A Travel Price Comparison for Germany Mainz vs. Kiel for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit Mainz or Kiel?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Mainz and Kiel 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.

Mainz

Mainz is a quaint, charming, and beautiful 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.

Kiel

Kiel is a maritime, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Mainz and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mainz or Kiel?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel than Mainz. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Kiel is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Mainz attracts visitors for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Mainz is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. Kiel is famous for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also well known for The Kiel Castle.

How is Mainz different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the nice sights and museums in either Mainz or Kiel.

Mainz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

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

Mainz is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Mainz or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Kiel 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 Kiel. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

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 Mainz or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a city with good options for its beaches. However, Mainz is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Kiel. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Mainz is not a beach destination.

Is Mainz or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Mainz or Kiel?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Mainz and Kiel.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Mainz. 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.

Kiel offers some nice shopping areas. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Mainz or Kiel Better for Families?

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

Kiel is a family-friendly city. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

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 Mainz or Kiel Better for Couples?

Mainz is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel 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.

Kiel is a good town for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Mainz or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Mainz is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Mainz or Kiel Better for Students?

Mainz is well known for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

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

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

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

Mainz is well known for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known 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 Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Mainz or Kiel a more walkable city?

Mainz is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel 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.

Kiel is a somewhat walkable town. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Mainz?

How long in Mainz or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mainz and Kiel. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Mainz than in Kiel. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Mainz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Kiel.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Mainz than Kiel 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 Mainz or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Mainz. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Kiel, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this maritime 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.

A weekend in Mainz or Kiel?

Mainz is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

Five days in Mainz or Kiel?

You'll find shopping and museums around the beautiful destination of Mainz. This town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

A week in Mainz or Kiel?

The charming town of Mainz offers museums and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the authentic destination of Kiel. 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, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best Historical Tours in Germany, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Mainz and Kiel, we can see that Mainz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Mainz or Kiel?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Mainz. When comparing the sizes of Mainz and Kiel, 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 Mainz or Kiel?

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 Mainz or Kiel in the Summer?

Both Kiel and Mainz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mainz for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Mainz is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mainz in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Kiel averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mainz. In the summer, Mainz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Mainz gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Kiel. Many visitors come to Mainz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Mainz is generally around the same temperature as Kiel. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 11°C (51°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during autumn. Mainz gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Mainz usually receives less rain than Kiel. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mainz or Kiel in the Winter?

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

The weather in Kiel can be very cold. Mainz can be very cold during winter. Mainz is much warmer than Kiel in the winter. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 2°C (35°F) in January, and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, Mainz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Mainz gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets less rain in January than Kiel. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Mainz because of the natural beauty. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

In the spring, Mainz is much warmer than Kiel. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mainz in April average around 11°C (51°F), and Kiel averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during spring. Mainz gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mainz usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kiel. Mainz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Mainz