"Main Metropolis" a Frankfurt am Main Travel Page by Weissdorn

Frankfurt - Bankfurt - Hib'te'bach -Little Mainhatten - the city that fascinates and appalls so many of my fellow Americans. Fascinating, because it's a modern German city - shopping, nightlife, cool places to hang out, and the airport's right next door. Appalling for some, because it's not Munich with its exuberance of 19th century and gothic architecture. No, it's not the scene for a remake of the Sound of Music, and not the same town they sent Heidi to live in when she came down from the Alps.

Frankfurt is a mixture. All large number of foreigners live here, which gives it its nickname - Mainhatten. Just like in New York, you can dine around the world in this town, without ever having to go to the airport. Full of every taste of night life, from jazz festivals to techno discos, modern art exhibits to Jewish literature festivals, skyscraper parties, main parties, strip shows, gambling casinos, more bars than one person can visit in a lifetime.

Budget Tip

If you need a budget tip for a hotel, try Offenbach am Main, the neighboring city to Frankfurt.

What's the weather like now in Frankfurt?
Have a look for yourself with the webcams:
Skyline from the Trade Fair Tower
Northwest view of the Main Metropolis Skyline
Roemer or Town Square

Frankfurt is has international integrity. It was originally supposed to be the capital of West Germany. Today it's the European capital for banking and financial services. It's full of the latest trend shopping centers, has a mix of traditional and cosmopolitan events - the American version of Germany, marked by a nation that left its lasting impression and influence through its occupational forces. There are really only 5 cities in Germany that really have international flair (Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt), and Frankfurt is one that truly has an American taste - fast-paced, variable, a melting pot, open to foreigners, always wanting to the latest wave in the trendy scene. This town magically attracts financial professionals, law professionals and advertising magnets.

Many citiies that were bombed out in the Second World War were re-erected practically overnight. In some cases famous buildings were rebuilt, while many others would slip into the forgotten photos of history. Unlike the Ruhr Pott, Frankfurt selected a mixture of rebuilding the old, and adding the new. while some Germans in other cities call modern architecture "eyesores" Frankfurt continues to remain one of the leading cities in Europe that sponsers the evolution of architecture. This is a thousand year old tradition. So never mind if some people say that Frankfurt is ugly - Frankfurt is beautiful and interesting.