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Trier packs more Roman ruins north of the Alps than any other city. Eight UNESCO World Heritage sites sit within walking distance of each other, from the 2nd-century Porta Nigra to the subterranean Imperial Baths. Beyond the Romans, you will find Germany’s oldest cathedral, the birthplace of Karl Marx, excellent Riesling vineyards on the city’s doorstep, and a medieval old town filled with half-timbered buildings. Most sights are concentrated in a compact 1-kilometer radius, making Trier an easy city to explore on foot in two full days. Here are the top things to do in Trier, organized by category.
Things to Do in Trier: Roman Monuments
Porta Nigra
The largest Roman city gate north of the Alps, built around 170 AD from grey sandstone blocks that have darkened over two millennia (hence “Black Gate”). Walk through the four-story structure, climb to the upper levels for views over the old town rooftops, and examine the original Roman mason marks still visible on the stone blocks. Open daily 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (until 5:00 PM April-October). Entry costs EUR 4.00 for adults or is included with the AntikenCard Trier (EUR 12.00, covers all Roman sites). Located at the north end of Simeonstrasse, the main pedestrian shopping street. Allow 45-60 minutes. Check our Trier weather by month guide for month-by-month temperatures, rainfall data, and what to pack.
Konstantinbasilika (Constantine Basilica)
Built as Emperor Constantine’s throne room around 310 AD, this is the largest surviving single-room Roman structure. The basilica measures 67 meters long, 27 meters wide, and 33 meters high with original Roman brickwork still visible on the exterior. Today it serves as a Protestant church (Church of the Redeemer). Entry is free. The interior is breathtakingly simple, a vast hall with a coffered wooden ceiling that gives you a sense of late Roman imperial scale. Open Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (until 4:00 PM in winter), Sunday 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Palais), a pink rococo confection, adjoins the basilica on the south side. See our best time to visit Trier guide for a detailed month-by-month verdict on weather, crowds, and prices.
Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths)
The 4th-century Imperial Baths were never finished as baths, later converted into a fortress and then a medieval castle. Today you can walk through the underground service tunnels where slaves would have stoked the hypocaust heating system, explore the exposed brick and stone ruins at ground level, and climb the viewing platform for a perspective on the full 2-hectare footprint. Entry costs EUR 4.00 or is included with the AntikenCard. Open daily 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (until 5:00 PM April-October). The underground tunnels are cool even in summer, bring a light sweater. Allow 45 minutes. The Trier events and festivals calendar lists every major festival from the Christmas market to Altstadtfest.
Amphitheater
Built around 100 AD into the side of the Petrisberg hill, this amphitheater seated 18,000-20,000 spectators for gladiator contests and animal fights. The oval arena is well preserved, and you can enter the cellar chambers (Keller) where animals and fighters were held before being winched up to the arena floor. In summer, it hosts concerts and the Brot und Spiele Roman festival (June). Entry costs EUR 4.00 or AntikenCard. Open daily 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (until 5:00 PM April-October). Located about a 15-minute walk east of the old town, uphill along Olewiger Strasse. Allow 45-60 minutes. Read our best neighborhoods in Trier guide for a breakdown of Altstadt, Zurlauben, Olewig, and more.
Römerbrücke (Roman Bridge)
The oldest bridge in Germany, with its stone piers dating to 144-152 AD. The arches above the piers were rebuilt in the 14th and 18th centuries, but the basalt stone foundations you see rising from the Moselle are original Roman engineering. The bridge is still in daily use by cars and pedestrians. Walk across for views of the Moselle and the steep vineyards on the opposite bank. Free, open 24/7. The best photo angle is from the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Brücke (the green iron bridge just downstream). Our where to stay in Trier guide recommends specific hotels in three areas for every budget.
Things to Do in Trier: Churches and Religious Sites
Trierer Dom (Trier Cathedral)
Germany’s oldest cathedral, founded by Emperor Constantine in 326 AD on the site of his mother Helena’s palace. The current structure layers Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements from 1,700 years of continuous use. Highlights include the 12th-century west choir, the Holy Robe (Tunic of Christ, displayed only during rare pilgrimages), the ornate baroque stucco work in the west apse, and the Roman brick core visible in the southeast tower. Free entry. Open daily 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM (until 5:30 PM in winter). The cloister and treasury cost EUR 3.00. Allow 45-60 minutes for the full visit. Our Trier travel tips guide covers airports, trains, money, safety, and frequently asked questions.
Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)
Adjacent to the cathedral, this is the earliest Gothic church in Germany (completed 1260). Its cross-shaped floor plan with twelve supporting pillars represents the twelve apostles, making it a remarkably symmetrical space. The stained glass windows are 20th-century replacements (originals destroyed in WWII), but the medieval sculpture of the Virgin and Child on the central pillar is original. Free entry. Open daily 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Allow 20-30 minutes.
St. Matthias Abbey (Benediktinerabtei St. Matthias)
A Romanesque basilica in the southern part of Trier, housing what tradition holds to be the tomb of the Apostle Matthias (the only apostle buried north of the Alps). The 12th-century crypt contains a stone sarcophagus that has been a pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages. The abbey is still an active Benedictine monastery. Free entry. Located about 2 kilometers south of the Hauptmarkt, reachable by bus lines 3 and 5 or a 20-minute walk along Matthiasstrasse. Open daily 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Things to Do in Trier: Museums and Culture
Rheinisches Landesmuseum
One of Germany’s best archaeological museums, focused on the Roman history of the Moselle region. The star exhibit is the Trierer Goldmünzenschatz, a hoard of 2,650 Roman gold coins (aurei) discovered in 1993 during construction work, worth roughly EUR 2.8 million at current gold value. Other highlights include the Neumagen Wine Ship (a 3rd-century stone relief of a Roman wine transport vessel), one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics north of the Alps, and detailed models of Roman Trier. Entry costs EUR 8.00 for adults. Open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Allow 2 hours.
Karl Marx House (Karl-Marx-Haus)
Marx was born in this baroque townhouse at Brückenstrasse 10 on May 5, 1818. The museum covers his life, work, and the global impact of Marxism through original manuscripts, first editions of Das Kapital, and multimedia exhibits. Entry costs EUR 5.00. Open daily 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (until 7:00 PM April-October). The house receives a steady stream of Chinese tour groups, so weekday mornings are quietest. Allow 60-90 minutes.
Things to Do in Trier: Outdoor and Wine Experiences
Zurlauben Riverside District
A former fishing village on the west bank of the Moselle, now a charming row of 18th-century houses turned into wine bars and restaurants. Walk along the riverfront path, stop at Weinstube Kesselstatt for a glass of Trierer Riesling on the terrace, or rent a paddle boat at the dock below the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Brücke. In summer, this is where locals come to drink wine by the river. Free to stroll. A 15-minute walk north of the Porta Nigra along the riverbank.
Moselle River Cruise
Several companies run 1-hour to full-day cruises from the docks near the Roman Bridge (Römerbrücke) between April and October. The one-hour city panorama cruise (EUR 11.00 per adult) takes you past all the major riverfront sights with commentary in German and English. Longer cruises go as far as Bernkastel-Kues (a 4-hour trip each way) through the famous Moselle wine terraces. Book tickets at the dock kiosk on the morning of your trip. The Personenschifffahrt Gebr. Kolb and Moselpersonenschifffahrt are the two main operators.
Petrisberg Viewpoint and Wine Trail
The Petrisberg hill east of the city center offers the best panoramic view of Trier’s full Roman skyline, the cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche spires, and the Moselle valley. Walk up from the Amphitheater (1.5 km, about 25 minutes uphill) or take bus line 4 to “Petrisberg.” The Petrisberg wine trail (Weinlehrpfad) is a 2-kilometer loop through experimental vineyards explaining Moselle viticulture with information panels in German and English. Free. Best at sunset when the western sky lights up behind the old town. For more travel planning resources, see our complete Trier travel guide.
