In Germany, all roads seem to converge on Frankfurt. This industrial and commercial powerhouse has been shaped by business since the first trade fairs were held here in the Middle Ages. These trade fairs and expos still have a major influence on Frankfurt’s image, drawing nearly 2 million visitors each year for a blend of business and pleasure. With the busiest railway station in Europe, one of the continent’s largest airports, and some 2,450 factories buzzing away along the banks of the Main River, Frankfurt is certainly a city of industry.

Tucked around and inside the melange of modern skyscrapers and sprawling factories are pockets of traditional half-timbered houses which serve as a reminder of Frankfurt’s medieval legacy. The home of Goethe can be toured in the charming Altstadt (Old Town) district, along with some of the city’s most important landmarks such as the glorious Dom cathedral, the Rathaus Romer (City Hall), and numerous traditional shopping districts such as the Schillerpassag and Goethestraße. Although heavy bombing in WWII virtually levelled the Old Town, some real gems managed to survive.

Frankfurt is also a city with a large and thriving immigrant population. This adds rich layers of cultural diversity to the half million or so residents who live here. While trade conventions are certainly a major aspect of life in Frankfurt, this city also offers world-class performance arts venues, excellent museums and a wealth of wining and dining options.

Despite having almost 200 hotels and guesthouses, Frankfurt’s busy year-round trade fair schedule keeps nearly all the 22,000 beds in the city booked. Virtually every major hotel is located in the city centre, convenient to the massive train station, the fair grounds and the business district. Visitors can find everything from 5-star opulence to modest family-run inns, but make your room reservations well in advance because room vacancies are the scarcest commodity in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt’s modern roots began in the 8th century with a wonderful legend involving the King of the Franks, King Charlemagne, and a miraculous escape from the Saxons. His retreat blocked by the Main River, Charlemagne watched a deer cross the river at a ford (furt). He and his army followed the deer and escaped certain slaughter. To commemorate his good fortune he built Frankfurt at the site of the ford, starting with a stone church and palace at the site of today’s Dom.

Of course, archaeology has proven that the Romans had built an outpost on the site in the 100s, and its naturally strategic location attracted ensuing tribes to settle there. But it was the tradition of the annual Frankfurt Messe (fair), which began in the 12th century that really put this city on the map. Frankfurt also evolved into the site where Germany’s kings were crowned, starting in 1147. This tradition continued in the Dom, where 10 kings and emperors were crowned after 1562.

Frankfurt was granted the status of free town in 1372, with a full-capacity population of 10,000. Religion played a role in the city’s development in 1533, when Frankfurt’s Protestants teamed up with the Lutherans. The Emperor quickly invaded the city, but the 1555 Edict of Augsburg allowed for freedom of religion and established Frankfurt as a “free city”

An atmosphere of open society helped Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born here in 1749, to formulate his groundbreaking philosophies. When the French Revolution started in 1789, Frankfurt sided with the monarchy and was razed by Napoleon. Once Napoleon’s empire collapsed in 1814, Frankfurt was chosen as the site of the Council of the German Federation. The rise of the Second German Reich in 1870 was an economic boom for the city as major infrastructure projects were built. The boundaries of Frankfurt expanded and the population exploded.

WWI left the city with barely a scratch, but the global depression of the 1930s had a major impact on its economy. Then the Nazis rose to power in 1933. By 1941, Frankfurt’s entire Jewish community was either killed or deported. The Allies bombed the city into submission, levelling most of the Old Town and taking control on March 26, 1945.

Post-war rebuilding put the modern face on Frankfurt that we see today. The Banking Quarter was developed, industrial complexes sprouted up along the river and skyscrapers began to shape the skyline. Bonn was chosen over Frankfurt as the first capital of West Germany in 1949, but this didn’t slow down the city’s feverish development into the country’s centre of banking, commerce and financial markets. Today, Frankfurt remains Germany’s hub of trade and banking, but its efforts at preserving what remains of its Old Town allow visitors to get a taste of what medieval Frankfurt must have looked and felt like.

Frankfurt enjoys a moderate version of the typical continental climate. Its summers are warm and wet, while winters are cold and dry. But the weather never gets too extreme in any direction. Violent storms occasionally batter the city in winter, but they are usually short-lived.

The summer season from June to August is the busiest time of year in Frankfurt. The weather is hot and sunny most of the time, with temperatures averaging around 30°C. Frequent but brief thunderstorms add humidity to the heat index, but with all the festivals and trade fairs, this does little to discourage hordes of visitors from coming to the city. The winter months of December to February are quite cold, with temperatures hovering around freezing. Occasional winds add a definite chill to the air.

The best time to enjoy Frankfurt in relative peace is during the spring (April to May) and the autumn (September to October). Not only do these two windows of time provide reliably pleasant weather, but the crowds are noticeably fewer. If you plan visit during the summer or around the Christmas period, book your room well in advance. In reality, it’s wise to pre-book your accommodation in busy Frankfurt no matter what month you visit.