Trier

Trier sits on the Mosel River near the Luxembourg border. Founded by the Romans over two thousand years ago, it served as a capital of the Western Roman Empire. Today, massive stone gateways and bathhouses stand alongside active wine cellars. You can easily cross the entire historic core on foot in twenty minutes.

Trier's dining culture revolves around two distinct beverages: crisp Mosel Riesling and Viez, a tart local hard cider. Viez is traditionally served in a white porcelain mug called a Porz. Locals drink it straight or mixed with sparkling water as a Viez-Sauer.Food in Trier leans hearty. Traditional taverns serve Trierer Flieten (crispy spiced chicken wings) and Grumbeerkeilcher (crispy potato pancakes). You order at the counter in traditional cider houses or sit for full table service in historic wine taverns.

• Order Viez like a local

  Ask for a 0.4L Porz of Viez at historic cider hall Wirtshaus zur Glocke. If the natural sour taste is too sharp, request it sauer (mixed with mineral water).

• Wine stand on Hauptmarkt

  The winemakers' association operates a rotating tasting stand in the central market square. A glass of regional Riesling costs around €3.50 to €5.00.

• Zurlauben terrace dining

  Head to the Zurlauben waterfront at dusk. The outdoor terraces fill quickly on warm summer evenings, so arrive before 18:30 for a riverbank table.

Trier began as Augusta Treverorum, founded under Emperor Augustus around 16 BC. By the late 3rd century, Emperor Diocletian designated Trier as one of the four capitals of the divided Empire. Imperial grand projects transformed it into a metropolis known as the 'Second Rome'.In 1818, Karl Marx was born in Trier under Prussian rule. Heavy bombing in World War II damaged parts of the city center, but the ancient Roman stone architecture largely survived intact.

1. 16 BC

   Roman foundation

   Augustus founds Augusta Treverorum. It quickly grows into a vital trade hub along the Mosel river.

2. 293 AD

   Imperial capital

   Diocletian names Trier a Western Roman capital. Imperial building projects transform the city landscape.

3. 326 AD

   Cathedral construction

   Empress Helena gifts relics to the city. Construction begins on the monumental Cathedral complex.

4. 1818

   Karl Marx born

   Karl Marx is born at Brückenstraße 10. Trier is now part of the Prussian Rhine Province.

5. 1986

   UNESCO designation

   UNESCO designates Trier's Roman monuments, Cathedral, and Church of Our Lady a World Heritage site.

Choose your base depending on whether you want instant access to Roman monuments or quiet evenings near vineyards. Altstadt offers walkability at the expense of daytime noise. Olewig provides wine-estate lodging twenty minutes from the center.

• First-timersAltstadt — Walk everywhere and sleep steps from Roman monuments.
• Quiet travelGartenfeld — Enjoy leafy streets and local bakeries just south of the centre.

Trier's historic center is entirely pedestrianized. Walking is the fastest way to move between the Porta Nigra, Hauptmarkt, and Cathedral. City buses operated by VRT connect distant sites like Olewig and the Petrisberg hilltop.

• A single day ticket for Zone 1 covers all city bus routes in Trier for €6.20.

• You can pay with contactless bank cards on all VRT buses upon boarding.

• Public transit inside Luxembourg is free. You only pay for the German portion of cross-border train tickets.

• Take Bus 83 up to the Petrisberg viewpoint for late afternoon panoramic shots over the Mosel valley.

Trier is moderately priced compared to major German hubs like Frankfurt or Munich. Wine prices are noticeably lower due to direct local production along the Mosel.

• Glass of Mosel Riesling: €3.50–5.00

  Available at standard wine bars and the Hauptmarkt tasting stand.

• Porz of Viez cider (0.4L): €3.00–4.20

  Served in classic ceramic vessels across local traditional cider taverns.

• Single bus ticket: €2.60

  Valid for one hour across the central VRT urban transit zone.

• Sunday shop closures

  Retail stores close completely on Sundays. Restaurants, bakeries, and Roman monuments remain open.

• Cobblestone walking

  The entire Altstadt is paved with historic stone cobbles. Wear sturdy flat shoes.

• Roman sites opening hours

  Roman sites close an hour earlier between November and March. Plan winter outdoor visits before 16:00.

• Mosel boat dock location

  Excursion cruises depart from the Zurlauben embankment, a 15-minute walk north of the center.