Layover in Frankfurt--Rheingau Wine Festival

We had a 5 1/2 hour layover in Frankfurt. Since it's quick to clear customs and the airport is only a 10-minute train ride from the center of town, there's no reason to sit at the airport. Plus, there was a wine festival in town--Bonus!

At the Frankfurt airport, follow the signs to the S-Bahn and buy a ticket from the machines.

The tageskarte day pass was €9.10, less than 2 one-way tickets from the airport to town and back (€4.65 each way).

The Rheingau Wine Festival was held at Freßgass in downtown Frankfurt (near Alte Oper). We took the S-bahn from the airport and got off at Taunusanlage, 1 stop after the Hauptbahnhof (main train station). 

The festival covered the length of a city block. There is no admission to get into the festival. You'll find numerous stalls featuring wines from the Rheingau region (mainly Rieslings), as well as food stalls. Make sure you have cash.

There were over 30 wineries participating. Step up to the booth, ask for a taste and buy a 0.1 liter glass of wine, 0.2 liter glass or a bottle.

This is a 0.1 liter glass of wine and averaged €2-4 per glass. Sometimes, there was a €2 deposit for the glass. Bring it back to the winery when you're done and you get your deposit back.

Tented areas to sit and enjoy your wine and food.

There was one booth selling hot smoked salmon plates. If this was on my Norway trip, I would have gotten a plate.

Instead, I was looking for more traditional German food and found this wurst stand.

Wurst with Brotchen (bun)--€3.50. I love German sausages, especially the spicy mustard that comes with it.

My husband opted for the Currywurst--€4. Essentially, it's cut up wurst with a BBQ sauce and powdered curry sprinkled on top. I didn't care for it. He also ordered Pommes--€2.50. Too starchy and not crispy enough for me.

Nearby is the Alte Oper--the former opera house. Today, it hosts concerts.

Nearby, water pipes are exposed above ground.

We chose to walk the 20-minutes back to the Hauptbanhof. We passed the Eurotower--former seat of the European Central Bank until 3/2015.

We took a detour to see the Main.

Hauptbahnhof in Frankfurt.

Be sure you get on the right train. This is an inter-city train that stops at the airport. This is NOT what you want.

Follow the signs to the S-Bahn and take one that stops at the Flughafen/airport.

2016 09 03