Rhine-Main Region

The Rhine-Main region is one of the 11 metropolitan regions in Germany and is named after the two rivers Rhine and Main. It spans the three federal states of Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate (Rhinehessen), and Bavaria (Lower Franconia). Although the metropolitan area has no clear-cut borders, its population is an estimated 5.8 million. 

Due to its central and easily accessible location the Rhine Main area was an economically powerful region as early as industrial times in the 19th century. Frankfurt is the home of the headquarters of many renowned companies, e.g. the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. 

The most important economic and political cities are Frankfurt am Main (banking metropolis), Wiesbaden (state capital of Hessen), Mainz (state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate), and Darmstadt (City of Science). 

Cities and Places of Interest

The following cities and sights in the Rhine Main region are definitely worth a visit:

Frankfurt
Museums, shopping, nightlife, skyline, German centre of banking

Wiesbaden
Hessen state capital

Odenwald
Small mountain range south of Darmstadt with gorgeous landscapes and old half-timbered houses

Michelstadt
City in the Odenwald region with several historical buildings and a beautiful Christmas market

Bergstraße
Scenic wine-growing area, ideal for bike tours

Messe Pit Fossil Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site – fossil excavation site and museum. Contact them for information about tours in English.

Lorsch Abbey („Kloster Lorsch“)
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage - historic abbey of the Benedictines

Wine Regions near Darmstadt
Rheinhessen, Mittelrhein and Rheingau are some of Germany’s most famous wine regions and located just west of Darmstadt on the Rhine River

Eberbach Monastery  („Kloster Eberbach“)
A former Cistercian monastery that offers abbey and wine tours

Rüdesheim
UNESCO World Heritage Site, wine city directly on the Rhine River