Frankfurt

Frankfurt's glass-and-steel skyline — unique among German cities — earns it the nickname 'Mainhattan,' but behind the corporate facade lies a surprisingly warm and culturally rich city. The Museumsufer (Museum Embankment) stretches along the south bank of the Main River with over a dozen world-class institutions, from the Städel Museum's Old Masters collection to the German Film Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts. The reconstructed Römerberg square and adjacent DomRömer quarter recreate the half-timbered splendor that was destroyed in World War II, with 35 painstakingly rebuilt houses surrounding a photogenic medieval plaza. Cross the Eiserner Steg footbridge — now festooned with love locks — for views that capture both Frankfurt's ancient and modern identities. The Palmengarten botanical garden offers a lush retreat through tropical greenhouses and rose gardens, while the Kleinmarkthalle indoor market overflows with artisan cheeses, sausages, and fresh produce from the surrounding region.

South of the Main River, the Sachsenhausen district preserves Frankfurt's most beloved tradition: Äppelwoi (apple wine). This tart, refreshing cider has been produced here for centuries and is served in distinctive diamond-patterned glasses called Gerippte at traditional taverns marked by green pine wreaths above their doors. The best-known establishments — Dauth-Schneider, Wagner, and Adolf Wagner — serve it alongside Frankfurt's unique culinary specialties: Grüne Soße, a vibrant green herb sauce served over boiled eggs and potatoes; Handkäs mit Musik, a pungent sour milk cheese marinated in vinegar and onions; and of course Frankfurter Würstchen in all their snappy glory. On warm evenings, the tavern gardens fill with locals and visitors alike enjoying communal tables and the convivial atmosphere that has characterized Frankfurt's drinking culture for generations. The district also hosts a flea market every Saturday along the riverbank, perfect for morning browsing before lunch.