In short
Main-Taunus-Kreis is a rural district (Landkreis) in Hesse with 238,775 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Main-Taunus-Kreis district itself; the nearest is RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Rüsselsheim, about 12 km away. Summers average 18 °C and winters 1.7 °C, with about 712 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).
Main-Taunus-Kreis district in numbers
- Population
- Area
222.53 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)
- People per km²
- Universities in the district
- Nearest university
RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, RüsselsheimWhere Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)
About 12 km away in a straight line
- Average temperature
9.7 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Rain
712 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Sunshine
1,617 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Frost days
71 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
About Main-Taunus-Kreis district
Main-Taunus-Kreis lies between Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, with Hofheim am Taunus as its administrative centre. It combines commuter towns with the slopes of the Taunus and settlements along the Main (district background (opens in a new tab)).
Its character changes noticeably between towns: Eschborn houses Deutsche Börse’s headquarters, Bad Soden preserves its spa-town parks, and Hochheim has vineyards and a half-timbered old town (Deutsche Börse (opens in a new tab), Bad Soden (opens in a new tab), Hochheim tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Main towns
Hofheim am Taunus
The district’s administrative centre and a useful starting point for exploring housing options (district background (opens in a new tab)).
Eschborn
An important office location, including Deutsche Börse’s headquarters and IT operations (Deutsche Börse (opens in a new tab)).
Bad Soden am Taunus
A former spa town whose Alter Kurpark retains springs and historic spa buildings (city park guide (opens in a new tab)).
Hochheim am Main
A wine-growing town with vineyards, a historic centre and the church of St Peter and Paul (Hochheim tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Eppstein
A town beneath a ruined castle in the wooded Taunus hills (Taunus tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Nearest universities
No university in Main-Taunus-Kreis district itself — these are the nearest (straight-line distance).
There is no university in Main-Taunus-Kreis. Nearby options include Hochschule RheinMain in Wiesbaden and Rüsselsheim, with other institutions in Frankfurt and Oberursel. Treat living here as a commuting choice: the S1 serves Hochheim towards Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, the S2 serves Hofheim, and the S3/S4 connect Eschborn with Frankfurt (RMV routes (opens in a new tab)). Check the journey to your actual campus before choosing accommodation. The district may suit you if you prefer a residential base and access to local employers; Deutsche Börse also offers dual study programmes combining employment with study at Hochschule Mainz (dual study information (opens in a new tab)).
RheinMain University of Applied Sciences
Rüsselsheim · 12 km away · 7 courses
Wiesbadener Musikakademie
Wiesbaden · 14 km away · 6 courses
Lutherische Theologische Hochschule Oberursel
Oberursel · 15 km away · 2 courses
Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences
Frankfurt am Main · 15 km away · 3 courses
Hochschule RheinMain
Wiesbaden · 16 km away · 92 courses
Housing
Do not assume that moving outside Frankfurt guarantees inexpensive housing. Hesse identifies several district municipalities, including Bad Soden, Eschborn, Flörsheim, Kelkheim and Kriftel, as having pressured housing markets (Hesse housing ministry (opens in a new tab)). For a student search, compare shared rooms across several towns and weigh the total rent against the campus commute.
How to find a place
- Search WG-Gesucht and ImmobilienScout24 by individual town rather than only by district name; both are recommended in Hochschule RheinMain’s housing guidance (HSRM housing guide (opens in a new tab)).
- If you attend Hochschule RheinMain, check Stud.IP and campus noticeboards for private housing advertisements (HSRM housing guide (opens in a new tab)).
- Compare private accommodation here with Studierendenwerk Frankfurt residences in your university town. Its published residence directory lists options in Wiesbaden and Rüsselsheim, outside this district (residence directory (opens in a new tab)).
- Before accepting a room, test the morning and evening journey from its nearest stop, including any connecting bus; use the district’s RMV timetable collection (MTV local timetables (opens in a new tab)).
Cost of living
Budget from an actual room offer rather than assuming a suburban discount: several local towns are officially classified as pressured housing markets (Hesse housing ministry (opens in a new tab)). For transport, the standard Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month in 2026 and covers local and regional public transport; RMV lists €66.80 from 2027 (RMV ticket details (opens in a new tab)). Check your university’s semester-ticket arrangements before buying a separate subscription. No reliable district-specific student budget or like-for-like saving against Frankfurt was established.
Jobs & employers
The verified employers offer routes into financial technology, international cooperation and consumer-goods administration or research. Eschborn hosts Deutsche Börse and a GIZ head office, while P&G has its German administration and a research centre in Schwalbach (Deutsche Börse (opens in a new tab), GIZ (opens in a new tab), P&G (opens in a new tab)). For work alongside study, Deutsche Börse has a dedicated student recruitment programme, and the Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach publishes retail vacancies (student careers (opens in a new tab), shopping-centre jobs (opens in a new tab)).
Typical student jobs
- Working-student roles in finance and business at Deutsche Börse; availability depends on the department (student recruitment (opens in a new tab)).
- Technology-oriented working-student roles at Deutsche Börse, whose recruitment programme welcomes IT and quantitative backgrounds (student recruitment (opens in a new tab)).
- Part-time sales and shop-assistant work at Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach (centre job portal (opens in a new tab)).
Major employers
Deutsche Börse Group (opens in a new tab)
Financial-market infrastructure and technology
Its headquarters in Eschborn also directs systems operations and IT development (official location page (opens in a new tab)).
GIZ (opens in a new tab)
International cooperation
Its Eschborn head office coordinates international projects, develops concepts and supports partners worldwide (official locations (opens in a new tab)).
Procter & Gamble (opens in a new tab)
Consumer goods
Schwalbach houses the German administration and research and development for paper hygiene products (official location information (opens in a new tab)).
Getting around
Choose your town around the rail corridor you need: S1 connects Hochheim with Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, S2 serves Hofheim and Eppstein, and S3/S4 connect Eschborn with Frankfurt (RMV route directory (opens in a new tab)). The published S2 timetable gives approximately 20 minutes from Hofheim station to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, before any onward campus journey; engineering work can change services (RMV timetable (opens in a new tab)). The X26 also links Hofheim with Wiesbaden and Oberursel (district timetables (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers ordinary local buses, S-Bahn and regional trains, but not standard ICE, IC or EC journeys (ticket validity (opens in a new tab)).
- Main stations
- Hofheim (Taunus): S2 and regional services on the Frankfurt–Niedernhausen corridor (RMV timetable (opens in a new tab)).
- Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, outside the district: a destination for several local S-Bahn corridors and onward rail connections (RMV rail directory (opens in a new tab)).
- Nearest airport
Frankfurt Airport
The X17 provides a direct bus connection from Hofheim via Hattersheim to Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 (MTV route directory (opens in a new tab)).
Weather & seasons
Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Wiesbaden-Auringen (9 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.
Winter
1.7 °C
60 mm rain a month
1.6 h sun a day
Spring
9.7 °C
52 mm rain a month
5.7 h sun a day
Summer
18 °C
67 mm rain a month
7.1 h sun a day
Autumn
9.6 °C
58 mm rain a month
3.2 h sun a day
Expect chilly, often grey winters, a gradual spring warm-up and generally mild-to-warm summers, with rain possible throughout the year. Bring layers and waterproof clothing for the walk between home and public transport. Summer brings Hochheim’s wine festival and Bad Soden’s Sommernachtsfest, while November brings the Hochheimer Markt (wine festival (opens in a new tab), summer festival (opens in a new tab), autumn market (opens in a new tab)).
Culture, language & food
Local traditions are particularly visible in Hochheim’s wine festival and autumn market, while Bad Soden’s Sommernachtsfest brings live music into the town centre (Hochheimer Weinfest (opens in a new tab), Hochheimer Markt (opens in a new tab), Bad Soden festival (opens in a new tab)). For a student social life, plan deliberately around these events and your university community rather than expecting a campus scene within the district.
Classes can provide another way to meet people locally: the district adult-education centre offers cultural, practical and language courses (VHS programme (opens in a new tab)). If evenings out in your university town matter to you, check the last connection home before choosing a neighbourhood.
Do not plan an English-only move: ask prospective landlords and employers which languages they can use. As a practical learning target, aim for B1 German for everyday independence and work towards B2 for more demanding conversations; these are recommendations, not district-wide admission or employment requirements. VHS Main-Taunus-Kreis offers German courses at these levels in Hofheim (current course programme (opens in a new tab)).
Local food
Hochheimer wine and Sekt
Wine and sparkling wine are central to Hochheim’s identity; the town’s tourism guide highlights Riesling and its Sekt-making tradition (Hochheim wine guide (opens in a new tab)).
Kriftel strawberries and orchard fruit
Kriftel grows strawberries and pome fruit, sold through farm shops and roadside stands during harvest (municipal agriculture guide (opens in a new tab)).
Places & events
Places to see
Burg Eppstein
Castle
The ruined castle above Eppstein has a keep offering views across the surrounding Taunus landscape (Taunus tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Hochheim old town and vineyards
Old town
Combine the half-timbered centre with a walk through the vineyards towards the Queen Victoria monument (Hochheim tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Alter Kurpark, Bad Soden
Park
A historic spa park with mature trees, the former bathhouse and publicly accessible springs (city park guide (opens in a new tab)).
Events
Hochheimer Weinfest (opens in a new tab)
July
A recurring wine festival with winery courtyards, live music and activities in the old town; the organiser confirms its continuation in July 2027 (official festival page (opens in a new tab)).
Hochheimer Markt (opens in a new tab)
November
An annual autumn fair combining rides, market stalls and a traditional livestock market; the published 2026 dates are 6–10 November (official market page (opens in a new tab)).
Bad Sodener Sommernachtsfest (opens in a new tab)
August
A recurring town-centre festival with food and live music; the city’s 2026 programme names 15 August (official festival page (opens in a new tab)).
Side view of the old town hall in Hofheim am Taunus
Vineyards and the Queen Victoria vineyard looking towards Hochheim am Main
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Main-Taunus-Kreis district, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Main-Taunus-Kreis district: FAQ
Is Main-Taunus-Kreis a good place to live as a student?
It can suit students who prefer a residential base and are willing to commute. Choose accommodation around your campus journey: the district has several S-Bahn corridors towards Frankfurt and a direct S1 connection from Hochheim to Wiesbaden (RMV routes (opens in a new tab)).
Is there a university in Main-Taunus-Kreis?
There is no university in the district. Nearby study locations include Wiesbaden and Rüsselsheim for Hochschule RheinMain, as well as Frankfurt and Oberursel.
How long does it take to get from Hofheim to Frankfurt?
The published S2 timetable gives approximately 20 minutes from Hofheim station to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. Allow additional time to reach your campus and check current engineering-work changes (RMV timetable (opens in a new tab)).
Is Main-Taunus-Kreis cheaper than Frankfurt?
A general saving cannot be assumed. Several district towns, including Eschborn and Bad Soden, are officially classified as pressured housing markets, so compare actual room offers and commuting requirements (Hesse housing ministry (opens in a new tab)).
What jobs can students find in Main-Taunus-Kreis?
Useful routes include Deutsche Börse’s working-student programme and part-time retail work at Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach. Check each vacancy’s location, language requirements and hours (Deutsche Börse student careers (opens in a new tab), centre job portal (opens in a new tab)).
Can I live in Main-Taunus-Kreis without a car?
It is worth considering if your accommodation and campus connect well by rail or bus. Check the exact address and evening return journey; the district includes S-Bahn services and express buses such as the X17 and X26 (local timetables (opens in a new tab)).
More guides
Sources & photo credits
Last updated November 2026. Population and area: Destatis. Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst. Universities and courses: our catalogue. Everything else was researched from the sources below and checked — how we research these guides.
Sources
- Main-Taunus-Kreis: geography and administrative centre (opens in a new tab)
- Hesse: pressured housing markets (opens in a new tab)
- Hochschule RheinMain: housing guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Studierendenwerk Frankfurt: residence directory (opens in a new tab)
- RMV: rail routes and timetables (opens in a new tab)
- MTV: Main-Taunus local timetables (opens in a new tab)
- RMV: S2 and regional corridor timetable (opens in a new tab)
- RMV: Deutschlandticket price and validity (opens in a new tab)
- Deutsche Börse: Eschborn location (opens in a new tab)
- Deutsche Börse: student careers (opens in a new tab)
- Deutsche Börse: dual study programmes (opens in a new tab)
- GIZ: official locations (opens in a new tab)
- P&G: German site information (opens in a new tab)
- Main-Taunus-Zentrum: job portal (opens in a new tab)
- Taunus tourism: Eppstein (opens in a new tab)
- Taunus tourism: Eppstein Castle keep (opens in a new tab)
- Bad Soden: Alter Kurpark (opens in a new tab)
- Hochheim tourism: sights (opens in a new tab)
- Hochheim tourism: wine and sparkling wine (opens in a new tab)
- Kriftel: agriculture and fruit growing (opens in a new tab)
- Hochheimer Weinfest (opens in a new tab)
- Hochheimer Markt (opens in a new tab)
- Bad Sodener Sommernachtsfest (opens in a new tab)
- VHS Main-Taunus-Kreis: autumn/winter 2026 programme (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Eppstein Castle photo and licence (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Hofheim town hall photo and licence (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Hochheim vineyards photo and licence (opens in a new tab)
Photo credits
- Eppstein Castle viewed from the south — Joachim Schneeleopard (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Side view of the old town hall in Hofheim am Taunus — Karsten Ratzke (opens in a new tab), CC0
- Vineyards and the Queen Victoria vineyard looking towards Hochheim am Main — Brühl (opens in a new tab), Public domain
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