OUTSKIRTS

Driving in Germany is fun and multiple car rental companies are available at the airport and within Frankfurt. It takes less than half an hour to reach the Taunus mountain range, including charming spa towns, and beautiful castles to name a few interesting spots. These are about a 30- to 45-minute short drive from Frankfurt’s FLW\ FHQWUH (DUO\ GHSDUWXUHV DYRLG FRPPXWHU WUDIÀF 7RZQV on Frankfurt’s periphery can be conveniently reached by the suburban rail too.

Wiesbaden is one of the oldest spa towns of Europe. Its neoclassical Kurhaus, a landmark of Wiesbaden, is a sprawl of beautifully landscaped, manicured lawns, and is home to a casino and a convention centre. A cultural evening can be spent at the state theatre, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, whose four stages hold performances of operas, plays, ballets, musicals and concerts through the year. Drive 30-45 minutes further to the fabled wine country along the Rhine river.

Schloss Vollrads is a medieval castle overlooking Oestrich Winkel and the Rhine Valley. The picturesque wine estate was established in 1211 and is today recognised amongst the 100 best wineries in the world. Schloss Vollrads focuses on producing the best Riesling wines and also exports to 40 countries globally. The in-house eatery, Gutsrestaurant has wine tasting sessions and offers regional and international culinary excellence.

Rüdesheim am Rhein, one of Germany’s biggest tourist attractions is best known for its winemaking. It has the most charming location on the banks of the majestic Rhine river, surrounded by vineyards. The best way to enjoy wine here is with Handkäs mit Musik, which is cheese marinated in a vinegar and onion sauce and spundekäs or well seasoned cream cheese. These are found at one of the many seasonal and perennial taverns serving homegrown regional wines. The street for all the fun is Drosselgasse in Rüdesheim, which is lined with shops, taverns and restaurants.