On the south side of the river, you’ll find most of the city’s attractions of interest, in a more laid-back area that can be explored on foot. The city’s hub, it’s old town, is filled with historical buildings and quaint sidewalk cafes and shops.

Alte Oper: is on the must-see list for all visitors. Frankfurt's Old Opera House was completely reconstructed after being destroyed by WWII bombing. A plan was put forth to replace all the arches, pediments and statues with a concrete cube structure that was popular in the 1960s, but the power of persuasion of the residents prevented that from happening. Frankfurt's citizens voted in favour of rebuilding the entire exterior in painstaking detail, rather than razing the remains.

Goethe-Haus: is the writer Goethe’s birthplace and where he lived as a young boy. It stands as a typical example of life in the late baroque period. During WWII, the house was destroyed but it has since been restored to its original state. Although the majority of the objects on display didn't actually belong to the Goethe family, they are from the same period. The Goethe Museum is adjoining and also well worth a visit. The museum features both a library and a bookshop.

Palm Garden: is a botanical garden that features tropical plants and exotic birds. Attractions include glasshouses filled with more than 300 different palms and also a lake for boating. Concerts are staged here during the summer, as are a number of other events and exhibitions.

German emperors were crowned here and banquets of celebration were held in the Emperor's Hall. Portraits of 52 emperors, from Charlemagne to Franz II, are on display. This is still a working town hall, so there are no scheduled tours. The Christmas market is held on Romerberg every December.

Sankt Bartholomausdom: or the Cathedral of St Bartholomew was the site for the crowning of the country’s emperors between 1562 and 1792. In the 1950s, this was Frankfurt's tallest building, at 315 feet. The cathedral’s facade is red sandstone and the present structure was rebuilt because of the damage which occurred during WWII. It does contain a number of original carvings, however. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of the city from the tower.