Trier Travel Guide

Trier is a 2000-year-old Roman city near Luxembourg, the oldest city in Germany! It was home to six Roman emperors and has many ruins including the impressive Porta Nigra (the Black Gate), a four-story structure that was once part of the city’s walls. "Roma Secunda", the second Rome, was another name for Trier, and nowhere else in Germany are Roman times so vividly recalled as here.

The city is situated in a rather narrow valley of the river Moselle and surrounded by forests, wineyards and nice villages. Trier itself has about a 100.000 inhabitants and a strange sounding dialect. It is also the birthplace of Karl Marx and a university town with a lively nightlife and interesting Franco-German cuisine.

It’s worth more than a day trip. If time permits take a boat trip down the river towards Cochem or Bernkastel to see the scenery and the extremely beautiful view. Trier is famous for its lively way to party in the streets, especially in summertime. You should see the "Altstadtfest" when the whole city is one big party with lots of live events, local food, wine and beer.

With some more days of leisure time you should use the proximity of Trier to three neighbouring countries. It is only 30 minutes by car to the French border, not much more to Belgium, and Luxembourg is practically on the doorstep. Trier is located about 110 mi/175 km west of Frankfurt.