Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a city of surprising contrasts — where gleaming glass skyscrapers tower over cobblestoned medieval squares. As Germany’s financial powerhouse, it hums with the energy of international business, yet step into the Römerberg and you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a fairytale, surrounded by beautifully preserved half-timbered houses that have stood for centuries. The city’s magnificent red sandstone cathedral once watched over the coronations of Holy Roman Emperors, giving Frankfurt a history far grander than many people expect.

Culture lovers are in for a treat too. The Städel Museum holds seven centuries of breathtaking art, while the Palmengarten whisks you straight into a tropical jungle without ever leaving Europe. Frankfurt is also fiercely proud of its most famous son — the great writer Goethe — and you can actually visit the house where he grew up and imagine life in 18th-century Germany. Busy, historic, and full of surprises, Frankfurt rewards every curious explorer who visits.