing an extensive collection of dinosaur skeletons.
Transport
Frankfurt is conveniently located not too far from the centre of the country and its extensive transport links, both rail and aerial, make travel very simple. That said, transport across Germany, particularly by train, can be very expensive, especially if you opt to travel by ICE (fast-speed train).
One alternative, particularly popular among students, is the ‘mitfahrzentrale’, an online organisation which pairs up drivers and passengers. You simply type in your desired date and time of travel, along with your origin and destination. This is safer than hitchhiking, as drivers have to supply details to the organisation, including license plate number. Another option is Deutsche Touring, a coach company which offers a cheaper, yet rather slower, method of transport across Germany. A typical journey from Frankfurt to Hamburg is likely to take a minimum of six hours.
N.B. Students have to pay a ‘Studienbeitrag’ before registering at university. This costs approximately 200€ and entitles you to a ‘Semesterticket’, including free transport on all buses and trains in Frankfurt and the surrounding area for the duration of one university semester.
University
The main university in Frankfurt is the Johann-Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, founded in 1914. Its 35,000 students are spread across several campuses, the main two of which are situated in Bockenheim and Westend. It offers a 'Welcome Programme', as well as a free German-language introductory course, called ‘DIA Kurs’. This takes place a month before the start of each semester. (March and August). The course is highly recommended for those wanting to brush up on their linguistic skills and learn more about German cultural traditions and the city of Frankfurt itself.
The city is also home to many other higher-education institutions called Fachhochschulen, which specialise in fields such as finance and applied sciences.
I would recommend that students wanting to brush up on their German grammar and vocab and also hoping to deepen their knowledge of German culture and literature, take some of the courses offered by Dr Dormann. Dr Dormann is the head of German Studies for foreign students, whose office can be found on the 1st floor of 133 Bockenheimer Landstrasse (the main building on the Bockenheim campus). The other staff in this department, including Herr Dr Schulze-Bünte and Frau Walz-Sackis are also very helpful. There is a red leaflet that students can pick up from Dr Dormann which lists all the courses available. Alternatively, use the university website to find a list of courses available.
I took two courses on Mondays, both given by Herr Schulze-Bünte. The first, from 9-10.30, was 'Grammatik und Wortschatz' (grammar class) and the second 10.30-12, was 'Textarbeit und Schreiben'. These courses were both useful, the latter being quite challenging and stimulating; dealing with some classic texts in German literature (e.g Kafka). They were both held at the Westend campus. The third course I chose from this department was on Tuesdays, held from 10.30-12, 'Texte zur politischen Kultur' (times may have changed), which offers a good introduction to the German political system. It is held at the Bockenheim campus, in what is called Neue Mensa. Neue Mensa is another name for 133 Bockenheimer Landstrasse. All of these courses were attended by around 6-12 students, so they were not overcrowded, as can be the case with some of the very popular courses.
If you also study French, there are two courses, both on Wednesdays, that you may find interesting. The first being: 'Relations franco-allemandes' and the second, 'les éléctions présidentielles'. The latter was particularly interesting as it dealt with topical debates and themes and involved lengthy discussion.
Before the start of the semester, students are advised to get hold of a 'Lehrverzeichnis,' or 'Vorlesungsverzeichnis', a comprehensive list of all the courses offered by the university. These can be bought in Neue Mensa for a few Euros, but sometimes the information can be found on the university website (www.uni-frankfurt.de).
With regards to assessment, students are expected to either submit a written essay (around 5-6 A4 sides) or to give an oral presentation lasting about 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow students to gain the full amount of credits available, which varies depending on the level of the course (introductory or advanced level), but is usually 2 or 3 ECTS credits. In some courses, students can still gain some credits just by attending the courses. But it is worthwhile to participate as much as possible. The German department for foreign students offer a course for international students, called AkadeMI Kurs. This currently offers 9 credits but the level is fairly basic. One advantage is that it offers some excursions, such as a trip to the HQ of the newspaper: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
Food and Drink
Frankfurt’s ethnically diverse population is reflected in the wide variety of cuisines it offers. Authentic Korean and Turkish restaurants are just two of the varieties found in close proximity to the main train station, Hauptbahnhof. Whilst good Italian eateries are scattered across the whole city, these restaurants can be rather expensive, especially those that are conveniently situated near to the station.
The ubiquity of traditional German fare ensures that visitors have the opportunity to sample dishes such as the odd-sounding ‘Handkäs mit Musik’, a sort of sour milk cheese marinated with onions and vinegar, or ‘Grüne Sosse’, a green sauce made from a secret recipe. All that is known about the sauce is that it consists of, no less than, nine different herbs.
A typical meal will cost around 10€. Don’t forget to try Frankfurt’s very own traditional cider Apfelwein, or ‘Ebbelwoi’, as the locals like to call it. These hearty meals are dished up in quaint taverns scattered across the Altsachsenhausen district. The most popular of these are found along the Schweizer Straße and the neighbouring streets. Those feeling less adventurous, can find comfort in the form of an Irish and an English pub, whose menus are sure to please the homesick traveller.
Out on the Town
Frankfurt boasts a number of lively nightclubs and bars, ranging from all-out dance clubs to more relaxing bars.
The Cocoon Club (Carl-Benz Straße)- has become something of a Frankfurt institution, an ultra-modern club attracting world-renowned DJs.
Tigerpalast (Heiligkreuzgasse)- comprises a restaurant, bistro, bar and theatre. Visitors dine and are then treated to repertoire of acrobatics and trapeze artistry.
Brotfabrik (Bachmannstraße)- is a lively, convivial bar, situated in the Hausen district. It has a schedule packed with live musical performances and offers an extensive array of cocktails and other beverages.
Day Tripper
Those seeking a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of Frankfurt’s city centre, need only venture about half an hour out of the city. The region is surrounded by a Green-belt, ’Grüngürtel’, making weekend escapes to the countryside very appealing.
Notable among these are Königstein am Taunus, a spa town inhabited by some of the region’s most affluent residents. Also Kronberg, another spa town replete with tourist attractions, among these a 13th century castle and a zoo. The capital of the region, Wiesbaden, is just a short distance to the west of Frankfurt. The region’s parliament, as well as a world-famous casino and thermal springs, offer a worthwhile day trip.
Annual Events
Fankfurter Buchmesse- largest book fair worldwide (mid October),
Nacht der Museen- the majority of museums open their doors until late (May).
How to make your life easier
Internet; Internet cafés can be found all over the city and a couple are situated on the Leipziger Straße leading to the Bockenheim campus. International phone cards can be purchased at these cafés. They usually cost 5€ or 10€. They can be used in a telephone box (Telefonzelle) but they will last much longer if you use from a landline (Festnetz).
Shops; There are several supermarkets to choose from, with familiar names Aldi and Lidl competing with Penny Market and the slightly more upmarket Rewe.
The two large department stores: Galeria Kaufhof and Karstadt are located on the main shopping street Zeil. Smaller streets leading off Zeil, offer an alternative shopping experience. Goethestraße for instance, home to Tiffany and Gucci stores, may not appeal to those on a tight budget. A well-stocked English-language bookstore is to be found on Börsenstraße. Many shops will remain closed on a Sunday, yet some bakeries will open for a few hours in the morning and some ethnic shops and grocery stores may well be open for the whole day.
The large Hugendubel bookstore between Grosse Bockenheimer Straße and Zeil offers a comprehensive selection of both German and English language books, DVDs and music, but second-hand bookstores (a large one is permanently situated on Bockenheim campus) are also found across the city.
Useful Websites:
http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/
http://www.touring.de/
http://www.bahn.de/
http://www.mitfahrzentrale.de/
http://www.frankfurt.de/
http://www.nacht-der-museen.de/
http://www.frankfurt-book-fair.com/
http://www.frankfurt-airport.de/
http://www.germany-tourism.de/
The boring stuff
To view some further information about Bank Accounts & Money transfers, Internet & Telephone and Health, visit our Germany homepage.
Guide written by Arron Mendell, English exchange student Frankfurt, 2006/2007.
:: asm | 25 Mar 2008
Frankfurt is a city bursting with culture and entertainment. The birthplace of Goethe, it offers a wide array of fine museums as well as bars and resturants to suit all tastes.
The main shopping street 'Zeil' houses the big labels, whilst adjoining sidestreets offer more quaint antique and secondhand shops. Those looking for traditional F...
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