Frankfurt

Frankfurt is Germany's financial capital and the seat of the European Central Bank, with a skyline of towers unique in Europe. In its old heart are the Römerberg square and the Römer town hall with its stepped gables, and the rebuilt old town between the cathedral and the square.

Both banks of the Main have long riverside walks and cafés, with a row of museums on the south bank. Frankfurt is about an hour by car from the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, on the UNESCO list since 2002, with castles on the slopes and the Loreley rock.

Frankfurt airport is one of Europe's largest, with direct flights from Riyadh and Jeddah, and high-speed trains reach every German city from it. The city makes a good start or end to a journey, with a night or two for shopping and rest.