A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Inverness vs. Mainz for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Inverness or Mainz?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Inverness and Mainz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a traditional, local, and historic city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mainz

Mainz is a charming, beautiful, and peaceful 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.

Inverness and Mainz: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Home to Loch Ness
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers
  • Public transit not as usable
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Scenic old town
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Good for students
  • Good public transit
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less family-friendly


Is there more to do in Inverness or Mainz?

Both Mainz and Inverness have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Inverness is very popular for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and small town charm, while Mainz attracts visitors for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Inverness is famous for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. Mainz is famous for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares.

How is Inverness different from Mainz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Inverness
Mainz

Inverness is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Inverness. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

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.


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

Inverness
Mainz

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Inverness and Mainz.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Inverness. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

Mainz has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Is Inverness or Mainz Better for Nightlife?

Inverness
Mainz

Inverness is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Inverness or Mainz Better for its Old Town?

Inverness
Mainz

Mainz is a well-known place for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.


Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Mainz?

Inverness
Mainz

Inverness is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Inverness. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

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.

Is Inverness or Mainz Better for Families?

Inverness
Mainz

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

Inverness is a family-friendly city. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

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 Inverness or Mainz Better for Couples?

Inverness
Mainz

Mainz is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Mainz is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.


Is Inverness or Mainz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Inverness
Mainz

Mainz is very good for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Mainz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

Is Inverness or Mainz Better for Students?

Inverness
Mainz

Mainz is a well-known place for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Mainz is very popular with students. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

Inverness is not popular with students.

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

Inverness
Mainz

Mainz is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Mainz has some very good public transit options. 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 mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.


Is Inverness or Mainz a more walkable city?

Inverness
Mainz

Mainz is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Mainz on foot. The town is easily explored on foot.

Inverness is a very walkable destination. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Mainz or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Mainz?

It's fun to spend time in either Inverness or Mainz. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Mainz due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Inverness, and 2-4 days is enough time in Mainz.

Families should spend more time in Inverness than Mainz. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Inverness, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Mainz than Inverness. 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 Inverness 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.


  • How many days in Inverness or Mainz? Ideal Length of Stay
    Inverness 1-3 
    Mainz 2-4

One day in Inverness or Mainz?

In Inverness, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historic destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Mainz. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Inverness or Mainz?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. 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.

You'll find museums and food around the peaceful destination of Mainz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.


Five days in Inverness or Mainz?

Inverness is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Inverness. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the charming town of Mainz. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Inverness or Mainz?

You'll find food and shopping around the traditional destination of Inverness. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Mainz is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.


Which place is cheaper, Mainz or Inverness?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Inverness is £168, while the average daily cost in Mainz is £121. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Inverness and Mainz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Inverness £91
    Mainz £64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Inverness £182
    Mainz £128
Compare Hotels in Inverness and Mainz

Looking for a hotel in Inverness or Mainz? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Inverness


Hotels in Mainz


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Inverness Hotel Prices and Mainz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Inverness £33
    Mainz £31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Inverness

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Inverness:

  • Inverness to Isle of Skye Direct transfer: $623
  • Inverness to Glasgow Direct transfer: $781
  • Inverness to Fort William Direct transfer: $374
  • Inverness to Edinburgh Direct transfer: $781
  • Inverness Private Transfer to Aviemore: $229
  • Inverness Airport to Glenshee Ski Resort - Round-Trip Transfer: $131
  • Inverness Airport (INV) to Lecht Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $33
  • Inverness Airport (INV) to Glenshee Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Inverness INV to Inverness City by luxury vehicle: $105
  • Transfers / Tour from , inverness, Edinburgh ,Glasgow ,Aberdeen : $184

Is it cheaper to fly into Inverness or Mainz?

Prices for flights to both Mainz and Inverness change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Inverness £49
    Mainz £35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Inverness £44
    Mainz £28

Tours and Activities in Inverness

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Inverness are as follows:

  • 1-Day Moray Coast Tour with Speyside Whisky from Inverness: $97
  • 2-Day Tour to Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles: $191
  • 2-Hour Private Celtic Handfasting Ceremony Experience: $108
  • 25 Shot Clay Pigeon Shooting Experience: $63
  • Applecross, Loch Carron & Wild Highlands Tour from Inverness: $69
  • Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Culloden, Outlander and Loch Ness Tour: $164
  • Chauffeur driven sightseeing Edinburgh to & from Inverness: $1,000
  • Clan Tour - Castle ,Whisky and History Tour: $172
  • Craigs Luxury Speyside Private Whisky Tour: $686
  • Day tour to Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools from Inverness: $126
  • From Cairngorms National Park and Whisky Tour: $76
  • From Glen Affric, Culloden and Clava Cairns Tour: $73

Tours and Activities in Mainz

For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Romantic Old Town Self-guided Discovery Tour: $8.45
  • Guided tour in Mainz on the Rhine in german and english: $21
  • Mainz Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Tour: $22
  • 2-Hour Advent Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Rhine: $22
  • Crime-Tour - Escape Game: $42
  • Self-Guided Urban Adventure Game: $43
  • Urban Adventure Game in Mainz with an app: $44
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $51
  • Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive Tour: $74
  • Mainz E-Bike City Tour: $74
  • Private Guided Walking Tour in Mainz: $82
  • Guided Hotrod City Starter Tour: $95

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Inverness £23
    Mainz £19

Sample the Local Flavors in Inverness

Also in Inverness, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • From Invergordon Port Dunrobin Castle, Clynelish Distillery Tour : $203
  • Speyside Distillery Tour From Inverness: $1,124


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Inverness and Mainz, we can see that Inverness is more expensive. And not only is Mainz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mainz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mainz 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 Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness than you might in Mainz.

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


Which is Bigger, Inverness or Mainz?

Mainz has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness 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 Inverness 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 Inverness or Mainz in the Summer?

Both Mainz and Inverness during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Inverness for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Mainz in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Inverness is generally cooler than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 14°C (58°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Mainz, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Mainz. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 225 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in July than Mainz. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Inverness 14°C (58°F) 
    Mainz 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Inverness or Mainz in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Mainz. Many visitors come to Inverness in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Mainz for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Inverness is cooler than Mainz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Mainz during autumn. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Inverness usually receives more rain than Mainz. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Inverness 9°C (49°F) 
    Mainz 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Inverness or Mainz in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Mainz. Most visitors come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Mainz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Mainz can be very cold. Inverness can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Inverness is much warmer than Mainz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Inverness in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Mainz averages at about 2°C (35°F).

In the winter, Inverness often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mainz. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 41 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets more rain in January than Mainz. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Inverness 3°C (38°F) 
    Mainz 2°C (35°F)

Should I visit Inverness or Mainz in the Spring?

Both Mainz and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Mainz this time of year.

In April, Inverness is generally much colder than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 7°C (44°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Mainz during spring. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Inverness usually receives less rain than Mainz. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Inverness 7°C (44°F) 
    Mainz 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Mainz and Inverness

Inverness Mainz
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 2°C (35°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 3°C (38°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 6°C (43°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Apr 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 14°C (58°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 18°C (64°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jul 14°C (58°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Aug 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 19°C (66°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 9°C (49°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Nov 5°C (42°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 6°C (42°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in) 2°C (36°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)