Frankfurt vs. Heidelberg

Our Uniworld Springtime and the Rhine cruise ends in Frankfurt. It seems on the last day you are offered the choice of being dropped in Mainz for the optional tour of Heidelberg or going on

to Frankfurt for the included walking tour that includes the Romer, the Kleinmarkthalle for sausage and cider, and going up Main Tower for a view of the city and skyscrapers. We have been to Heidelberg twice, and although one doesn't grow weary of it despite the commercialism, getting to know Frankfurt better does sound intriguing. Has anyone taken that walking tour? I'm afraid we won't have enough free time after getting back from Heidelberg to do Frankfurt justice...

Our Uniworld Springtime and the Rhine cruise ends in Frankfurt. It seems on the last day you are offered the choice of being dropped in Mainz for the optional tour of Heidelberg or going on

to Frankfurt for the included walking tour that includes the Romer, the Kleinmarkthalle for sausage and cider, and going up Main Tower for a view of the city and skyscrapers. We have been to Heidelberg twice, and although one doesn't grow weary of it despite the commercialism, getting to know Frankfurt better does sound intriguing. Has anyone taken that walking tour? I'm afraid we won't have enough free time after getting back from Heidelberg to do Frankfurt justice...

Definately take the Heidelberg option. Frankfurt offers almost nothing compared to Heidelberg. Frankfurt was bombed into the stone age during WWII, while Heidelberg was not, due to a tacit agreement that the Germans would not bomb Oxford.

The Romer in Frankfurt is a modern reconstruction,there is nothing historical to see there.

If you have been to Heidelberg twice, did you go to the castle?

You've been to Heidelberg twice already. Why not see something new? Of course, much of Frankfurt was rebuilt following the war, but would that be an argument for not visiting cities such as Berlin, Dresden and Hamburg?

It depends also on how intense or relaxing a day you want to have. Looking at the Uniworld tour descriptions, it appears that the Heidelberg tour is an all day one, while for the Frankfurt tour you cruise through the morning and have a leisurely tour of Frankfurt in the afternoon. I think that at the end of the cruise I would opt for the more relaxing choice.

I've visited both places a number of times, and while Heidelberg is certainly a very picturesque and historical place, I think that there's enough on the Frankfurt tour to interest one for a couple of hours.

Having seen Heidelberg several times on my last Germany trip I took the time to stay in a hotel in downtown Frankfurt for a day. I was rather suprised and found the place very pleasant to explore. It was an easy walk down to the Rhine which were there were many resturants and places to see. Next time I will spend more time in Frankfurt than in the past. Tim

It was an easy walk down to the Rhine

Actually, the river you walked to is the Main, not the Rhine. The Main joins the Rhine at Mainz, some miles to the West. Rebuilt Frankfurt is sort of the New York City of Germany; in fact, Germans often refer to the city as Mainhattan. A fun thing for tourists to do is a ride on the applewine express in central Frankfurt, part of the city's streetcar system. For about 5 euro you get a small bottle of local apple wine and a pretzel. the tour takes you all around downtown frankfurt and lasts about an hour.