Multicultural City

The fifth-largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne, Frankfurt is located on both sides of the Main River, with its centre Frankfurt located on the north of Main River.

Frankfurt is just about as multicultural a city as they come. In total, more than 180 different nationalities reside in Frankfurt.

Economy: Germany and Frankfurt

Bordered by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland, Germany is Europe’s largest economy, and the fifth largest national economy in the world. It is also Europe’s most populous country, and remains a key member of the continent’s economic, political and defence organisations.

The nation is among the world's most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverage, shipbuilding, and textiles.

The three mainstays of Frankfurt's economy are finance, transport, and trade fairs.

Frankfurt is widely considered one of the most important European financial and trading centres. Close to 350 banks, 150 foreign banks, and the world's fourth largest stock exchange are located in this phenomenal city. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is deemed to be one of the world's most important.

Frankfurt is also home to many other industries, including chemical companies, advertising businesses, software houses and customer call centers.

The Frankfurt Airport ranks among the world's top ten airports, serving more than 300 destinations in more than 100 countries. The single largest place of work in Germany, the Frankfurt Airport is an international hub, and the largest airport on the European continent.

Based on the number of total passengers served and on the number of flights, it ranks among the top three busiest airports in Europe, along with London’s Heathrow and Paris' Charles de Gaulle.

Doing Business in Germany

IFAs in the know cite many reasons why they find Germany an ideal locale for doing business. Apart from having the largest economy in Europe, IFAs, investors and other expat business people note:

• Significant Exporter: Germany is the second largest exporter worldwide.
• Strategic Location: The country is located in the heart of Europe, sharing borders with every key economy in central Europe.
• Superior Infrastructure: Germany’s highly developed infrastructure of motorways and railroads, as well as its state-of-the-art telecommunications network, guarantee that goods and IT and non-IT services are delivered swiftly and consistently.
• Innovation: Deemed one of the most innovative nations in Europe, more than one-fifth of European patents are held by Germans.
• Proven Track Record: With more than 22,000 foreign companies operating there, Germany employs over 2.1 million staff, and generates trillions of Euros in turnover.

These aspects, combined with numerous other contributing factors, place Germany – and Frankfurt - high on the list of most sought after IFA destinations.

Transportation and Telecommunications

Germany is well-known for transportation and communications infrastructures that are absolutely exceptional. All major cities and towns are connected by extensive road systems, including the Autobahns, and rail networks. As one expat put it, “Most of Germany is just a train ride away.”

Frankfurt is serviced by two considerable underground railway systems: the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn, in addition to an above-ground tram system known as the Straßenbahn.

The U-Bahn is a very extensive rail network, which is above ground for most of its routes. The S-Bahn supplies access to the city’s suburbs, its airport, and to nearby cities and towns. The Straßenbahn tram operates within the centre of Frankfurt and to some smaller suburbs.

In terms of its telecommunications, the nation’s system is among the world’s most technologically advanced. In addition, the deregulation of the telecommunications sector has resulted in significantly lower telecommunication costs.

Festivals

Frankfurt hosts numerous festivals and carnivals throughout the year. The most famous is the annual Rheingau-Music-Festival, which takes place in May and features many concerts at located castles and out-of-doors.

Another major festival in the city is the Museumsuferfest, One of the biggest cultural festivals in Germany, this three-day festival also takes place annually - at the end of summer.

Cultural and Leisure Activities

Germany offers a wide range of cultural activities. Almost all theatres, opera houses, museums and libraries in Germany receive state subsidies, meaning that tax monies go to these institutions, and ticket prices are therefore often low. Daily newspapers often print a section on cultural events in the respective region. In larger cities there are special magazines that list current events.

Frankfurt is home to many cultural and educational organizations, many museums and a large botanical garden, the Palmengarten.

Germans are very family-centric, and much of their leisure time is spent at home. However, they also partake in a wide range of leisure and sporting activities, with exceptionally high levels of sports club membership compared to other countries. For expatriates in Germany, there is no shortage of fun things to do. Virtually every community has its own swimming pool, sports centre, cinema, concert hall and/or theatre.

Many Germans belong to clubs, either for sporting events or other pastimes. The country offers superior skiing, hiking, cycling, and in-line skating. Among many similar comments, one seasoned expat in Germany referred to it as “a cyclist’s, jogger’s and in-line skater’s paradise”. And for those who prefer to while away the time on two wheels, there are miles of bike paths.

As another expat enthusiastically stated, Germany is a “haven and heaven for people of all lifestyles.”

The year-end holiday season is especially festive in Germany – with many markets and festivals leading up to the Christmas holidays. The German Christmas festivals attract locals and expats alike to ride carnival rides, eat and drink festival foods, buy trinkets for giving, and generally share the season's joys with their countrymen.

Climate

Germany has mainly a moderate climate, with cool winters and warm summers. River valleys such as the Rhine tend to be humid and warmer year-round, while mountain areas are generally be much colder. The average rainfall is considerably heavier towards the south, especially along the Alpine slopes.

Frankfurt has a temperate continental climate, featuring warm summers with intermittent rainy days, and cold winters. Temperatures are not extreme and never severe.

Expat Community

Germany is home to a massive expat community. Of the nation’s population of close to 82.5 million, 9% - about 7.5 million - are expats. Approximately 82% of the expat population hail from European countries.

Germany has it all: stylish big-city charm, glorious harvest festivals, picture-postcard towns, a wealth of culture and art, magnificent and mysterious castles and sumptuous fare, fine wine and celebrated beer.

And Frankfurt has the very best of what Germany has to offer.

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