Flights to Frankfurt

There's an impressive modern skyline and a great bird's-eye view from the observation deck of the 200m Main Tower, but don’t overlook the city's old-school charm at ground level. Enjoy a great perspective on it all from a river cruise on the Main River.

Quintessential Germanic character is a hallmark of the Römerburg, Frankfurt's central square, which sits pretty amid photogenic half-timbered buildings not far from the imposing red-sandstone cathedral. This is a historical city of coronations and the birthplace of Goethe, the father of German literature. Of the bumper crop of 13 landmarks lining Frankfurt's Museum Embankment, the pick is Städel Museum, packed to the rafters with world-class art.

If you're not in Frankfurt for high-powered business or trade fairs, chances are you're using the city's busy airport as a hub for some countryside exploration. Wunderbar! Hillside castles, quaint villages and steep vineyard terraces line the storybook Rhine Valley, and a languid boat trip from Mainz to Koblenz is a Unesco-certified delight.

Jump on a train from Frankfurt and within an hour you can be in the gorgeous, greenery-filled old spa town of Wiesbaden or enjoying the history-filled riverside charm of Mainz. Slightly further afield is evocative Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest and most prestigious university.