The banks of the Rhine

Before Mainz was founded, there was the Rhine. If you want to enjoy the river like a Roman would have two thousand years ago, a walk along the Rhine is the best way to do it! A promenade will take you right along its banks from the Zollhafen to the Winterhafen – without you ever being bothered by traffic. It takes a good hour to walk the distance between the two ports, which have undergone modern development in recent years. If you want to stop for a snack at the Zollhafen and enjoy the view over the marina, you can do so at Goldmarie or Hafen Eden. Even more exquisite are the views and the hospitality at the Winterhafen, where you can sit in the Bootshaus and watch the Main flow into the Rhine.
Or how about going for a jog in the morning before the conference starts? You can run along the promenade between Theodor Heuss Bridge and North Bridge, cross the Rhine, and run back along the bank on the other side in Mainz-Kastel. Depending on your fitness level, this takes 40 to 50 minutes. Again, no cars! By the way: Mainz-Kastel has been part of Wiesbaden since the end of World War II, even if the name doesn’t suggest it (and its heart still beats for Mainz). Speaking of Kastel: the view of the Mainz skyline from Kasteler Strand or Bastion von Schönborn is particularly worthwhile in the evening!

Gunnar Otte

Rhine-Hessian Wine Culture

In Mainz and Rhine-Hesse, much of life revolves around wine. Rhine-Hesse is the largest wine-growing region in Germany, and so Mainz is a natural starting point for discovering the rich culture, history, and diversity of the region’s wine. Mainz is the headquarters of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter e.V., an association of around 200 top German wineries, which is committed to quality and ecological standards in viticulture. Together with Rhine-Hesse, Mainz is a member of the international network of Great Wine Capitals.
Direct access to the huge variety of regional wines, the “rhoihessian” way of life, and the often sociable locals can be found in the city’s numerous wine bars and restaurants (“Weinstuben”), at the outdoor wine tastings on the banks of the Rhine, and at the market breakfast (“Marktfrühstück”) of Mainz’s winegrowers (each Saturday on Liebfrauenplatz and Leichhof), as well as at the major local festivals (e.g., Johannisfest, Meenzer Fassenacht and Weinmarkt in the Stadtpark) or the wine festivals in the districts of Hechtsheim, Ebersheim and Laubenheim. The following selection of wine taverns, bars, and wine houses has been compiled on the basis of ethnographic research, without any claim to completeness: in the Altstadt, for example, Bluhm, Hof Ehrenfels, Am Holztor, Hottum, Ladendorf, Lösch, Michel, Rote Kopf, Schreiner, and Wilhelmi, or in the Neustadt Geberts, Hahnenhof, Landenberger (the only winery in the city centre), Laurenz, Kurfürst, and Willichs.
Archaeological finds have documented that there has been viticulture in the region since Roman times, with the first written evidence for Mainz itself referring to the district of Bretzenheim in 752. For a deeper insight into the history of wine and its production, you can visit the German Wine Museum in Oppenheim, just south of Mainz. The Rhine-Hessian soils are fertile (mainly loess, clay, marl and limestone). The “Rote Hang” (also south of Mainz between Nackenheim and Nierstein) is one of the few steep slopes in Rhine-Hesse; and its special soil produces excellent Riesling wines. Protected by several low mountain ranges, the climate in Rhine-Hesse is warm and dry, with many sunny days and a long growing season – the best conditions for viticulture!
In Rhine-Hesse, white wines (classic varieties are Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, and Silvaner) predominate over red wines (classics are Dornfelder, Pinot Noir, Blauer Portugieser), with whites accounting for almost three quarters of the vineyards by area. Since the 1990s, the proportion of red wines has risen from less than 10% to 30% at one point. An exciting development is the so-called “PiWis” (“pilz-widerstandsfähige”, or fungus-resistant, grape varieties), which require less than half the amount of fungicides compared to traditional grape varieties, but which are yet to make a real impact in terms of area.

Jürgen Schiener

But there is also… local beer!

If you are into beer, you should definitely visit these two spots in Mainz: The breweries Eulchen and Kuehn Kunz Rosen. The Eulchen was actually created over ten years ago as a marketing idea as part of a university thesis: The young owners turned this idea on paper into reality, and Mainz has revived a piece of its historic beer culture with this brewery. Since then, the brewery has been almost continuously producing new craft beers. A few years ago, I went on a guided tour of the brewery with my boyfriend – it was a great experience in a unique location. It’s also worth making a trip to the Eulchen brewery for the view over the city – the brewery and the brew-pub can be found on the Kupferberg, in what used to be a cellar for sparkling wines. In addition to the brewery tours, Eulchen now also offers guided tours of the former cellars, allowing yet another piece of history to live on in the heart of Mainz.
If you are looking for more creative and special beers, I would also recommend the Kuehn Kunz Rosen brewery. Located in the Altes Rohrlager, the brewery pub has a unique flair in an old industrial site. As with Eulchen, you can also get some specialties to eat there. In addition to many of its own beers, the taproom serves a variety of guest beers. One highlight is the beer garden in summer, as well as the regular events such as tastings or craft beer festivals. In fact, the owner of the brewery was one of the earliest pioneers of the German craft beer scene. A particular highlight: many of the beers are inspired by the city of Mainz, such as the Mainzer Dom Bräu, so they also make excellent souvenirs 🙂

Marie Schlosser

Cathedral St. Martin and Chagall windows at St. Stephan

The cathedral (Dom) forms the center of the city and is THE tourist highlight in Mainz! Become a cathedral explorer and experience the over 1000-year history of Mainz’s episcopal seat of St. Martin. Discover the “schöne Mainzerin”, the crypt, St. Gotthard’s Chapel, and the Cathedral Museum. And with a bit of luck, you’ll get a chance to hear the more than 10,000 pipes of the new organ. Meanwhile, from the top of the west tower, the “Domsgickel” looks down on the hustle and bustle on the market square.
If you’re feeling “blue”, you should take a walk up the Stephansberg. The steep climb up the Gaugasse will be rewarded by the vision of the wonderful stained-glass windows that Marc Chagall – and, after his death, his student Charles Marq – created for St. Stephan’s Church. An overwhelming bath of color, primarily blue, with biblical motifs such as Adam and Eve in Paradise, Mary with the Child Jesus, the angel Gabriel, Moses with the tablets of the law, and much more – absolutely worth seeing, especially on a sunny day! You will be enchanted!

Claudia Herz

Gutenberg Museum

The Gutenberg Museum is currently undergoing renovations and is therefore temporarily housed in a much smaller space within the Natural History Museum Mainz. Despite the limited space, two things can make the visit worthwhile. A highlight is the display of the Gutenberg Bibles — the first books printed with movable type in the Western world, produced between 1452 and 1454 in Johannes Gutenberg’s workshop right here in Mainz. Also on display is a replica of the famous Gutenberg printing press. Be sure not to miss the live printing demonstration, which takes place every hour during opening times.

Gutenberg Museum

Dave Balzer

Fastnachtsmuseum

tanzmainz @ Staatstheater Mainz

The Staatstheater Mainz is one of the most prominent cultural institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate, offering a rich program of theater, opera, concerts, and dance. A standout ensemble within the Staatstheater is tanzmainz, the theater’s celebrated dance company. It collaborates with a variety of choreographers, both emerging talents and established names; our favorite is Sharon Eyal, with her breathtaking performances „soul chain“ and „promise“. We could watch them again and again, and we’re already looking forward to the upcoming tanzmainz festival, which will take place in spring 2025, featuring outstanding dance performances by artists from all over the world. If you have the opportunity to attend one of the contemporary dance events (or any other event at the Staatstheater) during your stay, we can highly recommend it!

tanzmainz @ Staatstheather Mainz

Sigrid Kesy

Caligari

Admittedly: Mainz is not the best at absolutely everything. The cinema scene, for example. But fortunately, cinephiles can be in Wiesbaden in 15 minutes, where you’ll find the most beautiful cinema in the whole of Germany: The term “Lichtspieltheater” is undoubtedly most appropriate here. The Caligari is named after the expressionist silent film “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” by Robert Wiene from 1920.
Originally built as Ufa im Park in 1926 in a neo-Gothic style, the Caligari has been in brilliant shape since its renovation in 2000. Make sure you get there a good ten minutes before the movie starts to admire the Art Deco design of the walls and ceilings. And during the movie, the incredible legroom is also impressive. For the survey researchers among you: The city of Wiesbaden conducts a special audience survey at the Caligari every few years to further improve visitor satisfaction.

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Sweets for my sweet tooth

If you have a sweet tooth, Mainz offers many delightful spots. For cakes, I recommend Fette Henne in Mainz Neustadt, which boasts a wide variety of creative and unique cakes, tarts, and pastries. The best carrot cake in town can be found at Lille Hus in the charming Augustinerstraße. For all the cinnamon roll lovers out there (surely all of you!), you’ll definitely find your bliss at Schnack. The cozy café offers a small selection of handmade cinnamon rolls, including classics and seasonal variations like apple-cinnamon with streusel.
The high-quality delicacies from Pankratiushof bakery, sold at liesbeth in Zollhafen, are also worth trying. They offer handmade pastries, croissants, and sourdough bread of exceptional quality. For those who prefer a more traditional experience, visit Dom Café. Founded in 1792, it’s one of Germany’s oldest coffee houses, offering a wide selection of the finest cakes, pastries, brioches, and croissants, as well as some almost-forgotten classics. Near Dom Café, you’ll find the Schokoladenhaus am Dom, offering handmade pralines and pastries – a must-visit for chocolate lovers. And if you’re craving ice cream, I highly recommend N’Eis at Gartenfeldplatz. They offer between 9 and 12 different ice cream flavors every day, made by hand using mostly natural and regional ingredients. Alongside classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, you’ll find completely unique and creative varieties, including vegan options.

Annalena Röser

Mainz has a diverse vegan dining scene with several restaurants either dedicated to or offering a range of vegan cuisine. Restaurants with only vegan dishes include the Vietnamese restaurant Lôc Vegan Kitchen, which is easily reached by tram or bus. It offers a variety of dishes including appetizers, curries, pho and sushi. You’ll have trouble deciding, but everything is a good choice! If you feel like going to a more intimate place, you could try Noah in the Neustadt for vegan pizza with cashew cheese and creative yet delicious toppings. The Kiwi Corner is a café which is perfect for sweet or savory breakfast and lunch. It was opened by a New Zealander – hence the name. If you feel like having a smaller but delicious meal, I’d suggest you try the vegan çiğ köfte at Münsterplatz. It’s a perfect snack if you’re on the go, but you can also enjoy it there.

There are also a lot of great places with delicious vegan options alongside their non-vegan food. The Nest isn’t far from the central station and is an amazing place for brunch and savory meals, or a cup of coffee and a piece of cake in the afternoon: My personal favorite is their vegan French toast. It’s also a nice place to have a drink in the evening, when it turns into a bar. Kaia Mainz is not fully vegan, but a tasty option for vegan sushi. I’d recommend ordering one of their vegan appetizers as a starter. El Burro is a popular Mexican restaurant which offers the option of ordering its main dishes with vegan cheese. A reservation is advisable in the evening. If you want to grab a bite to eat before you go out to explore the city, Kaiser Kebab is a nice place to start. It offers many vegan options like Sarah’s favorite döner, falafel sandwiches, and lahmacun. You can get the food as a takeaway or enjoy it there. When the weather is good, their patio is a nice place to experience the casual atmosphere of the Neustadt.

When it comes to vegan dining on campus, the Baron is the best place to go. It offers mains like vegan pizza all day, and changes its daily specials regularly depending on the season. It usually has vegan cakes to enjoy on your coffee break. Take in the Baron’s beer garden atmosphere when it’s warm enough to sit outside! Other options on the university premises include the Arabic snack-bar Diwan, which offers vegan falafel (some say the best in town!), and the Bali Bistro, which has an array of vegan dishes and serves drinks. In the Georg Forster building directly opposite the conference venue is the Mensa Bambus, which has a completely vegetarian and vegan menu. The Zentralmensa also serves vegan dishes.

Clara Schuster

Cafés and Coffee

A few years ago, a downpour took us by surprise and forced us to seek shelter in a small, previously unknown café in Mainz’s Oberstadt. We ordered a cappuccino and a coffee brewed with an aeropress and, what can I say, we had an awakening: we experienced how good coffee can actually taste. The owner of the Kaffeekommune, Paul Bonna, attaches great importance to the origin of his beans, to the roasting process, and the perfect preparation of his various specialty coffees.
Although Paul was a pioneer of coffee culture in Mainz, fortunately, he is no longer the only one. There are now numerous coffee spots that are good examples of a new understanding of coffee preparation. To name just a few: Maldaner, Müller Kaffeerösterei and Liesbeth.
If you want a good coffee after your journey, or before your train leaves, the UKIYO café is within walking distance of the main station and comes highly recommended. In addition to freshly brewed filter coffee, there are also various, sometimes fancy, coffee specialties and a great selection of teas.

Marie Schlosser & Sigrid Kesy

Schon Schön & Co.

Mainz offers a number of places where you can simply hang out and relax in the evening. These include the “trinity” of venues on the corner of Große Bleiche and Flachsmarktstraße: the empire of Norbert Schön and Maribel Arnau. The Kulturclub schon schön is a kind of living room club that offers live music (mainly indie rock, folk, psychedelic rock, garage punk and jazz) or various themed parties almost every evening. Right next door, Café Blumen invites you in for coffee, tea, cake and hearty bites from 11 am. And finally, there’s the Salon 3SEIN, a stylish bar where you can have a good laugh over drinks and tapas – indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather! Enjoy!

Kulturclub schon schön

Café Blumen

3SEIN

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Bar culture meets science

How about a cocktail late in the evening after the conference? The Spiritus Cocktailbar will concoct a personalized drink of the highest quality! You tell the bartender what flavors you like and what base you want the cocktail to have, and then a unique drink is created for you right before your eyes! The selection of around 300 different spirits includes a number of the bar’s own creations, such as infusions, blends, and herbal extracts. Bar culture is practiced here like science! And if you’re keen to talk shop with the bartender about spirits, ingredients, and flavors, this is the place. All of this is served in the original half-timbered structure of a listed building. Ranks very highly in the in the Falstaff Bar Guide ranking: If in doubt, make a reservation!

Spiritus Cocktailbar

Gunnar Otte

Strolling through the old town

A walk through the old town of Mainz is a journey through 2,000 years of eventful history that has left its mark. As if by a miracle, Mainz’s old town was largely spared from the devastating bombing in 1945, so that many historic buildings bear witness to passage of time. Behind the cathedral, on its southern side, stretches a particularly charming section: Schöfferstraße serves as an ideal starting point for a stroll through its winding alleys. Just a few steps in, you’ll come across a variety of small specialized shops interspersed with inviting cafés and traditional wine taverns. Why not enjoy a selection of handmade chocolates at the Schokoladenhaus am Dom or take your time exploring a record store and rediscovering timeless classics?

As the conference takes place in October, it might be the perfect moment to make provisions for the cold season and look for hats, caps, scarves, or gloves in the Huthaus am Dom. No matter what it may be, there’s no doubt that you will find something unusual and unique here. Be sure to make a brief detour to the idyllic Kirschgarten, framed by beautiful half-timbered houses, to round-up your old-town experience! We also highly recommend guided walks, which will open your eyes to what makes the “Gud Stubb von Meenz” so special.

Claudia Herz & Sigrid Kesy

Gaustraße: The city’s most charming street

Starting from Schillerplatz you can venture up the Gaustraße, which, alongside Augustinerstraße, is arguably the city’s most charming street. This lane is a treasure trove of cafés, bars, restaurants, boutique clothing stores, bookshops and art studios. For food lovers, Gaustraße offers some must-visit spots: first, dicke lilli, gutes kind serves up fantastic cakes and delicious breakfasts; second, Im Herzen Afrikas whisks you away to Ethiopia with its unique ambiance and hospitality (no plane ticket required!); and third, Kaffeekommune delivers top-notch specialty coffee.

But that’s not all! The street has a cool technical feature too: With a nearly 10% incline, it’s home to Germany’s steepest unassisted tram route! With the Rhine-Main region’s Mediterranean climate, you might just forget you’re in Mainz and think you’ve landed in Lisbon!

Annalena Röser

Mainz-Neustadt

Mainz-Neustadt is the beating heart of urban vibrancy and a hotspot for culture, cuisine, and charm! Here, brick expressionism meets modern living, paired with a unique blend of long-established Mainz locals, students, and newcomers.

At the center of the Neustadt lies the picturesque Gartenfeldplatz, a true gem for book lovers and connoisseurs. Visit the cozy bookstore Bukafski, which delights customers not only with its literary selection but also with excellent coffee. Right across the street, the ice cream parlor N’Eis tempts visitors with classic and creative flavors so good you might find yourself queuing up a second time.

The culinary journey continues: At Cremina, you’ll find delicious pizza to go, while around the corner, Café Fette Henne will surprise you with sweet and savory lunch ideas. In the evening, you can choose between the pub Teilchen und Beschleuniger, the rustic Krokodil at Sömmeringplatz, the stylish Neustadt Apotheke at Frauenlobplatz, and many other welcoming bars.

If you have a sweet spot for Turkish baked goods, you’ll be thrilled at Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring: The bakeries Istanbul and Nazar are true insider tips. And for art lovers, a visit to the Kunsthalle Mainz at the Zollhafen is a must – or at least treat yourself to the heavenly delights at liesbeth, a fantastic bakery café next door. The Neue Synagoge with its striking architectural style is another highlight you shouldn’t miss when exploring the Neustadt.

Looking for the perfect way to end your day? Take a leisurely stroll over the Grüne Brücke, designed by environmental artist Dieter Magnus, leading you directly to the Rhine, the ideal spot to reflect on your impressions of the tour. Though the Neustadt is Mainz’s most populous district, it still radiates Rhine-Hessian warmth and hospitality. So come by, explore the neighborhood, and let yourself be inspired!

Clara Schuster & Sarah Mandrella

Mainz 05

Currently nobody knows whether the 1. FSV Mainz 05 will have a home game that you can attend on the weekend after the AS conference. But it is certain that Mainz will still be playing in the 1. Bundesliga – because they have been doing so without interruption since 2009!

Who would have thought that? Our record is more than impressive, considering the club’s financial position! And it has produced coaches like Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel! The commercialization of football is undoubtedly a worrying development, and of course that Mainz 05 is no exception. Nevertheless, like SC Freiburg and FC St. Pauli, Mainz is one of the few Bundesliga clubs that have always been considered down-to-earth and likeable – as well as playing inspiring football! And when things aren’t going so well, the club is sustained by what is said to be the greatest quality of the city’s community: solidarity! Incidentally, the stadium is within walking distance of the university campus. Take a look at it!

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Around Mainz: Rheingau

The Rhine River is part of the border between the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. The two state capitals, Mainz and Wiesbaden, are on opposite sides of the Rhine. And both think they are on “the right side” of the river.

Since we are in Mainz, of course we think Mainz is on the right side of the Rhine, but we can admit that not everything is unpleasant on “the other side”. One example: the Rheingau. Just outside of Wiesbaden is the Rheingau region. Rheingau is not only the name of one of Germany’s 13 designated quality wine regions, but also the name of the region between the cities of Wiesbaden and Lorchhausen. It’s also referred to as the “German Riviera” because of its mild climate (perfect for growing grapes!) and its proximity to the Rhine River.

Coming from Wiesbaden, one of the first towns to explore is Eltville. Eltville is the oldest and largest town in the Rheingau (about 17,000 inhabitants) and is variously known as the City of Wine, Roses and Sparkling Wine. Here you may want to visit Eltville Castle and its rose garden.

One of the famous landmarks in the Rheingau include the Eberbach Monastery, which is one of Germany’s best-preserved monasteries. And its beauty is well known: Most of the indoor footage for the movie “The Name of the Rose” was shot at Eberbach Monastery.

There is also Schloss Johannisberg which is a castle and winery with a winemaking tradition of over 900 years. The castle overlooks its beautiful winery and is one of the most prominent landmarks in the Rheingau. It is also one of the sites of the Rheingau Music Festival, an international summer music festival (mostly classical music).

The Rheingau even has a university! Located in the town of Geisenheim, it has approximately 1,600 students studying 8 bachelor’s and 10 master’s programs ranging from crop production methods to food safety and logistics, from wine marketing and cultural landscape development to landscape architecture.

After Geisenheim you will reach Rüdesheim, where you can stroll through the old town full of half-timbered houses and the Drosselgasse, a lively narrow cobblestone pedestrian street, or take the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument for an outstanding view of the vineyards and the Rhine Valley.

From here, you are also in the perfect position to explore the beautiful Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.

Lorina Heuer

Fun facts about Mainz