tourist map of mainz

Map of Mainz — Best attractions, restaurants, and transportation info

What’s on this map.

We’ve made the ultimate tourist map of Mainz, Germany for travelers! Check out Mainz’s top things to do, attractions, restaurants, and major transportation hubs all in one interactive map.

Visiting Mainz? See our Mainz Trip Planner.

How to use the map

Use this interactive map to plan your trip before and while in Mainz. Learn about each place by clicking it on the map or read more in the article below. Here’s more ways to perfect your trip using our Mainz map:

• Explore the best restaurants, shopping, and things to do in Mainz by categories
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• Plan your travels by turning on metro and bus lines
• Create a Wanderlog trip plan (link to create a trip plan for the city) that keep all the places on the map in your phone
• Print a physical map to bring it on your trip

Top 16 attractions in Mainz

St. stephan's church, gutenberg museum.

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Sanctuary of Isis and Magna Mater

Mainz cathedral, landesmuseum mainz.

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Fastnachtsbrunnen

Museum of ancient seafaring, st. augustine's of canterbury, wiesbaden, mainz citadel, johannes gutenberg university mainz botanical garden, landgasthof kirschgarten.

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Mainzelmännchen Ampel

Top 10 restaurants in mainz, bellpepper restaurant & terrasse.

Bootshaus Mainz

Heiliggeist, steins traube - mainz, la gallerie, laurenz weinbar und restaurant, geberts weinstuben, hofgut laubenheimer höhe, le cedre du liban, eisgrub-bräu, transportation in mainz, nearby airports, frankfurt airport, highways and major roads.

• A60 Autobahn
• A63 Autobahn
• A643 Autobahn
• B9 Bundesstraße
• B40 Bundesstraße
• B43a Bundesstraße
• B455 Bundesstraße
• B420 Bundesstraße
• D552 Staatsstraße
• L419 Landstraße

Popular road trips from Mainz

What's the weather like in mainz.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Mainz for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Mainz in January
• Weather in Mainz in February
• Weather in Mainz in March
• Weather in Mainz in April
• Weather in Mainz in May
• Weather in Mainz in June
• Weather in Mainz in July
• Weather in Mainz in August
• Weather in Mainz in September
• Weather in Mainz in October
• Weather in Mainz in November
• Weather in Mainz in December

All road trips from Mainz

• Mainz to Paris drive
• Mainz to London drive
• Mainz to Amsterdam drive
• Mainz to Rome drive
• Mainz to Berlin drive
• Mainz to Prague drive
• Mainz to Brussels drive
• Mainz to Milan drive
• Mainz to Vienna drive
• Mainz to Munich drive
• Mainz to Florence drive
• Mainz to Budapest drive
• Mainz to Cologne drive
• Mainz to Venice drive
• Mainz to Strasbourg drive
• Mainz to Dublin drive
• Mainz to Copenhagen drive
• Mainz to Bruges drive
• Mainz to Hamburg drive
• Mainz to Turin drive
• Mainz to Stuttgart drive
• Mainz to Krakow drive
• Mainz to Nuremberg drive
• Mainz to Antwerp drive
• Mainz to Salzburg drive
• Mainz to York drive
• Mainz to Zurich drive
• Mainz to Lyon drive
• Mainz to Verona drive
• Mainz to Lucerne drive

Explore nearby places

• Mainz-Kastel
• Laumersheim
• Hochheim am Main
• Bischofsheim
• Ginsheim-Gustavsburg
• Klein-Winternheim
• Ruesselsheim
• Frauenstein
• Eltville am Rhein
• Stadecken-Elsheim
• Hofheim am Taunus
• Schlangenbad
• Nieder-Saulheim
• Hattersheim
• Gross-Gerau

All related maps of Mainz

• Map of Mainz-Kastel
• Map of Laumersheim
• Map of Hochheim am Main
• Map of Bischofsheim
• Map of Ginsheim-Gustavsburg
• Map of Budenheim
• Map of Klein-Winternheim
• Map of Bodenheim
• Map of Walluf
• Map of Wiesbaden
• Map of Ruesselsheim
• Map of Nackenheim
• Map of Florsheim
• Map of Frauenstein
• Map of Nieder-Olm
• Map of Eltville am Rhein
• Map of Mommenheim
• Map of Raunheim
• Map of Kiedrich
• Map of Stadecken-Elsheim
• Map of Hattenheim
• Map of Nierstein
• Map of Ingelheim
• Map of Hofheim am Taunus
• Map of Schlangenbad
• Map of Nieder-Saulheim
• Map of Kriftel
• Map of Hattersheim
• Map of Gross-Gerau
• Map of Oppenheim

Mainz throughout the year

• Mainz in January
• Mainz in February
• Mainz in March
• Mainz in April
• Mainz in May
• Mainz in June
• Mainz in July
• Mainz in August
• Mainz in September
• Mainz in October
• Mainz in November
• Mainz in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Mainz?

Get inspired for your trip to Mainz with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Mainz Itinerary
• 2-Day Mainz Itinerary
• 3-Day Mainz Itinerary
• 4-Day Mainz Itinerary
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10 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Mainz

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 26, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Mainz, capital of the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate and an old university town, lies on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the River Main (hence its name). One of the oldest cities in Europe, Mainz can trace its roots back to the 1st century AD, when the Romans built a fortress here.

Mainz is known the world over as Gutenberg's city, where the first movable metal type printing press was created. Thanks to this important heritage, Mainz has retained its importance as a hub for some of Germany's oldest publishing houses.

The city also has a rich cultural history, and is home to a number of internationally-renowned festivals, including the Mainz Carnival (Mainzer Fastnacht). This popular 19th-century carnival draws crowds of up to half a million spectators over the winter months.

To learn more about these and other fun things to do in this historic city, be sure to read our list of the top tourist attractions in Mainz, Germany.

See also: Where to Stay in Mainz

1. Church of St. Stephan

2. mainz cathedral, 3. the gutenberg museum, 4. marktplatz, 5. museum of ancient seafaring, 6. mainz state museum, 7. st. augustine's church, 8. roman-germanic central museum, 9. the iron and wood towers, 10. mainz botanical garden, where to stay in mainz for sightseeing, map of tourist attractions in mainz, mainz, germany - climate chart.

The 14th-century Gothic Collegiate Church of St. Stephan ( St. Stephan zu Mainz , or Stephanskirche) can trace its roots as far back as AD 990. It was then that a church was ordered built here by the leaders of the Holy Roman Empire. After major damage during WWII, it was rebuilt exactly as it was - except for its beautiful windows, which had been irreparably damaged.

The replacement windows you see today were designed by artist Marc Chagall, and consist of a series of nine tall stained-glass windows representing scenes from the Old Testament. The effect is stunning as the predominantly blue glass bathes the light sandstone walls in soft color.

Begun in 1973, the windows were completed in 1985, only months before Chagall's death at age 98. Other notable features of the interior are its 13th-century altar table and a large early 16th-century tabernacle.

Address: Kleine Weißgasse 12, 55116 Mainz

Standing tall in the center of Mainz is the spectacular six-towered catholic Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Stephen (Mainzer Dom). Mainz Cathedral ranks along with the cathedrals of Speyer and Worms as one of the supreme achievements of Romanesque religious architecture on the Upper Rhine. While construction was started in AD 975, most of the building dates from the 11th to the 13th centuries.

Highlights of a visit include the chance to view the many tombs and monuments of once powerful princes and archbishops, as well as many centuries-old religious artworks.

The Cathedral Museum is also worth visiting. Among its fascinating collections are numerous artifacts and documents relating to the building's rich history. (Visitors are invited to participate in regular mass services.)

Address: Markt 10, 55116 Mainz

At the northeast corner of the Domplätze in Mainz is the Gutenberg Museu. Set in the beautiful old Zum Römischen Kaiser house dating from 1664, the museum is dedicated to the world of printing and is the largest of its kind in the world. This important attraction, in fact, takes its name from Johannnes Gutenberg, the inventor of the moveable metal type printing technique that revolutionized publishing in the 15th century.

The museum's important collections include printing equipment and printed materials, as well as a copy of the famous Gutenberg Bible. There's also a faithful reproduction of the original printing house, where visitors can try their hand (literally!) at traditional typesetting. Of particular interest is a collection of printed material from smaller publishing houses.

Self-guided English-language audio tours are available, and there's a well-stocked gift shop on the premises.

Address: Liebfrauenplatz 5, 55116 Mainz

Official site: www.gutenberg-museum.de/index.php?id=29&L=1

The central square of Mainz, in front of the cathedral, is known as the Marktplatz, or marketplace. Surrounded by beautiful painted and half-timbered buildings, it's among the most picturesque spots in the city.

Attending the market here on Saturdays is one of the popular things to do in Mainz. The square comes alive with colorful stalls selling fresh produce and flowers, as well as locally made products and crafts.

A wonderful time to visit is in December, when the square is filled with the bustling Mainz Christmas Market. During the festive season, more than 100 booths line the square, and the shopping experience is accompanied by carol singing and other entertainment. And in good weather, cafés spill out onto the plaza, with beautiful views of the cathedral.

With a focus on the art of sailing through the centuries, the Museum of Ancient Sefaring (Museum für antike Schifffahrt) in Mainz is a wonderful learning experience for all ages. Opened in 1994, this boat-themed tourist attraction introduces visitors to six full-scale replicas from various periods of history, from simple paddleboats to larger Roman galleons.

Other highlights include letters and documents related to the life of Roman sailors tasked with guarding the Rhine, and numerous models of seafaring vessels.

Address: Neutorstraße 2b, D-55116 Mainz

The Mainz State Museum (Landesmuseum Mainz) dates back to 1803, when Napoleon donated a large personal art collection to the city. Now located in the old stables of the former Electoral Palace, the collection has grown to include many fine antiquities and artworks from across Europe. The prehistoric collection features a 25,000-year-old statue and stone age tools.

Other highlights are its medieval department, with items made of ivory and many old paintings, as well as its Renaissance and Baroque collections, with works from France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.

Address: Große Bleiche 49-51, D-55116 Mainz

In the Altstadt, Mainz's old city center, the 18th-century St. Augustine's Church (Augustinerkirche) might escape your notice, as it is sandwiched between other buildings. Step inside, though, and you'll be astonished at the ornate Baroque interior.

The highly decorated altar and the organ are impressive, but the crowning glory is the church's magnificent ceiling. Intricately painted biblical scenes are bordered by golden scrollwork frames, and the surrounding interior is richly carved and decorated. The celestial effect is heightened by the large windows, which flood the interior with light.

Undamaged in the bombings that destroyed much of its surroundings, the church is a rare surviving relic of prewar Mainz.

Address: 55116 Mainz

Just downstream from the Theodor Heuss Bridge is the old 17th-century Electoral Palace. This attractive red-painted edifice is now home to the Roman-Germanic Central Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum). Founded in 1852, the museum deals with German history as far back as the Stone Age and features collections of prehistoric and Roman antiquities, as well as material from the early historical period.

Its broad collections are displayed in two major exhibits: the Roman exhibition, focusing on the military expansion of the Roman Empire and its dealings with other cultures, and including a replica of a Roman organ; and the Late Antiquity and Early Medieval Period, which deals with Roman relations with Pagan religions and Christianity.

Also of interest are the Römersteine , the remains of a 1st-century Roman aqueduct near the university.

Address: Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, D-55116 Mainz

In Rheingoldstrasse are two old towers that once formed part of the town's fortifications. The oldest of these, the Eisenturm (Iron Tower), was built in 1240 and took its name from the former Iron Market (Eisenmarkt) held nearby. Built as a watchtower and gateway into the city - it also served as a prison - it's now used for art exhibitions and community events.

Holzturm, the Wood Tower, was named after the wood stored next to it on the banks of the Rhine, and was a more recent addition. Its current Gothic appearance harks back to the 15th century. It also served as a watchtower, and today is home to a variety of community groups.

Covering nearly 25 acres, Botanischer Garten Mainz - the Mainz Botanic Gardens - is part of the University of Mainz . Created in 1946 on a former military training ground, the garden now includes 8,500 species of plants, from regional species to tropical varieties housed in a series of greenhouses. Highlights include a large arboretum and an alpine garden (tours are available).

The city also has numerous other attractive green spaces, including the town center itself, with many of its old city squares transformed each spring with countless colorful blossoms. A little further afield, between the suburbs of Mombach and Gonsenheim, the Mainzer Sand nature reserve has a collection of interesting steppe flora.

Address: Anselm-Franz-von-Bentzel-Weg 9 b, D-55128 Mainz

Official site: https://www.botgarden.uni-mainz.de/

We recommend these convenient hotels in Mainz near the Rhine River and the Old Town:

• Hyatt Regency Mainz : This 5-star luxury hotel overlooks the Rhine River and features a light-filled restaurant, a day spa, an indoor pool and sauna, and a modern gym.
• Hilton Mainz City : Popular for its mid-range pricing, this 4-star hotel is located near the central train station and boasts modern room decor and a restaurant with an outdoor courtyard.
• TOP Hotel Hammer : This 3-star hotel features sleek furnishings, double-glazed windows, and an excellent breakfast.
• Ibis Mainz City : A good choice of budget hotel, Ibis Mainz City is set in a convenient location, with tea- and coffee-making facilities and multilingual staff.

More on Germany

• 1.1 Tourist information
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.5 By boat
• 3.1 Public transportation
• 3.2 By bike
• 3.3 By e-hailing
• 4.1 Museums
• 8.1 Food Markets
• 8.2.1 City centre
• 8.2.2 Around the main train station
• 8.2.3 South-west Mainz
• 8.3.1 International
• 8.4 Splurge
• 9.2 Beer gardens
• 10.1 Budget
• 10.2 Mid-range
• 10.3 Splurge
• 11 Stay safe

Mainz is the capital city of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany . Mainz is notable as a transport hub, for wine production, and for its many rebuilt historic buildings. In 2019, it was home to about 219,000 people.

Understand [ edit ]

Once the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors, the "civilized" origins of Mainz date back to around 38 BC, when the Romans built a citadel here, named Mogontiacum . It was founded by the Roman general Drusus, brother of emperor Tiberius and father of emperor Claudius, at the strategic confluence of the Rhine and the Main; it shortly became the provincial capital of Germania Superior. Drusus died while campaigning beyond the Rhine, in the summer of 9 BC; his body was brought here to be mourned, and a massive funeral monument dedicated to him was built. The so-called 49.992222 8.274167 1 Drususstein still stands (although unclad of its marble) inside the citadel of Mainz.

The city's location at the confluence of the Rhine and the Main rivers is ideal for trade, something reflected by the artifacts kept in the Landesmuseum, that show there have been settlements here since 300,000 BC.

The most logical starting point is the Dom, the Cathedral of St Martin and St Stephan, especially on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, when the farmers' market is open. Although the cathedral was actually started in 975, most of what is seen today was built from the 11th to the 13th centuries. At the Dom und Diözesanmuseum in the cathedral cloisters, you can truly witness the opulence and wealth controlled by the Church in Mainz.

Mainz is also the home of the man identified by Time Magazine as the most important individual in the last millennium, Johannes Gutenberg, who most Westerners regard to be the inventor of the moveable type printing press (though the Chinese had actually preceded him by centuries).

Mainz is also the home of the music publisher Schott Music.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• Mainz tourism website

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

From Frankfurt International Airport ( FRA  IATA ), the local train S8 towards Wiesbaden stops at Mainz Hauptbahnhof (or optionally Mainz Römisches Theater ). The train runs at least every 30 minutes daily, and takes around 30 minutes to get the Mainz. Also regional trains towards Koblenz and Saarbrücken stop in Mainz. Both options share the same local tariff, regional trains are faster and somewhat more convenient. Cologne/Bonn Airport ( CGN  IATA ) is served by a direct ICE connection and from low cost hub Frankfurt-Hahn Airport ( HHN  IATA ) there is a direct shuttle bus connection.

By train [ edit ]

Mainz has several train stations. The biggest and the only one in which InterCity and InterCityExpress trains stop is 50.001436 8.259119 1 Mainz Hauptbahnhof ( main station ), it is on the western edge of the city centre and works as a general hub for local traffic. Flixtrain serves the city.

Nightjet , the Austrian Railways' sleeper train , runs twice a week from Brussels via Mainz to Vienna , Munich and Innsbruck . It calls at Frankfurt airport, Würzburg and Nuremberg where it divides: one portion runs via Linz to Vienna, the other via Munich to Innsbruck. In 2020 it doesn't run in July and Aug, but it's expected to be year-round from 2021.

Another noteworthy station is 49.993726 8.277766 2 Mainz Römisches Theater ( Roman theatre ), south of the centre, but it is only served by regional and commuter trains. Both are served from Frankfurt , about 45 minutes away, by S-Bahn line S8.

As of 2019, the cost of a single ticket on the Regional train (S-Bahn line S8) to Mainz Hauptbahnhof from the Frankfurt International Airport was €4.95.

Behind the Rhine bridge there is the station Mainz-Kastel with S-Bahn line S1, S9 and Stadt-Express SE10 from Frankfurt to Wiesbaden.

By car [ edit ]

Mainz is ringed by the A60 from Bingen / Rüsselsheim and the A643 and A671 from Wiesbaden , at the northern end of the A63 from Kaiserslautern .

• A61 from Koblenz
• A66 from Fulda
• A3/A67 Frankfurt am Main

When parking in Mainz if you use your EC debit card or a credit card in the entrance and exit machines instead of pressing for a pay at machine ticket you will get 10% discount on the parking fee. Alternatively taking a ticket from the machine on entrance allows 4 people to travel for free on buses and trams in the city.

By bus [ edit ]

50.000435 8.258504 3 Mainz intercity bus station

A number of long range buses (including Flixbus) serve Mainz, usually halting at Hauptbahnhof . The station is also a hub for local bus traffic, serving the surrounding countryside and Wiesbaden.

From Frankfurt Hahn Airport for those arriving with Ryanair, there is a direct bus service to Mainz roughly every 90 minutes. The ORN bus stop which services this route is just outside the main train station's police department. The service takes approx. 60-70 min.

By boat [ edit ]

A number of companies offer river cruises, typically leaving from Cologne or Koblenz and terminating in Mainz (and vice versa). The KD Rhine River Cruise Pass [dead link] offers a cruise of the Rhine river around all the way to Cologne with the possibility of stops along the way.

Get around [ edit ]

The centre of town is accessible on foot from Mainz Hauptbahnhof. There are signposts and maps throughout the city centre, or you can pick up a map from the DB information desk in the station.

• The day ticket for Mainz and Wiesbaden cost €6.50 (Bus, Tram, S-Bahn and Regionalbahn). The Single-Ticket cost €2.70. ( MVG , RMV )
• Some good offers to explore the surroundings include the Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket [dead link] , offering unlimited travel in local trains for up to 5 persons inside the states of Rhineland-Palatinate , Saarland and Wiesbaden . The ticket costs €24 - 44 per day (as of 2015) if bought via automat or internet, or €26 - 46 if bought at a ticket stand and is available at all train stations. For Hessen (including Mainz, but not the rest of Rhineland-Palatinate) exists the otherwise similar Hessenticket , costing €34 per day.

Public transportation [ edit ]

The Deutsche Bahn site provides excellent maps, timetables, and route guidance for getting around Mainz via the city's extensive bus and light rail systems. Google maps shows the locations of tram and bus stops in Mainz. If you click the tram or bus symbol, you will get the name of the stop as well as a list of routes serving that stop. The local transit operator (MVG - Mainzer Verkehrsgesellschaft ) has a website in German.

By bike [ edit ]

The local transit operator offers a bike rental system, with stations all around the city.

Cost: €1.40 per 30 minutes

Map of available bikes: http://mobil.mvg-mainz.de/stationen-karte.html [dead link]

Registration: https://www.mvg-mainz.de/mainzigartig-mobil/mit-mvgmeinrad/registrierung.html

You have to activate your account in their office, which is in front of the main train station.

By e-hailing [ edit ]

Uber and Free Now cover the city.

See [ edit ]

• 50.007187 8.266373 4 Christuskirche ( Christ Church ), Kaiserstraße 56 , ☏ +49 6131 234677 . Italian renaissance on the Rhine.  
• Altstadt ( Old town ), Augustinerstraße and Kirschgarten .  
• River Banks . Lots of restaurants and (night) clubs.  

• 50.001009 8.276995 7 City Hall ( Rathaus Mainz ), Jockel-Fuchs-Platz 1 , ☏ +49 6131 120 . The city hall was built in the early 1970s by Danish architects, who used many tons Swedish marble for the façade. Considered modern at the time it was built, the city hall is not very popular today – many consider it too monumental, some even ugly. From the extensive city hall platform there is a beautiful view on the Rhine promenade and the river.  

• 50.006594 8.276757 11 Theodor-Heuss-Brücke ( The Rhine Bridge ) ( between Mainz and Mainz-Kastel ). This is one of three Rhine bridges that connect Mainz with Wiesbaden and the state of Hesse . Like almost all other German Rhine bridges, the former bridge had been destroyed in World War II. The bridge was rebuilt in the early 1950s and named after the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss. Kastel, a former Mainz suburb and several other villages on the right side of the Rhine, has been separated from the city after the war, as the Rhine was the border between the French and American occupation sectors. Even today, Kastel, Kostheim, Amöneburg, Ginsheim, Gustavsburg and the other former suburbs consider themselves part of Mainz, although they are administered by Wiesbaden and Hesse.  
• 50.0054 8.2506 12 Old Jewish Cemetery . Together with sites in Speyer and Worms related to the Jewish history in the region, this cemetery used as a final resting place since the 10th century has been listed by UNESCO in the world heritage list . ( updated Aug 2021 )

Museums [ edit ]

• 50.001229 8.268005 16 The Sacred Site of Isis- Mater Magna , Römerpassage 1 . M-Sa 10:00-18:00 . A few years ago, when a shopping center now named Römerpassage ("Roman Shopping Way") was built, the construction workers found the remnants of what used to be a temple in the Roman city of Mainz. So, nowadays, you can visit this site inside the shopping center. It's surrounded by a quite interesting exhibition about the religious purpose of the Isis site. Free of charge .  
• 49.998409 8.27471 17 Bischöfliches Dom-und Diözesanmuseum Mainz , Domstraße 3 , ☏ +49 6131 253 344 . Cathedral museum & treasury, church art.  
• 50.003898 8.270879 19 Naturhistorisches Museum ( Museum of Natural History ), Reichklarastraße 10 , ☏ +49 6131 122646 .  

Do [ edit ]

• Walk around the town. It's a beautiful place to walk around and see the sights.
• Go and explore the outdoor town market on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at the cathedral. On Saturdays, local winegrowers sell their wines to visitors of the market. In the last couple of years this has become some kind of a tourist attraction. If huge crowds are no problem for you, you can have a lot of fun here (wine is sold until 16:00).
• Visit the small but very pretty Altstadt (old-town) of Mainz. Located just behind the cathedral with a beautiful baroque church and a number of well preserved Fachwerkhäuser (Medieval style houses) to be seen.
• 49.983955 8.224328 1 1. FSV Mainz 05 ( Opel Arena ), Isaac-Fulda-Allee 5 . Go to see a football match of the Bundesliga-club in its new stadium.  

Events [ edit ]

• OPEN OHR Festival – in May, Zitadelle Mainz, an alternative youth festival with some (mostly local) music acts and political or creative workshops and movie presentations. A three day ticket costs around €25.
• Mainz Midsummer St. John's Night Festival - Johannisnacht [dead link] – in June
• Carnival in Mainz . Late February - early March 5.  

Learn [ edit ]

• 49.995243 8.244545 1 Johannes Guteberg Universität ( University of Mainz ), Saarstraße 21 , ☏ +49 6131 39 0 . The student body is around 36,000.  
• 49.988125 8.228112 2 Fachhochule Mainz ( University of Applied Science ), Lucy-Hillebrand-Straße 2 , ☏ +49 6131 6280 .  

Buy [ edit ]

To take in most of the typical main shop name walk north east from the market square to Am Brand then west along Stadthausstraße to Römerpassage .

For more individual shops, explore the Altstadt around Augustinerstraße and Kirschgarten .

Out of town supermarkets can be found in the Gutenberg Center in Mainz-Bretzenheim.

If you want to bring some wine or food from the region, your best bet is the farmers' market on the squares next to the Dome. It is held Tu F Sa from 09:00 to 14:00.

Eat [ edit ]

Mainz has two culinary specialities, both types of cheese. Spundekäse is local cream cheese whipped with cream into a soft paste, served with chopped raw onion and pretzels — the taste is mild and it goes great with beer. Handkäse is a sour milk cheese with a pungent aroma, most often served mit Musik , or marinated in vinegar and oil, then sprinkled with caraway seeds, resulting in a bizarre, firm, gelatinous mass that most people find to be a bit of an acquired taste — and the "music" refers to the flatulence it tends to cause!

Food Markets [ edit ]

• 49.999451 8.273441 1 Wochenmarkt Mainz Domplatz ( Farmer's market ). Tu F Sa 09:00-14:00 . A big farmers' market in the Old Town. Some of the stands also sell fast food. One of them, a local fish farm's stand, has really good fish bread rolls. You can also buy really good plums (they are locally grown around Mainz), sometimes the price gets especially cheap after 1pm when the vendors want to get rid of their rests. ( updated May 2022 )

Budget [ edit ]

City centre [ edit ].

• 49.996238 8.275684 2 Best Worscht in Town , Augustinerstraße 11 , ☏ +49 6131 88 62 110 . M-Th 11:00-20:00, F Sa 11:00-22:00 . This place is known for its good Currywurst with home-made bread and 9 different sauces. You can also choose how spicy you want your Currywurst. But be cautious, it can be really spicy - it is best to start low! In Frankfurt, there are also several Bestworscht locations. Currywurst €4.10 . ( updated Jul 2022 )
• 50.000731 8.271073 3 Restaurant Brauhaus zur Sonne , Sonnengäßchen 2 . German cuisine ( updated May 2022 )
• 49.997571 8.267787 4 Zur Andau , Gaustraße 77 . German dishes ( updated May 2022 )
• 50.001797 8.266699 5 Die Waffel , Lotharstraße 24 . An Afghani restaurant ( updated May 2022 )
• 49.999104 8.268892 6 Souperie , Große Langgasse 6 . ( updated May 2022 )
• 49.999912 8.267037 7 Pizzeria Kiara , Welschnonnengasse 1 . ( updated May 2022 )
• 50.002511 8.270695 8 City Döner , Hintere Flachsmarktstraße 10 . ( updated May 2022 )

Around the main train station [ edit ]

• 50.00165 8.259438 9 Meenzer Worschtstubb II , Bahnhofplatz 1 , ☏ +49 6131 1432772 . Sausage and fries ( updated May 2022 )
• 50.003481 8.255003 10 "Bei Helga" , Mombacher Str. 37 . German dishes ( updated May 2022 )
• 50.00177 8.262122 11 Restaurant Grillstube Damaskus , Gärtnergasse 30 . A Syrian restaurant ( updated May 2022 )
• 50.001244 8.261695 12 Tarz Döner , Bahnhofstraße 8 . ( updated May 2022 )

South-west Mainz [ edit ]

• 49.967619 8.228264 13 Gutenberg center , Haifa Allee 1 ( Just off the A60 - Mainz-Lerchenberg ). In the shopping centre is a German Imbiss, small Asia Imbis, Turkish Imbiss, Chinese self-service restaurant, a Subway and German bakery. Across the road you will find McDonalds, Burger King and KFC. ( updated May 2022 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 49.997542 8.279986 14 Am Holztor , Holzstraße 40 , ☏ +49 6131 5547700 . Traditional small wine tavern with good selection of wines and beers, servers excellent Schnitzel and Chicken dishes. English menu available. Friendly service. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.996766 8.275239 15 Augustinerkeller , Augustinerstraße 26 , ☏ +49 6131 222662 . Classic German Gaststätte with pictures of old scenes in Mainz. Good typical German food, menu includes English translations. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.99615 8.273949 16 Zum Goldstein , Kartäuserstr. 3 ( hidden in a side street of the Altstadt ). Very pleasant beer garden raised of the street providing a little quite in the centre of town. Reasonably good but not outstanding food. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 50.001541 8.261461 17 Bullys Burger , Parcusstraße 8A , ☏ +49 6131 6193934 . Very small on the separation island of the main road. But do not let that put you off the best burgers and fries in town. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.958965 8.214401 18 [dead link] Gaststätte Berghof , Marienborner Bergweg 33 ( near ZDF Lerchenberg ), ☏ +49 6131 330268 . Good choice of German and Austrian dishes. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.995257 8.273466 19 Eisgrub-Bräu , Weissliliengasse 1a, , ☏ +49 6131 22 11 04 . Open until 12:00, Kitchen until 11:00 . This cavernous ice cellar has brewed its own beer since 1872 and is still packed most nights. They brew two beers (pale and dark) that they sell in a variety of sizes including flights and larger 3L table taps. They have a classic, but well executed, menu of classic German foods like meats, sausages, and spätzle. They also have an English menu with vegetarian options clearly marked. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.972492 8.151974 20 Tower One , Am Finther Wald ( at Finthen ), ☏ +49 6131 5545030 . Good food. A destination for aircraft fans. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.995149 8.279646 21 Kamin ( Flammkuchen Restaurant ), Kapuzinerstraße 8 , ☏ +49 6131 6277887 . Very good selection of Flammkuchen ( updated Jan 2023 )

International [ edit ]

• 49.997066 8.274163 22 Gusto , Augustinerstr. 55 ( in Frankfurter Hof ), ☏ +49 6131 1 44 90 49 . Italian. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 50.004589 8.264839 23 Indian Palace , Schießgartenstraße 12 , ☏ +49 6131 225622 . Excellent Indian restaurant ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.995057 8.277532 24 Indian Tandoori , Neutorstraße 19 , ☏ +49 6131 6271880 . Very good Indian restaurant. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.995405 8.277259 25 Ban Thai , Neutorstraße 18 , ☏ +49 6131 220122 . Good Thai restaurant. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.968061 8.24073 26 Asia World , Am Schleifweg 15 ( Bretzenheim ), ☏ +49 6131 3331249 . Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian dishes. Lunch time all you can eat buffet. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 50.010949 8.260485 27 Punjab Tandoori Restaurant , Wallaustraße 52 , ☏ +49 6131 8862544 . Very good Indian and Pakistani food. Friendly efficient service. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 50.00135 8.26932 28 Thai Country , Emmeransstraße 32 . Very good Thai food, fresh ingredient, no MSG used. ( updated Jan 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 50.010607 8.266824 29 Geberts Weinstuben , Frauenlobstraße 94 , ☏ +49 6131 611 619 , fax : +49 6131 611662 , [email protected] . With an excellent wine list (heavy on German wines), Geberts offers excellent versions of traditional regional favourites, including handkäs-Suppe (cheese soup) and wildschwein (wild boar). They are closed for three weeks during the summer, on Saturdays, and at lunchtime on Sundays. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.982751 8.168087 30 Atrium Mainz , Flugplatzstraße 44 ( Mainz-Finthen ), ☏ +49 6131 491 0 , fax : +49 6131 491 128 , [email protected] . The restaurants in the hotel are called Adagio and GenussWerkstatt. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 49.998693 8.268228 31 El Chico , Kötherhofstraße 1 , ☏ +49 6131 238440 . Very good steakhouse ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 50.000167 8.275703 32 Heiliggeist , Rentengasse 2 , ☏ +49 6131 225757 . Church renovated into an up-scale bistro, they offer an abbreviated, but very creative menu that goes with an extensive wine list, including wines by the glass, that enable you to experiment wines from around Germany. Good outdoor seating. Beer quality not the best. ( updated Jan 2023 )
• 50.0077 8.253788 33 Patagonia , Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 74 , ☏ +49 6131 2106660 . Excellent steak house with Chilean dishes. Good service. Quality but casual restaurant. ( updated Jan 2023 )

Sweet [ edit ]

• 50.005931 8.259587 34 N'Eis - Das Neustadteis , Gartenfeldpl. 12 , ☏ +49 6131 4870677 . Very popular (i.e. expect a long line) with some novel tasty flavoured ice creams. ( updated May 2022 )

Drink [ edit ]

Bars [ edit ].

• 50.0107 8.2664 1 Hafeneck , Frauenlobstr. 93 , ☏ +49 6131-4801977 , [email protected] . Tu-Sa 18:00-01:00 . neighborhood bar that manages to simultaneously cater to football fans, local hipsters and an endless streams of niche musicians ranging from the Whiskey Rabbi to Vicky Vomit. The kitchen (open 17:00-23:00 daily) also serves up huge salads, a few German classics like schnitzel, plus giant savoury pancakes ( Eierpfannkuchen ) with unusual fillings, many of them vegetarian — try the Hades to add some spice to your life. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 50.0024 8.2644 2 [formerly dead link] Good Time and Alexander the Great , Hintere Bleiche 18a and 8 , ☏ +49 6131 9716660 . M-Th 17:00-04:00, F Sa 17:00-07:00, Su 18:00-04:00 . Popular Hard Rock pubs quite close to the main railway station. They serve mead in horns and play anything from Death Metal to classical music (depending on the day of the week). ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 50.009 8.26445 3 Beim Budiker , Raimundistraße 13 , ☏ +49 6131 6069739 , [email protected] . M-Th 17:00-01:00, F Sa 17:00-02:00, Su 17:00-midnight . ( updated Aug 2022 )

Beer gardens [ edit ]

• 49.995457 8.28362 4 Mole-Biergarten am Winterhafen , Victor-Hugo-Ufer ( On the Rhine opposite the Main ), ☏ +49 6131 221990 . Watch the ships go by with a beer and a snack. ( updated May 2016 )

Sleep [ edit ]

• 49.986911 8.295511 1 Jugendherberge Mainz (Youth Hostel) , Otto-Brunfels-Schneise 4 , ☏ +49 6131 85332 , [email protected] . Beautifully located between the river Rhine and the People's Park with two bus stops nearby.  
• 49.994488 8.279962 2 Ibis City Hotel , Holzhofstraße 2 , ☏ +49 6131 2470 .  
• 49.996478 8.26212 3 Novotel Mainz , Augustusstraße 6 , ☏ +49 6131 9540 .  
• 49.989905 8.289546 4 Favorite - Parkhotel Mainz , Karl-Weiser-Straße 1 , ☏ +49 6131 8015-0 .  
• 50.003174 8.275405 5 Hilton Mainz , Rheinstraße 68 , ☏ +49 6131 2450 .  
• 49.995864 8.280727 6 Hyatt Regency Mainz , Malakoff-Terrasse 1 , ☏ +49 6131 73 1234 , [email protected] . Incorporates Fort Malakoff, Mainz's 19th-century castle, into its 21st-century architecture. It's the only 5-star hotel in Mainz on the river Rhine.  
• 49.982951 8.167872 7 Atrium Hotel Mainz , Flugplatzstraße 44 , ☏ +49 6131 4910 . ( updated Apr 2017 )

Stay safe [ edit ]

Connect [ edit ], cope [ edit ].

• 50.000735 8.275781 3 Tourist Service Center ( Touristik Centrale Mainz ), Brueckenturm am Rathaus ( on the bridge between Am Brand and the town hall. ), ☏ +49 61 31242 888 .  
• 49.990153 8.250149 4 St. Hildegardis-Krankenhaus ( Hospital ), Hildegardstraße 2 , ☏ +49 6131 1470 . Has walk-in emergency area.  
• 49.993298 8.258325 5 Universitätsmedizin ( University Medical Center ), Langenbeckstraße 1 .  

Go next [ edit ]

• Bacharach in the Middle Rhine Valley is an extremely well-preserved medieval town right next to the Rhine river, with a castle, which is now a youth hostel, overlooking the town. Trains from Mainz to Bacharach at least hourly, takes about 40 minutes.
• Bingen am Rhein
• Darmstadt , 30 minutes by train RB
• Frankfurt , take the S-Bahn S8 from Hauptbahnhof or S1, SE10 or S9 from Mainz-Kastel.
• Heidelberg is an hour away by train
• Continue down the most scenic part of the Middle Rhine Valley towards Koblenz .
• Oppenheim , 20 minutes by train RB
• Wiesbaden is just across the Rhine, take the S8 (13 min), the train RB (11 min.) or Bus linie 6 (30 min).
• Worms , 45 minutes by train

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The Top 10 Things to Do in Mainz

Mainz, Germany has a storied history that covers millennia and is probably most well-known as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. Tucked away in the southwest of Germany , close to wine country, Mainz is one of the oldest cities in Europe dating back to the 1st century A.D.Mainz has much to offer from superb food and drink, to is its 1,000-year-old Roman Catholic Cathedral. Discover one of Germany's oldest cities and the many things to do in Mainz that have kept people coming for thousands of years.

Shop at the Market

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Mainz is an intellectual city with a visionary son and a historic university, but that doesn't make it stuffy. Join the residents of Mainz in the pedestrian-only part of town for a lively farmers' market in the center of the city. Market Square is largest square in town, surrounding the cathedral, and the market takes place every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. The market has been happening here since the cathedral was built in the 10th century.

Along with the throngs of market-goers, there is You can also go in for a closer look at the Marktbrunnen (Market Fountain), a fanciful Renaissance fountain donated by the Elector of Brandenburg in 1526. Also in the center of the square is the Heunensäule , a sandstone column that was carved for the reconstruction of the cathedral after it burnt down in 1009. The 42 columns were never used and only eight survive today.

Appreciate the Printed Word

A visit to Mainz is not complete with paying homage to Johannes Gutenberg, whose invention changed the world. The city's illustrious history in literature has ensured that it is still the home of several of Germany's oldest publishing houses.

The Gutenberg Museum honors Gutenberg and his miraculous invention. Opened in 1900 on the 500th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg’s birth, it still welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Visitors enjoy a hands-on experience in traditional typesetting in the printing house, guide themselves via an English-language audio tour, and can shop at the well-curated gift shop. Among its star features are the earliest known example of woodblock printing and two of the 29 remaining copies of the Gutenberg bible, the first work that Gutenberg published.

Walk Through 1,000-Year-Old Doors

Construction on Mainzer Dom (Mainz's cathedral) began all the way back in 975. Its immense sandstone walls have been periodically destroyed, but also rebuilt to withstand more than a millennium of history.

The mostly Romanesque structure also has touches of gothic and baroque design and the cathedral has been the burial place of ruling Prince Archbishops for centuries. The cathedral museum contains important documents and objects that make up the story of the cathedral. Today, visitors can walk through its weighty bronze doors to a sight that is much the same as when they first opened.

Travel the Ancient Seas via Museum

Matthias Süßen / Wikimedia Commons

Mainz's long history includes an archive of well-preserved Roman warships from the 4th century on display in the Museum of Ancient Seafaring. Discovered in the early 1980s during construction work by the Rhine, full-sized replicas of the impressive ships display in full regalia what they looked like 1,700 years ago. There are also illustrations and artifacts from as far back as the 200s AD.

Lounge Around the Fountain

GettyImages / Meinzahn

Besides the Markt, there are a number of squares in which to relax and enjoy the scenery in Mainz. The elegantly tree-lined Schillerplatz has a history dating back to the Roman era and was also a marketplace in the Middle Ages. The many stately buildings surrounding it are baroque and rococo palaces that now hold government offices and a bronze statue dedicated to poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller also resides here. But the most eye-catching feature is the towering Mainzer Fastnachtsbrunnen, a fountain bedecked with 200 bronze figures and dedicated to the city's famed carnival celebrations.

Take a Riverside Stroll

The Rhine River is a defining element of the city's geography and the Ufer that runs alongside it is the ideal place to observe both water and land. The section by the Altstadt, Stresemann-Ufer, provides spectacular views of the cathedral and Baroque fortifications. Continuing toward the Neustadt (new city), the tree-lined path is dotted with biergartens and ice cream stands in warmer weather. On the water, innumerable boat tours trundle past, taking visitors along the Rhine into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley filled with castles.

Find the City's Medieval Towers

GettyImages / Westend61

Only a few remainders of Mainz’s defensive walls have lasted through to modern times. Luckily, the two towers known as Holzturm and Eisenturm (Wooden Tower and Iron Tower) are among the remnants. Built in the 1200s, the towers have lasted through numerous battles. Used as both gatehouses, watchtowers and prisons, the wooden tower once held the famous outlaw, Schinderhannes.

Dine on Wine and Cheese

Rheinhessen—where Mainz is located—is the largest of 13 German wine regions and produces top-quality white wine, particularly Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, and Silvaner. Wine shops abound and each restaurant has an impressive wine list to choose from.

To pair with your drinks, Mainz also has a platter of traditional delicacies like local favorite spundekas . Served as a creamy paste, the disk is made from cream cheese and quark with seasonings like pepper, salt, and sweet paprika, then topped with chopped onion. Different variations may include butter, egg yolk, sour cream, or creme fraiche, with garlic, caraway seeds, mustard or capers added in some versions.

Stop and Smell the Roses

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The Mainz Botanical Garden is a refuge from city life. It is part of the University of Mainz and covers about 25 acres. Once a military training ground, it now blooms with more than 8,500 species of plants. Visitors may walk the tranquil grounds or examine more exotic plant species in the greenhouses.

Party for Carnival

Cologne firmly claims the title of top Carnival city in Germany, but Mainz also knows how to have a good time. The city celebrates Rhenish traditions before Lent begins with a week of festivities, including a celebratory Mainzer Rosenmontagszug (Shrove Monday parade). The parade is always televised with plenty of silly costumes and pointed political humor. Prepare for crowds as up to 500,000 spectators can line the streets for the parade.

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11 Highlights

St. Martin's Cathedral

THE landmark of Mainz

Old city centre

Narrow lanes and historic buildings

St. Stephen's - Chagall…

Famous stained glass windows by Marc Chagall

Banks of the Rhine

Rhine promenade

Wine & wine festival

From vine to glass

Gutenberg Museum

History of book printing

Three times a week, all year round

Modern architecture and art

Famous "fifth season" when Mainz turns into one big party

Partying in Mainz

From top DJs to electro and niche parties to hard rock

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A Day Trip Guide to Mainz, Germany

Created On: April 11, 2022   |   Updated: September 25, 2023   |   6 Comments

Best known for being the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, this historic city on the Rhine River is now the wine capital of Germany. Here are the best things to do in Mainz, Germany in one day!  

What is Mainz famous for? Well, many things! But its most famous son was Johannes Gutenberg, who invented the printing press with movable type in this very city in 1440.

However, Gutenberg’s revolutionary invention is just one of many important chapters in Mainz’s history. Mainz was first settled by the Romans, and they remained here until roughly 451 CE. In 1118, the city of Mainz gained the rights to self-government.

Throughout the centuries, the city has been occupied by the Romans, French, Swedes, Prussians, and is now part of modern-day Germany. And like many German cities, Mainz was all but leveled during WWII bombing raids and then rapidly rebuilt. Today Mainz is a major media hub and is also considered to be the wine capital of Germany .

I took a day trip to Mainz while staying in Heidelberg during Christmas market season. Although one day in Mainz isn’t enough to see every little thing, I was able to explore the majority of the city on foot without problem.

This post will share the best things to do in Mainz, Germany as well as answer some FAQs. If Mainz isn’t on your bucket list yet, it will be soon!

Table of Contents

Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below. 

The Best Things to Do in Mainz, Germany

I visited the following Mainz tourist attractions in a single day without feeling rushed whatsoever. The inner city is easy to navigate on foot (I recommend stopping by the tourist information center to get a map first!), and the Old Town is within walking distance of the main train station.

1. St. Martin’s Cathedral (Dom St. Martin)

The Mainz Cathedral was built between 975 and 1009 CE. For such an old church, I’m sure it comes as no surprise to hear that it’s been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the Mainz Cathedral was a big deal. The Archbishop of Mainz had the sole right to crown German Monarchs, and six monarchs were crowned on this very spot.

The Late Gothic cloisters are a main feature of the cathedral, as are the massive tombs of the archbishops. The interior of the cathedral didn’t impress me as much as the exterior, but it’s still one of Mainz’s top attractions and I recommend going inside since it’s the heart of the city center.

Tip: You can also pay to visit the Cathedral Museum, which is located right next to the cathedral itself. Unfortunately, it was closed on the day I visited so I can’t speak to the quality or contents of the museum. 

2. Main Square (Markt)

Whether you’re in Mainz for one day or many, it’s impossible to miss Markt (main square) during your explorations of the city center. The picturesque Markt is in front of the Mainz cathedral.

A weekly market is held here three times per week (Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7am to 2pm). You’ll find produce, breads, and meats galore, so be sure to bring cash to buy some goodies. Weekly markets in Germany are a feast for the senses, so you don’t want to miss this!

Tip: The Mainz Christmas market takes place at the Markt in December. It was my favorite Christmas market that I visited last year, and I recommend it to all of my friends!

3. Gutenberg Museum

Bookworms will love the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz! This compact museum walks you through the history of books and printing, with an emphasis on Johannes Gutenberg’s legacy and work.

The star attraction of the museum are the two original Gutenberg bibles , which are sealed inside a massive vault and watched by a security guard. The museum is primarily a collection of old books, manuscripts, and printing presses — all of which were lovely to look at, but the accompanying text was quite dry to read (and it was all in German!). But the Gutenberg Bibles … they are works of art in every sense of the word!

There are only 48 Gutenberg bibles left in the world, so definitely take your time examining the two (!!) in the Gutenberg Museum. It’s unlikely that you’ll see another for a long time!

Tip: The Gutenberg Museum is mostly in German, but you can download an audio guide to your smartphone for a couple Euros. Also note that this is a small museum; it took me about 90 minutes to go through. 

4. Old Town (Altstadt)

The Old Town is hands down one of the BEST things to see in Mainz, Germany. The Mainz Altstadt is sadly teeny tiny — it’s just one street with a small square — but it’s one of the prettiest Old Town’s I’ve visited! If you like half-timbered houses, Mainz will be your new favorite city.

The Kirschgarten (pictured above) is a gorgeous square where the oldest half-timbered house in Mainz is located. It dates back to the 15th century! Unfortunately you can’t go inside as it’s now a dentist’s office.

In addition to the many boutiques and cafes within the Old Town, be sure to pop into the Augustinerkirche  (pictured above). It was built in the late 1700s in the Baroque style and is currently a seminary. I didn’t see the Augustinerkirche listed on any other Mainz guides, which surprised me since it’s such a beautiful church!

5. St. Stephan’s Church

I visited Mainz in December, and it just so happened to be snowing the afternoon I walked to St. Stephan’s Church. The church rests on a hill, and there’s an iron lamppost in the front courtyard. The view from the courtyard isn’t far-reaching but it’s still picturesque, and on that snowy day it felt like I was walking through the portal to Narnia as I approached the lamppost.

The interior of St. Stephan’s isn’t spectacular — with one major exception. The church is surrounded by blue stained glass windows!

They were created by the Jewish artist Marc Chagall in the 1970s. He made them as a means of illustrating the Jewish-Christian bond, and they’re without a doubt the highlight of St. Stephan’s.

6. Christmas Market

The Mainz Christmas market runs from the end of November through December and takes place in front of the cathedral. The quality of goods for sale here is incredibly high, and the atmosphere was one of the best I experienced during my holiday travels.

I have an entire guide to the Mainz Christmas market on my blog, so check that out for my recommendations and plenty of pictures!

Even More Things to Do in Mainz!

The list of Mainz tourist attractions I’ve shared above will keep you busy for a whole day and give you time to enjoy a leisurely lunch and / or afternoon coffee (when in Europe, right?).

Other things to do in Mainz that I haven’t personally experienced but have heard good things about include: 

• Kunsthalle (Art Hall) — Rotating contemporary art exhibitions.
• Mainz State Museum (Landesmuseum Mainz) — One of Germany’s oldest museums, with an art collection largely donated by Napoleon in 1803.
• Museum of Natural History (Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz) — Specimen collection of animals and fossils.

Day Trips From Mainz, Germany

If you’ll be in Mainz for more than one day, you’ll definitely have time to take a day trip or two! Mainz is a small city, so you won’t need much more than a day or day and a half to see the main sites.

Here are some day trips from Mainz I recommend:

• Mannheim — The main attraction is the Baroque Palace. Only one wing is still open to the public, but it’s an impressive building. The rest of the city is very industrial.
• Heidelberg  (pictured above) — A crumbling castle on a hill, the longest pedestrian street in Germany, and a postcard-worthy Old Town. A must while you’re in the area!
• Frankfurt am Main — The only city in Germany with skyscrapers. It’s much more modern than other German cities and has a totally unique vibe.
• Bonn — Former capital of West Germany and a political hot spot to this day. There’s a good amount to do and see in Bonn, but a day trip will give you a good taste of the city.

Is One Day in Mainz Enough Time?

For me, one day in Mainz was plenty of time to see the main attractions. Obviously I couldn’t go into every single museum and church, but I felt like I was able to explore the bulk of the city center on foot. For reference, I arrived in Mainz around 11am and left at 7pm.

If I hadn’t visited during Christmas market season, I could have done more in Mainz, though! So one full day during a “normal” time of year would definitely have been enough to see the attractions in Mainz.

Oh, and Look for the Men in the Crosswalk Lights!

Before signing off, I wanted to mention one of the quirkier aspects of a visit to Mainz, Germany. When you cross the roads, take a good look at the crosswalk lights. There are tiny gnomes in them!

Those little gnomes are called Mainzelmännchen , which translates literally to little Mainz men. The name is a combination of the city, Mainz, and Heinzelmännchen, which are popular figures in local folklore.

The Mainzelmännchen are mascots for the German broadcast network ZDF, which has its headquarters in Mainz. Hence the gnomes in the crosswalk lights!

Auf Wiedersehen, Mainz!

If you’re considering a day trip to Mainz, do it! I’m glad I visited during the holidays as the Mainz Christmas market was spectacular, but I imagine the city is a great day trip spot year-round. Drop me a comment below if you have any questions about visiting Mainz, Germany!

More Cities in Germany Worth Visiting:

• Top Things to Do in Heidelberg, Germany
• What to Do in Wismar, Germany
• 11 Unique Things to Do in Berlin, Germany
• The Best Things to Do in Munich, Germany

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Comments & Reviews

April 12, 2022

Omg the gnomes on the crosswalks are adorable!!! This was such a sweet post, I’ll definitely refer to this article when I visit Mainz!

April 19, 2022

Right?? They’re like a cuter version of Berlin’s Ampelmann! I think you’ll really like Mainz!

December 8, 2022

Hi! I’m using Mainz as a homebase for a 4 day trip, can you suggest an itinerary that’s no more than 2 hours away by public transport/car? You seem to be the only blogger who seems to get around to more niche areas, which I really appreciate!

Hi Ari, so glad you find my niche travel guides helpful 🙂 You can definitely take a couple day trips if you’ll be in Mainz for 4 days. Cities nearby that I recommend include: Heidelberg, Bonn, and Frankfurt. (I have guides for both Heidelberg and Bonn, FYI). Of the cities I just mentioned, Heidelberg is my favorite by a landslide so definitely take a day trip there if possible. Enjoy your trip!

August 12, 2023

Thank you for beautiful photos of the city.

As a German from Mainz, I really have to add that Germany is very very well known for its wine 💪🤗 referring to your comment „since German wine doesn’t have much of a reputation“. Maybe you can read some articles or visit the wine areas in Germany.

E.g. https://genevawinesociety.com/german-wines-along-the-shores-of-the-mosel-and-the-rhine/

August 14, 2023

Hi Josephine, thanks for your comment! I know Germany is famous for its riesling, but my comment re: its overall reputation is in comparison to better-known wine producing countries like Italy and France. But you’re absolutely right, I need to visit Germany’s wine regions and learn more about its history! I appreciate you leaving a helpful comment encouraging me to learn more about the country I now call home 🙂

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Germany Travel Guide

Mainz Germany: 1-day Itinerary and Map

Mainz is the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate , Germany, and an old university town on the left bank of the Rhine . It is one of the oldest cities in Europe .

How to spend one day in Mainz Germany

In this 1-day itinerary in Mainz , discover the main attractions of the city.

Day 1 in Mainz

Start the day by visiting the old center of Mainz, which has many attractions and sights, such as Mainz Cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum, as well as numerous elegant boutiques, cafés, and wine taverns.

Still, in the old center on Rheingoldstrasse , pass by the two ancient towers ( Eisenturm and Holzturm ) that formed part of the city’s fortifications. Head to Zitadelle , located on the edge of the old town, built-in 1660.

Be sure to take a tour and wine tasting .

Things to see

• Mainz Cathedral
• Gutenberg-Museum
• Kunstverein Eisenturm

Day 1 Itinerary Map

Sights in Mainz

1. gutenberg museum.

The Gutenberg Museum is located in the beautiful old house Zum Römischen Kaiser , dating from 1664.

The museum is dedicated to the printing world.

Liebfrauenstraße 5, 55116

2. Mainz Cathedral

The Mainz Cathedral is located on the Marktplatz .

The cathedral museum has numerous artifacts and documents related to the building.

Markt 10, 55116 

3. Altstadt

The old town of Mainz is charming with baroque churches, elegant boutiques, cafes, and wine taverns.

4. Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum

The 17th-century Election Palace houses the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum . The museum was founded in 1852.

It features prehistoric and Roman collections as well as material from the beginning of the historical period.

Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, 55116

5. Holzturm and Eisenturm

The two ancient towers formed part of the fortifications of the city.

The oldest is the Eistenturm . It was built as a watchtower and today it houses art exhibitions and events.

The Holzturm also served as a watchtower. Today it houses a variety of community groups.

Holzstraße 34, 55116 /  Rheinstraße 59, 55116

6. Mainz Citadel

The citadel is situated at the fringe of the old town. The Fortress was built in 1660.

During World War I and World War II the citadel was used as a prisoner-of-war camp.

Windmühlenstraße, 55131 

7. Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden occupies an area of 10 hectares. It is maintained by the University of Mainz .

Anselm-Franz-von-Bentzel-Weg 9, 55128

8. Wine Tasting

Mainz is considered the wine capital of Germany . It is located in the largest wine region of the country in Rheinhessen .

Where to stay in Mainz

1. hyatt regency mainz.

The Hyatt Regency Mainz is located on the banks of the Rhine within walking distance of historic downtown attractions.

Rooms are elegant and feature a flat-screen TV, coffee maker, and minibar. Some rooms offer a view of the river.

The hotel has an indoor pool and a spa.

Templerstraße 6, 55116 Mainz, Germany

2. Hilton Mainz City

The Hilton Mainz City is located in the city center.

Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar, safe, and work desk.

Münsterstraße 11, 55116 Mainz, Germany

3. Novotel Mainz

Located a 15-minute walk from the cathedral, Novotel Mainz offers great value for money.

The rooms are equipped with a TV and offer tea and coffee-making facilities.

The hotel has a restaurant and a historic wine cellar dating back to the 17th century and contrasting with modern architecture.

Augustusstraße 6, 55131 Mainz, Germany

4. me and all hotel Mainz

Me and all hotel mainz is located in a new building 10 minutes walk from the historic center. Rooms have a small seating area, a flat-screen TV, and a minibar.

The hotel has a gym and a sauna.

Binger Str. 23, 55131 Mainz, Germany

5. the niu Mood Mainz

the niu Mood is located 2 km (1.2 miles) from the historic center of Mainz and offers excellent value for money.

The rooms are cozy and have a flat-screen TV and a safe.

The hotel has a sauna.

Mombacher Str. 6, 55122 Mainz, Germany

6. Best Western Hotel Mainz

The Best Western Hotel Mainz is located within walking distance of the city’s central station.

Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, kettle, and coffee maker.

The hotel has a restaurant.

Wallstraße 56, 55122 Mainz, Germany

Shopping in Mainz

1. galeria kaufhof mainz.

Galeria Kaufhof is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany .

The company features brands like Esprit, S. Oliver, Tom Taylor, Gerry Weber, Tommy Hilfiger, Bugatti, Olymp.

Schusterstraße 41-45, 55116

2. Römerpassage Mainz

The Römerpassage is located 600 meters from the cathedral.

Brands: Engbers, Laura Ponti, Douglas.

Römerpassage, 55116

Plan your Trip

Mainz  has easy train access from various cities in Germany . Famous cities nearby: Frankfurt , Wiesbaden , Mannheim , Darmstadt .

Frankfurt – 53.2 km (33.1 miles)

Wiesbaden – 16.9 km (10.5 miles)

Mannheim – 83 km (51.6 miles)

Darmstadt – 39.6 km (24.6 miles)

Heidelberg – 91.4 km (56.8 miles)

Koblenz – 99.9 km (62.1 miles)

Book a Train Trip

Mainz Germany Map

Book your trip, book your accommodation.

Book your hotel with Booking.com as they consistently provide the cheapest and lowest rates.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights to Germany by using  Momondo . Momondo is a flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many budget carriers.

Book a Train Ticket

Check the train routes and schedules with Omio . Omio is an authorized Deutsche Bahn ticket seller, which compares and combines transport options for complete flexibility.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, and cancellations. It’s a protection in case anything goes wrong. You can book your travel insurance with Travelexinsurance.com .

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Outlets & Department Stores in Germany: Shopping Guide

40 Popular Train Routes in Germany

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Home » Destinations » Europe » Germany » Awesome Things To Do in Mainz, Germany (+ Our Tips)

Awesome Things To Do in Mainz, Germany (+ Our Tips)

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There Are Lots Of Great Things To Do In Mainz, Germany!

Have you ever been to Mainz, Germany? Ever heard of it before? If you aren’t German, the chances are pretty low that you’ve ventured into this small city.

That said, there are some awesome facts about Mainz – like the massive Mainz cathedral dominating the old town skyline! If you are travelling to Germany for the first time , Mainz just might make your “to see” list.

We wandered through Mainz while on a shorter trip of the surrounding area that included the northwest of Bavaria. 

If you are exploring the area, you might be looking for things to do in Wiesbaden , things to see in Aschaffenburg , and/or things to do in Frankfurt. We like all these places – and we plan on covering Frankfurt soon!

Now, we didn’t have a TON of time in Mainz – we only had a day. But we made the most of our time to check out a few points of interest, photograph the pretty sights, and get a general sense of the city. 

It would have been handy if we had a Mainz tourist map – but we just went about our wander using Google Maps on our phone. So, let’s chat about what there is to see and do in Mainz, Germany!

Table of Contents

Top Things To Do In Mainz, Germany

Okay, now that we have chatted about places to stay and how to get around, let’s cover exactly what there is to do and see!

Again, we only wandered around for a few hours to get a sense of the city so we didn’t have the chance to dive into anything too deeply.

It was more of a scouting trip between Wiesbaden and Aschaffenburg and we plan to go back to the area soon! Of course we’ll update this article accordingly.

Wander the Old Town

One of the first things you should do is head right for the old town. German old towns are known for their colourful buildings and stunning architecture – and Mainz did NOT disappoint.

The buildings on the main square (shown above and below) are really pretty. There are restaurants and cafes lining the bottoms for that classic “coffee in the square”.

There are also lots of side streets that have other shops and attractions (like the cathedral and museum listed below). One thing that we are super sad about is the fact the Mainz has a gorgeous Christmas market in the old town and when we went they were JUST setting it up.

So, we might be back in the next few weeks – or maybe next year. There are just so many German Christmas markets to choose from!

Explore the Mainz Cathedral

Originally founded in the 10th century, the Mainz Cathedral is a stunning cathedral that sits proudly in the old town. Even for German standards, the building is gorgeous.

Over the centuries, the structure has been added to – which is why you might notice a variety of different architectural styles represented. In fact, the stone was toned red to match the surrounding buildings as recently as two centuries ago.

The cathedral was heavily damaged during World War II bombing in 1942 but has since been restored. We didn’t get a chance to go inside but we’ve seen photos and it’s lovely. Frankly, we were lucky enough to see it from the outside but you really can’t miss it!

Address: Markt 10, 55116 Mainz

See a Show at the Staatstheater

While you are wandering downtown, you might notice a red monolithic looking building standing with glass on top. This is the main theatre in Mainz!

The Staatstheater, as it’s called in German, was opened in 1833 and actually houses two theatres that are connected inside. If you want to see a performance, you can check out the official website here.

Address: Gutenbergplatz 7, 55116 Mainz

Visit the Gutenberg Museum

If you are interested in learning about the history of print and literature, why not stop by the Gutenberg Museum?

This museum was founded in the early 1900s as a way to pay tribute to Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press that modernized printing in Europe!

The museum actually has two 15th century “Gutenberg Bibles” – which were among the first books ever printed in modern history! If you want to plan a visit, check out the official website for the Gutenburg Museum here .

Address: Liebfrauenplatz 5, 55116 Mainz

Admire the Church of St Stephan

We were walking along up the hill from old town when we saw a colourful tower in the distance. Intrigued, we wandered down a beautiful side street and this is what we found – the Church of St Stephan. This Baroque-style building actually replaced the Romantic-era styled one in 13th and 14th century.

The church features stain glass windows designed by the master artist Marc Chagall. If you want to attend a service or just want to look around, you can learn all about the times and opening hours at the official website in English .

Address: Kleine Weißgasse 12, 55116 Mainz

Find the Many Fountains

If you walk around enough, you will definitely notice this too: there are loads of fountains around Mainz, and they are all really cool or pretty.

The one above is right across from the Cathedral in the old town main square. It is called the Marktbrunnen, and is beautifully designed.

Located in a small square/parking lot outside a school called Ballplatz, this is called Drei-Mädchen-Brunnen – meaning literally “Three Girls Fountain” in English.

Fittingly, school was just out of session and so the area was filled with kids and their backpacks heading home from school.

Finally, there is the Fastnachtsbrunnen. Completed in 1967, this fountain, located in Schillerplatz, has over 200 bronze sculptures that are meant to celebrate the joy in life and the spirit of carnival in Mainz.

There are probably many more fountains around so if you go and find more please tag us any way you can because we want to hear about it!

Go Find the Römertor + Alexanderturm

Given that Mainz was settled by the Romans 2000 years ago, we thought there would be a deeper connection to that part of the city’s history.

So, we set out to see the old ruins. We wanted to see the old wall/gate called the Römertor.

Turns out, the ruins are in a residential complex which clearly states that it’s private. However, there is a tourism sign with a huge explanation and diagram of what the old wall/gate at that location looked like.

So, we were confused and underwhelmed – but still kinda cool to see that they didn’t just cover this over completely – which they easily could have done!

If you exit the residential compound near the Novotel Mainz , you will find the Alexanderturm – which is an old tower that is now on the grounds to a restaurant, Kupferberg Terrassen!

We didn’t eat there but it looked great, has medieval cellars, and the reviews are really good. You can check them out if you need food up on the hill or you book the Novotel!

Address of the Römertor: Kästrich 61, 55116 Mainz

Things to Consider When Visiting Mainz

Mainz isn’t a tiny village, but it is also not a major city like the massive port city Hamburg . It’s a smaller city with a population of just over 200,000 people.

Mainz is located where the river Main and the Rhine – the two famous German rivers – meet. This significance has made Mainz a hub for trade and industry for (not kidding) two millennia when the Romans settled it.

You’ll find loads of ways to get to Mainz, public transportation once you are in Mainz, and plenty of places to stay the night if you’d like to spend a bit more time in the city than we did! We’ll briefly cover some of these topics below.

How to Get to Mainz

It’s actually pretty easy to get to Mainz. If you are driving, take any of the A60, A63, A643 or A66. We got to Mainz on the S-train from Wiesbaden, but you could also get to Mainz from Frankfurt. 

If you’re travelling from Frankfurt or another nearby city to Mainz, use this website to  plan your journey  by train. 

If you are coming from a place farther away, the train is usually also a good option, but instead of using the local transportation website use the  DB Website to plan your journey .

Alternatively, depending on where you are coming from, you could also take a bus to Mainz. You can check the bus connections on the  Flixbus website .

In theory, you could also take a boat on a river cruise from a larger city like Cologne which would be kinda fun – but most people use the train or drive.

Getting Around in Mainz

Once you’re in Mainz, the city is actually pretty walkable. The centre from the train station to the river is flat with one hill where we explored an old tower (see below).

If you aren’t keen to walk about, there is an extensive bus system that goes all over the city. There is also a street train (tram) system that we saw shuttling by.

Here is a link to the main transit website Mainzer Mobilität . It’s in German, but it might be helpful.

Where to Stay in Mainz

If you are considering spending a night or two in Mainz then you have plenty of places to choose from.

Mainz has a great mix of modern and beautiful old hotels in the city centre, along with rented apartments for a longer stay in the city. You can check here for hotels/accommodation in Mainz.

If you are set on visiting and sleeping there, you might want to stay right in the centre – in which case you can stay in the building on the photo!

This is The Osteiner Hof at Schillerplatz square . In there you can find beautiful apartments you can rent for a stay in Mainz. From there it is just a 5-7 minute walk to the Cathedral and the Old town!

And there you have it – some great things to do and see in Mainz, Germany! Again, this is just a sample. There are so many more churches, museums, and beautiful green spaces – include all along the river – which we just didn’t get a chance to see.

So, consider this your Mainz teaser trailer that we will add to in the future! If you stop in Mainz, let us know what you think!

As always, Happy Mainz Waddlin’, -L&E

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If you are looking for other Germany posts – along with helpful German phrases to know – we’ve got a whole Germany Series going:

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• Visit the Western Spa City of Aachen
• Beautiful Places in Germany Recommended by German Bloggers

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Home » Travel Guides » Germany » 15 Best Things to Do in Mainz (Germany)

15 Best Things to Do in Mainz (Germany)

Germany’s wine capital, Mainz was founded by the Romans on the left bank of the Rhine and has more than 2,000 years of history. Looming over the Altstadt’s romantic warren of cobblestone streets is the huge Romanesque cathedral, burial place for centuries of ruling Prince Archbishops.

The city’s museums have Roman artefacts discovered beneath the city, like a small armada of 1700-year-old warships now kept in an industrial locomotive shed. In the 1430s the Mainz citizen Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, and the museum dedicated to him has two of the remaining editions of the Gutenberg bible. Mainz also puts on a big-time carnival, and its televised parade on Shrove Monday pulls in hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Let’s have a look at the best things to do in Mainz :

1. Mainz Cathedral

With a millennium of history in its walls, Mainz’s immense sandstone cathedral radiates religious and political power.

The design is still mostly Romanesque from the High Middle Ages, but there’s also some Gothic and Baroque design in the chapels and roof.

The interior has the largest set of funerary monuments to Prince-Archbishops in the former Holy Roman Empire.

These monuments represent all phases of European art history, from Gothic to Baroque, as well as the Medieval revival styles of the 19th century.

In the Kettelerkapelle.

In the High Middle Ages six German monarchs, from Agnes de Poitou in 1043 to Heinrich Raspe in 1246 were crowned in the cathedral.

Be sure to see the treasury, rich with centuries of religious art.

2. Gutenberg Museum

The Gutenberg Museum was inaugurated in 1900 on the 500th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg’s birth, and in 1927 moved into the delightful Renaissance townhouse, “Zum Römischen Kaiser” across the way from the cathedral.

There are quite a few wonders to wow visitors in its galleries, including two of the 29 remaining copies of the Gutenberg bible, the first work that Gutenberg published.

You can also see the earliest known example of woodblock printing, produced in Japan in 770, as well as other highly valuable works printed in the 15th century.

One is “Peregrinationes in Terram Sanctam”, an illustrated travel memoir from a trip to the Holy Land, printed in 1483.

The largest of the four squares around the cathedral, Markt is on the north side and developed with the cathedral in the 10th century.

There’s a market trading here on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings.

You can also go in for a closer look at some of the monuments on the square: The Marktbrunnen (Market Fountain), is a highly ornamented Renaissance fountain, donated in 1526 by the Elector of Brandenburg.

In front of the cathedral is the Gotthardkapelle, a Romanesque palace chapel ordered by Adalbert of Mainz in 1137. Lastly, the Heunensäule is a sandstone column in the centre of the square.

This is one of 42 that was carved for the reconstruction of the cathedral after it burnt down in 1009 but never used.

Only eight are known to survive today in different spots around Germany.

4. Stephanskirche

Atop the highest hill in the old city, Stephanskirche was founded in 990 and has mostly Gothic architecture from the 1300s.

A later extension was the beautiful Gothic cloister, added in the 15th century, with marvellous vaults on its south wall.

And although the style of the building is much as it was in the Middle Ages, the church has come through a difficult 200 years: In 1857 an explosion destroyed the Baroque facade, while the church and its western belfry were only restored in the 1970s after taking damage in the war.

The windows in the choir, famed for their blue tones, were redesigned by Marc Chagall between 1978 and 1985, and there’s nothing to compare to them in Germany.

The church also has some Medieval fittings like an altar table from the 1200s and a sizeable tabernacle from the beginning of the 16th century.

5. Kirschgarten

One of the prettiest scenes in Mainz is this small rectangular square enclosed by tall half-timbered houses.

The square itself dates back to before 1329, while its houses are from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

One, Zum Aschaffenberg is the oldest preserved half-timbered house in Mainz, built around 1500. In front of another fine old house, Zum Beimburg you can find the remains of a stump: This isn’t actually a cherry tree as it is often claimed to be (Kirschgarten means cherry orchard), but an almost petrified oak.

At the centre, bordered by a restaurant terrace, is the Kirchgartenbrunnen, a fountain that has only been here since 1932 and is made with red sandstone repurposed from broken ornamental structures on the Theodor Heuss Bridge.

6. Schillerplatz

A grand tree-lined square, Schillerplatz was already a public plaza in Mainz’s Roman era and was used as a marketplace in the Middle Ages.

The square is fringed by regal palaces in the Baroque and Rococo styles housing state government offices.

There’s a bronze statue of the poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller, put up on his 100th birthday in 1859. But the square’s most striking monument is the nine-metre-high Mainzer Fastnachtsbrunnen, which commemorates the famous carnival celebrations that take over the square on Shrove Monday.

This fountain is a postcard favourite and is decorated with more than 200 bronze figures from Mainz history and local folklore.

7. Rheinufer

If you’re in the mood, you can walk beside the Rhine for hours, from Mainz’s Neustadt in the north to the railway bridge that marks the southern limit of the city in the south.

In summer you won’t have to take more than a few steps before coming to a Biergarten with riverside views, an ice cream stand, or long lawns where you watch one of the world’s great rivers flow past.

On the Stresemann-Ufer beside the Altstadt there’s a lovely perspective of the cathedral, as well as pieces of public art and a remnant of the city’s Baroque fortifications at the red sandstone Templertor.

8. Augustinerkirche

Built between 1768 and 1771, the Catholic Augustinerkirche is a Baroque masterpiece unaffected by the Second World War.

Above the portal on Augustinerstraße look for the group of sculptures depicting the coronation of Mary between Augustine of Hippo and his mother Monica of Hippo.

As the church was funded by wealthy patrons, the interior has almost overwhelming Rococo decoration, glinting with gilded stucco and dramatic frescoes glorifying the life of Augustine of Hippo.

The church’s organ from 1773 is one of the few created by Johann Heinrich Stumm to make it to the 21st century, but there’s also one piece that looks a little out of place: In a niche between the southern side altars is an image of Maria with Child, carved in 1420 and brought here after its church burnt down in 1793.

9. Landesmuseum Mainz

A museum of archaeology, art and culture, the Landesmuseum Mainz has a collection that begins in prehistory and comes right up to the 21st century.

The attraction is in a Baroque former barracks building that was given a modern glass annexe in 2010. If you love Gothic and Renaissance art there’s much to uncover, like a cycle of paintings of Mary by Master of the Housebook, as well as works by Hans Baldung Grien and a stunning painting of Mary with Child by Lorenzo di Credi.

A highlight in the medieval department is a gold and enamel fibula dating to 1000, depicting an eagle an encrusted with sapphires.

The Baroque collection has refined pieces of furniture, like a Rococo writing desk designed by master craftsman Peter Schuß, adorned with gilded carvings and dainty walnut and cherry wood marquetry.

10. Museum of Ancient Seafaring

In the early 1980s the well-preserved remains of several Roman war ships from the 4th century were found during construction work by the Rhine.

These five vessels are the core of this museum’s exhibition and are from two different designs.

There are also full-sized replicas to show what these boats would have looked like 1700 years ago.

There are also models illustration the many types of craft that navigated the Rhine in Roman times, as well as riveting artefacts like a ship’s bronze bow spur from the 200s.

The location also deserves mention as the museum is in the vast former repair hall of the Hessische Ludwigsbahn railway, dating to 1870.

11. Heiligtum der Isis und Mater Magna

When the Römerpassage shopping mall was being built in the late-1990s workers happened upon a sanctuary devoted to Isis and Cybele that had been used until the 3rd century.

A small but diverting museum was later set up in the basement of the Römerpassage around the ruins.

There’s a raised glass walkway, allowing you to look down into the remnants of the sanctuary, which is labelled with information boards.

Along the walls are glass cases full of the interesting finds made on the site.

Among them are some of the hundreds of clay oil lamps discovered here, as well as animal sacrifices, curses inscribed on lead tablets and statuettes of Mercury and Venus.

12. Holzturm and Eisenturm (Wooden Tower and Iron Tower)

The main vestiges of Mainz’s defensive wall are two towers a few hundred metres apart on Rheinstraße.

Both were raised in the 1200s and have a Late Gothic design from the early 1400s.

The pair were damaged in the war but were restored in the 1961 to celebrate Mainz’s 2000th anniversary.

These lofty buildings were used as gatehouses, watchtowers and prisons.

The wooden tower held one of the most famous outlaws in German history, Schinderhannes, who was locked up here after a spree of daring robberies and an escape from jail.

Following 15 months in prison he was guillotined by the French authorities in 1803 in front of a crowd of 40,000.

13. Mainzer Fastnacht

Carnival season in Mainz begins on 11 November and continues right the way through to Shrovetide in February or March.

There are small events happening throughout this time, but the everything ramps up for the days leading up to Ash Wednesday.

Shrove Monday is definitely the day to be in the city, so long as you don’t mind crowds, as 500,000 spectators line the streets for the Rosenmontagszug parade.

There are almost 10,000 participants in the procession that snakes past the sights in the Alt Stadt.

The parade in Mainz is famous for its wit, and floats carry enormous satirical set pieces with an irreverent take on world affairs.

14. 1. FSV Mainz 05

Even though they were playing amateur football just 30 years ago, the local football team has been a constant presence in the Bundesliga since 2010. In 2011 the club moved into the new 34,000-capacity Opel Arena, which is a superb place to watch a football match, with high tiers and a cacophonous noise created by 15,000 standing fans.

The club also infuses local carnival culture into matches: Whenever Mainz score they play the Narrhallamarsch, which is the signature tune of the Mainzer Fastnacht.

If you can’t catch a match but want to see inside the stadium there are multilingual 90-minute tours on Fridays at 17:00, taking you around the dressing room, dugouts, corporate hospitality boxes and the conference room.

15. Spundekäs

If you fancy trying something local, Spundekäs is as authentic as it gets in Mainz.

This is a smooth cheese paste, partly made from quark and seasoned with pepper, salt and sweet paprika.

When you order Spundekäs it will normally come with chopped onion sprinkled on top and with crackers and mini pretzels on the side for dipping.

The perfect match is Riesling or Müller-Thurgau wine, from the surrounding Rheinhessen region.

Another cheese that is a bit more challenging is Handkäse, which is often marinated in vinegar and has a powerful aroma.

15 Best Things to Do in Mainz (Germany):

• Mainz Cathedral
• Gutenberg Museum
• Stephanskirche
• Kirschgarten
• Schillerplatz
• Augustinerkirche
• Landesmuseum Mainz
• Museum of Ancient Seafaring
• Heiligtum der Isis und Mater Magna
• Holzturm and Eisenturm (Wooden Tower and Iron Tower)
• Mainzer Fastnacht
• 1. FSV Mainz 05

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• Gelsenkirchen
• Gummersbach
• Halle an der Saale
• Kaiserslautern
• Monchengladbach
• Saarbrucken

Printable maps of Mainz

Interactive maps of hiking and biking routes around Mainz

Railway and landscape maps of mainz area, city tours, excursions and tickets in mainz and surroundings, germany - moving around the country.

Nature and parks of Germany

Photogallery of mainz sights.

Our guide to Mainz

Cultural excursion through mainz - things to see.

Attractions and active leisure

Cuisine and top restaurants, traditions and mentality of mainz, travel guide to mainz, mainz for children - what to visit, interactive maps of mainz neighbours.