Car Hire Mainz - Mini guide to Mainz

Mainz is located on the left bank of the Rhine and is at the heart of Germany’s wine producing region. It attracts visitors who want to explore the Rhine valley and also draws them in with its charming Aldstadt.

The major sight in Mainz is St Martin’s Cathedral, which was begun in 975 AD. Its six towers loom majestically over the town. The impressive and vast cathedral also hosts the Diocesan Museum, which displays religious works of art, and a thousand-year-old crypt with a gold reliquary of the saints.

The Landesmuseum Mainz is also worth a visit; it contains, among other exhibits, Roman tombstones of legionnaires from the 1st century and the towering Column of Jupiter from the same era.

To fully appreciate the town, take a walking tour of the compact Aldstadt. The medieval area has been lovingly restored and half-timbered houses nestle in the Gothic cathedral’s giant shadow. This district also contains the shopping boulevard of Am Brand, home to many chic stores.

Mainz is a delight for shoppers and you’ll find shops selling everything from trinkets to designer brands. The Krempelmarkt Flea Market is also worth visiting. As you’d expect from a city situated in this region, the wine selection in restaurants is extensive and the food has a healthy French influence too.

The Rheingau region surrounding Mainz draws visitors with its natural beauty as well as its wine. Nearly every town and village from Wiesbaden to Assmannshausen, no matter how small, is a major wine producer. Both the people and the towns tend to retain a cheerful ambience.

Access by car to Mainz is via the A60 east and west, the A63 south, and A643 north. There is direct rail service from the airport (S-14 train) via Wiesbaden to Mainz. From Frankfurt, an express train takes 25 minutes to reach Mainz; while the S-Bahn arrives in 40 minutes. There are also trains leaving for Mainz from Cologne (two hours). The nearest airport is at Frankfurt.