How to get there: The two JGU campuses are located directly in Mainz, close to the city and main train and bus stations: You will find the „city campus“ (where the theology faculty is situated) just opposite the Hauptbahnhof, and the main campus one tram stop further up the hill. Check out this video for a first impression of the place where your teaching will take place. When arriving at Frankfurt airport (FRA), it is best to take the train – either the regional train RE, RB or the S-8 (final destination Wiesbaden) from Regionalbahnhof (the D-ticket [see below] is valid on all trains leaving from Regionalbahnhof), or one of the high speed ICE or IC trains (more expensive and not included in the D-ticket) leaving from Fernbahnhof.
Travelling within Germany: We strongly recommend to buy a Deutschlandticket (D-ticket for short) for the month of July in advance. The D-ticket lets you travel easily by all means of public transport (bus, tram, local and regional trains with the exception of high speed trains [EC, IC, ICE] and long distance coaches), and costs 49 euros – less than an ordinary train ticket for a weekend trip to, say, Heidelberg; it will probably pay for itself during your first week here. Please check out the website of Deutsche Bahn for details and purchasing. The purchase is also possible through the mopla-app, and many local transport networks – some are offering discounts and extra goodies (e.g. 100 free minutes in the Mainz rental bicycle system at Mainzer Mobilität). Currently, a purchase through Deutsche Bahn requires an IBAN whereas you may use PayPal, Apple Wallet or a credit card with most apps. When booking, please make sure to state as start date the 1st of July 2024 (on some channels the last date for such a purchase is the 10th of June). You may also buy it at any of the travel centers of Deutsche Bahn, e.g. at Frankfurt Airport.
Although the ticket is not valid on high speed trains, you can still travel throughout all of Germany using the slightly slower regional trains (RE, RB, VIA etc.) – from the Baltic coast to the Alps, and from the French to the Polish border –, and use the local public transport wherever you end up, without further costs and without worrying about buying individual tickets each time you decide to get from A to B. You will also need the ticket in order to get from your accommodation to the university, and for our exursions to Worms and Frankfurt. It is also valid on all trains leaving from Frankfurt Airport Regionalbahnhof – ideal, if you plan to arrive at FRA on the 1st or 2nd of July, and depart before the end of the month.
Note: The D-ticket purchase requires your setting up an account with Deutsche Bahn (alternatively with any of the participating local transport networks); it will also trigger a subscription which you must cancel online or through the app you are using. The deadline for tickets purchased via bahn.com is the 10th of July, if you do not want to buy another ticket for August. Some local networks and the mopla-App allow you to cancel your D-ticket until the 31st of July, and are offering free goodies with any purchase (www.deutschlandticket-rabatte.de). Let us know, if you need any help with this.
