Discover Frankfurt: 11 Fascinating Fun Facts to Unveil the Charm of This Vibrant City

1. Gutenberg's Tinder: Frankfurt Book Fair

If Gutenberg had Tinder, he'd have swiped right on Frankfurt: Since the 12th century, the Frankfurt Trade Fair grounds have been a literary matchmaking heaven, culminating in the five-day annual Frankfurt Book Fair. Today, it's the world's largest trade fair for books, boasting over 7,300 exhibitors from more than 100 countries and drawing more than 286,000 visitors in 2017. It's the perfect place for publishers, agents, and authors to mingle and launch their books while negotiating international sale of rights and licenses.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Weenie Wars: Origin of Frankfurters

They say everything's bigger in Texas, but when it comes to weenie wars, Frankfurt takes the wiener: The origin of the frankfurter sausage is highly debated, with some attributing its creation to a German butcher in the late 1600s, while others claim it was brought to the US by German immigrants in the 1860s - ultimately becoming the ubiquitous hot dog found at baseball parks and American gatherings today.
Source => hot-dog.org

Catch a wave in the heart of Munich! 🏄‍♂️ Discover the famous Eisbachwelle, where surfers have been riding a continuous half-meter wave for over 40 years.

=> Fun Facts about Munich

3. European Central Bank's Fancy Addresses

If you ever find yourself playing "Where's the Euro?" with the European Central Bank, don't be surprised if you feel like a confused tourist in an Escher painting: the ECB boasts not one, not two, but three fancy addresses in Frankfurt, alone! And just like the scrumptious toppings on a Frankfurter, the ECB doesn't stop there; it also has tasty representatives sprinkled in Brussels and Washington, D.C. to keep its financial wurst sizzling.
Source => ecb.europa.eu

4. Ebbelwei: Frankfurt's Ultimate Appletini

Hold onto your bembels, folks, because Frankfurt's got the ultimate appletini: the one and only "Ebbelwei" or "Stöffche", a fruity concoction that's been the city's go-to drink for over two centuries! Fun fact: This delightful apple wine is enjoyed at traditional apple wine pubs and served in a distinct grey jug with a blue design called a "bembel" and sipped from a ribbed glass known as a "gerippte", with tours like the "Ebbelwei-Expreß" and themed walks that celebrate its history and culture.
Source => frankfurt-tourismus.de

5. Frankfurt Airport's Noise Regulation

While Frankfurt Airport tells noisy flights "Not in my backyard!" and tucks them in for a good night's sleep: they have enforced a ban on scheduled take-offs and landings between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. CEST, implemented respite periods to close individual runways, and successfully decreased their noise footprint around the airport, as confirmed by a Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing report.
Source => fraport.com

6. Green Skyscraper: Commerzbank Tower

When skyscrapers go green, they don't just grow money trees: As Germany's tallest building, the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt also proudly stands as one of the world's first ecological skyscrapers. With a design influenced by the Green Party of Frankfurt, the tower features innovative 'sky-gardens' for natural lighting and fresh air circulation, making the city's skyline even more remarkable, both in its height and environmental friendliness.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Sausage Veins: Frankfurter Würstchen

Legend has it that the people of Frankfurt have sausage in their veins and hot air in their lungs: Frankfurter Würstchen, the city's iconic sausages, have been made and savored since the 13th century, earning themselves the privilege of being protected by EU law, ensuring only those produced in the region can bear the prestigious title.
Source => skylineatlas.com

8. Tallest Skyscraper: Commerzbank Tower

Pop the bubbly and prepare to let out a gleeful "Prost!" because a toast is definitely in order: Frankfurt boasts the tallest skyscraper in the European Union, the Commerzbank Tower, which looms as high as a staggering 259 meters with its 56 floors, all designed to resemble a magnificent champagne glass.
Source => alamy.com

9. Goldilocks' Dream: Frankfurt's City Forest

If Goldilocks traded her trio of bears for trees, bikes, and ponds galore, she'd declare Frankfurt's City Forest "just right": Boasting 450 km of cycling and hiking trails, nine ponds, six playgrounds, and 1,600 benches, this massive tranquil haven is a tree-hugger's dream anchored by the Stadtwaldhaus Visitors Centre – an informative treasure trove of flora, fauna, and much-needed rest for weary explorers.
Source => greatruns.com

10. High-Speed Haven: Frankfurt's Autobahn

Hold onto your schnitzels and pump up the techno: Frankfurt's Autobahn is part of the Bundesautobahn highway system, spanning around 13,192 kilometres and lacking a federally mandated general speed limit for certain vehicles. Though an advisory limit of 130 kilometres per hour remains, it's still a high-speed haven for driving enthusiasts – just remember to follow posted limits and keep your lederhosen intact!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Zoo Survival: Defying Destruction in WWII

In a twist fit for a Hollywood blockbuster, Frankfurt Zoo's daring defenders defied destruction by saying "Nein!" to a ticking time bomb of critter chaos: Despite three heavy bombing raids during World War II nearly obliterating the zoo, the plucky staff, led by a tenacious bailiff, refused orders to euthanize the animals, ensuring the zoo's survival against all odds.
Source => zoo-frankfurt.de