Main Tower, Frankfurt (must see)
Named after the nearby Main River, the Main Tower is a 56-storey, 200 meters (656 feet) skyscraper, the 4th tallest building in Frankfurt and all of Germany. Complete with its antenna spire, the building stands 240 meters (787 feet) high. The tower has five underground floors and two public viewing platforms and is the only skyscraper in Frankfurt with a public viewing observatory.
The building's design features what appears to be two connected towers: the smaller, cuboid one with a glass façade, common to the 1970s architecture; and the second, taller one, of a circular shape clad entirely in blue colored glass, featuring the transmission tower on top.
Construction of the Main Tower began in 1996 and was completed in 1999. The tower has 55 floors with functioning windows making it an eco-friendly modern high-rise structure. The building houses the offices of several German and international banks and is virtually the financial center of Frankfurt. There are also television and radio stations. During TV weather reports, the reporter stands on top of the building.
In the foyer, there are two art pieces accessible to the public: the video installation by Bill Viola "The World of Appearances" and the wall mosaic by Stephan Huber "Frankfurter Treppe / XX. Jahrhundert" ("Frankfurt's Steps/20th century").
Visitors to the observation deck at the top floor are encouraged to take a map to spot Frankfurt’s numerous landmarks from atop. One floor below is a restaurant and bar with large windows offering a panoramic 360-degree panorama of the city. On clear days you can see as far as the Mainz, Wiesbaden, Hanau, and Taunus Mountains.
Why You Should Visit:
There are a few elevated places in Frankfurt which provide amazing views of the city, but the Main Tower has to be the tallest and the best among them.
Unlike some other observation decks, the top of the Main Tower is completely open other than a low railing. There's no glass between you and the sky.
Tip:
Go before sunset to see Frankfurt in daylight and 20 minutes later in the light of a big city.
Also, make sure to wrap up if going during the colder months.
The building's design features what appears to be two connected towers: the smaller, cuboid one with a glass façade, common to the 1970s architecture; and the second, taller one, of a circular shape clad entirely in blue colored glass, featuring the transmission tower on top.
Construction of the Main Tower began in 1996 and was completed in 1999. The tower has 55 floors with functioning windows making it an eco-friendly modern high-rise structure. The building houses the offices of several German and international banks and is virtually the financial center of Frankfurt. There are also television and radio stations. During TV weather reports, the reporter stands on top of the building.
In the foyer, there are two art pieces accessible to the public: the video installation by Bill Viola "The World of Appearances" and the wall mosaic by Stephan Huber "Frankfurter Treppe / XX. Jahrhundert" ("Frankfurt's Steps/20th century").
Visitors to the observation deck at the top floor are encouraged to take a map to spot Frankfurt’s numerous landmarks from atop. One floor below is a restaurant and bar with large windows offering a panoramic 360-degree panorama of the city. On clear days you can see as far as the Mainz, Wiesbaden, Hanau, and Taunus Mountains.
Why You Should Visit:
There are a few elevated places in Frankfurt which provide amazing views of the city, but the Main Tower has to be the tallest and the best among them.
Unlike some other observation decks, the top of the Main Tower is completely open other than a low railing. There's no glass between you and the sky.
Tip:
Go before sunset to see Frankfurt in daylight and 20 minutes later in the light of a big city.
Also, make sure to wrap up if going during the colder months.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Frankfurt. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Main Tower on Map
Sight Name: Main Tower
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Frankfurt, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Frankfurt
Creating your own self-guided walk in Frankfurt is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Churches Walking Tour
Today Frankfurt is a predominantly secular city, but it still has a significant Christian presence.
The history of Christianity in Frankfurt dates back to the Middle Ages when, as a free city-state, it became an essential segment of the Holy Roman Empire. As the city grew, so did its Christian community. Several important churches appeared during that period, including the Old Nicholas Church... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The history of Christianity in Frankfurt dates back to the Middle Ages when, as a free city-state, it became an essential segment of the Holy Roman Empire. As the city grew, so did its Christian community. Several important churches appeared during that period, including the Old Nicholas Church... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
The German city of Frankfurt, also known as Frankfurt am Main, has a long and complex history, spanning more than a thousand years. The Romans established a military camp called "Nida" in the area that is now Frankfurt, on the northern bank of the River Main, in the 1st century AD.
The town itself was founded by the Franks, a Germanic tribe, in the 9th century. Its name comes from... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The town itself was founded by the Franks, a Germanic tribe, in the 9th century. Its name comes from... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Jewish History Walking Tour
The history of Jews in Frankfurt dates back almost 900 years, which is more than in any other German city. Attesting to this fact alone is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe, the Old Jewish Cemetery of Frankfurt, first recorded in the 12th century.
At some point, the city was even referred to as "Jerusalem of the West", highlighting its importance as a center of Jewish life... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
At some point, the city was even referred to as "Jerusalem of the West", highlighting its importance as a center of Jewish life... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Shopping Streets
Frankfurt may well be an international business center in the first place, but not everything, by far, revolves here around finance. The city can also provide a top shopping experience for those seeking to invest in international and best German designer merchandise.
"Frankfurt is a shopping paradise - if you're a bird!" they say. This is a humorous way of saying that Frankfurt... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
"Frankfurt is a shopping paradise - if you're a bird!" they say. This is a humorous way of saying that Frankfurt... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
15 Distinctively German Things to Buy in Frankfurt
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Frankfurt's Best Authentic Restaurants
Frankfurt is a dynamic and popular city located right in the center of western Europe. More than 10,000 people move to Frankfurt every year; over the past decades, it has become a highly international city -- about half of all children born here had non-German parents. Being the main hub for the...