While everyone heads to Frankfurt, two cities well worth seeing sit practically at the airport's doorstep: elegant Wiesbaden (capital of Hesse) and 2,000-year-old Mainz (capital of Rhineland-Palatinate), facing each other across the Rhine.
Wiesbaden: ~30 Minutes from FRA
The spa city with its thermal springs, the magnificent Kurhaus, and the Wilhelmstrasse is 25–35 minutes away via the A66. Worth seeing: the Kurhaus with its casino, the Nerobergbahn (a historic funicular), the Russian Orthodox Church, and the old town. Numerous international companies and US institutions also make Wiesbaden a frequent business destination.
Mainz: ~25 Minutes from FRA
Mainz is 20–30 minutes away via the A60. Highlights: the thousand-year-old cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum (home of the printed Bible), the Chagall windows in St. Stephan, and the wine taverns of the old town. As home of broadcaster ZDF and a university city, Mainz has plenty of business traffic too.
Transfer Options
- Private transfer: 20–35 minutes door-to-door, fixed price confirmed at booking, pickup in the arrivals hall
- S-Bahn S8/S9: towards Wiesbaden or Mainz from the regional station under Terminal 1 — cheap, but tiring with luggage after a long-haul flight
- Taxi: available, but the metered fare varies with traffic
Both Cities in One Day
Only the Rhine separates Wiesbaden and Mainz — the combined Mainz & Wiesbaden full-day tour (from €720 for up to 3 passengers, with the driver waiting at every stop) covers both cities comfortably in a day. Ideal for stopovers of 8+ hours or as a relaxed first day after a night flight — more ideas under day trips from Frankfurt.
Our Tip
If you land in Frankfurt in the evening and fly out early, staying overnight in Mainz or Wiesbaden is often cheaper and quieter than Frankfurt — with barely any longer drive to the airport.
