12 Incredible Things To Do In Mainz + An Interactive Map

Mainz is one of the small towns on the Rhine river in Germany. When we decided to head out on a trip to Frankfurt, a friend of ours suggested stopping over in the area. She said that there were loads of things to do in Mainz that would make it a great place to stay.

We really thought of staying in Mainz initially but our ultimate goal was to visit Heidelberg castle. With two toddlers in tow, we decided that it would make more sense to spend the night closer to the castle so instead we spent the day in Mainz.

I will however take you through the best places to eat and where to stay if you are in the city. With the sheer number of things to do in Mainz, we really packed our itinerary to the brim. I think in hindsight, I probably would also return to the city again. Not because of the activities but because of the vibe.

With gorgeous views, lots of wine and good food, there are plenty of reasons just to spend time in the city relaxing. It is also a great place to take one of those epic romantic German tours to!

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Things To Do In Mainz: Table Of Content

• Where To Stay In Mainz
• Where To Eat In Mainz
• Religious Sites
• Museums
• Historical Sites
• Other Things To Do In Mainz
• Unique Things To Do In Mainz
• Things To Do In Mainz FAQ

Where To Stay In Mainz

There is no shortage of accommodation in Mainz. Choosing one can be tricky though. Here are a couple of different options that we found value for money. They are also very highly rated by fellow travelers. 

Super 8 By Wyndham (Budget)

⭐️ Rating: 8/10 (4,427 Reviews) Price: $99 per night 📍Location: Inge-Reitz-Straße 1-3, Neustadt, Mainz Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Super 8 by Wyndham is one of the best budget accommodations in the city. It’s 2.5 km from the Mainz railway station and super easy to get to. The highlights of this property include clean and spacious rooms, free wifi and a great location.

What I honestly loved about the hotel was the free bicycle option. This is great if you are on a budget and want to explore the city or countryside. It is also a fantastic way to just take off for a day and wander around the numerous trails in the area. Like I said, its free so there’s no damage done to your budget!

Hilton Mainz (Luxury)

⭐️ Rating: 7.6/10 (2,443 Reviews) Price: $ 157per night 📍Location: Rheinstr. 68, Altstadt, Mainz Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Now I know that this is one of the chain hotels but hear me out. The hotel is gorgeous, has fantastic views from its rooms and is extremely luxurious on all fronts.

All the rooms of the hotel have contemporary décor. They are extremely spacious and come equipped with a separate work area, an ultra comfortable bed and even a tub!

Things To Do In Mainz, Germany

1. Indulge In The Food

One of the things to do in Mainz is to indulge in German food. It has all the usual suspects, great cafes and restaurants and plenty of open air seating which is great when the weather is good. The only downside is that the cafes and restaurants fill up fast! 

We had a bit of experience with this and since the weather threatened to unleash buckets of rain, we headed indoors as soon as Agustinerkeller opened.

Augustinerkeller

Indulging in the food at Augustinerkeller was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Mainz Germany.

I know that there are loads of restaurants in Mainz but I highly recommend Augustinerkeller. This place has a really cool vibe. From the outside, it does not look like much. On the inside it is a rustic cellar style restaurant that serves some of the best German food I have ever tasted.

Popular things to have here are the beers (boy do they have a variety!), schnitzel and pork knuckles. We tried the Wissenbourg which was a dish that looked like a pizza but came with an extremely thin crust and with sheep cheese instead of mozzarella. It was absolutely delicious.

Things To Do In Mainz: Religious Sites

Among the numerous things to do in Mainz, I found that visiting the religious sites was my favorite. Even the kids enjoyed this because the architecture of these buildings was fascinating. It is also one of the free things to do in Mainz.

2. Mainz Cathedral

The Mainz Cathedral is one of the most impressive things to see in Mainz.

Address: Markt 10, 55116 Mainz, Germany

Hours: Mon – Friday: 9am – 6:30pm, Sat: 9am – 4pm, Sun: 12:45 – 3pm, 4 – 6:30pm

Price: Free

Located right in the heart of the city, the Mainz cathedral dominates the skyline. It is an impressive structure both in architecture and in size. Its tower served as a guiding point for us as we wandered round the city. 

The Mainz cathedral is over 1000 years old and is extremely well maintained. It was the first place that we visited. Initially we thought that we could not get in. A random stranger saw us gazing at it and told us that we could get in for free. 

The inside of the Mainz Cathedral is beautiful. It has a high dome, plenty of light, amazing sculptures and some incredible stained glass. You can even visit the crypts. 

Pro Tip: The Mainz Cathedral also has paid toilets inside which was great for us because they were clean and the kids needed a loo every now and then.

3. Stephanskirche

The church was damaged during WWII but was later restored. Things to note in this church are the octagonal tower and the cloister. Some of the parts of the church were not salvaged because they were damaged too badly.

Two key areas that are missing are the arches and the choir. You probably won’t notice their absence because it has been replaced by a wooden ceiling.

4. Augustinerkirche

Step inside the church and you will find that it takes your breath away. The outside is pretty no doubt but the inside is gorgeous and pretty grandiose. 

Another point of interest in this church is the pipe organ. According to my research it has been preserved in almost authentic condition and dates back to the 1700s.

Things To Do In Mainz: Museums

5. Landesmuseum Mainz

Price: Adults: 6 Euros, Children (7-17 years): 3 euros.

The Landesmuseum Mainz is the main museum in the city if you want to explore art and history. The collection that it houses has pieces that have been donated by prominent people over time. Some notable names include Napoleon and Chaptal.

An intriguing thing about the structure is that the building was once a stable. No. I’m not kidding! It wasn’t always housed here though. The collection was growing quickly and they needed a larger place to display them. So in 1937, the entire collection was moved. It was then modernized over a period of six years from 2004 till 2010.

Things To Do In Mainz: Historical Sites

6. The Wooden Tower And The Iron Tower

The wooden tower and the iron tower are two of the three remaining towers in the city. Like almost all of the buildings that we have talked about, these are incredibly old and date back to the 15th century.

7. Heiligtum Der Isis Und Mater Magna

Address: Römerpassage, 55116 Mainz, Germany

Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-6 pm, Sun: Closed

Price: Free

The name is a bit hard to pronounce, I’ll give you that. Heiligtum Der Isis Und Mater Magna literally translates into ‘Sanctuary of Isis and Magna Mater’. I did not know that this site existed before leaving so it remains on my bucket list for the next time I’m in the area.

I highly recommend putting this on your list of things to do in Maine because this site dates back to the 1st century. No! I’m not kidding. It was in use till the 3rd century. I’m sketchy on what happened after that. 

No one knew about its existence till 1999 when they set out to construct a shopping arcade in the city. That is when the ruins were excavated. Today you can head here and marvel at them.

Other Things To Do In Mainz

There are other more laid back and equally fun things to do in Mainz that really should not be ignored on this list. In fact, I think we spent more time walking around these areas than all of the above combined.

8. Markt

Browsing in the Mainz Market is one of the best things to do in Mainz Germany.

We reached Mainz on a Saturday and were incredibly lucky to catch the city market. If I had known that the market was such a big deal, I would have planned it in such a way that I did not miss it which is why I’m adding it to the list.

The Mainz market is pretty huge and is set up outdoors. You can catch it on every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday between 7am and 2pm. It is pretty huge and very crowded. We reached the market around 10 am and found it extremely difficult to navigate with our double stroller. 

There were lines at every stall. Now it could just be people prepping for Easter Sunday but it did feel like a regular affair. The market has everything from fish and meats to bread and cheese. Oh yes! Plenty of vegetables, fruits and even souvenirs can be found here too!

9. Rheinufer 

If you are looking for one of the peaceful things to do in Mainz, head for a walk at the Rheinufer.

The Rheinufer  was one of my favorite areas to walk in the city. This paved area follows the Rhein river on both its banks. It is very clean, extremely peaceful and very quiet. If you are looking for a bit of solitude, I suggest heading here.

It is also pretty easy to take the stroller along too. Plus it had small play areas for the children. It was a great place for us adults to stop and let the kids let out steam.

10. Kirschgarten

Kirschgarten is an intriguing part of Mainz. This part of the city has gorgeous half timbered houses. It is an incredibly beautiful part of town and it dates back to the 13th century. Back then it was the cherry orchard. When the French took over it was called Jardin des cerisiers. Today it is still an important part of town.

Unique Things To Do In Mainz

Looking for something different? Don’t worry. I have you covered. There are a couple of really unique experiences that you can indulge in while in the city.

11. Take An All Inclusive Evening Cruise On The Rhine River

Remember I talked about how relaxing the Rhine river was? Well if you don’t want to just walk along the promenade, you can choose to take a cruise. It gives you a different view of the city and you can indulge in the dinner buffet while you are at it.

Did I mention that the cruise also has wine, beer and soft drinks also included in the buffet? Pretty sweet way to chill and enjoy the city of science right? 

Oh and yes! There’s a DJ with music so if you should choose to, you can even swing your legs to the beat. Me… I prefer to chill with a glass of wine and a plate of food while I watch the silhouette of the city pass by. I think that it is one of the best ways to end the day and definitely one of the most recommended things to do in Mainz.

12. Helicopter Tour Of Mainz

If you want to get your adrenaline pumping and truly have the adventure of your life? Then take a helicopter tour over the city. Not only does it give you a bird’s eye perspective of the historical monuments of the city, you can also see the Rhine river winding through the valley and the gorgeous hills in the area.

From this unique vantage point, you can snap truly amazing photographs of the city. You will also have your own set of headphones to communicate with the pilot of the day. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. 

Free Things To Do In Mainz

Now everyone knows that traveling through Germany can be expensive. That’s the reason I love making a separate note of all the budget friendly activities. I know that I’ve listed many of these above but the following are free things to do in Mainz. That way you have them all in one spot.

• Mainz Cathedral
• Stephanskirche
• Augustinerkriche
• Heiligtum Der Isis Und Mater Magna
• Mainz market (free unless you get tempted to buy stuff
• Walk along the Rheinufer
• Kirschgarten

Map Of The Things To Do In Mainz

Click here if you want to see the whole map and zoom in on the details

Things To Do In Mainz FAQ

Is Mainz A Walkable City?

Mainz is very walkable. We parked our car in one of the garages and walked almost everywhere. Not only is the city walkable, it is also very accessible for people who have mobility issues, use a wheelchair or push a stroller. 

We pushed our double stroller almost everywhere with the kids in it and were extremely comfortable. I guess that’s how I know that the city is easy to explore.

Do People Speak English In Mainz?

Mainz is a lovely place to visit for most of us tourists. It is also a university city. This means that English is well spoken by most of the inhabitants. It makes roaming the city so much easier especially if you don’t know German.

With all our trips to Germany in the past few months, we’ve been picking up a bit of German along the way. Now we know what things on the menu mean but it certainly helped to ask the waitress. Another interesting difference was the menu itself had an English translation which wasn’t there in most of the other regions that we visited.

What Is Mainz Famous For?

Mainz is famous for its Roman architecture. You’ll see traces of it almost everywhere you go. It is also a University town so it is pretty lively and has loads of people who come here for an education. This makes the town surprisingly easy if you want to navigate with just English.

Does Mainz Have A Christmas Market?

Yes it does! The Mainz Christmas market is held in front of the main cathedral. This is where you would ordinarily see the Mainz market. The Christmas markets in Mainz will be opened from the 28th of November to the 23rd of December 2024. So mark that on your calender!

Also there is another Christmas market called the Mainz WinterZeit markets. These are in front the city’s main station. If you are looking for gifts or just Christmas themed souvenirs from Germany then this is the place to go!

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