LivingCountry

This article uses as basis a text that originally appeared on Campus Germany in German only. We give you an impressionist reading of it, with our own experiences in the city added on. So what exactly does one do in Frankfurt when you're not working or studying? Thing is, bankers and traders do not shut down when the local European exchanges call it a day. They keep their eye on the New York bourses, which still have five hours to go.
Even that driven group does what Frankfurters like best. After work, meet at a cafe. When something then happens on the New York stock exchange, there's a sudden somewhat panicky flurry of activity, much to the joy of those who can really wind down.

Having a good time in Frankfurt is easy to find. The cafe ("kneipe") or when the weather is good, the "Schankgarten" (outside terrace) are where many a local go to unwind and meet new people. "Babbeln" - chatting that is, is the favorite local pass time. The shared tables present a low barrier to starting a conversation.

What may though, is the local dialect, which is even for native German speakers an acquired skill. But beer helps. The locals, when they see you struggle, will change to "Hochdeutsch" - proper German, at least until the beer helps no more.

This epitomizes Frankfurt. Even though it is a big city in Europe, it does not feel like one. In terms of population, it somewhat bigger than say Brussels (Belgium), but it is more like Antwerp (Belgium) and could even be compared to Montreal (Canada). Frankfurt retains its human scale.

The idea of Frankfurt as a concrete jungle is a common misconception born out of the flashing coverage by the business media. Yes, Frankfurt is continental Europe's dynamic financial center. But it is so much more than that. Frankfurt's livability comes from the many distinct towns it is made up of. From the Brooklyn-esque upper Bergerstrasse (above number 135) to the leafy Bockenheim, which oozes charm (and expensive looking houses)?

The Wednesday and Saturday morning markets near the Bergerstrasse bring out that small town feeling, which is so important for a sustainable community. Each district in Frankfurt carefully maintains its unique feeling and that makes the city people centric. In addition, there are many parks and green spaces to enjoy, all easily reachable with either public transport, on foot or by car. When exploring by car, be mindful of the difficulties in finding parking spaces. On the street, they tend to be small and limited in time.