Skyline of Frankfurt am Main

A tour of the most significant skyscrapers in the centre of the Hesse city

The Frankfurt am Main skyline is one of the most recognizable elements of the city's urban landscape. It is a unique case in the European landscape, as it concentrates a large number of tall buildings, primarily for financial, office, and commercial purposes, in a relatively compact area.

The Frankfurt skyline at night seen from the southern bank of the River Main

Frankfurt's vertical development is closely linked to the economic role assumed by the city after World War II. The presence of the European Central Bank, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and the headquarters of numerous financial institutions has favored the construction of increasingly tall buildings, concentrated primarily in the financial district.

Since the 1970s, the city has adopted a planning system that has designated specific areas for high-rise buildings, limiting their spread throughout the historic fabric. This process has created a skyline that continues to evolve, with buildings constructed in different eras and designed by international firms. For this reason, Frankfurt is often nicknamed "Mainhattan," a reference to the Main River and the concentration of skyscrapers typical of Manhattan.

The relationship with the city and the river

The Frankfurt skyline by day as seen from the south bank of the River Main

One of the most obvious aspects of the Skyline of Frankfurt am Main It's a dialogue with open spaces. Views from the banks of the Main highlight the contrast between the vertical profile of the skyscrapers and the presence of parks, trees, and riverside promenades. At street level, plazas, pedestrian walkways, and commercial facades help integrate the financial district with the rest of the city.

Guide to the main skyscrapers

Below is a brief guide to the skyscrapers that dominate the Frankfurt skyline, so you can easily orient yourself while viewing the gallery:

Commerzbank Tower

Designers: Foster + Partners

Year of creation: 1997

Standing 259 meters tall (300 meters with the antenna), the Commerzbank Tower is one of the main landmarks of the Frankfurt skyline. The project is distinguished by its triangular plan, large central atrium, and roof gardens distributed throughout the building. These solutions improve natural lighting and the quality of the office spaces, helping to reduce energy consumption and characterize the tower's image.

Deutsche Bank Twin Towers

Designers: Walter Hanig, Heinz Scheid, Johannes Schmidt

Year of creation: 1984

The Deutsche Bank Towers are two twin 155-metre-high office towers that house the headquarters of Deutsche Bank.
The two parallel volumes, characterized by continuous glass facades, are one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Frankfurt skyline. Between 2007 and 2011, they underwent a major energy retrofit that improved the building's environmental performance.

Four Frankfurt

Designers: UNStudio

Year of creation: 2025

Four Frankfurt is an urban complex consisting of four towers integrating offices, residential buildings, hotels, retail, and public spaces. The project replaces the previous Deutsche Bank Areal and proposes a mixed-use neighborhood open to the city. The towers have rounded volumes and glass curtain walls, while the base houses plazas, pedestrian walkways, and retail spaces that help integrate the complex into the urban fabric.

Eurotower

Designer: Richard Heil

Year of creation: 1977

The Eurotower is a 148-meter-tall office building, best known for housing the European Central Bank until its relocation in 2014 to its current complex on the site of the former Grossmarkthalle. The tower has a simple composition, with two lateral wings flanking the central core. For many years, it was one of the main visual and cultural landmarks of Frankfurt's financial district.

Omniturm

Designer: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group

Year of creation: 2019

The Omniturm is a 190-meter-tall mixed-use building that combines offices, residential, and commercial spaces. The project's distinctive feature is the central twist of the façade, achieved by progressively shifting the residential floors. This solution alters the tower's silhouette and makes the building instantly recognizable in Frankfurt's crowded skyline.

Main tower

Designers: Schweger + Partner

Year of creation: 1999

Standing 200 meters tall, the Main Tower is one of Frankfurt's main office buildings. It consists of two main volumes: a cylindrical tower and a rectangular body connected to each other. It houses offices, television studios, and a panoramic terrace open to the public, offering views of the historic city center and the financial district.

Trianon

Designers: Novotny Mähner Assoziierte (N+M)

Year of creation: 1993

The Trianon is a 186-meter-tall office skyscraper, recognizable by its triangular plan and the pyramidal roof that completes the composition. The continuous glass façade reflects the surrounding buildings, contributing to the image of the financial district. Thanks to its essential shape and slender proportions, it represents one of the main landmarks of the Frankfurt skyline.

Eurotheum

Designers: Novotny Mähner Associates

Year of creation: 1999

The Eurotheum is a mixed-use building housing primarily offices and, on the upper floors, high-rise apartments. Standing 110 meters tall, its composition is characterized by overlapping volumes and a cylindrical glass body housing the vertical connections.
It was one of the first skyscrapers in Frankfurt to integrate residential functions into a predominantly office building.

Nextower

Designers: KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten

Year of creation: 2011

The Nextower is a 136-meter-tall office tower located in the heart of the financial district. The project stands out for its articulated vertical volumes and a façade punctuated by metal elements and glass surfaces. The building is part of an urban redevelopment project that replaced previous office buildings with a more contemporary complex.

Silver Tower

Designers: ABB Architekten (Apel, Beckert, Becker)

Year of creation: 1978

Known as the Silberturm ("Silver Tower"), this 166-meter cylindrical tower was long the headquarters of Dresdner Bank. Its curved profile and glass and aluminum curtain wall distinguish it from the surrounding buildings. At its base, a low volume completes the office complex and defines its relationship with the public space.

Bürohaus an der Alten Oper

Designers: Hubertus von Allwörden, Gerhard Balser, Roger Bundschuh, and Rolf Schloen

Year of creation: 1984

An office building located near the Alte Oper, it represents one of the first examples of modern office architecture in central Frankfurt. The project combines a volume clad in light-colored panels with a glass tower that lightens the composition. While it doesn't reach the heights of more recent skyscrapers, it demonstrates the initial phase of the city's vertical development.

Opera Tower

Designer: Christoph Mäckler Architekten

Year of creation: 2009

The Opernturm is a 170-meter-tall office building located next to the Alte Oper. The design echoes the tradition of 1920s American skyscrapers with a composition marked by progressive setbacks and a light-colored natural stone cladding. The base reconstructs the historic urban facade and helps the tower blend into its surrounding context.

Photographs taken in June 2026