Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, commonly known as Frankfurt Central Station or Frankfurt Main Station, stands as Germany's busiest and most significant railway hub.

This pivotal transportation hub came into existence on August 18, 1888, with a mere five-year construction period. Over the subsequent years, the surrounding district to the east of the station's entrance building developed and reached full maturity by around 1900. Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof retained its status as Europe's largest railway station until Leipzig Hauptbahnhof was constructed in 1915.

The above-ground portion of Frankfurt Central Station comprises two main sections: the entrance building and the train shed. The entrance building faces eastward, welcoming travelers into the terminal station and connecting to the Bahnhofsviertel (station district). The original building's facade, situated in front of the three central train sheds, boasts a Renaissance Revival design. Meanwhile, the extensions made to the entrance building in 1924, located in front of the two outer halls, adopt a neoclassical architectural style.

The width of the building spans an impressive 270 meters. At the heart of the entrance building lies the primary reception hall, featuring three doorways separated by two grand pillars at its street-side entrance. Above the center of this hall, a meticulously adorned clock showcases allegorical representations of day and night, alongside the Deutsche Bahn logo bearing the word "Hauptbahnhof." This three-part division continues in the roof area, where expansive glass surfaces permit the ingress of natural daylight.

A pair of towers graces each side of the facade, and crowning the roof is a 6.3-meter-high bronze sculpture group created by the Braunschweig sculptor Gustav Herold. This artwork portrays Atlas, who carries the globe on his shoulders, flanked by symbolic figures representing steam and electricity. Additionally, figures symbolizing trade, agriculture, the iron industry, and shipping contribute to the station's decorative and historical significance.

Named after the nearby Main River, the Main Tower is a 56-storey, 200 meters (656 feet) skyscraper, the 4th tallest building in Frankfurt and all of Germany. Complete with its antenna spire, the building stands 240 meters (787 feet) high. The tower has five underground floors and two public viewing platforms and is the only skyscraper in Frankfurt with a public viewing observatory.

The building's design features what appears to be two connected towers: the smaller, cuboid one with a glass façade, common to the 1970s architecture; and the second, taller one, of a circular shape clad entirely in blue colored glass, featuring the transmission tower on top.

Construction of the Main Tower began in 1996 and was completed in 1999. The tower has 55 floors with functioning windows making it an eco-friendly modern high-rise structure. The building houses the offices of several German and international banks and is virtually the financial center of Frankfurt. There are also television and radio stations. During TV weather reports, the reporter stands on top of the building.

In the foyer, there are two art pieces accessible to the public: the video installation by Bill Viola "The World of Appearances" and the wall mosaic by Stephan Huber "Frankfurter Treppe / XX. Jahrhundert" ("Frankfurt's Steps/20th century").

Visitors to the observation deck at the top floor are encouraged to take a map to spot Frankfurt’s numerous landmarks from atop. One floor below is a restaurant and bar with large windows offering a panoramic 360-degree panorama of the city. On clear days you can see as far as the Mainz, Wiesbaden, Hanau, and Taunus Mountains.

Why You Should Visit:
There are a few elevated places in Frankfurt which provide amazing views of the city, but the Main Tower has to be the tallest and the best among them.
Unlike some other observation decks, the top of the Main Tower is completely open other than a low railing. There's no glass between you and the sky.

Tip:
Go before sunset to see Frankfurt in daylight and 20 minutes later in the light of a big city.
Also, make sure to wrap up if going during the colder months.

There aren't that many cities out there where most of the world’s finest luxury labels have taken up residence in a single street. Goethestrasse (Goethe Street) is one such avenue, where even the most discerning shoppers can find everything they want, all within a few steps, making it one of the most famous and the third busiest shopping lane in Germany.

Nicknamed Luxusgasse (‘luxury lane’) or Frankfurt's Fifth Avenue, this tree-lined street provides visitors with almost 300 meters of temptation and is named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German writer and statesman. Built between 1892 and 1894, it has since survived more than one chapter of Germany’s turbulent history and is now home to a mix of classical, modernist, and contemporary buildings that play host to some of the world’s biggest brands and most revered labels.

Goethestrasse features the latest collections of top international designers, such as Armani, Bally, Bulgari, Burberry, Chanel, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Jil Sander, Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Jimmy Choo, Montblanc, Patek Philippe, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany & Co., Tumi, Versace, and Vertu. Apart from the designer clothing, there are also high-end boutiques offering selected jewelry from exclusive brands, like Cartier and Tiffany. In addition, this shopping street also caters to those seeking art, household items, and eyewear.

Hauptwache is a central point of Frankfurt and one of the most famous plazas in the city. The original name Schillerplatz was superseded in the early 1900s. The Hauptwache ("Main Guardroom") building, which gave the square its current name, dates back to 1730 and was designed by German master builder Johann Samhammer. It features red sandstone Baroque-style exterior and a hipped Gothic-style triangular roof with three chimneys.

The original purpose of the place was to house the headquarters of the city's Stadtwehr militia and prison when Frankfurt was an independent city-state. The Hauptwache went down in history when it was stormed by student activists in a failed attempt at freeing political prisoners in 1833, called the Frankfurter Wachensturm. The building then served as a police station and, in 1904, became a cafe which it remains to this day. It marks one end of the Zeil and adds a great deal of old-world architectural charm to this busy part of Frankfurt.

On 7 April 1920, the square was the scene of yet another Hauptwache incident when French troops opened fire on students protesting against the French occupation of Frankfurt. Heavily burned in World War II bombing, the building was reopened in a provisional form with an altered roof in 1954. In 1967, amid the construction of the U-Bahn tunnel through the city, the Hauptwache edifice was dismantled, moved, and then rebuilt over the new underground U-Bahn station.

Today, Hauptwache station is one of the most important crosspoints of the Frankfurt public transport system, served by eight S-Bahn and six U-Bahn lines. A key element of the plaza is a sunken terrace leading down to the station and an underground pedestrian area with shops, dubbed by the locals as "das Loch" (the Hole).

Visitors, commuters, and shoppers can enjoy a light refreshing meal at the Hauptwache café with its quaint ambiance reminiscent of a momentous past. Apart from it, the surrounding buildings are mostly modern high risers, except for the imposing Saint Catherine's Church.

Tip:
If the weather permits, sit down and have a glass of beer, glühwein, or Frankfurter apple wine outside the Hauptwache.
If you're lucky, there will be an apple wine festival when you arrive; then you could mingle with the local professionals, wine-lovers, and travelers alike.

Once the center of a large cattle trade in Frankfurt, this busy lane has been one of the most famous shopping venues in Germany since the end of the 19th century. The Zeil is a shoppers’ paradise where visitors with varied budgets can find a range of products suiting their pockets, from mid-priced supermarket fare to high-end merchandise. Luxury goods, designer brands, handicrafts, clothes by young Frankfurt designers, and more are found here in rich supply. There are outlets of all the major German retail chains, plus those offering products from the Frankfurt area.

The name Zeil dates back to the 14th century, and is derived from the German word Zeile, which means "row". Originally, it referred to a row of houses on the eastern end of the north side and was not extended to the entire street until later.

Prior to World War II, the Zeil hosted an array of grand buildings, most of which were destroyed and never rebuilt. Its western part, between two large plazas – Hauptwache in the west and Konstablerwache in the east, is now a pedestrian zone. These plazas serve as major intersections for underground trains, trams, and buses. Following a major renovation in 2008-2009, the Zeil pedestrian zone was extended to the west, as far as the Börsenstrasse.

The three edifices dominating the Zeil today include the Zeilgalerie, a 10-storey shopping center with a unique spiral design, home to many music- and electronic stores and restaurants. Another grand is a shopping center, called the Palais Quartier, a blend of Modern and Baroque architecture; it has a spectacular vortex-like glass façade, glass columns, and irregularly shaped ramps. And finally, the 12-storey Beehive House, a commercial and office building, which is also one of Frankfurt’s earliest skyscrapers.

Why You Should Visit:
A unique shopping experience in what could be referred to as an "outdoor shopping mall"; a perfect place to acclimate to Europe if you arrive in Frankfurt – fun to shop, eat and explore, while admiring the architecture. As a bonus, you don't need to worry about cars while crossing the street either.

Frankfurt Cathedral is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic temple dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. This is the main and by far the largest religious site in Frankfurt – the height of its spire reaches 95 meters. Despite the name – Kaiserdom (Imperial Cathedral), or simply the Dom, – it has never been a cathedral in the true sense of the word but is only called so for its importance as a former coronation church of the Holy Roman Empire.

The present building on the site is the third one. The very first church (Merovingian chapel) was built here in the 7th century, which was then replaced, by a grander temple, in 1250. In 1356, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor issued the Golden Bull whereby all emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were to be elected in this collegiate church as kings of Germany; from 1562 to 1792, all emperors-elect were crowned here.

In 1867, Saint Bartholomew's was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in its present style. During WWII, between October 1943 and March 1944, the Old Town of Frankfurt was devastated by the Allied Forces' air bombardments. The cathedral also suffered severe damage; its interior burned out completely and was reconstructed only in the 1950s.

Saint Bartholomew's houses many splendid works of art, including a unique high altar and the Maria Schlaf altar found in Saint Mary’s chapel. Also, there is an Anthony Van Dyke painting, ‘The Lamentation’, and a museum with many historic pieces including objects discovered in a grave of a Merovingian girl.

Why You Should Visit:
Admission is free and, if lucky, you may enjoy some impressive organ music, too, or take in panoramic views of Frankfurt from atop the cathedral's tower (for a small fee).

Tip:
Try and go on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowd; make sure to bring a bottle of water if you decide to climb the tower.

Römerberg ("Roman Mountain") is the town hall square lying in front of (and subsequently named after) the Römer complex, the seat of the Frankfurt city administration since the 15th century. As the site of numerous imperial coronations, trade fairs, and Christmas markets, this square marks the historic heart of the medieval Altstadt (Old Town) and is a popular tourist destination. In the 20th century, Römerberg was the scene of many major events, both joyful and not so. On May 10, 1933, the infamous book burning organized by the Nazi German Student Union took place here. Between 1932 and 1939, the internationally renowned Römerberg Festival had been held here every summer, with nearly 350 open-air theater shows performed during the period.

Much of Römerberg's historical heritage, consisting of partly Gothic and partly Baroque architecture, was destroyed by Allied air raids in 1944. Today's square is the result of externally true to the original reconstructions and new buildings raised in the 1950s-1980s. The eastern part of Römerberg, also known as Samstagsberg (Saturday Mountain), represents a row of historical half-timbered houses, namely: Großer and Kleiner Engel, Goldener Greif, Wilder Mann, Kleiner Dachsberg, Großer Laubenberg, Kleiner Laubenberg, and Schwarzer Stern, built between 1981 and 1984. The name “Saturday Mountain” possibly comes from an open-air court that was held here every Saturday during the Carolingian era, when the Königspfalz Frankfurt lay east of the square. The Frankfurt Jews were only allowed to enter Römerberg during the fair, otherwise, they had to go to the Saturday market.

To the north, there are four new buildings featuring Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, and Neo-Baroque styles, replacing the six old houses demolished in 1906. In the south, Römerberg is presided over by the early Gothic Alte Nikolaikirche (Old Saint Nicholas Church). The new building of the Historical Museum, also located on the south side of the square, at the entrance to Saalgasse, was opened in October 2017.

The Fountain of Justice has been in Römerberg since 1543.

Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) is a pedestrian bridge over the river Main connecting the Old Town of Frankfurt with the Sachsenhausen district. It is also known as the “Love Lock Bridge” for being hung with tons of locks interlinked with each other, forming an enormous chain, a symbol of "eternal love".

The bridge has been in place since 1868 and was built initially through public subscription. The original version was replaced in 1912 with a widened, reinforced, and elevated construction. By that time the Main had become navigable upstream, so the low headroom of the Iron Bridge presented a traffic obstacle for large barges. Although its external appearance was retained for historical reasons, structurally – in terms of the load-bearing principle – the bridge was made completely different, switching from a suspension to a cantilever model.

After World War II, the Eiserne Steg was one of the first bridges in Germany to be rebuilt – in 1946 – after it had been blown up by the Wehrmacht in the last days of the war. In 1993, it underwent a complete renovation, prompted by decades-long corrosion gnawing at the steel, following which two elevators and prams were also added to ease access for wheelchairs. The bridge now has a clearance height of 6.50 meters.

The Greek motto, a quote from Homer's Odyssey: ΠΛΕΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΟΙΝΟΠΑ ΠΟΝΤΟΝ ΕΠ ΑΛΛΟΘΡΟΟΥΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥΣ (“Sailing on the dark sea to people of another tongue”), spanning the steel construction over the northern pillar, was created by artist Hagen Bonifer in 1999 to celebrate the year of Goethe.

Tip:
If you're into photography, come here at sunset and you'll be able to take some very nice shots of Frankfurt's skyline (but be ready for a crowd).

The Wertheim, also known as Wertheym, is a half-timbered house built around 1600 at the Fahrtor, between Romerplatz and the Main River. This is a listed building and the only house of its kind in the Old Town that has survived almost intact World War II. In large part due to this fact, much as for its unique Renaissance appearance (typical of the Frankfurt architectural style) and favorable position, this building is now very popular among tourists.

The name Wertheim was first mentioned in 1383, referring to the then owner of the property on this site, who probably came from Wertheim. The current building dates back to around 1600 and, apparently, initially served as a warehouse with the goods stored and traded in the open basement between the arcades or in the cellar vaults, especially during fairs in spring and autumn.

From the 17th to the 19th century, the Wertheim served as a customs house and facility for the city guard. In 1926, after renovation, there was a café and a restaurant on the ground floor.

The Wertheim was the only one of nearly 1,250 half-timbered houses in the Old Town to have come out largely unscathed from the air raids in World War II. Some credit it to an exit made in 1940 onto Römerberg, next to the extinguishing water basin at the Justice Fountain.

Still, it wasn't until 1963 that the Haus Wertheim was placed under monument protection which led to its eventual restoration in the mid-1970s. Following that, between 1981 and 1983, the half-timbered houses on Saturday Mountain had been reconstructed, and from 2012 to 2017 several historic streets had been built as part of the Dom-Römer project.

The Old Nicholas Church (German: Alte Nikolaikirche), located near the Römer city hall in the Old Town (Altstadt) of Frankfurt, is a medieval Lutheran temple dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen. The current building dates back to the mid-15th century, replacing the original chapel on this site that stood since the mid-12th century. The foundations of the previous Nikolaikirche found during excavations are now marked on the floor and give the impression of its dimensions.

The Reformation proved a turning point in the history of Nikolaikirche. In the 15th century, the existing structure had a tower with leveled roof and a balcony added. The latter served as a viewing gallery for aristocrats when passion plays and other events took place in the plaza below. In 1543, the church was closed and its altars were demolished.

Over the next 150 years, the building was leased and used as an archive for the municipal jury and, at times, as a warehouse during trade fairs. A trumpeter watchman, stationed in the steeple, announced the arrival of boats up and down the River Main by blowing a horn. The bugle also sounded, like the modern-day alarm, whenever fires were sighted.

In 1838, the church was completely renovated. The previously closed northern portal facing Saturday Mountain was opened, and the roof, gallery, and corner turret were renewed. In 1903, the damaged cast-iron spire was torn down and replaced a year later by the pointed copper roof that still exists.

During World War II, the Alte Nikolaikirche was one of the very few historical buildings in downtown Frankfurt to be spared from destruction by aerial warfare. Only the 19th-century organ, despite being walled in, had become unusable from the effects of the war for reasons not quite known. The reconstruction of the building, which started in the summer of 1947, was completed relatively quickly, by the end of December 1948.

The church has a double aisle hall with a high Gothic choir and 51 bells, four of which are used for peals and 47 for carillons. The church is also renowned for its acoustics. Organ concerts, hand bells, trumpets, choirs, and brass bands perform here regularly. Another attraction is the spiral stairway leading to the gallery which affords a spectacular view of Romerberg Plaza.

The oval-shaped church of Saint Paul in the Zeil district of Frankfurt is easily spotted for its red sandstone exterior. Formerly a protestant temple, it was built between 1789 and 1833 to serve the local Evangelical Lutheran congregation. Still, more than for its religious service and architecture, this neoclassical-style edifice is renowned for its role in the shaping of German democracy.

In 1848, during the so-called German revolutions, the Frankfurt Parliament convened here, being the first publicly and freely-elected German legislative body. The parliamentarians chose the building because of its typical Protestant centralized design, allowing everybody to easily hear the speaker.

In 1848, the National Assembly met inside the church for the first time and was therefore named the Paulskirchenparlament. Representatives from Germany and Austria worked on the premises until 1849 to draft a Charter of Basic Rights and a Constitution for a united Germany on the basis of popular self-determination. The attempt subsequently failed and the building resumed service as a church.

During WWII, Paulskirsche suffered extensive damage from bombings. After the war, its exterior was painstakingly restored, while the interior was somewhat simplified. Nonetheless, the striking feature of the interior is a modern mural depicting the procession of the people’s representatives into Paulskrische which today stands as the symbol of German democracy.

Presently, the building is used as a venue for various events and exhibitions including the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade and the Goethe Prize by the city of Frankfurt. The hall on the first floor is used for municipal and other functions.

Why You Should Visit:
Free entry, with a wealth of information in English covering the German democratic process.

Tip:
Pop in for the excellent art exhibition in the basement (pieces are for sale but are on the expensive side).
Upstairs you can visit the room in which JFK gave his brief speech in 1963.

Grosser Hirschgraben 23 in Frankfurt is the place where philosopher-writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was born and raised, and where he wrote his famous works: Götz von Berlichingen, Faust, and The Sorrows of Young Werther. The house was destroyed during World War II but was reconstructed with loving care to its 17th-century splendor, in memory of Frankfurt’s best-known son, by the local citizens.

The museum opened to the public in 1863 and has since remained a shrine for Goethe enthusiasts from all over the world. Decorated with period furniture and paintings, it provides an authentic environment in which Goethe spent his youth, reflecting the lifestyle enjoyed by affluent 17th-century Germans, featuring various Baroque, Neoclassical, and Rococo elements. Among the rooms painstakingly restored after the war are the library where Wolfgang Goethe’s father worked and looked out for the return of his son, and the portrayal of an authentic 17th-century German Kitchen.

The puppet theater that Goethe treasured enough to make the focal point of his novel 'Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship' is also on view. One of the treasures within the house is a large classic clock on the 2nd floor that tells the time, date, the lunar and solar year. The building houses Goethe’s father’s vast collection of art, including paintings by well-known Frankfurt artists. The adjacent Frankfurter Goethe Museum contains books, works of art, and manuscripts all related, in some way or other, to Goethe.

Goethe House is open through the week and is free for children under 6. Visitors can request the help of volunteers to understand the significance of every Goethe-related object on display.

Why You Should Visit:
More than you'd normally expect; apart from the house itself (completely nice to see), you can visit a gallery (up the staircase) that is no smaller than some art museums you'd want to pay much to visit. Great value!

Tip:
Good to either take an audio guide or make sure to grab a pamphlet at the entrance in the relevant language.

Formerly the convent of the Carmelite order, from 1246 to 1803, the Karmeliterkloster today houses the Institute for the History of Frankfurt and the Archaeological Museum.

After the Carmelites established themselves in Frankfurt in the mid-13th century, the monastery quickly gained footing and soon proved to be one of the largest building complexes in the Old Town. In 1424, its original single-vessel church was remodeled to the late Gothic style, with a chapel and two-aisle refectory hall added. The latter was richly adorned with frescoes, the largest in Northern Europe, including the painted history of the Carmelite order and the depiction of Christ’s birth and death by Jorg Ratgeb (the 16th-century artist who was later cruelly executed for partaking in the German peasant revolution of 1525).

Following the secularization of Frankfurt in 1803, the city claimed all the monastery's possessions, including 25 hectares of vineyards in Hochheim am Main. Over the years, the convent's main building served as a warehouse, garrison, fire department, and theater. It was almost destroyed during World War II and its frescoes were severely damaged. The building was finally refurbished in 1987-1989.

Since 1959, the Carmelite Monastery has housed the Institute for the History of Frankfurt (formerly the municipal archives) and the Archaeological Museum (once known as the Museum of Prehistory and Early History). Also on the premises, in the basement, is a cabaret theater called Die Schmiere (The Grease), staging satirical plays and much loved by the local theater-goers.

The Eurotower is situated within Frankfurt's financial district. It stands as a prominent concrete structure, rising 148 meters high and encompassing 40 floors. Its exterior features a light grey aluminum and glass facade. Beyond its economic significance in Frankfurt, this building also contributes a distinctive element to the city's skyline.

The Eurotower was conceived by the architect Richard Heil and underwent construction from 1971 to 1977. Initially, it was occupied by the Bank für Gemeinwirtschaft, also known as the Bank for Social Economy. Later, the European Monetary Institute established its offices within the premises. On June 2, 1998, the European Central Bank became the primary tenant of the tower. It offers a vast office space spanning 78,000 square meters and ranks as the eleventh tallest tower in Frankfurt.

It is worth mentioning that the first Euro was minted within the Eurotower, and a Euro symbol can be observed in front of the building.