This article was published on 17.11.2022 and updated on 12.12.2024.
Christmas stroll through the Augustinerstraße in Mainz
Augustinerstraße is one of the centerpieces of Mainz's old town and runs from the Hopfengarten to the Leichhof with a view of the cathedral. The pedestrian zone is characterized by restaurants, owner-operated boutiques and stores. During a Christmas stroll along the street lined with half-timbered houses, you can certainly cross one or two Christmas presents off your list. Fortified with a delicious coffee from Kaffeebar Müller, which roasts its beans at its own facility in Bodenheim, you can browse through a wide selection of teas and spices from around the world at "Mutter Holunder".
At the picturesque Kirschgarten - probably one of the most popular photo motifs in Mainz - is the concept store "Unsereins", which offers sustainable fashion and accessories. Here you will find a wide selection of small and large gifts for the Advent calendar or for the present under the Christmas tree. A few meters further on, the new store of Kollektiv Mainz offers space to local and domestic young labels, start-ups and creative minds away from the mainstream. If you get hungry after this extensive shopping tour, you should definitely stop at a quaint Mainz wine tavern turn in!
Winter world in the Laubenheimer Höhe
The name already suggests it - the Hofgut Laubenheimer Höhe is beautifully situated on a hill of the Rhine-Hessian hilly landscape and lies directly on the RheinTerrassenWeg. In the cold season, the Hofgut is transformed into a winter wonderland with the highest ice rink in the Rhine-Main region. From Tuesday to Sunday, you can pirouette on the ice rink, enjoy a cozy time with friends and family over mulled wine and all kinds of treats, or awaken your sporting spirit with curling. Groups can also stop by the cozy fireplace hut and enjoy hearty food by the crackling campfire.
Christmas city tour
How about a guided city tour through the pre-Christmas towns of Rheinhessen? The team from Best of Mainz offers, for example, a special 2-hour city tour of Mainz in the run-up to Christmas. On this tour, you will get to know the charm of Mainz's old town and learn exciting facts about the (Christmas) history of Mainz. How was Christmas in Mainz in former times, which traditions were cultivated - and how do the people of Mainz experience it today? The old alleys and charming corners show a particularly romantic side in the evening hours. Finally, the frosty temperatures can be braved with a mulled wine or non-alcoholic punch.
Visit Christmas market
In Mainz, Worms, Alzey and Ingelheim, Christmas market lovers can enjoy a convivial time with a variety of delicacies. In the cathedral city of Mainz, the market stretches across the cathedral forecourt in a blaze of lights. The beautiful Christmas pyramid at the entrance, the nativity scene and the quaint Christmas village give the market its very special charm. The atmospheric castle church in Ingelheim is the location for the Christmas market on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weekends in Advent. The lantern tours over the fortified walls are a highlight here.
In the heart of Worms, the Christmas market opens under the motto "Nibelungen Weihnacht". Enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in the sea of lights, decorations and delicacies. All dates and info are available here.
Mulled wine hike / torchlight hike near Nierstein
When the vines have shed their leaves and the hilly landscape of Rheinhessen is shrouded in mist, the scenery can sometimes seem rather dreary. However, a winter hike through the vineyards near Nierstein can be a welcome change and conjures up a very special atmosphere. The Buhl winery offers the following on selected dates Torchlight hikes in the evening hours. The hike leads through the vineyards of the magnificent Nierstein vineyards with sensational views of the Rhine at night and the illuminated skyline of Frankfurt. After approx. 45 minutes of hiking with all kinds of interesting facts, there is a longer break at the Fockenberghütte with hot sausage and homemade warming mulled wine. Vegetarian options are available on request. Afterwards, the tour continues by torchlight past the Wartturm tower back to the picturesque Buhl family vineyard. You can warm up again here with a plate of homemade soup. Wrap up warm, lace up your hiking boots and set off on this special experience.
Do you have any other tips on how to make the cozy season especially beautiful for you? Let us know in the comments.
