The city’s economic foundation is grounded in its historic role as a trade and transport hub in the Middle Ages. This former medieval marketplace has since evolved into a major center for banking, logistics and manufacturing, eventually becoming the birthplace of the German stock exchange. 

Today, the city area (Frankfurt am Main) is home to around 750,000 residents, with more than 6 million people in the wider metropolitan area. Frankfurt am Main is not only Germany’s financial capital but also the fourth-largest metropolitan economy in the European Union (trailing only Paris, Madrid and Milan) with a GDP of around €81 billion (~$90 billion) in 2022, according to Eurostat. The surrounding Frankfurt Rhein-Main region continues to support an industrial base, including automotive suppliers, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, and precision engineering, which coexist with a dynamic digital-and-service economy.

A skyward, well-connected city

Frankfurt is nicknamed “Mainhattan” for the river that runs through the city and Manhattan in the US, in reference to its distinctive skyline of modern high-rises and skyscrapers. It’s the only German city with such a dense cluster of tall buildings, and is home to 19 of the 20 tallest in the country. This vertical urban profile is unusual in Germany, where historic preservation and strict zoning laws typically limit building height. 

Its central position and proximity to cities such as Basel, Stuttgart and Cologne (all approximately 90 minutes), supports easy test and scaleup access. The Frankfurter Kreuz is Europe’s busiest Autobahn junction, facilitating approximately 320,000 vehicles per day. The city also offers fast rail connections to more than 110 European cities via ICE trains. Frankfurt Airport, Europe’s largest cargo hub, is a mere 15-minute drive from downtown. It connects to over 300 destinations in around 100 countries. 

Europe’s financial command center

As Europe’s financial nerve center, Frankfurt hosts the European Central Bank, Germany’s Bundesbank and the newly established EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). The city is a key hub for over 180 foreign banks and more than 200 regional institutions. It also accommodates globally significant fintech activity and maintains Europe’s largest internet exchange (DE‑CIX).

A hub of high-tech and innovation

The Rhine-Main-Neckar region, which includes Frankfurt, is Europe’s most significant IT cluster, accounting for about 50% of the revenue of Europe’s top 100 software companies. Frankfurt, as Europe’s financial hub, is home to 330 financial institutions and the AMLA (Authority for Anti-Money Laundering). The region is also home to the ATHENE Digital Hub Cybersecurity in Darmstadt, largest research center for cybersecurity and privacy in Europe; and TechQuartier, and a leading innovation center for fintech, agrifood, greentech and deeptech startups. TechQuartier supports more than 700 startups, spans 3,200 m² of coworking space and is officially recognized as Germany’s FinTech Hub.

Academic mass for innovation

The Frankfurt-Rhine-Main region is anchored by 43 universities and higher education institutions, educating more than 250,000 students. Among the most prominent are Goethe University Frankfurt, known for its strong programs in economics, finance and natural sciences; Technical University of Darmstadt, a leading engineering and computer science institution that plays a central role in Germany’s cybersecurity research; Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, with recognized strengths in medical and life sciences; and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, which focuses on practice-oriented teaching across engineering, IT and design disciplines.

A particularly high share of students are enrolled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, making the region a vital talent pipeline for technical and research-intensive industries. According to the NRW Startup Report 2024, Frankfurt has the highest density of STEM students per capita among all German metro regions, reinforcing its competitive edge in innovation, R&D and digital transformation.

Green lungs and vibrant culture

Despite its financial capital credentials, Frankfurt remains one of Germany’s greenest major cities. It has over 8,000 hectares (19,769 acres) of parks and forests, including the Frankfurt City Forest, Germany’s largest intra-city woodland. 

Cultural life in Frankfurt is anchored by the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment), a unique cluster of 26 museums lining both sides of the River Main. Highlights include the Städel Museum, renowned for its European art collections spanning seven centuries; the German Film Museum, celebrating the country’s cinematic heritage; and the Museum of Communication, which traces the evolution of media and messaging. 

The city borders Rheinhessen, Germany’s largest wine-producing region, known for its white varietals like Riesling and Silvaner. The Taunus Mountains offer hiking trails and access to the Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage site marking the ancient Roman frontier. There are also certified long-distance cycling routes, including the MainRadweg, a scenic 600-km path following the Main River from its source to its confluence with the Rhine.

An international and connected ecosystem

Frankfurt’s population is notably youthful and international: roughly 33% of residents have a migration background, representing over 180 nationalities. The city’s economic performance ranks among the best in Germany, with Hesse’s GDP per capita exceeding the national average by 12.4%. The startup ecosystem thrives with more than  75 industry clusters and networks, supported by coworking spaces such as TechQuartier and a rich calendar of meetups and networking events. Station, a local news platform for startups with a vibrant network and event listings, also connects founders and other ecosystem players across the region and beyond.