Frankfurt is often seen only as a transit hub or a business centre, but it's so much more. It boasts Germany's most spectacular skyline, mirrored in the Main River, and Europe's tallest office building. It's also the country's most international town; more than a quarter of its citizens are foreign.

Frankfurt throws more money at the arts than any other European city so you'll most likely catch a ground-breaking exhibition at one of its museums. And if you do happen to get stuck at the mega-airport there's a nightclub, art gallery and X-rated cinema to help wile away those in-transit hours.

The city epitomises modern Germany. It's home to Germany's stock exchange and 400 banking institutions. The modern architecture and financial clout give the city a decidedly American tone - though the nickname 'Mainhattan' is perhaps overdoing it.

Area: 249 sq km
Population: 650,486
Country: Germany
Time Zone: GMT/UTC + 1 (Central Europe Time)
Telephone Area Code: 069

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