Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Palmengarten in Frankfurt

Big metropolitan cities just don't feel as intimate or family-friendly as smaller towns, and Frankfurt, Germany, can definitely give the impression of a cold, hard city.  It is the largest financial center in continental Europe, home to one of the busiest international airports in the world, and the seat of the European Central Bank.  Frankfurt's significant number of skyscrapers and modern buildings are a direct contrast to the historical, centuries-old architecture of other Old World cities such as London and Paris.  Yet enjoyable, friendly attractions can be found in Frankfurt.

If you're visiting Frankfurt and would like to escape to a quiet, lush oasis, head over to the Palmengarten, a magnificent large botanical garden in the city.  Fifty acres of exotic plants and manicured parkland await you, with one of the largest glass greenhouses in the world filled with tropical rainforests and exquisite subtropical species.  There's a cacti garden, a rose garden, water lilies in various ponds, and an oriental garden.

I haven't been to the Palmengarten since I was a child, but I still keep these two postcards from my visits there:




Children can ride on the miniature train in the park, and rowboats are available to rent on the lake in the summer.  Kids will be delighted in the roaming peacocks and occasional wandering tortoises.  Also in the summer there are concerts and dancing in the evenings near the bandstand.  Admission to the Palmengarten is surprisingly inexpensive - only €5 for adults and €2 for children 14 and under.  Easily accessible by the U-Bahn (line U4, U6, or U7 to Bockenheimer Warte station), it's a great place to spend an entire day.

This post is part of Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom?

5 comments:

  1. Hi Sonja, been loving all the posts - especially Germany!! And hopefully, we'll make it there either summer 2012 or 2013. Wondering if you and your readers would be interested in a giveaway worth over $150 over at http://www.500placeswithkids.com

    Free gas, travel guide, and much more!

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  2. That looks just lovely! Sounds like a good time too!

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  3. We really have to see more of Germany. So many great places to go there. BTW, I love that you still have postcards from when you were a kid.

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  4. I love visiting gardens... my kids love running down the long pathways. Maybe one day they'll appreciate the plants too ;)

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  5. We have lived close to Frankfurt for 2 years. I loved the Palmengarten. It really is a neat place to relax and enjoy the day! Tschüss, Nicole.

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