Car Rental - Mainz
Reserve a Mainz rental car to discover this historic city. Sitting at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers, the city of Mainz has a long, proud history as a trading hub and a rich cultural heritage that dates back through the centuries. Today it’s a lively and vibrant city, the capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate region, and the perfect place to spend a few days if you’re visiting Germany.
Whether you’re here on business, visiting for a family vacation or exploring the city as a solo traveler, car rental in Mainz is the ideal way to get around. We have collection points around the city, including one at Mainz Central Railway Station as well as the nearby Frankfurt Airport, so it’s easy to collect your rental car when you arrive.
Browse our collection online and pick the Mainz car rental that’s perfect for your needs.
Mainz Locations
A Quick Guide to Mainz
Mainz is a lively and friendly city famous for its food, carnival and a proud history as the home of the first printing press. You’ll find plenty of attractions to explore in this fine German city, and a Mainz rental car opens the door to numerous other fascinating destinations nearby.
History and Heritage
Visitors often begin their exploration at Mainz Cathedral. Also known as St Martin’s, this huge 1,000-year-old structure dominates the local skyline. Located right in the heart of the action, this is home to many different architectural styles and works of art, as well as a scenic outdoor courtyard. Entry is free and there are guided tours available.
Just over a mile away from the cathedral, you’ll find St Stephen’s Church. This building attracts thousands of visitors to the city every year with its towering, blue stained-glass windows which drench the interior in a twinkling pool of sapphire light.
This church was almost completely destroyed during World War II, and these magnificent windows were created by the Jewish artist Marc Chagall as part of its reconstruction in the late 1970s.
Another popular attraction is the Gutenberg Museum, named after the city’s most famous son, Johannes Gutenberg. In the 15th century, Gutenberg transformed the history of Europe with his printing press, which was used to produce bibles and spread the word of Christianity.
Today you can see surviving copies of Gutenberg’s bibles and learn more about this pioneering production method. Guided tours of the printing process are also available several times a day.
A Taste of Mainz
For food lovers, a visit to Mainz Farmers’ Market is a must. It takes place three times a week – on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday – and is not far from the cathedral. Here you can browse the stalls to find locally grown fruit and vegetables, with the region’s famous apples and potatoes available in many different varieties. For a traditional taste of Germany, pick up a LeberKäs-Weck for lunch – a slice of meatloaf served on a thick bread bun.
In restaurants around the city you’ll find tasty regional dishes such as schnitzel and Fleischwurst – a sausage served in a rounded shape with bread and lashings of sauce on the side. There are also many cafés where you can sample freshly-brewed coffee and local cakes.
Carnival Culture
While it’s wholly possible to spend all your time sampling the delicious cuisine of the area, you’ll also find many events of interest taking place in Mainz throughout the year. If your visit falls during February or March, you’re sure to witness some of the city’s famous carnival preparations.
Rosenmontag traditionally begins in November, but the party atmosphere comes to life in the weeks leading up to the event. The climax of the carnival sees thousands of colorful floats parade through the city, playing music and distributing sweets to the revelers below.
Whatever month you’re planning to visit, reserve a rental car in Mainz and make the most of your trip to this charming corner of Germany.
Driving In and Around Mainz
Mainz enjoys quick and easy road links to a host of German cities, including nearby Frankfurt and further afield to the Gothic northern city of Cologne.
If you’re travelling in your Mainz rental car from the airport in Frankfurt, you’ll find it’s less than 20 miles to the city via the A60 highway or ‘autobahn’. Exiting this road to join the L425 takes you into the heart of the city, close to the Old Town and numerous other attractions including the impressive, neoclassical Mainz Hauptbahnhof railway station.
Some of the central streets in Mainz, including the shopping area around Augustinerstrasse, are pedestrianized but you’ll find plenty of nearby parking for your rental car. As well as on-street parking, there are several large parking lots around the city, including the Rheinufer and another close to the town hall.
To reach the city of Frankfurt from Mainz, it’s less than an hour’s drive along the A60 and the B43. The western city of Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven, is less than two hours away along the A61, to the north-west of Mainz.
Just over 20 miles from Bonn you’ll find Cologne, home to a monumental Gothic cathedral and an annual carnival which transforms the streets into rivers of color.
Driving in Germany is a great experience thanks to its excellent road network. You’ll use the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. There’s a speed limit of 30mph in most built-up areas and on the Autobahn it’s 80mph for cars, although there are a few stretches in rural areas where there’s no top limit. If you’re new to the Autobahn it’s a good idea to keep to the right and take your time until you feel confident in your rental car.