Ease into Frankfurt with Café Karin’s beloved breakfast plates or grab coffee to-go from The Espresso Bar (locally crowned the city’s best). Wander east through boutiques like The Listener and Hayashi, then linger over globally inspired sharing plates in the leafy calm of Elaine’s Greenhouse. Art lovers can squeeze in Schirn or Schlieder Contemporary before sundowners aboard Freigut Frankfurt. Dinner is a contemporary German affair at Franziska, served with skyline views, followed by a night at Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof – timeless luxury near the Main Tower.

Begin with a flawlessly brewed coffee and a fresh bake from Hoppenworth & Ploch before wandering Neue Altstadt’s cobbled lanes toward Kaiserpfalz Franconofurd, an open-air museum tracing Frankfurt’s Roman roots. Lunch like a local at Kleinmarkthalle, sampling diverse bites from more than 60 stalls (look out for Handkäse mit musik, a regional, marinated cheese dish). Evening brings an inventive take on Franconian classics at Margarete in the heart of the old town, perfectly toasted with a bembel of traditional Apfelwein at Dauth-Schneide.

Take a scenic drive down the Romantic Road to Wertheim Village. Coffee from Le Petit Chose in-hand, stroll boutique-lined avenues, pausing at new arrivals Melinjé and OgFm. Settle in for a light lunch of Asian-fusion small plates at Saigon Social Club before continuing to Würzburg. Check into the charming Rebstock Hotel, then join locals for Brückenschoppen, a glass of regional wine, atop the pedestrianised Main Bridge. Dinner is either Michelin-starred elegance at Kuno or relaxed revelry at Wein am Stein, a seasonal pop-up from chefs Alexander Herrmann & Michi Seitz.

Fuel up with pastries and coffee from Café Fred before a guided city walk from the rococo Falkenhaus, through Würzburg’s historic heart, to the Old Main Bridge. For lunch, line up a table at Bürgerspital for refined local fare. Visiting in mid-July? Don’t miss the Wein am Stein Festival for wine, music and sweeping vineyard views. Otherwise, trace the vine-draped banks of the Main River by bike. Wrap up with a final Franconian feast at Backöfele, where the schnitzel is crisp, golden and a must-try.