KTtravel

My husband and I will have a two day layover in Frankfurt at the end of a trip and are wondering if anyone here can recommend somewhere they have enjoyed visiting nearby that would be easily travelled to by train. We will have already visited Frankfurt and Bacharach at the beginning of our trip.
Thank you!

lavandula

Yes, for a point of difference between Frankfurt and Bacharach, you could visit Wiesbaden and also the Rheingau (between Wiesbaden and Rüdesheim). This is a wine-growing area and in certain seasons there are seasonal taverns open in this area. Catch the train between towns. In this area is Eltville castle (ruins with a rose garden) and Kloster Eberbach, where The Name of the Rose was filmed, as well as Schloss Johannisberg, with a fancy restaurant; Goethe was a guest here. If you are willing to go a bit farther afield, Limburg an der Lahn or Idstein are very pretty (lots of Fachwerk).

Wiesbaden is mainly gorgeous 19th century architecture, but has a few standouts such as the Griechische Kapelle, and also the casino and the thermal baths.

Just a few ideas, I have lots more.

Lavandula

KTtravel

Thank you, Lavandula, and for responding to my other thread. Would you recommend staying in Wiesbaden or Rudesheim (both look charming.) Do you think it would be better to rent a car or will we be OK with just using the train?

Thanks for all your help!

lavandula

Hi KTtravel, there are a few ways you could go with accommodation. If you want to stay in the Rheingau itself, you need to know that Rüdesheim, while charming, is also tourist central. Many people get on the boats there and it is often choked with tour buses, and that is a bit polarising, even if it's very pretty. Having said that, a hotel I know in the area (Rüdesheim-Assmannshausen) is Hotel Krone. I have been there for a very fancy lunch and it is pretty nice, and possibly pricy given the location. However, you don't need to stay in Rüdesheim if you like this area, there is a railway line with lots of little townships and it is the favourite pastime of Wiesbadeners to catch the train out there on weekends during the wine-harvesting season and try the wines at a Strausswirtschaft (seasonal tavern), and then catch the train to the next town and repeat . So what I am saying is that any of those towns would be charming too, and equally accessible; try Oestrich-Winkel or Eltville if touristy doesn't float your boat.

https://www.hotel-krone.com

Having said that, Wiesbaden is also a good possibility; a lovely hotel I know there is the Hotel Oranien, which is in the city, just outside the pedestrian zone but unfortunately not near the railway station. However, it is a small, privately-owned hotel with a lot of charm. It places you near the northernmost end of the shopping street Kirchgasse.

https://www.hotel-oranien.de

Do you want a car? Hm. Well, you can do the Rheingau by train, there is even a bus from Eltville to Kloster Eberbach, and if you are considering visiting the taverns, if that is a possibility with your timing, I would not bother with a car. There is even wine tasting and a brandy factory in Rüdesheim (Asbach Uralt), so plenty of incentive to imbibe. But it would help you cover a lot more ground out in those areas, certainly the Kloster and Schloss Johannisberg and Schloss Vollrads would be accessed a lot easier. You can also travel by train to Limburg and Idstein, no problem, but if you want to get around to 2 or 3 places in the same day, then yes, I would take a car. There is parking at the Hotel Oranien, but you might have to reserve it.

Lavandula

KTtravel

Thank you for your great suggestions! This all sounds fun and I appreciate your help. Now, it's time to do a bit of research...

lavandula

You are most welcome, anytime, and enjoy your planning!

Lavandula

Heimdall

Ask the mods to add a tag for Germany to this thread.

mike1728

My vote is for Mainz! Right on the Rhine with a beautiful "old town" area with beautiful, colorful half timbered houses and cobblestone squares, the heart of Germany's wine region. Lots to do and some great restaurants, shops and cafes. Half hour by train the Frankfurt Airport.

KTtravel

Thanks, Mike. Lavandula also mentioned Mainz on the other thread I posted asking about where to stay in Frankfurt. I am going to look at both options - so many good choices!

texasbookworm

While in Frankfurt, I highly recommend a 3-ish hour walking tour run by some American ex-pats https://www.frankfurtonfoot.com/ It's great! I think Frankfurt a bit under-rated as a place for visitors, and this walking tour will give you a good insight into its history and possibilities.

I also highly recommend Mainz; Lavendula knows stuff, so all recommendations good; I just enjoyed Mainz the most.

If you have time to research and like reading trip reports, here's a couple of my experiences while staying in Frankfurt and taking LOTS of day trips--about 4 weeks' worth (used to sometimes go with hubby while he worked there, in our pre-retirement years!) The reports are from (gasp! where'd time go!?) almost 8 and 10 years ago, but as far as destinations, the places will be the same; just check out travel and other specific details for changes and updates.

Daytripping for Two Weeks (or more?) in the Frankfurt Area

An Unexpected Journey: Spring Break in Frankfurt

I

lavandula

Hi texasbookworm, I remember your trip! You got a lot of advice from Mainhattengirl who is now on Tripadvisor (Bornheimgirl / Jo A). I hope I can do your trip justice, KTtravel. I lived in Wiesbaden for several years and return to the Rhein-Main area often, but Mainhattengirl is on the ground in Frankfurt - nothing beats local knowledge!

Lavandula

KTtravel

Thank you both for all of your wonderful ideas. I do love trip planning and will happily read your trip reports, texasbookworm and have been delighted with your suggestions, lavandula. My husband and I love taking walking tours so I am now heading over to the Frankfurt on foot website. Thanks so much!

WeisserTee

Just a quick question: how early is your flight from Frankfurt? If it's an afternoon or evening flight, these are all great suggestions but if it's an early morning flight, you might want to consider spending those two nights in an airport hotel and day trip to the various locations instead. Pre-covid, I flew regularly to the U.S. from Frankfurt and always stayed in one of the two Hilton properties in the Squaire complex attached to the airport (Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn). People staying in the club level of the Hilton have access to a large executive lounge with snacks, beverages including wine, beer, newspapers, etc. You can often find deals for club level rooms -- that was my default choice. The downside of staying at the Squaire, aside from not being in a picturesque town, is that the selection of restaurants is pretty mediocre -- the Hilton restaurants aren't bad, but definitely not destination restaurants.

What I liked best about staying at the Squaire was not having to stress at all about getting to the airport on time along with the ease of checking in (if flying Lufthansa). They have a check-in center right above the train station. It's an easy indoor and clearly signed walk (5 mins max) from the Hilton hotels. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/fra...kfurt-airport/

KTtravel

Thank you, WeisserTee, our flights aren't early so I think we will be OK. I do appreciate knowing about the convenience of that location, in case flight plans change.

In Hong Kong, we once stayed right at the airport hotel before a very early morning flight. It felt luxurious to get up and just walk ourselves over the check in line with zero stress that morning.

janisj

everything seems to be about Germany but your thread is tagged Italy -- as Heimdall mentioned in post 7 above, it might be a good idea to ask the moderators to change the tag

KTtravel

Thanks, Janis - I don't know how that happened!

Moderator1

Changed country tag to Germany

KTtravel

Thank you Moderator1!