Things to do in Trier – 15 attractions in Germany's oldest city

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: June 2026 | Looking for things to do in Trier? Here you will find the best sights, our personal tips and great experiences. Trier is Germany's oldest city, particularly known for its Roman monuments, its nine UNESCO-listed monuments and its beautiful location on the Moselle River.

Trier - Germany's oldest city

Trier is a very charming city to be in, we thought, and together with all the history, it makes the city an exciting destination. Trier is beautifully located along the Moselle, and the vines climbing the slate hills frame the city's charm.

1. Check out the Porta Nigra

One of the first Roman monuments you notice in Trier is the Porta Nigra – the Black Gate and the only surviving of the city’s four city gates. Built around 170 AD, from massive sandstone blocks, it has survived both pillaging and almost two millennia of history.

You can go up the gate, where you also have a nice view of Trier. Here we met a Roman who greeted us with ”Salve” (which means ”Good day” in Latin) …

2. Discover the Kaisertherme

The Kaiserthermen are the remains of a huge Roman bath complex that began construction in the 4th century AD but was never completed as a bathhouse. Instead, parts of the complex were used as barracks and fortifications. Today, you can wander through the underground passages and get a sense of how impressive the place once was.

3. See the ruins of Barbaratherme

The Barbara Baths covered an area of approximately 42,000 square meters and were the second largest bath complex in the entire Roman Empire when it was built. People gathered here not only to bathe but also to meet, relax and do business. Today, the ruins remain, but they still give a clear picture of the enormous scale of the baths.

4. Be fascinated by the amphitheater in Trier

The Roman amphitheater in Trier was built in the late 1st or early 2nd century AD. The theater had seating for 18,000 spectators who could gather to watch gladiatorial games, animal hunts, and public executions.

Today you can still go down into the underground passages where gladiators, animals and prisoners waited to enter the arena.

5. Be impressed by the Römerbrücke

The Römerbrücke is Germany's oldest bridge and an impressive legacy from Roman times. The abutments and pillars were built between 144 and 152 AD, while the arches were added in the 18th century after the bridge was damaged in several wars.

We actually drove over the bridge with the camper van – a special feeling to travel over an almost 2,000-year-old bridge. Like many of Trier's Roman remains, the Römerbrücke is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6. See Germany's oldest cathedral – St. Peter's Cathedral

Trier Cathedral, or St. Peter's Cathedral, is Germany's oldest church and one of the city's most impressive buildings. Already around 300 AD, a huge church complex with four interconnected churches and a baptistery in the middle stood here.

The cathedral is built on the foundations of one of the largest Roman buildings north of the Alps and has been shaped over the centuries by wars, fires, looting and countless renovations.

7. Peek into the Church of Our Lady

Liebfrauenkirche, Trier, the Church of Our Lady, is located next to Trier Cathedral and is considered Germany's oldest Gothic church. It was built in the 13th century and is known for its unusual, almost circular layout. Together with the cathedral, it forms one of Trier's most impressive architectural and cultural landmarks - both are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

8. See the Basilica of Constantine

The Aula Palatina, also called the Basilica of Constantine, was built in the early 4th century during the time of Emperor Constantine.

The enormous basilica served as a magnificent reception hall for Roman emperors and is a clear testament to the impressive Roman architecture far beyond Rome. It featured underfloor heating and marble-clad walls – a luxurious symbol of the empire’s wealth and status. Today, the building is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

9. Stroll at the Electoral Palace

Right next to the Aula Palatina is the elegant Kurfürstliches Palais (Electoral Palace), a magnificent palace in Rococo and Renaissance style. The palace was built in the 17th and 18th centuries on the foundations of older Roman buildings and is connected to the basilica.

Today, parts of the building are used as government offices, but visitors are also attracted here for the beautiful castle park and the well-preserved rococo details.

10. Visit the Karl Marx House

Karl-Marx-Haus is the house where Karl Marx was born in 1818. After studying in Bonn and Berlin, where he first studied law, he was increasingly drawn towards philosophy, politics and social criticism.

He worked as a journalist, lived in exile in several European countries and, together with Friedrich Engels, published The Communist Manifesto in 1848. Today the house is a museum about his life and ideas.

11. Take a boat trip on the Moselle River

A common pleasure on the Moselle River is gliding around on various boat trips. We took a one-hour trip from Trier, which included going under the city's three bridges. It was nice to sit down for a while after all the walking around the sights, and take some beautiful pictures of the fantastic landscape!

12. Experience the Main Market Square

Hauptmarkt is Trier's old market square and the city's natural center since the Middle Ages. Here, historic buildings, outdoor cafes and the famous Market Cross Fountain coexist - a place where the city's history still feels alive.

13. Visit the Rheinisches Landesmuseum

The Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier is one of Germany's leading archaeological museums, filled with Roman finds from Trier and the region. Here you will gain a deeper understanding of the city's history and life during the Roman era.

14. Check out the Lice Pillar

The Igeler Säule, or Igel Pillar, is one of the best-preserved Roman funerary monuments north of the Alps. The nearly 23-meter-high sandstone column was erected in the 3rd century AD by a wealthy merchant family and is covered in detailed reliefs depicting everyday life, trade, and mythological motifs. The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located just outside Trier.

15. Wander through the Old Town

Trier's old town is made to be explored on foot. Between Roman monuments, churches, squares and narrow alleys, new historical details are constantly popping up around the corner. Here, over 2,000 years of history are mixed with cafes, small shops and a quiet everyday life that makes the city extra charming to stroll around.

Where can you stay and park your camper?

Best areas to live in and explore

• Old town centre – Perfect for those who want to stay close to UNESCO heritage sites and the city's historic center.
• Moselle area – A good choice for those who want to combine city life with walks along the river.
• Olewig – Quiet neighborhood near vineyards and the amphitheater.

Pitches and campsites

Treviris Motorhome Park is a caravan park that we chose and we arrived with a motorhome that is on the outskirts of town. From here you can walk (a slightly longer walk), cycle or take a bus into town. The car park is large and nice, and automated.

You get a card when you go in, and if you want electricity, you load extra money on the card. When you leave, you let the machine read the card, and then you pay for the time you stayed at the site. Right next door is a campsite, for those who prefer it.

See more in Germany

There is of course much more to see and discover around Germany. If you're travelling around, here are some more places to visit:

• The Moselle Valley in Germany
• Hohenzollern Castle