Mainz
50°00′ N 8°16′ ECityPop. 223,888Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main
Mainz suits a slower night or two on the Rhine, with a cathedral-square market that runs to 23 December 2026 and wine taverns in the old town. The S8 runs direct from Frankfurt Airport, and the trade-off is a smaller choice of markets than Frankfurt offers.
Photo Zairon · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Base in Mainz if you want the market at the cathedral door and an old town full of wine taverns. Wiesbaden's market sits just across the Rhine, and the S8 links both cities to Frankfurt Airport, so Mainz also works as a calm first or last night of a trip.
The name
Mogontiacum
The name comes down from Castrum Mogontiacum, the Roman fortress the general Nero Claudius Drusus founded here in the 1st century BC.
latin
SourceDrink in Mainz
Weinstube HottumWine tavern
Old-town wine tavern at Grebenstraße 3, a short walk from the cathedral, listed in the City of Mainz directory. Check its hours before you go.
Gutenberg printed his Bible in Mainz, and the city's Christmas market sets up right beside St Martin's Cathedral, whose red sandstone glows behind the stalls once the lights come on. After the market closes, find a seat in a Weinstube, the local wine tavern, and order a glass of Rheinhessen wine from the vineyards that start at the city's edge.
Worth knowing
- The mainz STORE tourist office at Markt 17 opens Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and hands out market maps that mark the barrier-free stalls.
- The cathedral is usually open on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00 and on Sundays and holidays from 13:00 to 17:00, outside service times.
Quick answers about Mainz
How do I get from Frankfurt Airport to Mainz?
Take the S8 from the regional station under Terminal 1. Frankfurt Airport lists Mainz among the direct destinations from that station.
Is the Mainz Christmas market open on 23 December?
Yes. The Mainz Christmas Market's last day in 2026 is 23 December, and it closes at 19:00 that evening.
What does the name Mainz mean?
Mainz comes from the local name Mogontiacum, meaning the name comes down from Castrum Mogontiacum, the Roman fortress the general Nero Claudius Drusus founded here in the 1st century BC.
Is Mainz a good place to stay?
Base in Mainz if you want the market at the cathedral door and an old town full of wine taverns. Wiesbaden's market sits just across the Rhine, and the S8 links both cities to Frankfurt Airport, so Mainz also works as a calm first or last night of a trip.
