In short
Mayen-Koblenz is a rural district (Landkreis) in Rhineland-Palatinate with 217,228 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has 2 universities: WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management (Vallendar), Vinzenz Pallotti University - kirchlich und staatlich anerkannte wissenschaftliche Hochschule in freier Trägerschaft (Vallendar). Summers average 18.4 °C and winters 2.8 °C, with about 587 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).
Mayen-Koblenz district in numbers
- Population
- Area
817.72 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)
- People per km²
- Universities in the district
2Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)
WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management and Vinzenz Pallotti University - kirchlich und staatlich anerkannte wissenschaftliche Hochschule in freier Trägerschaft
- Typical student rent
€2,530 per termSource (opens in a new tab)
Published rent for a furnished shared-flat room at Gilgenborn 31a, Vallendar, including utilities and Wi-Fi, in WHU's exchange-student housing information. Undated listing checked November 2026; this is an accommodation example, not a district average.
- Average temperature
10.4 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Rain
587 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Sunshine
1,551 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Frost days
64 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)
About Mayen-Koblenz district
Mayen-Koblenz stretches across the Middle Rhine, lower Moselle and eastern Eifel in northern Rhineland-Palatinate. Koblenz is a separate city outside the district, despite appearing in its name. This is a collection of towns and rural communities, so your choice of address matters more than the district label (district geography (opens in a new tab)).
The landscape combines wine-growing river valleys with volcanic terrain and historic towns. Andernach's cold-water geyser and Mendig's former basalt workings make the area's geology particularly tangible; vineyards and walking routes offer a different kind of weekend outing (regional tourism (opens in a new tab), Vulkanpark (opens in a new tab)).
Main towns
Vallendar
The district's university town, home to WHU and Vinzenz Pallotti University (WHU (opens in a new tab), Vinzenz Pallotti University (opens in a new tab)).
Andernach
A Rhine town combining the Geysir visitor attraction with packaging-steel production at thyssenkrupp Rasselstein (Vulkanpark (opens in a new tab), thyssenkrupp (opens in a new tab)).
Mayen
Genovevaburg rises above the market square; the town is also an interchange on the Lahn-Eifel-Bahn network (City of Mayen (opens in a new tab), Lahn-Eifel-Bahn (opens in a new tab)).
Mendig
Known for the Lava-Dome volcano museum and underground basalt workings later used by brewers (Vulkanpark (opens in a new tab)).
Universities here
Universities in Mayen-Koblenz district, biggest first.
WHU and Vinzenz Pallotti University are in Vallendar; nearby Koblenz offers the University of Koblenz, Hochschule Koblenz and Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung. Living near your actual campus is the simplest starting point. WHU offers sports, music, theatre and other student clubs, making Vallendar appealing if you want a smaller university community (WHU student clubs (opens in a new tab)). Commuting from elsewhere requires checking the complete journey: the rail operator advertises approximately 46 minutes from Mayen to Koblenz under its regular service pattern, before onward campus travel, and construction can change that journey (Lahn-Eifel-Bahn (opens in a new tab)).
- Website (opens in a new tab)
WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management
University · Vallendar · 12 courses
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Vinzenz Pallotti University - kirchlich und staatlich anerkannte wissenschaftliche Hochschule in freier Trägerschaft
University · Vallendar · 9 courses
Housing
Do not assume rural surroundings mean readily available student rooms. WHU currently describes its own residences as fully occupied and primarily allocated to exchange students; private apartments and residences are alternatives (WHU housing (opens in a new tab)).
The typical student rent we found, and what that figure covers, is in the key facts.
How to find a place
- WHU exchange students should complete the housing-preference form supplied with admission (WHU housing (opens in a new tab)).
- Use WHU's Wohnungsmarkt and its named private-residence contacts for direct enquiries (WHU housing (opens in a new tab)).
- Vinzenz Pallotti University directs students to the Studierendenwerk Koblenz housing exchange for private flats and shared housing (university housing guidance (opens in a new tab)).
- Before renting farther away, test weekday and evening journeys using the VRM journey planner and check construction notices (VRM (opens in a new tab), DB replacement-service information (opens in a new tab)).
Student residences
Hamacher apartments, Heerstraße 51 (opens in a new tab)
WHU housing team — rented apartments
Furnished apartments in central Vallendar rented by WHU for exchange students; ask the housing team about availability (WHU housing (opens in a new tab)).
Cost of living
Useful published budget anchors are the Deutschlandticket at €63 per month and a student lunch at Vinzenz Pallotti University's Mensa at €6, booked through its I-Net Menue system; both were checked in November 2026 (VRM (opens in a new tab), Vinzenz Pallotti University (opens in a new tab)). Check whether your university already provides a semester ticket before buying another subscription. No comparable district-wide student budget was verified, so a blanket claim that living here is cheaper than in a large city would be misleading. Compare total housing, travel and programme costs for your own address.
Jobs & employers
Local employment includes manufacturing as well as services: packaging steel in Andernach, paper and board in Mayen, and food production in Polch (thyssenkrupp (opens in a new tab), WEIG (opens in a new tab), Griesson–de Beukelaer (opens in a new tab)). For students, the clearest verified routes are working-student positions and internships. WEIG explicitly welcomes applications for these, including unsolicited applications when no suitable vacancy is advertised (WEIG student careers (opens in a new tab)).
Typical student jobs
- Working-student roles in bakery retail and sales, with local opportunities listed by Die Lohners (careers portal (opens in a new tab)).
- Marketing working-student roles in Polch, listed on Griesson–de Beukelaer's careers portal when checked (careers portal (opens in a new tab)).
- Industrial working-student assignments, internships and thesis projects through WEIG's student recruitment route (WEIG (opens in a new tab)).
Major employers
thyssenkrupp Rasselstein (opens in a new tab)
Packaging steel
Operates its headquarters and packaging-steel production site in Andernach (company facts (opens in a new tab)).
WEIG Group (opens in a new tab)
Paper and board
Manufacturing employer in Mayen with production and technical roles; it also maintains a dedicated student recruitment route (jobs (opens in a new tab), student careers (opens in a new tab)).
Griesson–de Beukelaer (opens in a new tab)
Food manufacturing
Its Polch location recruits across production, quality management, marketing and other business functions (careers portal (opens in a new tab)).
Die Lohners (opens in a new tab)
Bakery and retail
Lists employment in Polch and Mülheim-Kärlich, including working-student opportunities (careers portal (opens in a new tab)).
Getting around
VRM is the regional transport association; the Deutschlandticket covers participating local buses and regional trains in second class, but not ordinary IC, EC or ICE travel (VRM (opens in a new tab)). The regular Lahn-Eifel-Bahn network links Mayen, Andernach and Koblenz, with an advertised Mayen–Koblenz journey of approximately 46 minutes (operator information (opens in a new tab)). Important for autumn 2026: rail services through Vallendar are suspended during works expected to last until 12 December, with replacement buses serving the Kongresshalle (Vallendar municipality (opens in a new tab)). The replacement timetable valid through 8 November schedules roughly 15 minutes from Vallendar Kongresshalle to Koblenz Hbf; use DB's current timetable for your travel date and allow additional time to reach campus (DB timetable (opens in a new tab)).
- Main stations
- Andernach — interchange between the Eifel railway and Rhine services (Lahn-Eifel-Bahn (opens in a new tab), Vallendar transport information (opens in a new tab)).
- Mayen Ost — regional services towards Andernach and Kaisersesch (Lahn-Eifel-Bahn (opens in a new tab)).
- Vallendar — local station affected by replacement-bus operation in autumn 2026 (municipal notice (opens in a new tab)).
- Koblenz Hbf — nearby major interchange outside the district (Vallendar arrival guidance (opens in a new tab)).
- Nearest airport
Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) — an arrival option for Vallendar
Vallendar's Schönstatt visitor guidance lists rail connections from the airport via Cologne, Bonn or Troisdorf towards Koblenz and Vallendar (arrival guidance (opens in a new tab)). Check the journey against current rail works; the closest airport depends on where in this extensive district you live (DB construction timetables (opens in a new tab)).
Weather & seasons
Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Mendig (4 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.
Winter
2.8 °C
47 mm rain a month
1.7 h sun a day
Spring
10.1 °C
44 mm rain a month
5.4 h sun a day
Summer
18.4 °C
57 mm rain a month
6.7 h sun a day
Autumn
10.3 °C
47 mm rain a month
3.2 h sun a day
Expect chilly, often grey winters, changeable spring weather and generally mild-to-warm summers; bring waterproof layers and shoes suitable for frosty days. Summer suits walking and outdoor cultural events, while late summer and autumn bring Winningen's wine festival and Mayen's Lukasmarkt (regional tourism (opens in a new tab), Moselfest (opens in a new tab), Lukasmarkt (opens in a new tab)). Check winter attraction schedules: the Lava-Dome publishes seasonal closures (Vulkanpark (opens in a new tab)).
Culture, language & food
Wine-growing traditions and town festivals are useful entry points into local life. Winningen's Moselfest brings people together around the Weinhexbrunnen, while Mayen's Lukasmarkt fills the town centre with its annual fair (Moselfest organiser (opens in a new tab), Lukasmarkt (opens in a new tab)).
For students, WHU's clubs provide organised activities spanning sport, music, theatre and entrepreneurship (WHU (opens in a new tab)). Expect to build your social life through campus groups and local events; if frequent club nights are a priority, check the evening transport and venue calendars before choosing a village address.
WHU has an international campus community and offers German language learning (WHU campus information (opens in a new tab)). English should not be assumed in every housing enquiry: WHU explicitly notes that some local landlords do not speak a foreign language (WHU housing (opens in a new tab)). Learning conversational German is a practical priority for settling in; programme admission requirements must be checked separately.
Local food
Döppekooche
A baked potato dish made with grated potatoes, onion and eggs, traditionally with bacon or sausage and often served with apple sauce. The district tourism organisation documents its local tradition (REMET recipe (opens in a new tab)).
Rhine and Moselle Riesling
The district's steep vineyards produce Riesling, which features alongside regional food in local inns and wine taverns (REMET (opens in a new tab)).
Places & events
Places to see
Genovevaburg, Mayen
Castle
The castle stands above Mayen's market square and houses the Eifelmuseum's exhibitions. Check access before visiting, particularly during renovation work (City of Mayen (opens in a new tab), Lukasmarkt updates (opens in a new tab)).
Geysir Andernach
Nature
A cold-water geyser on Namedyer Werth. The visitor experience combines a museum with a boat journey to the peninsula (Vulkanpark (opens in a new tab)).
Lava-Dome and Lavakeller, Mendig
Museum
Explore volcanic processes in the museum and former basalt workings underground. The Lavakeller can only be visited with a guide (Vulkanpark (opens in a new tab)).
Events
Lukasmarkt, Mayen (opens in a new tab)
October
An annual town-centre fair held around St Luke's day in October, with rides and market traditions (official event website (opens in a new tab)).
Moselfest Winningen (opens in a new tab)
Late August to early September
A wine festival centred on the Weinhexbrunnen. The organiser confirms the 2026 festival took place and announces the next edition for 27 August–5 September 2027 (Moselfest organiser (opens in a new tab)).
Burgfestspiele Mayen (opens in a new tab)
Summer
Mayen's theatre festival presents plays, music and other performances. The 2026 programme used a main stage at the Herz-Jesu-Kirche and the smaller Altes Arresthaus venue; check the next programme rather than assuming performances take place inside the castle (official programme (opens in a new tab)).
The cold-water geyser erupting at Andernach
Winningen on the Moselle
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Mayen-Koblenz district, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Mayen-Koblenz district: FAQ
Is Mayen-Koblenz a good place to live as a student?
It can suit students who want a smaller university community and access to countryside. Vallendar offers WHU student clubs, while the wider district has walking routes and river landscapes; choose your address around the actual campus journey (WHU (opens in a new tab), regional tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Is there a university in Mayen-Koblenz?
Yes. WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and Vinzenz Pallotti University are in Vallendar (WHU (opens in a new tab), Vinzenz Pallotti University (opens in a new tab)).
How do I get from Mayen-Koblenz to Koblenz?
The route depends on your town: the regular rail network connects Mayen and Andernach with Koblenz, while Vallendar has replacement-bus arrangements during autumn 2026. Check the dated timetable before committing to a commute (Lahn-Eifel-Bahn (opens in a new tab), DB replacement timetables (opens in a new tab)).
Is Mayen-Koblenz expensive for students?
There is no verified district-wide student budget in this guide, and housing costs should be compared for specific addresses. One clear transport benchmark is the Deutschlandticket at €63 per month, as listed in November 2026 (VRM (opens in a new tab)).
What student jobs are available in Mayen-Koblenz?
Verified recruitment routes include working-student roles at Die Lohners, marketing opportunities at Griesson–de Beukelaer in Polch, and student placements at WEIG in Mayen. Availability changes, so use the employers' continuing careers portals (Die Lohners (opens in a new tab), Griesson–de Beukelaer (opens in a new tab), WEIG (opens in a new tab)).
Is Koblenz city part of Mayen-Koblenz district?
No. Koblenz is an administratively independent city outside Mayen-Koblenz, although the district administration is based there (district geography (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
- District geography and administrative boundaries (opens in a new tab)
- Rhein-Mosel-Eifel regional tourism (opens in a new tab)
- WHU Vallendar campus (opens in a new tab)
- WHU housing (opens in a new tab)
- WHU student clubs (opens in a new tab)
- Vinzenz Pallotti University accommodation and meal prices (opens in a new tab)
- VRM Deutschlandticket (opens in a new tab)
- Lahn-Eifel-Bahn routes and regular journey times (opens in a new tab)
- Vallendar rail replacement notice (opens in a new tab)
- DB right-bank Rhine replacement timetables (opens in a new tab)
- DB replacement bus 927 timetable, 10 October–8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Schönstatt Vallendar arrival guidance (opens in a new tab)
- thyssenkrupp Rasselstein company facts (opens in a new tab)
- WEIG jobs and locations (opens in a new tab)
- WEIG student recruitment (opens in a new tab)
- Griesson–de Beukelaer careers (opens in a new tab)
- Die Lohners careers (opens in a new tab)
- Regional food and wine (opens in a new tab)
- Regional Döppekooche recipe (opens in a new tab)
- Lukasmarkt official website (opens in a new tab)
- Moselfest Winningen organiser (opens in a new tab)
- Burgfestspiele Mayen programme (opens in a new tab)
- City of Mayen: Genovevaburg (opens in a new tab)
- Vulkanpark: Geysir Andernach (opens in a new tab)
- Vulkanpark: Lava-Dome and Lavakeller (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Genovevaburg photograph and licence (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Andernach geyser photograph and licence (opens in a new tab)
- Commons: Winningen photograph and licence (opens in a new tab)
Photo credits
- Southwestern view of Genovevaburg castle in Mayen — MoselcountyBürgermeister1 (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
- The cold-water geyser erupting at Andernach — Freak-Line-Community (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winningen on the Moselle — W. Bulach (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
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