Amazing cities around the world…. Starting with F

Take an adventure with Travelling King through this series, showing you all the wonderful cities of the world from A to Z. We have joined up with countless amazing Travel Bloggers throughout this series to come up with some great experiences about these cities. We will tell you why we love these cities, what we love doing and suggest a few places to stay. Lets continue on with cities around the world starting with F.

See the previous Amazing cities around the world.

Fuji (Japan)

Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Commonly called “Fuji-san,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity. Its iconic profile is the subject of numerous works of art, notably Edo Period prints by Hokusai and Hiroshima. Fuji is a city in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Fuji is the third largest city in terms of population in Shizuoka.

Mount Fuji isn’t the only attraction in Shizuoka. Experience harvesting on a tea plantation, factory tours, watching artisans at work in a craft workshop, or a hands-on farming experience or check out the local zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, amusement parks.

Weird fact about Fuji
– One of the most interesting Mount Fuji facts is that this volcanic mountain is actually three separate volcanoes, one on top of the other.

Fez (Morocco)

Fez is a northeastern Moroccan city often referred to as the country’s cultural capital. It’s primarily known for its Fes El Bali walled medina, with medieval architecture, vibrant souks and old-world atmosphere. The medina is home to religious schools such as the 14th-century Bou Inania and Al Attarine, both featuring elaborate cedar carvings and ornate tile work.

There are countless things to do in Fez from exploring the old medina (this area is generally very touristy and can be more expensive), to the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque which was built in 867 AD, or visit the Tannery (preferably with a guide) here you will find clothing, handbag and lots of interesting sights and smells. If you’re feeling fit you can complete the Mount Zalagh hike, you get a great view over Fez.

Weird fact about Fes

– It is listed as a World Heritage Site and is believed to be one of the world’s largest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas).
– Fez Medina, home to one of the oldest water clocks in the world
– Chouara Tannery is believed to be the oldest leather tannery in the world

Read more on Morocco:

• Budget Travel Guide for Morocco
• The Ultimate Guide to Marrakech
• Where to stay in Marrakech
• Where to stay in Fes
• Where to stay in Casablanca

Forte dei Marmi (Italy)

Marta from Homes and Villas Abroad tells us about Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi is an upmarket beach resort in northern Tuscany that has become increasingly popular with wealthy Italians and Russians. The likes of Chelsea FC oligarch Roman Abramovich spend up to €100,000 a time to rent villas in the town while fashion designer Giorgio Armani owns a home here.

Forte dei Marmi is famed for its sandy beaches — a number of which are private — as well as its nearly 100 bathing establishments.

The resort is built around a pretty square that houses a large marble fortress built in 1788 and which gives the town its name (Forte dei Marmi is Italian for marble fortress). In keeping with its well-heeled clientele, the square is full of high-end designer boutiques.

For the less well-heeled, a nearby marketplace holds a cut-price designer clothes sale every Wednesday that attracts bargain-hunters from miles around.

Meanwhile, for nature lovers, the snow-topped Apuan Alps overlooking the resort offer a superb range of hiking and mountain-biking trails. Forte dei Marmi also prides itself on its cultural events.

The town hosts the Versilia Jazz Festival in July and August, while in late August there is the festival for St Ermete, the resort’s patron saint. That includes street parades, folk singing and a market fair and ends in a spectacular fireworks display.

And October sees an international political satire festival that attracts nearly 40,000 worldwide visitors.

A stone’s throw away lies Torre del Lago, once the home of composer Giacomo Puccini. Every July and August more than 40,000 opera lovers flock to the town’s Puccini Festival, which features open-air performances of his works.

Weird fact about Forte dei Marmi
– Santa Maria Beach on Via Arenile 9 was once named one of the world’s top 10 topless beaches by Forbes Magazine.

Florence (Italy)

Lorna from The Roman Guy tells us about Florence

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and once the medieval capital of Europe. Now, this romantic city, nestled amongst the rolling hills of Tuscany, has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and is recognized as being one of the best Italian cities for culture, art and…food!

Florence is home to almost a third of all the world’s art treasures and so there is plenty to see and do while you’re in town. Of course, one of the biggest attractions in the city is Michelangelo’s statue of David, so be careful to book your tickets for the Academia Gallery or for a Florence Tour well in advance to ensure you catch a glimpse of him.

What will surprise you, however, are how many bothers David has around the city. The Accademia has the original, but you’ll see many copies around the town so don’t be fooled if you see David hanging out in a piazza or perched atop a hill.

Florence is a lot smaller than you think, which means a lot of first timers either spend just a couple of days in the city or tick the city off their bucket list on a day trip from Rome (the train takes just 1h30m!). You can take in some of the Florentine culture in a short amount of time and the best way to do this is by tasting your way through the city.

Local Florentine food is to die for! For breakfast, grab an espresso and a schiacciata alla fiorentina (a local vanilla sponge cake). For lunch, try a pasta dish with wild boar sauce (Pappardelle al Ragu Di Cinghiale). For dinner make sure you order the Florentine steak (bistecca alla fiorentina). Finally, if you feel peckish during the day, then remember Florence is not just the birthplace of the Renaissance, but also the birthplace of gelato 😉 

Weird Facts & Outlandish Laws in Florence
– The word bankrupt comes from Florence and the Italian word “bancarotta”, which means broken table. When market vendors in Florence owed money then the police would break (rotta) their tables (banca) in the market meaning they could no longer sell their goods.
– Florence is the birthplace of fashion brand Gucci, founded in the city in 1921.
– Florence streets sometimes have two names, one name at one end of the street and another at the other end. Causing confusion for tourists.
– It is illegal to open a fast food kebab shop in the historical center of Florence.

Read more on Tuscany:

• Siena in Tuscany on a Budget
• Tuscany – A Gem of Northern Italy
• A Weekend Guide to Florence – 10 things to see and do in Florence
• 12 Fun Things to do in Florence
• Where to stay in Florence
• Best Day Trips from Florence
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Florence
• The Only Honeymoon Guide to Florence You’ll Ever Need!

Frankfurt (Germany)

Frank from Rebate Zone tells us about Frankfurt

Frankfurt occupies a very central location which makes it one of the most important hubs of commercial and economic activity in Europe. The skyline of the city is dominated by high-rise buildings but that is not the greatest thing about Frankfurt.

The best thing is the amazing combination of economy with the culture, marriage of the old with the new. The life in Frankfurt is diverse and full of life and this can be easily seen with annual festivals like the Frankfurt Book Fair which is easily the world’s most important publishing event.

The reasons to love the city are many. The city’s love affair with culture and history is very unique. Take the example of the greatest writer Germany has ever produced, Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, who was born in the city of Frankfurt and his family house has been preserved in its original condition and it’s open to visitors. On the other hand, the Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art is a great place to visit on its own. The post-modern building located in the heart of the city is a great reason to love the city.

The story doesn’t just end here. The Opera House built in the 19^th century is a sight to behold in itself. Though it is one of the most popular place for concerts in the city, the building itself is reason enough for many to visit this place. Buildings such as the St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, which was built in the 13^th or the 14^th century, add a beautiful mix to an otherwise a modern city. These are all great places to visit and fall in love with the city, we did.

Weird Facts & Outlandish Laws in Frankfurt

– One thing which many people don’t know is that Frankfurt’s full name is Frankfurt-am-Main, which means “Frankfurt on the Main River” because of its proximity to the River Main. The city’s skyline, dominated by the great cluster of high-rise buildings in the banking quarter, has a distinct North American flavor, earning Frankfurt nicknames such as “Mainhattan” and “Chicago on the Main.”

Read more on Frankfurt:

• 17 Cool Things to do in Frankfurt
• Where to stay in Frankfurt
• Budget travel guide for Frankfurt
• Best Day Trips from Frankfurt

Fethiye (Turkey)

Tsisem from Wingie tells us about Fethiye

Read more on Fethiye

• Where to Stay in Fethiye
• 48 hours in Fethiye – A 2 day Itinerary

Fort Lauderdale (Florida)

Jill Greising-Murschel from Lets Travel Family to tell us about Fort Lauderdale

Traveling to over 40 states in the US, and 5 countries with my family, I love exploring amazing cities around the world. From bustling urban centers to quiet coastal retreats, there is always something unique and exciting to discover in each of them.

For me, my favorite city would be Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With its gorgeous tropical beaches, bustling nightlife, and vibrant art and culture scene, there is always something new to experience in Fort Lauderdale.  It’s the third largest cruise port in the world plus plenty of family-friendly attractions, making it the perfect place to visit with kids.

When it comes to places to visit and things to do in Fort Lauderdale, here are my top 5 unique things to experience in the area:

1. Visit the Museum of Discovery and Science
2. Explore Fort Lauderdale’s Waterways on a water taxi
3. Eat at a boathouse at the riverside on New River
4. Take a tour of the Flamingo Gardens
5. Go on a 1-Hour Cruise with Bluefoot Pirate Adventures

Personally, I think Fort Lauderdale has everything for anyone, whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation or an action-packed adventure.

Füssen (Germany)

Fussen is the small town at the bottom of the very famous Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles, located in Bavaria in Germany. Fussen is also super close to the Austrian boarder, literally only just 1km away so it actually makes it a great place to visit Germany and Austria from! Alot of people  tend to use Fussen as a day trip destination to see Neuschwanstein Castle, which is the very castle that inspired the creation of the Disney Castle.

I’d encourage you to stay in Fussen for at least 1 day, you can visit the Castles close by while enjoying the quaint streets and delicious local foods such as Kasespatzle, which is the German version of mac and cheese.

I’d recommend staying in Old town Fussen, one of the nicer hotels would be Hotel Das Ruebezahl, which offers great views of the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

Weird Facts & Outlandish Laws in Fussen:

– Fussen is known as a city that manufactures violins
– King Ludwig II never actually lived to see Neuschwanstein Castle fully completed

Read more on Fussen:

• Where to stay in Fussen

Fuzhou / Foochow (Fuijan, China)

Emily from The Female Abroad to tell us about Fuzhou

The “land of blessing” is so much more than just hot springs and being a port city, it is day trips to beaches, hiking in the mountains, and walking down historical districts that date back to the 10th century and through a large park that dates back to the late 200’s A.D. AirBnB’s can be super cheap but so can top chain hotels like the Shangri La and Kempinski. 

1. It is the political, economic, cultural, and transportation center for the Fuijan province making it super easy to not only stay busy but also get around
2. The city is covered in Banyon Trees that were planted between 960 – 1279 which has helped the city not suffer the smog issues like they have in Beijing or Shanghai. They also experience all four seasons. 
3. The city is over 2,000 years old and it was one of the Maritime ports on the Silk Road
4. Weird Law: Drivers of power-driven vehicles are forbidden to stop at pedestrian crossings unless they want to be fined. 

Fort Worth (Texas, USA)

Emily from The Female Abroad to tell us about Fort Worth

Sometimes looped in with Dallas as they are only about 20min apart, “Cowtown” is actually the 12th largest city in the USA and it is well worth a visit if you enjoy culture like Cowboy activities with a year-round rodeo; internationally recognized museums; Music – Blues, Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, and / or Honky-Tonk plus they are home to one of the top 10 Opera houses in the world.

As for where to stay, check out The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth, Omni Fort Worth if you are in town for business, or if you have deep pockets then Hotel Drover Autograph Collection. 

1. Sundance Square is one of the top entertainment districts in the country with 35 square blocks of restaurants, bars, galleries, shopping, and so much more. 
2. Fort Worth is home to the longest running rodeo in the country, happening every Friday & Saturday night at the Southwestern Exposition. 
3. Lake Fort Worth is home to a part man, part goat creature since 1969 or at least that is what local folklore says and it has been seen multiple times. 
4. Weird Laws: strip clubs are only allowed to allow performers to go fully nudity if they do not serve alcohol

Fresno (California, USA)

Emily from The Female Abroad to tell us about Fresno

If you love the outdoors and hiking then Fresno is the city for you as it is found right in the middle of three national parks – Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia – with a roughly 90-minute drive from the city to either park. Since most people are just in town before heading to these parks, the La Quinta’s and DoubleTree are worth checking out. 

1. It is also home to Forestiere Underground Gardens which is a variety of underground courtyards, rooms, catacombs, and more all hand built under the city. 
2. They are known as the “Raisin Capital of the World” and home to the Sun-Maid raisin company
3. Weird Law: you cannot buy permanent markets (like Sharpie) in the city
4. Weird Law: you cannot hold a private bingo game nor play bingo drunk

Flagstaff (Arizona, USA)

Emily from The Female Abroad to tell us about Flagstaff

Usually just passed through to get to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is worth a visit with a ton of trails to explore like the Meteor Crater which is the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site and the Lava Tube Cave, a free Art Walk (with free wine!) the first Friday of every month.

Lowell Observatory is home to the 5th largest optical telescope in the world (and one of the oldest in the USA) which was used to discover Pluto, and I haven’t even started on the crafter brewery scene that is popping up! If you are staying in the city then you will want to stay in one of the historic hotels like the Weatherford or Monte Vista.

1. Flagstaff became famous due to it being the highest point on the famous Route 66
2. It is known as the “City of Seven Wonders”: Grand Canyon National Park, Wupatki National Monument, Oak Creek Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, San Francisco Peak, Coconino National Forest, and Walnut Canyon. 
3. It has quite a few sister cities: Barnaul, Russia; Blue Mountains, Australia; Manzanillo, Mexico & New Taipei, Taiwan.
4. Weird Law: It is illegal to cut down / remove a Saguaro Cactus and it can get you 25 years in prison

Franklin (Tennessee)

Jasmin Diaz from Smoky Mountains tells us about Franklin

I’ve visited Franklin, TN many times, and let me start off by saying it is not cheap, due to the high median home value, but it truly is amazing. Located close to what is known as the Music City, Nashville, many famous and iconic musicians actually reside in Franklin. Fun fact, Franklin is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. While you drive through Franklin you will see beautiful victorian homes stunning farmhouses, and rolling green hills.

It’s easy to lose yourself in the beauty of nature that surrounds Franklin. Though much like any metro area, Franklin is full of business so it’s always hustling and bustling. Franklin is also very historic. The city is named after Benjamin Franklin and is home to many historical sites including where one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place.

When visiting Franklin, I do recommend checking out the Downtown Franklin Historic District. It’s filled with tons of locally owned gift shops, upscale restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, and even record shops. Franklin is quite amazing with its wealthy looks and celebrity status, it has even been named one of the best cities to live in year after year.

So if you are looking for a city filled with top-notch food, history, live music, and some Southern charm, look no further than Franklin, TN.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this article 🙂

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