CityCards

CityCards is a Germany-wide brand for free postcards (Gratispostkarten) operated by the Verband der Gratispostkartenverlage e. V., the association of free-postcard publishers. It is the largest system for advertising on free postcards in Germany and the market leader in this segment. The brand provides a shared identity — a uniform logo and a standard display format — for postcard publishers across the country, allowing advertisers to run campaigns on take-away postcards that consumers pick up voluntarily in cafés, bars, restaurants and cultural venues. The concept behind CityCards is that free postcards reach the attractive, active and affluent young target group in their leisure time. Unlike many other advertising media, the postcards are not perceived as an interruption: they are taken by choice, which gives them strong sympathy values. Because the handy cards are carried away, they keep the advertised offer in mind. Through the regional presence of CityCards partners, the card displays are always located in trendy locations — currently more than 6,000 displays in over 95 cities. The largest share is in the hospitality sector (in-Gastronomie), but CityCards are also found in many cultural institutions. The brand traces its roots to the 1990s, when free postcards emerged in the hospitality sector. In 1998, manufacturers of the cards nationwide joined together to form the Verband der Gratispostkartenverlage. CityCards was developed as their common brand with a uniform logo and display. The official website notes that 2026 marks 30 years of CityCards, pointing to a founding around 1996. The brand is active in Germany and is positioned as a mass-reach, regional, leisure-time advertising medium for advertisers seeking young urban audiences.

CityCards emerged from the free-postcard scene that developed in German hospitality venues in the 1990s. Free postcards — small, take-away cards carrying advertising or cultural motifs — became a popular medium in cafés, bars and restaurants, where they were picked up voluntarily by guests. As the format spread, manufacturers of these cards recognized the value of a shared national identity and joined together. In 1998, manufacturers of free postcards nationwide founded the Verband der Gratispostkartenverlage e. V., the association of free-postcard publishers. As their common brand, they developed CityCards with a uniform logo and a standardized display. This gave advertisers a consistent, recognizable network across Germany and helped the segment present itself as a serious advertising medium alongside classical media. The brand grew into the largest system for advertising on free postcards in Germany. According to the German Wikipedia entry, CityCards operates about 7,000 card displays in 90 cities and is the market leader in this segment. The official website states that there are currently more than 6,000 displays in over 95 cities, with the largest share in the hospitality sector and additional presence in cultural institutions. The website also notes that 2026 marks 30 years of CityCards, indicating that the brand's origins date to around 1996. CityCards positions itself as different from classical advertising: the postcards reach the contested target group of active, affluent young people in their leisure time, are not perceived as an interruption because they are taken voluntarily, and keep the advertised offer in mind because the handy cards are carried away. The regional presence of CityCards partners ensures that displays are located in trendy locations. The brand remains active in Germany and continues to invite advertisers to start their own CityCards campaigns.

• 2026

  CityCards marks 30 years since its founding.

• 1998

  Manufacturers of free postcards nationwide founded the Verband der Gratispostkartenverlage e. V.; CityCards was developed as their common brand with a uniform logo and display.

• 1996

  CityCards origins date to around this year; the official website notes that 2026 marks 30 years of CityCards.

Germany's largest and market-leading free-postcard advertising system, reaching active, affluent young consumers in leisure and hospitality locations.

• Free postcards (Gratispostkarten)

  Take-away postcards carrying advertising or cultural motifs, distributed in hospitality and cultural venues.

• CityCards displays

  Standardized card displays placed in trendy locations; more than 6,000 displays in over 95 cities according to the official website.

• CityCards advertising campaigns

  Advertiser campaigns run on the CityCards free-postcard network.

1. 1CityCards > Startseitecitycards.de
2. 2CityCards – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3CityCards – Wikidatawikidata.org