Mannheim Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Mannheim Overview
With 327,318 inhabitants Mannheim is the second-largest city in the state of Baden-Württemberg after the capital Stuttgart (Stuttgart vacation rentals | Stuttgart travel guide). Mannheim is situated at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Neckar, in the northwestern corner of the state of Baden-Württemberg. The Rhine separates Mannheim from the adjacent Rhineland-Palatinate city of Ludwigshafen (Ludwigshafen vacation rentals | Ludwigshafen travel guide). The Hessian border is north of the city. Mannheim is the largest city of the Rhine Neckar Area, a metropolitan area with 2.4 million inhabitants.
Mannheim is unusual among German cities in that its central area is laid out in a grid pattern (called Quadrate, squares), much like many North American cities. The main route through the squares leads to an enormous 18th-century palace. This former seat of the Electors of the Palatinate now houses the University of Mannheim.
Mannheim's city symbol is der Wasserturm (the water-tower), located in the east of the city centre. Mannheim is the start and finish of Bertha Benz Memorial Route.
Where to stay in Mannheim?
Check out our selection of hand-selected and quality Mannheim vacation rentals and holiday apartments.
Things to See
- Fernmeldeturm Mannheim
- Luisenpark - named one of the most beautiful parks of Europe
- Mannheim Palace (Mannheimer Schloss) - the city castle and main building of the University of Mannheim
- Wasserturm - the town's landmark
- SAP Arena - multifunctional Stadium, home of the Mannheim Ice-hockey Team "Die Adler", which means "The Eagles."
- Breite Strasse, Kunststrasse and Kapuzinerplanken - Mannheims main shopping destination
- International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
- Wildpark and Waldvogelpark am Karlstern
[ source: wikipedia ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Mannheim
Travel Insider Tips for Mannheim
The Weihnachtsmarkt around the Wasserturm in Mannheim is truly special...
Shared by James Kidd, Mar 2010
The Wine Country as you drive away from Mannheim is another of life's experiences.
Shared by Sanjay Saha, Sep 2009
The Weihnachtsmarkt around the Wasserturm in Mannheim always brings back good memories...more Gluhwein, bitte!
Shared by James Kidd, Dec 2009
The christmas market in Mannheim, around the Wasserturm
is also really beautiful!
Shared by Sven Gerstner, Oct 2009
Was in Mannheim for a day!!!! the city is amazing!! like all german cities.
Shared by Riddhima Adukia, Sep 2009
When I go in to the City of Mannheim I stop at Gummi Bär Shop. Sooo much to choose from.
Shared by Margit Kühn, Jun 2010
Mannheim
[ source: Flickr]
Popular Points of Interest in and near Mannheim
Water Tower (Wasserturm)
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Mannheim Palace (Mannheimer Schloss)
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Mannheim Palace is one of the largest baroque palaces in Europe. A landmark of the city, it was originally the main residence of the Prince-electors of the Electoral Palatinate. It is now primarily used by the University of Mannheim.
In the state rooms, several hundred original objects including furniture, paintings, tapestries, china and clocks, reflect the courtly atmosphere of days gone by. A very special jewel of the Rococo age can be admired on the ground floor. It's the former Exhibition Library of Electress Elisabeth Augusta and the only room in Mannheim Palace that has been almost completely preserved in its original state. The permanent exhibition Art and Culture at the Mannheim Court
, includes selected pieces from the historical collections of Elector Carl Theodor. The natural history collection and the gallery of paintings of the court library, is also presented on the ground floor.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday and Holidays 10am - 5pm.
Admission: With Audio guide - Adults 5 €, Concessions 2.50 €, Family Card 12.50 €. Guided tours slightly higher.
Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums
An internationally acclaimed museum complex, the Reiss Engelhorn Museums are one of the foremost museum complexes in Germany. Covering an exhibition area of around 11,500m² and approx. 1.2 million exhibits, the complex consists of the following museums: Museum of World Cultures, Armoury Museum, Schillerhaus Museum, ZEPHYR – Space for Photography, Centre of International History of Art and Culture, the Archaeometry Centre and special exhibitions on cultural history, past and present.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 6pm.
The Luisenpark
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The Luisenpark is a municipal park whose attractions include a greenhouse, a lake with gondoletta boats and a variety of facilities for children. The park contains a number of amusements and gardens, including a Chinese garden, rose garden, arboretum, and greenhouses for display and for tree ferns. Other delights include a large complex for owls (13 species), the newly created penguin enclosure, the water playground and, for art lovers, the Heinrich-Vetter path with its art objects. Towering over the Luisenpark is a 205 meters high telecommunication tower (Fernmeldeturm) with its rotating restaurant.
Hours: Open daily 9am - 9pm; may close earlier during winter and/or bad weather.
Entrance Fee: Adults 5 €, Concessions 3.50 €, Children ages 6-15 2.50 €, Family Card from 9 €.
The State Museum for Technology and Work (Landesmuseum für Technik und Arbeit)
The State Museum for Technology and Work is not only remarkable for its unique architectonic exterior, but also for its experimental, unconventional exhibition program and design. The visitor is led through 16 stages, structured chronologically and starting at the top of the building, which display and narrate the technological and social changes of the last two and a half centuries. In 1992 it was awarded the European Museum of the Year Prize for innovation and creativity.
Some of the exhibits on display are working models and the visitor is given a demonstration as to how these function. Some have been reconstructed from scratch, others have been translocated in their entirety, such as a weaving mill, a paper mill and a Porsche manufacturing unit. The museum provides a unique chance to see fully functioning machines and manufacturing processes as well as quality control and safety procedures. The visitor is aided on his journey through two and a half centuries by relevant contemporary images and quotes which flesh out the historical situation.
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 5pm. Wednesday 9am - 8pm. Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10am - 6pm.
Admission: Adults 3 €, Concessions 2 €, Children under 6 years free, Family card 6 €.
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Mannheim. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Wikipedia: Mannheim
More about the History of Mannheim
"Mannenheim" (Home of Manno) is first mentioned in connection with a legal transaction in 766, in the "Codex Laureshamensis" from Lorsch (Lorsch vacation rentals | Lorsch travel guide) Abbey. It remained a village until Frederick IV, Elector Palatine initiated building the fortress Friedrichsburg and the adjacent grid-like city core in 1606. On 24 January 1607 he gave Mannheim city privileges.
The city was destroyed subsequently in the Thirty Years' War in 1622 by Tilly's troops, and in the Nine Years War for the Palatinate succession in 1689 by the French.
After the rebuilding since 1698, the capital of the Electoral Palatinate was transferred from Heidelberg (Heidelberg vacation rentals | Heidelberg travel guide) to Mannheim in 1720. It was then that Karl III Philip, Elector Palatine began construction of the Mannheim Palace and the Jesuit Church. They were completed in 1760.
In the 18th century, Mannheim was home to the so-called Mannheim School of classical composers. It was reputed to have one of the best court orchestras in Europe under the leadership of Carlo Grua. The court left Mannheim in 1778 and two decades later, Mannheim was transferred to the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1802.
In 1819 Norwich Duff made the following observations:
Mannheim is in the Duchy of Baden and situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar over both of which there is a bridge of boats. This is the third town of this name having been twice burnt. The houses are large, and the streets broad and at right angles to each other, and is one of the most airy clean towns I have seen in Germany. It was formerly fortified but the fortifications were rased in 1806 and gardens fill their places. There is a large Chateau here belonging to the Grand Duke and a very good garden; part of the Chateau was destroyed when the town was bombarded and has never since been repaired, the other part is occupied by the Grand Duchess widow of the late Grand Duke who was succeeded by his Uncle having left only three daughters. She is the sister of Eugene Beauharnais [so presumably she was born Hortense de Beauharnais daughter by her former marriage of Napoleon Buonaparte's Empress Josephine]. There is a Cathedral, a Theatre which is considered good, an observatory, a gallery of pictures at the Chateau and some private collections. About 2 km (1 mile) below the town the Russian Army crossed the Rhine in 1813. Population 18 300.
[ source: wikipedia ]
What makes this Live Like a German Mannheim Travel Guide special...
This Mannheim travel guide provides you with an overview of Mannheim, Mannheim pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Mannheim destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
