Planning a visit to Mainz? This gorgeous city along the Rhein River makes a fantastic home base for exploring Germany’s wine region and beyond! Here are the best (and easiest!) day trips from Mainz by train.
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Mainz is a small but fascinating city along the Rhine River with roots stretching back to Roman times. It’s considered the wine capital of Germany and serves as a gateway to the Rheingau and Rheinhessen wine-making regions.
You really need just one full day to see the city’s main attractions (here are all the top things to do in Mainz!). After that, I suggest utilizing the area’s extensive train network to take day trips from Mainz.
In this guide, I’ll be sharing the best Mainz day trip destinations that you can access by train, in 90 minutes or less. I’ve visited all of these cities personally and can vouch for their awesomeness.
Claire’s Tip: If you plan on exploring western Germany with Mainz as your home base, consider buying a Deutschland Ticket. This special ticket lets you ride all regional (RB) and regional express (RE) trains, plus use public transportation throughout the country. High-speed (ICE) trains are NOT included in the price of the Deutschland ticket, but they will get you to your destination faster.
Table of Contents
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Wiesbaden
Travel time by train: 15 minutes via S-Bahn
Located on the opposite bank of the Rhine River, Wiesbaden is one of Germany’s cultural gems. It’s the capital of the German state Hessen and also serves as the European headquarters of the U.S. Army.
One full day is plenty of time to see Wiesbaden’s top attractions:
- Market Church — A red brick church built in the Neo-Gothic style.
- Neroberg — Ride the funicular or walk up the city’s most famous hill. There’s a classical temple at the top that offers a fantastic view of Wiesbaden from above.
- Old Town — Packed with shops and cafes. I highly suggest indulging in a mid-day Kaffee und Kuchen break at the Viennese-style Cafe Maldaner.
- Kurpark — A compact English-style park with lots of green space for lounging and reading a good book.
Frankfurt am Main
Travel time by train: 33 minutes via ICE or 38 minutes via RE
Just down the river from Mainz you’ll find Germany’s financial capital, Frankfurt am Main. (If I worked in finance, I imagine I’d also appreciate a nice glass of wine after a stressful day spent crunching numbers!)
Frankfurt is known for many things, including being the birthplace of the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and also the place where Germany’s first freely elected parliament met to draft a constitution.
You’ll likely spend most of your day exploring Frankfurt’s Old Town:
- Römerberg — Where the city council has met since the 15th century. It’s a gorgeous reconstructed square surrounded by half-timbered buildings.
- Cathedral — A soaring Gothic cathedral containing a reliquary of St. Bartholomew’s skull.
- Goethe-Haus — The house where the writer, statesman, and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born has been transformed into a museum.
Read more: What to Do and See in Frankfurt am Main’s “New” Old Town
Mannheim
Travel time by train: 45 minutes via ICE
Germany’s “Square City” was rebuilt by the American military following World War II on a rigid grid system. There are no street names within the city center, just grid positions (A1, A2, B1, B2, and so on).
In addition to the grid area, I suggest doing the following on your day trip from Mainz:
- Water Tower — A beautiful Romanesque-style water tower surrounded by gardens.
- Planken — A popular shopping street in the heart of the city.
- Mannheim Palace — A massive Baroque palace that you can partially tour (part of the building is now used by the University of Mannheim and cannot be accessed by visitors).
Koblenz
Travel time by train: 51 minutes via ICE or 1 hour 3 minutes via RE
One of my favorite places to visit near Mainz is Koblenz. It’s most famous for being the spot where the Rhein River converges with the Moselle River, and many Rhein River cruises stop in Koblenz for this reason.
While in Koblenz, I highly suggest visiting the following:
- Deutsches Eck (German Corner) — The place where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet is watched over by a 37-meter tall monument of Kaiser Wilhelm I.
- Ehrenbreitstein Fortress — Ride a cable car up and over the Rhein River to explore the second-largest preserved fortress in Europe.
- Old Town — The reconstructed Old Town is packed full of lovely squares lined with shops and cafes.
Read more: Day Trip Guide to Koblenz, Germany – What to Do and See
Rüdesheim am Rhein
Travel time by train: 1 hour via RE and S-Bahn (transfer to S-Bahn at Wiesbaden Central Station)
If you specifically want to visit the prettiest towns near Mainz, add Rüdesheim to the top of your list! This is one of the best-known towns of the Rheingau region and every street in Rüdesheim looks like it was lifted straight from a postcard.
While in Rüdesheim for the day, plan to see the following:
- Drosselgasse — A long, skinny alleyway lined with shops and restaurants. It’s the most famous attraction in Rüdesheim, so it can get quite busy!
- Niederwald Monument — Ride the cable car up to the massive sculpture of Germania or walk up through the vineyards surrounding Rüdesheim to see the monument (my pick!). From the base of the monument, you’ll get an unparalleled view of the Rhein River and surrounding area.
- Eibingen Abbey (Abtei St. Hildegard) — A stunning Romanesque-style church containing vibrant murals painted in the style of the Beuron art school. Be sure to stock up on jams, cookies, liqueurs, and wines made by the nuns at the abbey’s gift shop!
Read more: The Top Things to Do (and Eat!) in Rüdesheim am Rhein
Heidelberg
Travel time by train: 1 hour 15 minutes via ICE (1 transfer to S-Bahn)
Home to the oldest university in Germany, Heidelberg is a vibrant city along the Neckar River with lots to see and do! You can’t see all of Heidelberg’s top attractions in a single day, but you can definitely do the following:
- Heidelberg Castle — Dating back to the 13th century, the castle is now mostly in ruins. Definitely sign up for a tour to learn about the castle. Be sure to see the Heidelberger Tun while you’re there; it’s the largest wine barrel in the world!
- Königsstuhl — Ride the historic funicular up to the “King’s Seat” for a view of Heidelberg from above.
- Old Town — The Old Town offers a romantic backdrop for day trippers. Make sure to visit the Old Bridge (Alte Brücke) while you’re there; the sandstone bridge is one of the city’s most famous attractions.
Read more: The Top 10 Attractions in Heidelberg, Germany
Stuttgart
Travel time by train: 1 hour 26 minutes via ICE
Dubbed the “cradle of the automobile,” Stuttgart serves as the headquarters for both Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. A visit to Stuttgart isn’t just for automobile fanatics, though!
Try to check out the following:
- Mercedes-Benz Museum or Porsche Museum — Visit one or both museums, depending on how much you love cars.
- Eugensplatz – You’ll get a great view of the city from this square.
- Schlossplatz – Part of the older part of the city center; the area around this square is nice to meander around.
Cologne
Travel time by train: 1 hour 38 minutes via ICE and S-Bahn (travel time seems to vary depending on the route you pick, so research this day trip in advance!)
First settled by the Romans in 50 CE, Cologne boasts one of the longest and most interesting histories of any city in Germany.
Your day trip to Cologne will likely start with a visit to the world-famous cathedral — it’s impossible to miss since it’s situated just outside the main entrance of the train station!
In addition to the Cologne Cathedral, here’s what I recommend doing in one day:
- Walking Tour — This is one city where you really should take a walking tour. There are so many layers to Cologne’s history and culture, and only a local tour guide can explain it best. (There’s also a beer history tour of the Old Town if that’s more your speed!)
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum — My favorite art museum in the city; there are incredible exhibits showcasing artworks from the Middle Ages, Baroque period, and 19th century.
- Old Town — Make sure to see the Alter Markt and Heumarkt squares.
Read more: What to Do and See in Cologne, Germany
Tour Providers Offering Day Trips From Mainz
I recently went on a day tour of the Rheingau wine region with Bottlestops and can highly recommend it! The day tour includes transportation and the tour groups are intentionally kept small.
I wrote a full review of the Bottlestops’ day tour, which you can read for more details. Generally speaking, I’d recommend this type of day tour for anyone who enjoys trying new wines or who wants to learn more about the history of wine-making in Germany.
Have Fun Exploring Western Germany!
Now that you know how many fantastic places there are to visit near Mainz, it’s time to book your train tickets and start exploring! If you have any questions about visiting Mainz or taking day trips in the region, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below.
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