Looking for Medieval charm, fairytale architecture, and world-changing German culture? You’re looking for Mainz! This town was home the home of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. The city boasts 2,000 years of history, and at Christmas, it comes alive with festive, holiday cheer. Here is how to spend a day trip to the Mainz Christmas Market.
Get There
We based ourselves in Wiesbaden for a week, and Mainz was just a 10-minute train ride away. You could also drive here, of course, if that’s better for you. Upon arrival, you’ll be able to walk anywhere you want to go. The cobblestone streets and iconic architecture will make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world altogether.
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Eat This
I visited Mainz with friends, and we ate well. So well, in fact, that we ate up before I could get photos! There are many great restaurants in Mainz, but where there’s a Christmas market, there’s delicious, seasonal food! My daughter and I split a banana crepe and a ham and cheese crepe, and one of our friends ordered the curry wurst with fries. Mainz also had unique, terracotta mugs for their gluhwein and other warm beverages. And, of course, we had our pick of sweets. Come hungry, leave full!
More here: Your Guide to the Heidelberg Christmas Markets
See and Do
I could have spent another day (or two!) exploring Mainz. Be sure to work in time to visit the Gutenberg Museum, the 1,000 year old Mainz Cathedral, and St. Stephans Cathedral with its Chagall stained glass windows. You can see it all on a day trip, but if you have more time, take it! We stopped into multiple churches on our visit, each of them unique.
Keep reading: Why You Should Take Your Baby to the German Christmas Markets
Enjoy the Market!
This is the whole point! Enjoy the Christmas market in Mainz, just as a child would. My daughter got to ride a carousel for the first time, and I got to watch her! I also loved browsing the stalls for handmade soaps, star lights, trinkets, and woolen hats, scarves, and mittens. Bring your Christmas gift list, and take loads of photos for the memories.
(Coming soon) More here: What to Know Before You Visit Germany
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