
When most people hear about travelling to another country for business, they tend to assume it’s a bit like being paid to go on vacation. After all, the company funds your tickets and accommodations, and aside from a few hours of work, you are free to wander around, try the pubs, make new foreign friends and get souvenirs for your children, right? Well, those who don’t buy into this misconception are likely the unlucky employees selected to endure a business trip, which often comes in a package deal with long flights, way more work than expected and sleepless nights. Not exactly the dream vacation many hope for.
But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, as the old saying goes. It would be a shame not to see at least something from the foreign cities you visit on your business trip. That’s why today we’re going to look at several areas in some of the most common expo destinations in Germany that you can browse and experience as a tourist without taking too much time off of work. Our focus is on different, all-encompassing entertainment spots located near popular expo centres instead of single attractions. Basically, these are the places you absolutely should visit to unwind after a long day making deals at a German trade fair.
Zeil Shopping Promenade
Let’s imagine for a moment you just left Frankfurt Buchmesse and, understandably, don’t want to see another book or talk about one or really just acknowledge that books exist for at least one evening. Lucky for you, there’s a place where you can forget about that, window shop, pick up some souvenirs for friends and family back home, maybe drink a coffee or buy something for dinner, even catch a film. It is not far from the expo centre and is the perfect spot to unwind after a long day of book negotiations and exhausting meetings!
Located about 15 minutes by car (or 20 minutes via the S-Bahn) away from Messe Frankfurt is the Zeil Shopping Promenade. It is a world-famous shopping street full of boutiques, restaurants and cafeterias.
You can find all sorts of stores here - from major clothing and cosmetics brands to small family-owned hobby shops. And if that’s not enough, you can always visit the myZeil shopping mall, which sports not only an impressive curved glass window but also a whole new selection of leisure activities, including a cinema. If you’re the type of person who can relax with window-shopping, fast food and affordable entertainment, then there’s really no place in Frankfurt better for you than Zeil, especially given its location!
Nuremberg Old Town
Nuremberg is a place with not only immense cultural significance but is also one of the most popular event destinations, with dozens of important trade fairs from every industry taking place there. Whether you’re in the hospitality, automotive, veterinary, security, toy or any other big industry, if you visited a trade fair for it in Germany, there’s a big chance it was in Nuremberg. The city wasn’t selected randomly for it, of course – it’s one of the oldest in Germany, first founded in 1050 AD and going strong to this day. No wonder it’s been an event centre for so many decades.
While much of the city has been modernized, not all of it has changed to accommodate modern architecture. The emblematic Old Town, located about 15 minutes by car from Messe Nuremberg or 20 minutes via U-Bahn, is a preserved cultural centre that allows you to browse the city the way it looked decades or even centuries ago. If Zeil is the most modern shopping experience in Germany, then Old Town is the exact opposite, providing open-air markets where farmers and merchants sell fruits, veggies, mushrooms, treats and souvenirs. But it’s not just about window shopping – true to its name, Old Town has dozens of buildings with historical significance, such as museums, churches, canals and bridges, even the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg) is there in all of its glory. And when you’re done shopping, sit down in an old-fashioned tavern for a beer and a pretzel. What better way to end a long day in Germany?
Belgian Quarter
Cologne, much like Nuremberg, is a popular trade fair destination. Only the large gaming expo Gamescom brings together 370,000 people each year. But again, like Nuremberg, Cologne is actually one of the most active event centres and lively and interesting areas to visit in all of Germany. No place exemplifies the best part of the city than its Belgian Quarter, located about 10 minutes from Messe Cologne by car or about 15 minutes away via tram.
Despite its name, the Belgian Quarter doesn’t have much to do with Belgium – its name stems from the street names in the vicinity, which refer to Belgian provinces and cities. Still, the district’s inhabitants have been more than happy to run with it regardless, with several Belgian restaurants in the area serving waffles, Belgian fries, Kipcorn and other foreign delicacies. And who can visit a place called the Belgian Quarter without picking up some Belgian beer, often regarded as some of the best in the world? And once you’ve eaten, feel free to engage in the quarter’s many events, such as foosball tournaments, dances, hip hop battles and many more. And if you’re not interested, you can always explore the amazing street art that has turned the entire Belgian Quarter into a museum in its own right.
The next time you visit one of those cities for a trade fair, be sure to unwind in one of these spots, by yourself or with your co-workers. You can save some time travelling to and from your hotel by benefiting from our well-located accommodation offers and have some fun. While your main reason for being in a new city is to do business, don’t forget this is also an opportunity to have a unique experience, eat food you’ve never tried before and speak to locals you might never meet again. These places give you the chance to do all of that, so why waste it?
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