3 Days in Mannheim

Mannheim Palace

The baroque Mannheim Palace is one of the largest palace complexes in Europe and today home to the university. The palace museum lets you tour magnificent rooms, the Knights' Hall and the palace church. An imposing prelude to a wander through the city of squares.

Tip: Start early — the palace museum is quietest in the morning.

Through the squares to Paradeplatz

Mannheim's city centre is laid out as a unique grid of squares that bear letters and numbers instead of street names. From the palace, the route leads through the squares to Paradeplatz with the baroque Grupello pyramid fountain, the city's central meeting point.

A lunch break on the Marktplatz

The Marktplatz in the lower squares has long been Mannheim's lively centre. Around the historic square with the town hall and market fountain, cafes, snack bars and restaurants invite you for lunch — from Electoral Palatinate cuisine to international fare.

A stroll along the Planken

The Planken is Mannheim's great shopping axis, running dead straight from Paradeplatz to the Water Tower. Shops, cafes and street performers line the boulevard. A relaxed stroll along the most important promenade of the city of squares.

Water Tower and Friedrichsplatz

At the end of the Planken rises the Water Tower, Mannheim's landmark. The Art Nouveau grounds of Friedrichsplatz, with water features, arcades and flower beds, are among the most beautiful squares in Germany. A walk through the well-kept gardens is a must.

Dinner in the city centre

To round things off, the venues around the squares and the Oststadt beckon — from Electoral Palatinate taverns to international cuisine. A lively evening in the heart of Mannheim.

Staying in the city centre

A central location in the squares or the Oststadt means short distances to all the sights. From here the palace, the Planken and the main station are an easy walk away — an ideal base for the days ahead.

Kunsthalle Mannheim

The Kunsthalle Mannheim is one of the most important art museums in Germany. The spectacular new building on Friedrichsplatz brings together classical modernism and contemporary art. The collection ranges from Impressionism to room-filling installations — a highlight for any art lover.

Tip: The light-flooded atrium with its viewing terrace is worth the visit on its own.

Reiss-Engelhorn Museums

The Reiss-Engelhorn Museums in the squares are among the largest museums of cultural history in Germany. Spread across several buildings, they present archaeology, art, photography and world cultures. The changing special exhibitions draw visitors from far and wide.

Lunch in the squares

Around the museums in the squares there are numerous cafes and bistros for a break. A short refuel before heading to the Technoseum in the afternoon.

Technoseum

The Technoseum tells the story of industrialisation in south-west Germany in a hands-on way. Across several levels it covers steam engines, looms, automobiles and modern technology. Interactive stations and demonstrations make this experiential museum especially lively.

Tip: The demonstrations on the historic machines are an experience — check the times on site.

A walk on Friedrichsplatz

Back in the Oststadt, Friedrichsplatz invites you to linger in the early evening. When the water features and the Water Tower are lit up, the Art Nouveau grounds reveal their special charm.

An evening in the Schwetzingerstadt

The Schwetzingerstadt, south of the city centre, is a lively residential quarter with an established food scene. From the cosy restaurant to the trendy pub, it offers a relaxed close to the day away from the big shopping streets.

Second night in Mannheim

The same lodgings as the night before — the central location pays off on the third day, when the route leads to Luisenpark and the Jungbusch.

Luisenpark

Luisenpark is one of the most beautiful parks in Europe. Gondolettas glide across the Kutzerweiher, while the plant house, the Chinese garden and the free-flying storks delight. A sprawling green realm for strolling, marvelling and taking a deep breath.

Tip: A ride on the gondolettas across the Kutzerweiher is a classic — especially lovely in the morning.

Lunch in the Oststadt

Around Luisenpark and in the elegant Oststadt there are cafes and restaurants for a relaxed lunch break amid the greenery — before heading back towards the city centre.

National Theatre on Goetheplatz

The National Theatre Mannheim is one of the oldest stages in Germany — this is where Schiller's 'The Robbers' was first performed. Drama, opera and ballet under one roof make it a cultural institution. A look at this venerable house is part of any visit to Mannheim.

A wander through the Jungbusch

The Jungbusch by the harbour is Mannheim's creative quarter. Among old warehouses, the Pop Academy and small galleries, multicultural life pulses. A walk from the connecting canal to the Jungbusch bridge shows the shift from a working-class district to a creative quarter.

A farewell evening in the Jungbusch

In the evening, the Jungbusch is Mannheim's nightlife quarter: bars, clubs and restaurants with cuisines from around the world lie close together. With creative cooking and harbour flair, a varied weekend in the city of squares comes to a close.