Where to live in Frankfurt Rhine-Main

“The Frankfurt Rhine-Main region is one of the most powerful economic regions in Germany and, indeed, in the whole of Europe. Located in the centre of Germany and in the heart of Europe, Frankfurt Rhine-Main is not just Frankfurt, and there is much more to the region than finance and trade fairs. The region is diverse and is made up of numerous towns and muni­cipalities which come together to form the Metropolitan Region Frankfurt Rhine-Main with around 5.9 million inhabitants. Many successful international companies have a base here, particularly in the automotive sector in Eschborn and the pharmaceutical sector in Höchst and Darmstadt. There are also some very successful local companies who are global leaders in their field, particularly in Hanau, the Main-Kinzig-Kreis and the Wetterau-Kreis. Creative industries are housed in Mainz and Offenbach, Darmstadt is home to the European Space Operations Centre and Frankfurt airport is one of the busiest hubs in the world.

Frankfurt Rhine-Main is also very international and offers a very high standard of living. The world is at home in our region, and the region is very cosmopolitan with its many international clubs and communities. People from 180 different nations live here, either in the large cities, or in towns in the countryside, and this is one of the unique features of the region. Wherever you are, you have the best of both worlds and everything is within easy reach, whatever your mode of transport.

Frankfurt Rhine-Main is very green. Surrounded by the hills of the Taunus and Vogelsberg to the North, and Odenwald and Spessart to the South, the region has a lot to offer with its interesting hiking and bicycle trails, its beautiful lakes and, of course, the Main river which flows through some of the main cities and towns in the region.

Frankfurt Rhine-Main is rich in history. A few relics from the Romans can be found in Frankfurt, Mainz and Saalburg, and even the Celts left their mark in Glauburg and the Taunus. Quite a few towns in the region feature half-timbered houses dating back to the 14th century, while the centre of Wiesbaden has retained its charm as an old spa town, along with various other spa towns dotted around the region. The Frankfurt skyline, ‘Mainhattan’, can be seen from many towns and viewing points in the surrounding areas. In the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region, old and new stand side by side. The region has managed to retain its historic character while looking towards the future. It has many renowned universities and research institutes, and Frankfurt am Main is home to the world’s largest internet exchange point.

In the summer, Frankfurt Rhine-Main is buzzing with music festivals and wine fests throughout the region, including the Rheingauer Festspiele, the Museumsuferfest along the Main in Frankfurt, the Hochheimer Weinfest and the Jazz Festival in Idstein.

Whatever you are looking for, you can find it in the region, and that is what makes Frankfurt Rhine-Main so special. Frankfurt is enriched by the numerous opportunities that the other cities, towns and municipalities in the region have to offer. However, there is one thing that they all have in common – Apfelwein – the traditional regional drink made from apples, which dates back to the Middle Ages. It is still one of the most popular drinks in the region, and is also one of the first specialities that newcomers to the region discover. Whether you are in the Odenwald, in Offenbach or Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen, in the Taunus, the Wetterau or Wiesbaden, make sure you try this very unique regional speciality!”

Rouven Kötter (Deputy Director, Frankfurt Rhine-Main Regional Authority)

The Frankfurt Rhine-Main region boasts over 460 towns and cities, and a population of 5.9 million. Each of the towns has its own history and cultural heritage – together they create a vibrant and highly diverse region.

The Frankfurt Rhine-Main region is decidedly cosmopolitan in outlook, but also remains rooted in its heritage and history. Frankfurt is an urban metropolis but there are many forests and hills in the surrounding region. The towns, cities and villages in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region are each unique in their cultural offerings, schools and universities, sports, shopping and architecture. Taken as a whole, the region offers a perfect balance of work and leisure, making it simply a great place to live.

Nestled between the major cities are hundreds of municipalities, each of which is extremely proud of its own local history. Down through the centuries, the region has evolved into a colorful and vibrant mosaic with something for everyone.

For newcomers to the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region it is becoming increasingly popular to live in Frankfurt. If you value convenience, a short distance to the office, and great bistros and restaurants around the corner, then Frankfurt is the right choice. The most popular residential areas are Westend, the Diplomatenviertel, the Holzhausenviertel, parts of Sachsenhausen and the Dichterviertel. There are, however, other areas that are equally worth considering, such as Nordend, Bornheim and Bockenheim. These areas are less expensive but are just as unique in character. If you consider moving to Frankfurt, you will likely have to opt for an apartment rather than a house.

Frankfurt, the largest city in the region, is a melting pot of cultures, languages and lifestyles. The imposing skyline strikes newcomers first. Frankfurt’s high-rise buildings conjure up images of Manhattan, leading locals to sometimes refer to the city as “Mainhattan”. The modern skyline is made up of several high-rise buildings that are more than 200 meters high, including one of Europe’s tallest skyscrapers, the 259-meter Commerzbank Tower. Despite the city’s impressive glass facades, the major international airport and bustling main railway station, Frankfurt’s population of 770,000 makes it one of Europe’s most manageable metropolitan cities.

Frankfurt is Germany’s most cosmopolitan city, with foreigners making up more than one-quarter of the population; the city is open-minded, tolerant and diverse. Meaning Frankfurt is somewhere where newcomers can settle in quickly and feel at home. After all, people from around 180 different countries live together here. It’s also flourishing as Germany’s number one city for international professionals – with 194 foreign banks, 127 international airlines, 85 consulates, and 59 foreign chambers of commerce or trade missions based here. In fact, more than 3,000 foreign companies are located in Frankfurt and the immediate vicinity. It is headquarters for the European Central Bank and home to Deutsche Börse, the German Stock Exchange, making it one of the globally leading centers of finance and commerce, a status that will no doubt grow in the post-Brexit world of Europe.

Frankfurt’s cultural life is known for its diversity. The city is home to countless museums of world repute, many of which are strung along the North and South Main River embankment like so many pearls on a strong. It also has a very lively art scene. And it likewise has a great range of restaurants, wine bars, bistros and beer gardens. On warm summer evenings, people converge on the river banks to sip a cool beer, or a glass of cider, or even a spritz on board one of the tavern-boats.