Book flights to Frankfurt

Those with a passion for history and culture could easily find themselves falling in love with Frankfurt. The Römerberg, the city's old centre, is home to buildings dating back to the 14th century, including the Town Hall and Rententurm, a fortified Gothic tower. The city's main cathedral is worth visiting, as much for the architecture as for the views from the church tower.

If this is your first trip to Frankfurt, purchase a Museumsufer Ticket, which grants entry to all the city's museums for two consecutive days. From the Architektur Museum to the Museum of World Culture, the city's cultural centres are surpassed only by those in Berlin.

Don't miss the 56-storey Main Tower, where you can take a 45-second lift journey to 200 metres above street level. The views from the top are breathtaking, so remember to take your camera.

You may be lucky enough to have your travel to Frankfurt coincide with one of the city’s museum festivals. Museumsuferfest is held on the last weekend in August, complete with food, live music and entertainment, as well as special tours of collections that are usually closed to the public.

For shopping or simply exploring the city, the Bornheim quarter has a pleasing, Bohemian air. The medieval houses lining Berger Straße give way to trendy boutiques, restaurants and cafés where it is possible to spend an afternoon of people-watching while enjoying a cup of coffee and a pastry.

Enjoy a picnic at Grüneburgpark, the city's largest park, or take a walk by the River Main. For something a little more active, head for the Taunus Mountains for a lung-full of fresh air, some superb hiking routes and the ruins of three castles (Kronberg, Falkenstein, and Königstein) in a single tour. The mountains are easy to reach via public transport.

With so much to see and do in Frankfurt, you're sure to work up quite an appetite, so it's a good thing German food is hearty. From budget chain restaurants and street-food stands to international buffet-style establishments, it is easy to eat well in Frankfurt. Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse is one of the city's most popular areas to dine, filled with cafés, restaurants and fast-food stalls.

As you might expect, meat products, pretzels and sauerkraut all feature heavily in German cuisine. Sachsenhausen features several restaurants serving traditional German fare. Here you'll find many dishes served with Frankfurter, a cold, green sauce made of sour cream, boiled eggs, herbs and spices.

Frankfurt is a haven for retail-lovers with a city centre littered with outlets of all types and sizes. The Zeil is one of Europe's busiest shopping streets, and it's here you'll find department stores. For designer brands, head to the Goethstraße, while for all the hustle and bustle of a typical German market, Kleinmarkthalle is well worth checking out.

For the fashion-forward, German boutiques can be found on Schweizer Straße. On Saturdays, make for the flea market at Sacksenhausen, where you can often pick up vintage pieces or more unusual souvenirs for amazing prices.