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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Mayen
Half a day is enough to see the castle and old town; use Mayen as a lunch stop or a base for the Eifel, not a destination on its own.
Mayen is a small Eifel town with a medieval castle (Genovevaburg), a volcanic lake (Laacher See) nearby and a compact old town. Most visitors pass through on the way to the Nürburgring or the Ahr valley. Half a day covers the main sights; one night works if you want to hike the Eifelsteig trail or visit Maria Laach Abbey.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (many sights closed or limited hours)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–4.00 |
| Lunch (schnitzel or salad) | €9–15 |
| Dinner (main course) | €12–22 |
| Beer (0.5 L) | €3–4.50 |
| Taxi 5 km (3.1 mi)Taxi 3.1 mi (5 km) | €12–18 |
| Bus ticket (single) | €2.50–4.00 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CGN · Cologne Bonn Airport
- About 1 h 15 min by car or train via Koblenz
- FRA · Frankfurt Airport
- About 1 h 30 min by car or train via Koblenz
Typical fares
- Mayen → Laacher See, taxi
- about €15–20, 10 min (check)
- Mayen → Nürburgring, car
- about 20 min via B258
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town centre is walkable. For Laacher See and Maria Laach Abbey you need a car or a taxi (about €15–20 each way). Buses run from Mayen station to Mendig and Kruft but are infrequent on weekends.
See and do
Known for
- Genovevaburg castle
- Laacher See volcanic lake
- Maria Laach Abbey
- Eifelsteig hiking trail
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nürburgring | Car, about 20 min via B258 | About 25 min |
| Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler | Car, about 30 min via A61 | About 35 min |
| Bitburg | Car, about 40 min via A60 | About 45 min |
| Dernau | Car, about 25 min via A61 | About 30 min |
Sleep
- Town centre (Altstadt)
- Walkable to Genovevaburg and restaurants; limited hotels.
- Laacher See area
- Quiet lakeside hotels and guesthouses; 10 min drive from Mayen.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallohah-loh |
| Thank you | Dankedahn-keh |
| Excuse me | Entschuldigungent-shool-dee-goong |
| How much is this? | Wie viel kostet das?vee feel koh-stet dahs |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette?voh ist dee toy-let-eh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Genovevaburg's museum (Eifel Museum) may close on Mondays; check the official site.
- Laacher See has no public transport direct from Mayen; plan a car or taxi.
- Many restaurants close on Sunday afternoons and Monday.
Mayen is a safe small town. Watch for cyclists in the old town and keep valuables out of sight in parked cars.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mayen yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Genovevaburg castle
- Laacher See volcanic lake
- Maria Laach Abbey
- Eifelsteig hiking trail
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Mayen official website: www.mayen.de/
- Wikivoyage: Mayen, revision 4104710 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4104710
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mayen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.