Frankfurt am Main is a major city in the German state of Hesse, in the west of the country. It is Germany's financial centre, and that role shapes much of what a visitor sees: a skyline of modern skyscrapers rising above the older streets, and the presence of the European Central Bank, which has its seat here.
What a visit offers
- The skyline. The towers of the business district are the city's most recognisable feature, and they look especially striking from the riverside.
- Finance and business. As home to the European Central Bank, the city draws visitors with an interest in European economic life and in how money and institutions work.
- Contrast. The modern glass and steel stand close to older parts of the city, so a walk can move quickly from one to the other.
Planning the trip
Frankfurt suits a short city break or a stop on a longer journey through Germany and Europe. Its position in Hesse makes it a practical base for exploring the surrounding region. Visitors who enjoy architecture will find plenty to look at across the city, and those with business or professional reasons to come will appreciate its concentration of financial institutions.
If you are deciding whether to go, consider what you want from a city: a striking skyline, a view of modern European finance, or a convenient point from which to travel onward. Frankfurt offers all three in a compact, well-connected setting.
