Hotels in Mainz

Mainz: Gutenberg's City on the Rhine

Mainz stands on the west bank of the Rhine at its confluence with the Main river, 40 km west of Frankfurt. The city gave the world movable-type printing — Johannes Gutenberg developed his press here around 1450, and the Gutenberg Museum on Liebfrauenplatz still houses two original 42-line Bibles from that first press run. The Mainzer Dom, a six-towered Romanesque cathedral consecrated in 1009, anchors the Altstadt and frames the pedestrian zone that fills with stalls during the city's celebrated carnival season each February.

Where to Stay in Mainz

Hotels cluster around the Hauptbahnhof and along Kaiserstrasse, placing guests within a 10-minute walk of the Rhine promenade and the Altstadt. The Neustadt district offers quieter guesthouses a short tram ride from the centre. Rhine-facing rooms in mid-range properties command higher rates during the Mainzer Fassenacht carnival and the summer Johannisnacht printing festival in June.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Frankfurt Airport sits 25 km east; direct S-Bahn S8/S9 trains reach Mainz Hauptbahnhof in about 35 minutes.
• Getting around: Trams lines 50, 51, and 52 connect the station, Altstadt, and university campus.
• Best time to visit: Late May through September for Rhine terrace dining; early February for carnival parades along Schillerplatz.