Things to Do in Frankfurt, Germany: Discovering “Mainhattan” and Its New York Soul

Picture a skyline of glass and steel towers rising above a river, their reflections shimmering in the water below. Jazz drifting from a riverside bar. An Italian-American steakhouse where the menu is straight out of Manhattan. A financial district that moves at the same restless pace as Wall Street. This is Frankfurt, and if you think it sounds more like New York than Germany, you’re right.

Germany’s financial capital earned its nickname “Mainhattan” thanks to its cosmopolitan atmosphere, architectural ambition and international outlook, all of which set it apart from the country’s other cities. If you’re looking for a surprising and energising German destination, Frankfurt is the place to choose. Plus, the things to do in Frankfurt, Germany extend well beyond visiting its famous financial district.

Frankfurt Attractions: A Different Side of Germany

Most first-time visitors to Germany arrive with a mental image shaped by Bavaria: the half-timbered houses of Rothenburg; the beer halls of Munich; and the fairytale castles of the Rhine Valley. Frankfurt completely breaks down this image. This is a city that looks forward rather than backward, though it’s proud of its history. The Römerberg, Frankfurt’s medieval old town square, is one of the most beautifully-restored historic centres in Germany, and the Sachsenhausen district on the south bank of the River Main offers a plethora of traditional Apfelwein taverns where the city’s signature apple wine has been served for centuries.

Frankfurt’s most distinctive quality is the way it layers these historic foundations beneath modern and international additions. The Städel Museum is one of Germany’s finest art institutions, housing over 700 years of European painting from Botticelli to Gerhard Richter, and it’s just a short walk from the gleaming towers of the financial district. The Museum Embankment (Museumsufer), a remarkable concentration of fifteen museums along the south bank of the Main, is unseen elsewhere in Germany, making Frankfurt one of the most cultural European capitals. On a Sunday morning, you’ll love the charming relief to the city’s financial hustle and bustle offered by the flea market along the Sachsenhausen riverbank. This slower pace of life makes it one of the most wonderful places to visit in Frankfurt for visitors who like to explore at their leisure.

Frankfurt Shopping, Dining and Cosmopolitan Living

Frankfurt is home to the European Central Bank, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the European headquarters of more international banks than any other city on the continent. This concentration of global financial power has shaped the city’s character in tangible ways: the restaurants are more diverse; the pace is faster; and the expectation of quality is higher.

The best restaurants in Frankfurt am Main perfectly reflect this sophisticated blend. Lafleur, Frankfurt’s two Michelin-starred restaurant in the Palmengarten botanical gardens, offers some of the most refined contemporary cuisine in the country. Medici is a long-established favourite in the banking district and offers exceptional Italian cooking. For something more local, Margarete in the Sachsenhausen district combines seasonal German ingredients with a sophisticated natural wine list – perfect if you’re looking for an authentic neighbourhood experience.

Frankfurt shopping matches this elevated standard. The Goethestrasse, Frankfurt’s answer to Fifth Avenue, is lined with flagship boutiques from Chanel, Hermès, Porsche Design and Bottega Veneta, while the Fressgass pedestrian zone offers a more relaxed parade of international fashion stores, alongside excellent delicatessens and wine bars. For independent fashion and design, visit the Nordend and Bornheim neighbourhoods for ateliers and concept stores that feel genuinely personal rather than commercial.

Things to Do in Frankfurt: How the City Became “Mainhattan”

The nickname Mainhattan – a portmanteau of the River Main and Manhattan – comes from the Frankfurt skyline, which began its dramatic transformation in the 1970s and 1980s as global banks commissioned increasingly ambitious tower architecture. Today, the cluster of skyscrapers around the Bankenviertel financial district includes the 259-metre Commerzbank Tower, once the tallest building in Europe. This high-rise design creates a skyline that is genuinely unique in continental Europe: more reminiscent of the Hudson River looking east than anything typically associated with Germany.

The parallels with New York run deeper than architecture. Frankfurt’s population is among the most varied in Germany, with over 180 nationalities represented and more than 30 percent of residents born outside the country. The city’s pace, financial culture and innate cosmopolitanism all echo New York’s vitality and drive.

Main Plaza Suite Tower: The Ultimate Mainhattan Experience

No hotel in Frankfurt embodies the Mainhattan spirit more than Main Plaza Suite Tower, situated on the banks of the River Main with some of the most spectacular views of the city’s skyline. The building itself is an architectural homage to the great Art Deco skyscrapers of New York; its golden pinnacles and river-facing presence evoke an era when buildings prized both form and function. Pick up The Mainhattan Connection, to find out more about the link between the hotel, Frankfurt and Manhattan through 84 fascinating facts, covering everything from the tower’s architectural details to stories involving Andy Warhol, Goethe and the unique “Mainhattan state of mind.”

The experience inside completely lives up to its setting. In Restaurant Isoletta, you’ll enjoy upscale Italian cuisine and premium US steaks true to its motto of “Little Italy in Manhattan”. The Isoletta Mainhattan Bar is the ideal choice for a sophisticated evening cocktail, while the cigar lounge provides a quieter retreat if you’re thus inclined. The hotel also boasts restorative spa, pool and fitness facilities for you to relax in after a busy day’s exploration. Book a Skyline room category for the finest panoramic views the city has to offer.

Your Frankfurt Adventure Awaits

Throw away your preconceptions and you’ll leave Frankfurt having discovered one of Europe’s most surprising and enchanting cities. The skyline, energy, food, culture and openness all come together in a destination that offers something truly different from the rest of the country. Mainhattan is waiting.