Frankfurt

Frankfurt Travel Guide

Frankfurters likes to think of their city as the secret capital of Germany (and, yes, people in Munich believe the same of their city), partly because of its status as a financial center, but also because of its significance as a transportation hub, and its overall upscale appeal. Dubbed "Mainhattan" -- a nickname owed to the fact that it's the only German city with appreciable skyscrapers -- the city of 652,000 is undoubtedly one of the country's most advanced, modern, and clean places, with some Disneyland-style historic attractions such as the re-built Römerberg.

Frankfurt also has a reputation for being somewhat dull. For nightlife, locals and visitors alike go "dribbedebach" (Hessian slang for "across the river"), to Sachsenhausen on the southern bank of the Main River. A charming, historic town, Sachenhausen is the place to indulge in the essentials of Hessian Gemütlichkeit -- apple cider, onion breads, and hearty meat dishes.