Founded in 1803 by French prefect Jeanbon de St. André, Mainz Main Cemetery is characterized by magnificent, shady avenues. The rows of old trees make it a green space with high recreational value. The 20-hectare site provides an excellent habitat for many animals: Mainz Main Cemetery is home to the golden oriole, the tawny owl, and the pipistrelle bat. The old trees are also home to the round garlic (Allium rotundum), a plant that is on the Red List of endangered species.

In 2012, Mainz Main Cemetery, with its extraordinary and artistic grave monuments, was voted the third most beautiful cemetery in Germany. The Aureus Gate from 1826, one of the oldest cemetery gates, is a reminder of the early days of the burial site. The architectural diversity of historical tombs, impressive sculptures, artistic reliefs, and elaborate crypts also makes the main cemetery interesting for visitors. Mainz Main Cemetery presents itself as an open book on the city's history: several well-known personalities of the city, such as Jockel Fuchs, Eduard Kreyßig, and Auguste Arens von Braunrasch, have found their final resting place here. Numerous graves also commemorate the war victims of the last two centuries.

The New Jewish Cemetery in Mainz, covering an area of approximately 2.04 hectares, was opened in January 1881 after the old cemetery (Am Judensand) had to be closed due to the impending expansion of the city. The New Jewish Cemetery is located south of the Main Cemetery on Untere Zahlbacher Straße. The funeral hall was built in 1880–1881 by city architect Eduard Kreyßig in the Moorish style. The characteristic onion domes at the corners of the building, unusual pointed and horseshoe arches, mosaic-like Oriental-style brick patterns, sandstone ornamentation, and a silver lantern serve as a reminder that Jewish culture experienced a particular golden age in the Middle Ages under the Arab Moors who ruled the Iberian Peninsula.

There are seven Jewish cemeteries in Mainz that belong to the Jewish Community of Mainz. Most are not always open to the public but can be visited by appointment. If you are interested or would like further information about the New Jewish Cemetery, please contact the Jewish Community of Mainz-Rheinhessen (K.d.ö.R.).

The Mombach Forest Cemetery, located in the Mainz Sand nature reserve, is the largest cemetery in Mainz, covering an area of over 26 hectares, and has the character of a forest park. The site is captivating with its old pine trees interspersed with firs, spruces, and deciduous trees.

The Waldfriedhof cemetery is not only a burial ground, but also a park, and is popular with the local population as a place for quiet relaxation and socializing. The wooded site is home to many species of bats and forest birds such as woodpeckers, warblers, and titmice. The open areas are potential habitats for sand lizards and the specially protected slow worm. The Mombach Forest Cemetery is an impressive piece of nature on the outskirts of the city.

Information on all cemeteries in Mainz can be found on the website of Wirtschaftsbetrieb Mainz (opens in a new tab).