A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bad Gastein vs. Mainz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bad Gastein or Mainz?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bad Gastein and Mainz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bad Gastein or Mainz?

Bad Gastein

Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.

Mainz

On the Rhine River, the ages of the medieval stand before you in their half-timbered constructions, giving this quaint, old town a hint of the spellbinding. A time capsule of Germany, Mainz is enriched by its vast history as well as its cosmopolitan air. Dating back to around 38 BC, Mainz was built by Romans and founded as the the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors. With its history spanning more than 2,000 years, Mainz is rich in its exquisite architecture, such as its stunning cathedrals, medieval market squares, and Renaissance fountains. However, Mainz also has been blessed with the joys and comforts of modernization, giving way to fantastic shopping centers, tasty restaurants, and absolutely fascinating museums. A media hub and regional capital, Mainz is also known as the wine capital of Germany as its civilians have a long history of winegrowing throughout the city. Whether you seek to oogle at artifacts at the Gutenberg Museum or sit a spell at one of the town's fine eateries, the possibilities are endless in Mainz!

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.


Which place is cheaper, Mainz or Bad Gastein?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bad Gastein is €147, while the average daily cost in Mainz is €172. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bad Gastein and Mainz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bad Gastein 62
    Mainz 74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bad Gastein 124
    Mainz 148
Compare Hotels in Bad Gastein and Mainz

Looking for a hotel in Bad Gastein or Mainz? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bad Gastein


Hotels in Mainz


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bad Gastein Hotel Prices and Mainz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bad Gastein 40
    Mainz 37

Is it cheaper to fly into Bad Gastein or Mainz?

Prices for flights to both Mainz and Bad Gastein change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bad Gastein 60
    Mainz 70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bad Gastein 21
    Mainz 33

Tours and Activities in Mainz

For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Mainz Interactive City Tour: $8.35
  • Mainz Old Town: A Self-Guided Walking Tour : $8.99
  • Guided tour in Mainz on the Rhine in german and english: $20
  • guided evening tour of the Rhine riverbank/old town in German and English: $20
  • Evening walking tour of Mainz Rhine bank and Old Town: $20
  • Golden Mainz and its Sights: Guided Walking Tour: $24
  • 2-Hour Advent Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Rhine: $27
  • Guided historical tour through the old town with Geo Epoche: $29
  • Mainz Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Tour: $31
  • Explore A Guided Tour of One of Germany's True Gems: $33
  • Urban Adventure Game in Mainz with an app: $48
  • Stand Up Paddling Tour on the Rhine River: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bad Gastein 7.86
    Mainz 22

Sample the Local Flavors in Mainz

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mainz:

  • Wine along the Rhein - Half day Wine Tour from Mainz: $298
  • Private pub crawl with insider guide & free shots: $334
  • Private Xmas Market Hopping with gondola ride & wine tasting: $856


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bad Gastein and Mainz, we can see that Mainz is more expensive. And not only is Bad Gastein much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bad Gastein would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bad Gastein and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mainz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mainz than you might in Bad Gastein.

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


Which is Bigger, Bad Gastein or Mainz?

Mainz has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Bad Gastein and Mainz, 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.