You will have a long layover in Frankfurt Airport and you are now looking for things to do other than just hanging around in the Airport? Sure, you can take a short trip to Frankfurt city, but you are looking for a more laid back experience? How about taking a quick visit of Mainz on your layover in Frankfurt?
Why Mainz for a layover in Frankfurt I can hear you ask?
Let me give you three quick reasons to visit Mainz to make the best of your time ahead of your connecting flight:
- Mainz is almost as close to Frankfurt Airport as Frankfurt city center. The train ride to Mainz on a commuter train is 40 minutes, the trip by cab is just 30 minutes.
- Mainz is perfectly walkable: all highlights are close to each other… so you can fit in plenty of things to do and a meal before taking the trip back to the airport.
- Mainz offers quite a few authentic historic highlights reaching back over 2000 years in history…. Check out my Mainz things-to-do, and read on for some suggestions for a self-guided experience.
This is what you will need for a smooth and relaxed Frankfurt layover experience in Mainz
1 Have at least 7 hrs of time from touch down in Frankfort to take off with your connecting flight. You can do with less – taking taxi or uber will free you from the schedule of public transport or you can shorten your activities. But we feel 7 hours will allow for a tour without constantly checking timing.
2 The DB Navigator app for your train connections, if you travel by train. The DB Navigator app gives you accurate and timely updates on your options to travel between Mainz and Frankfurt Airport. Note that there are two stations Frankfurt: the long distance station (Fernbahnhof) with the faster trains (eg ICE) typically running at longer intervals, and the short distance station with the commuters (RE, S-trains) with more frequent but slower connections. Alternatively hire a driver guide to take you around (happy to help).
3 Have a map app and sufficient roaming on your device, so you can navigate Mainz smoothly. The town isn’t very big, and yet, there’s enough options to lose time while looking for directions. Or hire a guide to show you around (happy to help, again)
The following proposed Mainz walking itinerary …
…maximizes your time in the town while ensuring a comfortable return to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) with plenty of buffer time.
Arrival in Frankfurt
7:00 to 6:00 (1 hrs) – Airport Arrival & Prep land, deplane, clear immigration (if necessary), and make your way to the Frankfurt Airport long-distanceb (Fernbahnhof) or regional train station (Regionalbahnhof). With the DB Navigator app you can check on the spot, which option you to choose… and you can pay right in the app, too.
Transit to Mainz
6:00 to- 5:00 (30-60 mins) Buy a ticket for the regional train departing from Regionalbahnhof (RE2/RE3/RB31/S-Bahn 8, taking 35-45 minutes) or an ICE/IC departing from Fernbahnhof (taking 25-30 minutes). Aim for the quickest direct route to Mainz Hauptbahnhof (Mainz Hbf).
Arrival & Walk to City Center
5:00 to 4:30 (30 min) Arrive at Mainz Hbf, begin the walk to the historic center. The walk to the Cathedral/Marktplatz is a straight shot following the tramway tracks through Bahnhofstrasse and Schillerplatz. If you are hungry, grab a freshly baked pretzel from the Ditsch Bretzel bakers in the station hall (if you want to get out alive, NEVER ask for mustard with your pretzel in Germany ).
Explore historic Mainz around the Cathedral
4:30 to – 4:00 (30 min) Marvel at the imposing red sandstone exterior and explore the vast, historic interior of this 1,000-year-old Romanesque cathedral. Afterwards, stroll through the picturesque Marktplatz right outside. (If it’s a Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday morning, you’ll catch the traditional weekly market.) Have a quick coffee at local’s favorite roasters Müller at the Höfchen fountain.
Mainz Old town & time for a snack
4:00 to 2:30 (90 min) Meander through old town, past charming Kirschgarten, following Augustinergasse and Kapuzinergasse. This is real, charming, well preserved German old-town! You will find plenty of options to sit down for a moment and enjoy a drink or a snack. Most local wine taverns open from 4.00 pm, but bakeries and cafes have an all-day choice of sandwiches made with delicious German bread. A local favorite for curry-wurst (bratwurst in currysauce) is the hole-in-the-wall Best-Worscht-in-Town.
Head for Mainz Station Römisches Theater.
2:30 to- 2:00 (30 mins) No need to go back to Mainz Main Station to catch a train back to the Airport, just complete your walk straight through old town and Augustinergasse and you will find Mainz Station Römisches Theater (Roman Theather) right in front of you. This will limit your choice to taking back S8 or RE3/RE2 to the Airport BUT this will avoid a walk back in the wrong direction.
Return Ride to Frankfurt Airport
2:00 to 1:00 (45 min) Transit to Frankfurt Aiport. You will be getting out under Terminal 1, consider extra time should you depart from Terminal 2.
Make your way to the Departure Gates
1:00 to 0:00 The remaining 60 mins should be plenty to get you through airport Security and to your departure gate. As you take off you may see Mainz right below you.
Have a great journey onward!
Of course, there is much more to see in Mainz than the Cathedral and old town: think of the world-renowned Chagall Windows in St Stefans church, or the unique Gutenberg Museum celebrating the invention of book printing in Mainz 500 years ago (not to forget all options to discover German wine culture from Mainz) – which is why we’d invite you to consider Mainz for a proper stop on your journey.
