November 11, 2025, 11:44 am | Read time: 5 minutes
The East German Ampelmännchen has become one of the symbols of Berlin and a popular photo subject for tourists. But it gets even quirkier: TRAVELBOOK presents a selection of the most unusual Ampelmännchen in Germany.
After reunification, the East German Ampelmännchen with its distinctive hat was almost phased out, but today it is more popular than ever. As a marketing coup, the city of Berlin has widely introduced it in the former West districts, and the striking traffic signals are especially popular with tourists. Other cities have long since discovered the charm of quirky Ampelmännchen for themselves. We showcase some examples from across Germany that are sure to make you smile when crossing the street.
7 Quirky Ampelmännchen
In Schwerin, the Castle Ghost Guides
Last summer, Schwerin Castle was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. But those wishing to visit the magnificent castle will experience the first highlight when crossing the street: As “Schwerin News” reports, since April 2023, the Petermännchen has been guiding pedestrians across the street. The small figure fittingly represents the ghost of Schwerin Castle.
Elvis Grooves in Friedberg, Hesse
Friedberg near Frankfurt is a small town with just 28,000 residents, yet it has gained worldwide attention multiple times. About 65 years ago, a real “King” was here! From October 1958 to March 1960, Elvis Presley was stationed here as a GI. And in 2018, Friedberg was in the spotlight again. In response to a local newspaper column, the city administration quickly installed several Elvis traffic lights, as reported by the “Frankfurter Rundschau.” Another traffic light can now be found in nearby Bad Nauheim, where Elvis lived quietly with his family.
The Clever Det Shows the Way in Mainz
Another quirky Ampelmännchen can be found in the Rhine-Main area, specifically in Mainz. Here, ZDF is based, and it is, of course, inseparably linked with the “Mainzelmännchen,” the cute figures that have been flickering across TV screens during the station’s commercial breaks for over 60 years. Since 2017, they have also appeared on Mainz traffic lights—at least the smartest one, named Det, who naturally knows when pedestrians should stop and go.
Miner with Mining Light–Not Just Underground in Duisburg
Mining in Duisburg is a thing of the past, but the city is still closely connected to this formative era. As a cute homage, the first traffic light featuring a miner with a mining lamp was introduced in 2018 to regulate pedestrian traffic. The city of Duisburg has since installed several of these popular traffic lights. A similar traffic light has been in place in Bochum since April 2024.
Pumuckl Waits in Lehel
Who doesn’t know the cult series “Pumuckl” from the 1980s? In honor of the cheeky, red-haired goblin, special traffic lights have been lighting up in Munich’s Lehel district since February this year: At three intersections, the little red-haired figure shows the way. The location couldn’t be more fitting, as many scenes of the series were filmed here in Lehel, including in Master Eder’s famous workshop, according to the official city portal of Munich.
Kasperl from the Augsburger Puppenkiste
Anyone familiar with the history of the city of Augsburg also knows its most famous figure: Kasperl from the Augsburger Puppenkiste. Since 2020, the iconic marionette has been regularly bringing joy to young and old at a traffic light here. And where exactly can you see it? Naturally, close to the legendary puppet theater.
On the Trail of the Vikings in Haddeby
In northern Germany’s Haddeby near Schleswig, a Viking has been regulating the traffic light since spring, fittingly near the Haithabu Museum. With helmet, shield, and axe, he shows when to go: At green, the little warrior marches himself, at red, he stands still. Haddeby, formerly known as Haithabu, was once one of the most important trading and settlement sites of the Viking Age, so it’s no surprise that a Viking traffic light was created here for 3,500 euros.
More Quirky Ampelmännchen in Germany
Often, a quirky Ampelmännchen is also a tribute to the city’s famous sons and daughters. For example, in Emden, the hometown of Otto Waalkes, a traffic light was dedicated to the comedian in 2019. In Trier, Karl Marx traffic lights were installed in 2018 (seen at the top of the image)—exactly 200 years after the philosopher with the bushy beard was born in the city on the Moselle.
