Location: Mainz
Top Things to do in Mainz
The 5 Best Specialty Museums in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate
Two thousand years of history have lent Mainz a cosmopolitan air, and museums and cathedrals of various architectural styles dot the city. Bring home a book as a souvenir—Gutenberg worked here, and the museum dedicated to him is a highlight.
Restaurants in Mainz
1. Gutenberg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 937 reviews
Located in the hometown of Johannes Gutenberg, the founder of the printing press, this museum displays a recreation of his original printing press and a collection of other exhibits.
Reviewed By DAS1951 - London, United Kingdom
Very interesting museum with everything you need to know about the development of printing in Germany and Europe. Well-presented artefacts. Two original Gutenberg bibles and copies of his press (no originals exist).
2. The Museum of Ancient Shipbuilding
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 167 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Other than the Rhine cruise, this was the best thing we did in Mainz. It was really excellent. Even if you have limited interest in Roman ships and history, go for a short visit. It’s free so you can leave when you like. It’s an open, white modern looking space and there’s a lot to interest kids as well. The museum is centred around the discovery of 6 Roman ships that were only uncovered in the 1980s. They found them when they were building the Hilton Hotel along the river front. Unbelievable to think that these 2000 year old ships were lying just around the corner, preserved in the mud all of that time. The boats include patrol vessels, cargo ship and ancient warship. They are really well preserved. The remains of the river patrol vessel looked like massive skeletons of plesiosaurs or underwater beasts. There are also large working replicas on display. The information is very good. As you’d expect, it’s mainly in German but there is enough in English too. Even for those who want more specific detail like construction, steerage and propulsion, there’s enough English information. The only thing we were curious about but couldn't find any information on was what had happened to the boats to cause them to all be left in the one spot. Had they been abandoned? Or sunk or wrecked by a storm? A really unique feature of the museum was the large restoration workshop. Unfortunately no one was at work when we were there but normally large windows let you watch them making full-scale working replicas of the Roman boats. There are videos showing the boats being trialled on the Rhine. Mainz was a very important ancient Roman port so there is a lot of additional information about the Roman settlement. Large colourful dioramas across whole walls show what Mainz might have looked like at that time. There are displays of marble busts, sarcophagai, relief sculpture, coins, urns and other artefacts like discharge documents from Roman sailors. We spent well over an hour here and could have spent two but it is only small so you can visit it relatively quickly too. GETTING THERE: It is right by the Romisches Theater train station. From the cathedral it is about 12 -15 min walk. Once you’ve finished, you are very close to the river which makes for a lovely walk along the promenade. Walk past the Hilton Hotel and see where the boats were uncovered.
3. Fastnachtsmuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Pheenom38
Really pretty cool with carnival head dressings that where huge, and all kinds of parade clothing, etc. They let me put on one of the huge masks for a photo op.
