Frankfurt: Finance and Festivals

With its prime location on the Main river near its confluence with the Rhein, Frankfurt, the ancient stronghold of the Franks, has an 800-year history of trade fairs. Today the 500,000 square-foot Frankfurt Exhibition Grounds, with its ten halls and adjoining Congress Center, is one of the largest exhibition centers in the world. The Frankfurt Convention Bureau site has everything you need to know to arrange the logistics of your trip.

Such a long history of trade and commerce has made Frankfurt a world-class city, in spades. It’s the financial capital of Europe, an official ”global city” and one of the world’s top ten most livable cities. It’s also the world’s 48th most expensive city.

When in the capital of finance, the key is to get the most value for your money. If you have a lot to spend, be sure to spend it wisely by choosing one of the city’s best restaurants. If not, seek out some of the city’s budget restaurants. The city offers a wide range of hotels as well, so shop and compare.

Frankfurt’s not all pinstripes and cuff links. Open, tolerant and multicultural, this city loves to have fun, and is host to over 100 freiluftfeste, or street fairs, annually. There’s no shortage of museums, architecture and gardens; any city stroll is sure to land you in front of something beautiful and historical. The city is also filled with music, theatre and nightlife.

So, stuff your pockets with Euros before you go and take advantage of all that a historically world-class city has to offer.