This old imperial city on the Main—hence its full name, Frankfurt am Main—has long been an important commercial and economic center. Frankfurt’s impressive skyline, dominated by the great cluster of high-rise buildings in the banking quarter, has a distinct North American flavor, a fact that has earned the city the nicknames Mainhattan and Chicago on the Main.
Considered a global city—it frequently ranks in the top 10 best cities in which to live and do business—Frankfurt has also long been an important center for cultural and tourist activities. Its huge trade fair complex, Messe Frankfurt, hosts important events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s most important publishing event.
Frankfurt is also well known for its exceptional number of fine museums covering art, science, and history. It’s also a lovely city to explore on foot. A highlight of a walking tour is crossing the Main via the Eiserner Steg, a pedestrian footbridge originally built in 1911 (and rebuilt since) that links the Sachsenhausen district to the downtown core.