A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cesis vs. Mainz for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Cesis or Mainz?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cesis and Mainz can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Cesis

Cesis is a quaint, small, and authentic town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include hiking.

Mainz

Mainz is a peaceful, historic, and quaint town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Cesis and Mainz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cesis or Mainz?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Mainz. Although Cesis and Mainz are popular destinations, Mainz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Mainz is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Cesis attracts visitors for its hiking and small town charm. Mainz is more touristy than Cesis and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. It is also well known for The Mainz Cathedral. Cesis is famous for its medieval castle and nearby hikes.

The Mainz Cathedral

How is Cesis different from Mainz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Mainz and Cesis. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cesis or Mainz?

Mainz is a town with good options for its museums and landmarks. However, Cesis does not have museums and landmarks.

Mainz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

Cesis does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Cesis or Mainz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Mainz is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Cesis is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Mainz. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

Cesis may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The town is small so there are a limited number of restaurants to choose from. You'll find some nice cafes and bakeries though where you can enjoy local foods and traditional Latvian dishes.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Nightlife?

Neither Cesis or Mainz offer decent nightlife.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Cesis. The town is small and many travelers visit as a day trip from Riga, so you'll find limited nightlife options around town.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Mainz It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for its Old Town?

Mainz is well known for its old town. However, Cesis is not particularly known for its historic old town charm.

Mainz is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

The old town area in Cesis is worth visiting. The old town is small but charming and authentic. There are a few unique sites that are worth visiting as well.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Hiking?

Cesis is a town with good options for its hiking trails. However, Mainz is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Cesis. The town makes the perfect base for exploring the surrounding Gauja National Park, which has many hiking and cycling trails. Two of the most well known hikes are the Baltic Forest Trail and the Camino Latvia, both or which pass through town. There are also shorter day hikes to choose from as well.

Mainz is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cesis or Mainz?

Mainz is a town with good options for its shopping opportunities. However, Cesis is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Mainz offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Cesis is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Families?

Cesis is a town with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Cesis is a family-friendly town. The Cēsis Medieval Castle has a unique interactive set of tasks and games that the whole family can enjoy. Other fun family-friendly activities around town include adventure parks such as Supervāvere, the camel park of Rakši, and a farmhouse bakery where kids can learn about traditional baking and breadmaking.

Mainz doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Couples?

Mainz is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Cesis is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Mainz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

Cesis is a good town for couples to visit. There are a number of outdoor activities that adventurous couples can enjoy. The medieval castle is also a unique place to explore.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cesis and Mainz are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Cesis is a good town to visit for backpackers. Many people visit town as a day trip from Riga, so there are a limited number of hotels and hostels to choose from. If you want to enjoy hiking and the area's natural beauty, it is recommend that you spend more time here.

Plenty of backpackers visit Mainz. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Students?

Mainz is well known for students. However, Cesis is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Mainz. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

Cesis is not popular with students.

Is Cesis or Mainz Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Mainz is well known for its public transit. However, Cesis is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Mainz can get you to some places easily. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

Public transit is quite limited in Cesis. There are some bus options, but to thoroughly explore the surrounding area you'll really need access to a car.

Is Cesis or Mainz a more walkable city?

Mainz is renowned for its high level of walkability. Also, Cesis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Mainz on foot is easy. The town is easily explored on foot.

Cesis is a somewhat walkable town. It's fun to explore old town on foot but many places in the surrounding countryside require a car to access.

For even more information, also check out Is Cesis Worth Visiting? and Is Mainz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mainz or Cesis?

How long in Cesis or Mainz?

It's fun to spend time in either Cesis or Mainz. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Mainz due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Cesis, and 2-4 days is enough time in Mainz.

Couples should spend more time in Mainz than Cesis. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Mainz that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Mainz than Cesis if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Mainz.

One day in Cesis or Mainz?

Even though Cesis is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Mainz, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this charming destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Cesis or Mainz?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cesis. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mainz. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Cesis or Mainz?

Cesis is a fun place to experience. Cesis is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Mainz is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Mainz. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Cesis or Mainz?

Cesis is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find food and shopping around the charming destination of Mainz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cesis and Mainz, we can see that Mainz is more expensive. And not only is Cesis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cesis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cesis and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mainz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mainz than you might in Cesis.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cesis Expensive? and Is Mainz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cesis or Mainz?

Mainz has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cesis. When comparing the sizes of Cesis and Mainz, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Cesis or Mainz?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cesis or Mainz in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cesis as well as Mainz. The summer months attract visitors to Cesis because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mainz this time of year.

In July, Cesis is generally cooler than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Cesis average around 17°C (63°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Cesis usually gets more rain in July than Mainz. Cesis gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cesis or Mainz in the Autumn?

Both Mainz and Cesis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cesis this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Mainz for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Cesis is cooler than Mainz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cesis averages around 7°C (45°F) in October, and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In October, Cesis usually receives more rain than Mainz. Cesis gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cesis or Mainz in the Winter?

Both Mainz and Cesis during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cesis for the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Mainz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Mainz can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Cesis. In the winter, Cesis is much colder than Mainz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cesis in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Mainz averages at about 2°C (35°F).

Cesis usually gets less rain in January than Mainz. Cesis gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cesis or Mainz in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cesis and Mainz. Many visitors come to Cesis in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Mainz for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Cesis is generally much colder than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Cesis average around 5°C (42°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In April, Cesis usually receives less rain than Mainz. Cesis gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Mainz and Cesis