5 Best places to visit in Trier, Rhineland Palatinate-Germany
Trier is a lovely city on the banks of River Mosel ( with the most significant portion of the city on the east bank) in Rhineland Palatinate, Germany. This West German city lies very close to Luxembourg and is known for its rich history and culture. It is located about 195 km from Darmstadt, Frankfurt; less than 150 km from Mainz and Wiesbaden, and about 170 km from Bonn and Cologne. Triers’ proximity to Frankfurt, Mainz, Wiesbaden, Koblenz, Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern etc., makes it ideal for a day trip from these cities.
That’s why we took a day trip to this lovely city on a recent long weekend.
After spending two days in Luxembourg, we made a day trip to this lovely city and found the city absolutely charming. The way we planned our trip was that we drove from Darmstadt to Luxembourg. We spent two days there. On the 3rd day, we started in the morning from Luxembourg and reached Trier. We spent our day in Trier. Then we headed to Darmstadt in the evening.
Our Itinerary looked like this:
Day 1: Start early; drive to Luxembourg ( 280 km, roughly 3 hours by car); Reach by afternoon; Have lunch and do some sightseeing in Luxembourg.
Day 2: Some more sightseeing in Luxembourg.
Day 3: Start early and head for Trier ( 60 km, roughly 45 mins); Reach Trier; Sightseeing in Trier and then head to Darmstadt in the evening ( 190 km, approximately 2.5 hours by car)
So, like us, if you wish, you add both cities to your trip, you can do so too.
Before I get to the details about the best places to visit in Trier, I’d like to inform my readers about travel options, stay (in case you plan to do so) and travel within the city.
How to reach Trier:
Trier is located in the western state of Rheinland Palatinate in Germany. The fastest way to reach it is by car.
Do read my articles about 10 reasons to drive a car in Germany and step by step procedure for getting a driving licence in Germany.
The next best option is Deutsche Bahn-German Railways. You can book a ticket on their official website.
Accommodation:
It is best to stay somewhere close to the city centre as most places worth visiting are nearby. That way, if you don’t have a car, you can avoid public transport and reach all the places of interest on foot. I have shared the screenshot of google maps later in the article, which will help you understand how close all the places of interest are.
You can find the accommodation that suits you on Booking.com’s official website.
Travel within the city:
If you are in Trier by car, find a parking spot near Hauptmarkt and explore the city on foot. The places mentioned in my list are close to each other. Also, if you explore the city on foot, you give yourself the opportunity to check out local shops, restaurants etc.
However, you can use public transport too. Public transport is handled by VRT (Verkehrsverbunds Region Trier). You can check their official website for tickets. You can buy the ticket of your choice ( single trip/day ticket/4 travel ticket etc) in the bus OR from the ticketing machine at the bus stop or using their app.
Now, let’s talk about the places you must visit when in Trier:
5 Best places to visit in Trier, Rheinland Palatinate-Germany:
- Porta Nigra
Porta Nigra refers to a large Roman city gate in Trier. In Roman times, the Porta Nigra was part of a system of four city gates, one of which stood at each side of the roughly rectangular Roman city. The gates stood at the ends of the two main streets of the Roman Trier, one of which led north-south and the other east-west. Of these gates, only the Porta Nigra still exists. Visitors can climb it to see its architecture up close and get excellent views of the city from the top. Check their official website for ticket costs, what to expect and the story behind this massive Roman structure. - Trier Saint Peter’s Cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche
The Trier Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral and the oldest church in Germany. The construction of this structure is said to have started in the 4th century on land that had ancient Roman structures. Its grand design and massive structure are worth admiring. From the inside too, the cathedral looks lovely. The work on the walls and ceiling ( baroque west choir ceiling), the church organ and the golden gate should not be missed. Adjacent to the cathedral is Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). This 13th-century church shares its wall and cloister with the cathedral. While you are there, visit this church too. Entrance is free, but if you are interested in a guided tour, check their official website for more information. - Kaiserthermen
The Trier Imperial Baths ( called Kaisertherman) are said to have been built in the 4th Century by the Romans. The baths were built around hot water pools reaching 40°C. Underneath the complex was a network of underground passageways used by the staff, which can still be seen today, along with the remains of the sewer system. Check their official website for ticket costs, timings, guided tours etc. - Marché Principal de Trèves (Hauptmarkt)
The city centre (called Hauptmarkt) is the most charming part of the city. It is a square with lovely medieval buildings and structures. It is lined with cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops etc. It is the ideal place to relax and take a break from all the site seeing and walking. Stop by any cafe or restaurant in Hauptmarket and enjoy the vibes of this lovely city like the locals and treat yourself to local wine and food. - Karl Marx House
Trier is the birthplace of Karl Marx, the German philosopher, economist and socialist revolutionary. A few meters from the city centre is the baroque house where he was born. Today, the property is owned by SDP ( Socialist Democratic Party). It is converted into a museum that showcases the important works of Karl Marx and the influence they had on society. You can buy tickets at the counter for your visit. You can visit their official website for more information.
These are the top 5 experiences in Trier. If you are on a day trip to Trier, you can easily visit all these places. However, if you plan to stay in Trier for an extra day, you can add some more places like the Basílica de Constantino de Tréveris ( Konstantine Basilica), Trier Amphitheater and Barbara Baths to your itinerary.
Here are all the important places on the map.
If you plan to visit multiple places in Trier, you can also consider buying the Antikencard. This combi ticket allows you to visit multiple sites in Trier at a lower price.
Check out the photo gallery of Trier, in which you can see many more pictures of this lovely city.
To read about other holiday destinations/ day trips, etc., check out my Travel and Holidays Page. For more day trips from Darmstadt, click here.
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