FRANKFURT, GERMANY

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt's most famous resident, once said that "Frankfurt is full of curiosities." There is still truth in these words today. One such curiosity is the interplay between the traditional and the modern, manifested in the mishmash of towering skyscrapers and tiny, half-timbered houses. With over half a million residents and a large immigrant community, Frankfurt displays all the signs of a unique city to visit.

Ever since the first trade fair took place here in the Middle Ages, Frankfurt has been shaped by business and commerce. Bankfurt is home to over 400 banks including the European Central Bank and Bundesbank, as well as continental Europe's biggest Stock Exchange.

The City

After severe Allied bombing in March 1944, Frankfurt's Altstadt (old town) was almost completely destroyed. Yet there are still many sights to see—the Rathaus (City Hall) Römer, the Leinwandhaus, Paulskirche, Dom and Goethehaus are only a few yards apart from each other. For shopping adventures visit the Schillerpassage, Goethestraße or the Fressgass... more