Mainz Old Town: A Self-Guided Walking Tour
Description
Mainz is where Romans built theatres and fortresses, archbishops wielded power, and Gutenberg revolutionized information with the printing press. On this self-guided walking tour through the medieval old town, you’ll hear all about the Holy Roman Empire’s power, Napoleon’s ambitions, and a remarkable Jewish artist’s gift of reconciliation. The tour begins at the magnificent 1,000-year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral, a powerful symbol of Mainz’s religious importance as the Rome of the North. You'll wander past Heunensäule (Haystack Pillar) in Marktplatz, and through cobblestone squares and narrow alleys to discover vibrant wine houses and meticulously preserved half-timbered buildings. You'll see the city’s impressive hilltop Citadel, and the ruins of the largest Roman amphitheater north of the Alps before the tour concludes on Augustinerstrasse, Mainz’s popular shopping street, where you can easily return to the Old Town or stop for a glass of local Rheinhessen wine.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You’ll pass by the impressive Mainz Cathedral, a striking example of Romanesque architecture with over a thousand years of history. However, entry to the cathedral is not included in this tour.
You’ll pass through Leichhof, a charming square near Mainz Cathedral known for its cafés and relaxed atmosphere. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
You’ll stroll past Kirschgarten, one of Mainz’s most picturesque squares, lined with half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
You’ll catch a glimpse of the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to the life and legacy of Johannes Gutenberg and the history of printing. Please note that admission to the museum is not included in this tour.
You’ll pass by the Staatstheater Mainz, a prominent cultural venue known for its performances in opera, drama, and dance. However, entry to the theatre or its performances is not included in this tour.
You’ll pass through Ballplatz, a historic square in Mainz known for its vibrant atmosphere and surrounding architecture. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(11)
Very pleasant to visit Mainz: its cathedral, its typical neighborhoods, the market square, and especially the Gutenberg Museum. Stroll along the Rhine.
My husband and I did the audio tour of Mainz. We enjoyed it! It was interesting, informative, the walking directions were clear and easy to follow.
Love the adventure and the information was great! Could not figure out how to see the map when we went a tiny bit off course - so do read the instructions as we did not 😀
This audio tour was a perfect way to enjoy Mainz. I wish I'd discovered it earlier in my vacation so I could have toured other cities. Highly recommend giving it a try.
Very nice way to get to know the city of Mainz. Navigation is super flat and easy, and the adaptive audio playback based on GPS location is a great functionality. The tour guide that talks in the audio guide is very pleasant to listen to, and it really feels as if she is right there with you. First time we used the app, but will certainly use it more for other city trips.
This was a detailed tour of Mainz. We all enjoyed it very much including my 21 yo. It took us about 2 hrs. We went to one of the recommended restaurants later that night and it was fabulous.
This was an absolutely wonderful tour. I didn’t use the audio but read the text instead and the directions were so clear! The information was extensive and interesting. The tour covers so much ground, you get a wonderful sense of Mainz. I do wish it had told us when was our chance to go to the Gutenberg Museum, but perhaps I missed that.
Overall, great experience. Highly recommend! First, the directions were easy and straightforward (have to download an additional app). Next, the directions to guide you from site to site were very detailed and easy to follow - also, love to listen to a narrator with an accent! Lastly, the information was interesting and the experience fun & entertaining - we were sad for it to end. Although I hate to download new apps, I did not delete it (VoiceMap) as there are other narrated tours that I want to try both in my area and while traveling.
This is an excellent app. Well narrated, easy to follow, good historical information and quirky gems. It took us just over 2 hours (only small, short breaks) but perhaps we lingered at each spot longer than the app planned. However would not have made it faster. Highly recommend
Pleasant app, a bit hit and miss to understand this app, but once figured out, you can’t get lost. The sightseeing of the old town of Mainz was a positive experience.
