Some 80, 000 Muslims live and work in Frankfurt and there are many mosques. Noor Mosque which opened in 1959 CE was the first mosque in Frankfurt followed by Imam Ali Mosque established in 1961 CE. Abu Bakr Mosque was named after the first Caliph of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) Established in 2007 CE, the mosque has been constructed in traditional Islamic architectural style with a spacious prayer room for men. Women are on the separate second floor gallery. Many more mosques can be found around the station. Frankfurt is also the cultural centre of Hesse province, the city boasts a heavyweight selection of art galleries, museums, theatres and an opera house. And with good transport connections and lots of hotels, the city has evolved as one of the world’s main exhibition and trade fair destinations. It is the site of the largest book fair and car show and hosts a range of events relating to healthcare, music, textiles, banking and cosmetics.

The River Main flows from east to west dividing the city. On the north bank are four sections. First is the financial district between the Alte Oper and the station, dominated by the twin tower 24 storey Deutsche Bank. Second the Old city which has the river to the south and the rest enclosed by city walls. Third is the fashionable cutting edge residential district of Westend a little to the north. Fourth is the trade district of Messegelande to the west between the main station and the exhibition centre.

South of the river is Sachsenhausen, a medieval district of narrow streets and 16th and 17th century CE houses. The main street is Neur Wall. One of Europe’s cultural highlights, the embankment is home to the Stadel Museum of Art, the Architecture Museum, the Film Museum which showcases the development of cinema and the Communications Museum which traces the IT revolution. The industrial areas are on the outskirts.

For a bird’s eye view of the city take the lift up Main Tower, Frankfurt’s tallest at 200 metres. Next, head for Romerberg, the old central square. The Romer (Town Hall) is a complex of 15th to 18th century CE buildings including the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). Opposite is a group of stately houses known as the Ostzeile. One of them, Steiner Haus, originally built for a silk merchant, is now home to the Frankfurt Artists’ League. A little further on Grosse-Hirschgraben lies Goethe Haus, birthplace of the illustrious writer and novelist Johann Wolfgang Goethe in 1749 CE. Although the house was destroyed during World War II, it has been carefully and lovingly rebuilt and restored. On display is the desk where this novelist, dramatist and poet wrote Egmont and Gotz von Berlichingen. Next door is a museum which recreates the atmosphere of an upper middle class home in 18th century CE Frankfurt. And even if you are not familiar with Faust, don’t miss the library. Next up is the neoRenaissance Alte Opera, the Old Opera House which once attracted the cream of society. It was destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt during the 1980s CE. The original was designed by Berlin architect Richard Lucae and the facade has been completed in the same style. Today, as well as staging operas, the modern interior is used as a conference centre. If, like me,you like museums there are more beyond the south bank. The triangular Museum fur Modern Kunst, the “slice of cake” according to a local wag, showcases contemporary arts. Liebieghaus, built in 1896 CE for a Czech industrialist, today houses a sculpture museum. It displays works from ancient times to Mannerism, Baroque and Rococo. Afterwards a good place to unwind is the botanical Palmengarten rose and formal gardens. And for children there is a playground, little train rides and a mini lake with rowing boats for hire. In the shopping department the pedestianized main street, Zell, has all the chain stores. High end names such as Gucci, Chanel and Cartier are clustered on Goethestrasse. And independent original boutiques are located along Schweizerstrasse in Sachsenhausen. For antiques Fahrgasse is the place as well as Braubachstrasse. And if food is your thing try the delicatessens on Grosse Bockenheimerstrasse or the Kleinmarkthalle. Once a week a busy Saturday fleamarket is held 0800-1400 along Museumsufer.

Getting around is easy. The Alstadt sights are easily seen on foot. Should you tire, the U Bahn train covers the central area of Frankfurt while the S Bahn extends to outlying districts. There are also trams and buses which are quiet, clean and easy to negotiate. Tickets are interchangeable throughout the network and are sold at newspaper kiosks or station dispensing machines. A good plan is to buy a day ticket which can be used for 24 hours. Taxis are ranked at various points in the centre and are available around the clock at the transport hub, the Hauptbanhof rail station. Frankfurt’s top hotel is the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof, an effortlessly elegant palace opened in 1876 CE and located centrally. Finery, personal service and a time-warped atmosphere are hallmarks of this outstanding accommodation. Next in line is the Westin Grand, a newly-designed hotel in the heart of the city’s shopping district.

Villa Kennedy is a luxury five-star place in Sachsenhausen. Part of the Rocco Forte Collection, it is convenient for the museums and also has a superb spa. In the mid-range NH Hotel Frankfurt City offers understated style in a central location north of Konstablerwoche. And for budget travellers the Hotel Excelsior can be found beside the Hauptbanhof.

In the dining department traditional fare such as fillet of fish in Frankfurter Grune sauce can be found at Haus Wertheym and Lennox. For an informal lunch go to Kleinemarkthalle where you can sample Turkish, German and Italian dishes. Halal restaurants with a Persian flavour are Pistazie and Bayram. For Arabic specialities try Alt Byblos, Zenobia, Safran or Hafez. And Shahi does excellent Indian curries. Well presented dishes with a Spanish, middle Eastern and Japanese influence can be found at NH Hotel Frankfurt City’s restaurant. For a really special treat Restaurant Francais at Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof is the place. In the entertainment department Frankfurt has a lively arts scene. The cinemas at the Filmmuseum often show English language films. Look for posters in the U and S-bahn stations; if the language used is English, so is the movie. Three theatres on three stages can be found at Schauspiel Frankfurt. Listings can be checked at "http://www.kinoservice.de" www.kinoservice.de. There are also free What’s On magazines Fritz and Stranght available from tourist offices. Useful sites are "http://www.atleoper.de" www.atleoper.de, "http://www.battett-frankfurt.de" www.battett-frankfurt.de and "http://www.english-theater.org" www.english-theater.org

If you have time to spare don’t miss a day or overnight trip to Wiesbaden. It lies just 40 km away – an easy train ride from the Hauptbanhof. The Romans had a fort here and the hot springs have been frequented for centuries. Its heyday as a fashionable spa town was after German Unification in 1871 CE. Famous visitors to this town of stately Neoclassical buildings, grand hotels and opulent villas include Kaiser Wilhlem II, Bismarck, Dostoevsky, Brahms and Wagner. Take the funicular up to Neroberg, enjoy a swim at Bauhaus Opelbad outdoor pool and afterwards take a kaffe and kuchen (coffee and cake) stop at Cafe Maldaner. Make it a slice of Wiesbaden Torten, a delicious confection of pineapple and chocolate. Guten appétit!