Layovers in Paris and Frankfort

[slim 1,533]

Attention experienced travellers.... I've got an upcoming trip overseas, and I've got layovers;

14 hours in Paris (CDG) on the way there, day time, hope to see the Arc De Triomphe and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

17 hours in Frankfort (FRA) on the way back, overnight, hope to hit up a large night club or something of that nature.

Anyone have experience getting from the airports, through customs, to the destinations, then back in time to catch the flights? I'll be travelling alone, and packed very light. Also, would it be better to take public trans from the airports to the destinations, or would hopping in a cab be the way to go? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

What should I do in Frankfort?

[rclouse 0]

CDG has a train station that will get you to the Metro, otherwise there is bus service to take you in. A cab will be quite expensive, but it's your $$$. Getting through customs & immigration should be no problem.

Can't speak for Frankfurt, I haven't been there in decades.

Have a great trip!

[peejay 327]

I took a boat tour along the Main River that runs through Frankfurt. I had an overnight layover in Frankfurt in 1993 and the hotel arranged it. A van picked us up and took us to the boat and back. The river is very scenic with hills, castles, vinyards, and quaint towns. I enjoyed it even though I was suffering from jet lag.

[Fandango 1,440]

Other than some serious drinking and shopping, I don't know what else to do in FF...lolz

[MHandMB 0]

Be sure to leave plenty of time getting back to CDG. It's about a 30 minute train back in from town if you get an express train, but easily 45 min to an hour if you get a regular train. Also, the airport is huge and can be confusing, so you'll want to leave plenty of time to get to the right gate.

Other than that, have fun! The Eiffel tower and the arc de triomphe run on the same metro line , only a few stops apart, and the arc is located right at the end of the champs elysees. So, you could go see the tower, then hop on line 6 towards Charles de Gaulle Etoile, see the arc, then do a walk down the Champs Elysees. Please please please have some Berthillon ice cream! There's a place near the Arc that sells it. It is the best ice cream in the world!

I used to live in Paris, so I have some other tips if you'd like them.

I'm so jealous!

[gimmie 0]

There is a hotel in the frankfurt airport. I want to say it is Holiday Inn but I am not sure, it is nice with larger rooms, different then most crampt european style rooms. If you just want a place to sleep and do not want to deal with anything else I recommend it.

[iceyspots 0]

Ive been to FRA But I slept the whole time I was there 9 hours

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

Attention experienced travellers.... I've got an upcoming trip overseas, and I've got layovers;

14 hours in Paris (CDG) on the way there, day time, hope to see the Arc De Triomphe and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

17 hours in Frankfort (FRA) on the way back, overnight, hope to hit up a large night club or something of that nature.

Anyone have experience getting from the airports, through customs, to the destinations, then back in time to catch the flights? I'll be travelling alone, and packed very light. Also, would it be better to take public trans from the airports to the destinations, or would hopping in a cab be the way to go? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

What should I do in Frankfort?

it's frankfurt....frankfurt am main (which keeps it from being confused with frankfurt am oder).

you have 17 hours there? get yourself down to darmstadt and see the real frankenstein castle, it's south of darmstadt. darmstadt is about 20 miles south of frankfurt. also at darmstadt is the august euler (not sure of spelling on that) airfield, where the first german pilot learned to fly.

there are lots of shopping places in frankfurt, you can catch a train from the airport to the zeil, always keep your ticket, don't lose it. yes the police check on that.

while in frankfurt, see if you can get to the ag farben building, formerly the headquarters of V corps in germany. the ag farben building is the company that made the zyclon-b gas for hitler. the building is rather unique too.

also check out the banks in frankfurt....one of the reason it's often referred to as 'bankfurt"

south of the airport is what used to be rhein main air base. that's where the planes took off to fly supplies to berlin during that blockade of the city by the soviets.

keep in mind that 1 euro is about $1.30 or so.

edit - be sure to keep an eye on your wallet around frankfurt. avoid the frankfurt hauptbahnhof if you can, lots of druggies around there. for drinking, take a train to sachsenhausen, on the south side of the river.

Edited June 24, 2006 by charlesandnessa

[Uxorious 0]

Attention experienced travellers.... I've got an upcoming trip overseas, and I've got layovers;

14 hours in Paris (CDG) on the way there, day time, hope to see the Arc De Triomphe and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

17 hours in Frankfort (FRA) on the way back, overnight, hope to hit up a large night club or something of that nature.

Anyone have experience getting from the airports, through customs, to the destinations, then back in time to catch the flights? I'll be travelling alone, and packed very light. Also, would it be better to take public trans from the airports to the destinations, or would hopping in a cab be the way to go? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

What should I do in Frankfort?

it's frankfurt....frankfurt am main (which keeps it from being confused with frankfurt am oder).

you have 17 hours there? get yourself down to darmstadt and see the real frankenstein castle, it's south of darmstadt. darmstadt is about 20 miles south of frankfurt. also at darmstadt is the august euler (not sure of spelling on that) airfield, where the first german pilot learned to fly.

there are lots of shopping places in frankfurt, you can catch a train from the airport to the zeil, always keep your ticket, don't lose it. yes the police check on that.

while in frankfurt, see if you can get to the ag farben building, formerly the headquarters of V corps in germany. the ag farben building is the company that made the zyclon-b gas for hitler. the building is rather unique too.

also check out the banks in frankfurt....one of the reason it's often referred to as 'bankfurt"

south of the airport is what used to be rhein main air base. that's where the planes took off to fly supplies to berlin during that blockade of the city by the soviets.

keep in mind that 1 euro is about $1.30 or so.

edit - be sure to keep an eye on your wallet around frankfurt. avoid the frankfurt hauptbahnhof if you can, lots of druggies around there. for drinking, take a train to sachsenhausen, on the south side of the river.

Ziel is anice place to walk around and then walk to the downtown by the main . There is also germany's first parliament etc.

In the evening Sachsenhausen is lively.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Frankfurt has a great public transportation system, allowing you to get into the city and to explore surrounding areas. The central trainstation used to be much more sketchy a few years ago, so don't worry too much about staying in that area (lots of hostels there).

You can find many cool hotels there, too, with more local flair than the Holiday Inn at the airport (and they serve breakfast for free). If you search google for Frankfurt Tourist Information, you should get to their official site which pools all the local hotels.

Nightlife-wise Frankfurt used to be big on techno. So if you like that, you'll have an enjoyable night while there. There are also many live concerts. If you have the chance, check out the Kunsthalle Schirner (I think that's what it's called). It's an art museum right in the historic heart of the city, and they showcase modern and contemporary stuff. At the moment, they're showing an exhibit on youth culture in Germany, which is supposed to be lots of fun.

[slim 1,533]

Thanks everyone for all the replies!

I guess in Paris, I'll take the train to the Metro, then on to the sights and some Berthillon ice cream (I'm willing to give any ice cream a try!) ensuring that I make it back to the airport in plenty of time.

In Frankfurt (sorry for the misspelling earlier, I live too close to Kentucky... capital, FrankfOrt.) I'll take the public trans system to Sachsenhausen for a night of techno and drinking. (And hope to make it back to the airport on time!!!)

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

Thanks everyone for all the replies!

I guess in Paris, I'll take the train to the Metro, then on to the sights and some Berthillon ice cream (I'm willing to give any ice cream a try!) ensuring that I make it back to the airport in plenty of time.

In Frankfurt (sorry for the misspelling earlier, I live too close to Kentucky... capital, FrankfOrt.) I'll take the public trans system to Sachsenhausen for a night of techno and drinking. (And hope to make it back to the airport on time!!!)

yeah when i saw frankfort that's what i was thinking. what's he going to kentucky for?

also i forgot to mention it - if you like architecture there are lots of old churches in frankfurt. quite a few are older than the usa.