Frankfurt City Guide - Frankfurt Zoo - Palm Garden - Goethe-Museum

Frankfurt Zoo
Frankfurt's zoo is one of the most attractive in Europe and is very popular with both locals and visitors. It celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2008, and is Germany's second oldest after Berlin. There are 13 different areas in these 14 hectares (35 acres) of land, where thousands of animals from all over the world, including eight endangered species, can be observed. The obvious highlight is the Grzimek Haus, where artificial darkness is created in order to observe nocturnal animals going about their business.

Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16
Tel: (069) 2123 3735.
Website: www.zoo-frankfurt.de
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1900 (summer); daily 0900-1700 (winter).
Admission charge.

Palmengarten (Palm Garden)
The Palm Garden is a wonderland of tropical plants and exotic birds. Hidden away from the bustle of the city centre, the attractions of this botanical garden include glasshouses, some 300 different palms and a boating lake. There are concerts staged here in summer, as well as a number of exhibitions and events. Free guided tours (in German) are available on Sundays.

Siesmayerstrasse 63
Tel: (069) 2123 3939.
Website: www.palmengarten-frankfurt.de
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600 (Nov-Jan); daily 0900-1800 (Feb-Oct).
Admission charge.

Goethe-Museum and Goethe-Haus
Completely destroyed by Allied bombers in 1944, the house where Goethe (1749-1832) was born and spent most of his youth was rebuilt after the war, in 1951, and restored to its former 18th-century glory. Visitors can see the family music room, library, living room and Goethe's own puppet show and study. Next door, the Goethe-Museum displays German paintings and sculpture from the late baroque period up to early Romanticism. There are daily guided tours (in German) of the house at 1400 and 1600, and audio-visual guides are available to rent in several languages. Tours of the museum can also be arranged on request.

Grosser Hirschgraben 23-25
Tel: (069) 138 800.
Website: www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1000-1730.
Admission charge.