Welcome to the Grid-City!
Mannheim is a modern metropolis, and is commonly known as the Grid City. Its nickname is linked to the unique chessboard-like layout of the city centre. Over the centuries, people from 170 nations have made the city located between the Rhine and Neckar rivers their home. Not only has this melting pot shaped the city’s image as an open-minded and hospitable urban place, it has also invigorated the creativity of its citizens. The bicycle, the tractor and the car were all developed in Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg's second largest city.

Thanks to its many excellent theaters and museums, Mannheim is internationally renowned as one of Germany’s most vibrant cultural hubs. The city’s theatre scene is colourful and entertaining like hardly any other. And this is not merely a modern-day phenomenon. The stage-drama titled “The Robbers” by German poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller premiered in Mannheim’s National Theatre in January 1782 and caused enthusiasm as well as controversy.

Today, Mannheim is one of Germany’s leading economic centers without jeopardizing its citizen’s quality of life. Mannheim’s innovative projects include the “Pop Academy”, University of Popular Music and Music Business Studies, with its dynamic music scene or the “Music Park”, which supports young creative minds in establishing their own companies. This all adds to the city’s unique atmosphere. The city’s greenery and parks provide enough space for relaxation. The Friedrichsplatz, one of the largest and most beautiful Art Nouveau squares of Europe, is situated right in the heart of the city, and offers its visitors the opportunity to stock up on sunshine all year around. The Water Tower, which is Mannheim’s emblem, is also located there.

Various Routes Lead to Mannheim
Mannheim is the transportation hub of the region. The Grid City’s centrality and the location of its main train makes it accessible from various routes. Frankfurt International Airport, one of the largest airports in the world, is only 80 kilometers away. Efficient direct train routes from Frankfurt airport to Mannheim’s main station, enables passengers to arrive in the Grid City in only 30 minutes.

Mannheim’s Grid
The unique chess-board pattern of the city centre gives Mannheim its nickname, “Quadratestadt” (Grid City), and was created more than 400 years ago. Mannheim’s streets were designed to be easily navigated by everyone. The city centre is characterised by letters and numbers instead of street names, the simplicity of this system is impressive: To the left of the historic Baroque Palace the city blocks begin with the letter “A”, ending with “K” at the Neckar river. To the right of the palace the system continues with the letter “L” until the “U”- blocks on the banks of the river. However, one street does have a name: the Breite Straße, which acts as a dividing line from the Baroque Palace to the Neckar. Starting from the Breite Straße, Mannheim’s blocks are numbered outwards in both directions in ascending order, starting with the numeral 1.

Events, Congresses, Meetings and Conferences in Mannheim

Mannheim is the ideal place for corporate events, congresses and meetings. Travellers have easy access via motorways and the fast train networks. The Grid City is located 30 minutes away from Frankfurt airport and equipped with an attractive infrastructure of hotels, conference rooms and event venues.

m:con Congress Center Rosengarten
The m:con Congress Center Rosengarten recently received Germany’s best Congress Centre Award and is your partner for organizing corporate events, congresses, meetings and conferences.

m:con Congress Center Rosengarten
Rosengartenplatz 2
68161 Mannheim
Germany
Phone:. +49 (0) 621 4106-123/-125
Fax: +49 (0) 621 4106-80123/-80125
contact@mcon-mannheim.de
www.mcon-mannheim.de

For Business Travellers
Travelling to Mannheim for business and want to get to know the city and the region? Mannheim’s Tourist Office can provide you with tips and valuable information for your stay.

The Luisenpark Mannheim
This magnificent park has a zoo where children can pet animals, an aquarium and a total of seven playgrounds. It is a “must” for families with children. For more information: www.luisenpark.de

Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen (Reiss-Engelhorn Museum)
The museum complex offers special children’s exhibitions and events. For more information: www.rem-mannheim.de

TECHNOSEUM
The TECHNOSEUM is an ideal place for children to discover the exciting world of technology. Amazing exhibitions, interactive experiments and presentations, all help children to understand and learn about “everyday” technologies. For more information: www.technoseum.de

John Deere Forum
Large vehicles for our small guests. The John Deere Forum provides a special children’s programme that explores the world of John Deere.

Events
No doubt about it: Mannheim is the city to visit! The Grid City awaits you with various exciting event highlights in 2012:

• Seebühnenzauber (June-September 2012): Open-air concerts and more in the Luisenpark,
• Tüten und Töne (June 2012) :5th Mannheim shopping and music festival, Mannheim city centre, www.werbegemeinschaft-mannheim.com
• Mozartsommer (July 2012): Mannheim‘s Mozart Summer offers new and unusual insights into the life and works of W.A. Mozart, www.mannheimer-mozartsommer.de
• Fotofestival (September 2012): Germany‘s largest curated photo festival takes place in September for the 5th time, www.fotofestival.info
• Nachtwandel (19-20.10.2012): The Jungbusch district presents its bars, artists and courtyards Jungbusch, , www.jungbuschzentrum.de/nachtwandel
• Mannheim Christmas Market (November 2012): Wander through the two markets in the city centre and enjoy mulled wine Water Tower and Kapuzinerplanken, www.weihnachtsmarkt-mannheim.de
• International film festival (November 2012): For over 60 years, the festival has had an input in launching international careers Mannheim/Heidelberg, www.iffmh.de
• Silvestermarkt (27-31.12.2012): New Year‘s Eve market picks up where the Christmas market left off.

Mannheim City Tours
One way to experience the Grid City is by taking a guided tour.
Take the opportunity to get to know Mannheim from all of its various sides, as there are quite a few mysterious, unbelievable and beautiful things hidden in, around and behind the grid.

City tours and walkabouts
Would you like to experience the diversity of the Grid City? Get to know Mannheim with a guided tour organised by the Tourist Information Office. Be it a walk through the city or a bus tour with a short visit to the Baroque Palace and Telecommunications Tower – the choice is yours!

Themed tours
As far as the topic of the guided tour goes, that is up to you. Go shopping, walk through nature, or dance the night away! Whatever you decide, the Tourist Information Office awaits you with its qualified and friendly staff. Book your individual guided group tour with the Tourist Information Mannheim.
Recommended duration: 2–3 hours
Price: Tour guide for 2 hours € 85, every additional hour € 30

A tour bus, as well as a short visit to the Telecommunications Tower, Baroque Palace or other museums can be additionally booked. Tour prices upon request.

DiverseCity²
Mannheim is a diverse modern metropolis. Find out why and how people from 170 different nations have chosen to make the Grid City their home.
Dates: Sat. 16.06., Sun. 17.06., Sat. 15.09., Sun. 16.09.
15.00 Uhr, Duration approx. 2 hours, Price: 6 € per person
Meeting point: Paradeplatz (Parade Square) at Grupello-Brunnen (Grupello Fountain)

Jogging Tour:
This guided tour will let your heart beat faster for Mannheim! This guided tour combines fitness with sight-seeing. Book your individual guided jogging tour according to your fitness level with the Tourist Information Office Mannheim.
Duration: 1 – 2 hours
Price: € 89 per hour for up to 10 people, Prices upon request

Architecture in the Grid City
Beautiful Art Nouveau complexes and impressive Baroque buildings, churches, mosques and synagogues, bustling squares and green spaces to unwind; are only a few points of interest that Mannheim has to offer.

The Water Tower and Friedrichsplatz
Enjoy one of the most beautiful and largest Art Nouveau parks in Europe, and have a look at The Water Tower.

Booking, tickets and further information:
Tourist Information Mannheim²
Willy-Brandt-Platz 3
68161 Mannheim
Phone +49 621 293 8700
Fax +49 621 293 8701
info@tourist-mannheim.de
www.tourist-mannheim.de

Excursions in the Region

Mannheim’s central location makes it a perfect base for discovering some of the most outstanding regions in Germany.
The Odenwald mountain range, the Palatinate or Alsace – some of Europe’s most beautiful regions – are in the immediate vicinity of the Grid City. Mannheim’s neighbour, Heidelberg, offers an insight into student life from the past to the present, and its scenery is unforgettably romantic. The Schwetzinger Castle (Schwetzinger Schloss) with its impressive gardens is only 20 minutes away. There you can enjoy a stroll through the park inspired by Versailles, and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Baroque gardens.

Vineyards and Breweries
The wine road through the Tuscany of Germany also offers pure indulgence: almond trees in bloom, lemons, figs, kiwis, chestnuts and vineyards line the hiking trails. If top-quality wine isn’t enough, you can also visit the Bierstrasse and discover brewing methods that date back to around 6,000 years. Over 20 (micro) breweries, including the traditional Mannheim brewery, “Eichbaum”, open their doors so that visitors can savor the special beer culture of the region.

“The Democracy Road”
Ponder the history of the Rhine-Neckar region at the Strasse der Demokratie “Democracy Road”, which links Frankfurt, Mainz and Lörrach and offers a unique opportunity to visit historic sites linked to the freedom movement beginning with the French Revolution.

The Castle Route: Burgenstrasse
The nearly 1000-kilometre long ”Burgenstrasse” (Castle Route) stretches from Mannheim’s Baroque Palace to Prague and invites travellers on a journey through European history.

The picturesque towns of Heidelberg, Schwetzingen, Neckargemünd, Neckarsteinach and Hirschhorn are located nearby. Several of these towns have fortresses and castles that are well worth seeing.

Bertha Benz Memorial Route
Discover the original route of the first long distance journey in the history of the automobile – and may we add - one of the most beautiful holiday regions in Germany.

Schedules and Organisation
The team of Tourist Information Mannheim² will be pleased to organize excursions in and around Mannheim. We provide you with tour guides, buses, and organise the entrance to museums and events in the region.

Shopping: Mannheim is the Perfect City for Shopping.

Mannheim’s shopping miles are known for their excellent shops even beyond the region’s borders. Its exclusive and well-stocked shops easily compete with those of other metropolises. However, the city located between the Rhine and Neckar rivers has one considerable advantage: the close proximity of stores and shops makes a true shopper’s heart beat faster.

Stress-free Shopping Guaranteed
Mannheim’s two biggest shopping miles are quite accessible and allow for easy orientation. One finds a vast array of bargains and offers in the Breite Straße (Broad Street). The shopping mile known as the Planken (The Plank) is renowned for its excellent fashion shops throughout Germany. Both streets are located in the pedestrian zones and intersect at the Paradeplatz (Parade Square), Mannheim’s central square. Various public transport lines guarantee day and night stress-free transportation. Mannheim’s Kunststraße is connected with the Planken through several shopping arcades that offer something for everyone. You can find individual and exclusive pieces of jewelry there or even a miniature chocolate version of Mannheim’s landmark, the Water Tower.

Big names
Mannheim’s shops offer a large selection that caters to various tastes and styles. If you want to stroll through the large flagship stores of high street fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Buffalo Shoes, S. Oliver, ZARA, BOSS, Esprit or Swarovski – you will certainly find what you are looking for. Make sure to visit Papyrien, which is an exclusive stationery shop, and the women’s bookstore Xanthippe or Bücher Bender, a bookshop that has been a favourite for over 225 years. Mannheim’s impressive department stores, Engelhorn and Peek & Cloppenburg, were designed by star-architect Richard Meier, and contribute greatly to Mannheim’s high reputation among shopping fans.

Ultimate Luxury
If you want to spoil yourself, be sure to visit Engelhorn’s fifth floor. In this VIP area, each one of the store’s assistants will guarantee their customer’s satisfaction. A personal shopping planner provides you with the latest trends. Luxury accessories add a finishing touch to any outfit, and can be found in Engelhorn’s acc/es shop. Designer clothes at a modest price can also be found in Mannheim’s “Luxury Loft”. This outlet is located close to the Rhine River, and offers everything from shoes, clothing, accessories, jewelry, sportswear and lingerie.

When it comes to fine dining, the city has loads to offer. Culinary enthusiasts and (hobby) chefs should not miss Mannheim’s Fressgasse (Gourmet Mile) where you can find delicacies from all over the world. It is totally up to you to choose between Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Polish, Japanese, Italian, Greek, Hungarian or Afghan cuisine. There are no boundaries in Mannheim when it comes to delicious food. Culinary explorers should give Mannheim’s spiciest curry sausage a try. Gourmets can dine in one of Mannheim’s four restaurants that have been awarded a Michelin star.

Indian Restaurants in Mannheim
Enjoy traditional culinary delicacies from various regions of the Indian subcontinent. Whether a quick snack or a full course meal, you will be sure to find something to tempt your taste buds:

House of India
Goethe Strasse 8, 68161 Mannheim
Phone +49 (0)621 1229305
sunny-singh@hotmail.de
www.restaurant-of-india.de

Prince of India
Schwetzinger Strasse 43, 68165 Mannheim
Phone: +49 (0)621 408570
www.restaurant-of-india.de

Raj Mahal
Kaschmir Tandoori (small diner and take-away)
Q4 1, 68161 Mannheim
Phone: +49 (0)621 1816734

Vegetarian Restaurants
Heller’s Vegatarisches Restaurant & Café
N 7, 13-15, 68161 Mannheim
Phone: +49 (0)621 12072-0
info@hellers-restaurant.de
www.hellers-restaurant.de