I'm thinking of a side trip from Frankfurt. What are the three or four things you would suggest one see or do while in Mainz?

There was a thread going a few days ago on the same subject. Here's the link -

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34938965

Peace, Robyn >-

Being in Mainz so many times its such a great city. Mainz is only 30-45 minutes from the autobahn. It has so much history to it, you can do so much in the city. Gutenberg Museum is there, as well as cathedrile etc. the city sits right along the rhine and is right next door to Weisbaden which is another great city to visit. Mainz is very well centrally located. i think you will enjoy it. in the city and like otherr German cities they have tons of Tourist booths where you can look at places to visit.

So is it pretty much a quaint town to walk around in, hit a cafe, have a beer and walk some more? That's pretty much what I'm looking for! Could I spend about four hours in the city or does it demand more?

For some reason I liked Wiesbaden better than Mainz. It might be that we stayed in Wiesbaden and only visited Mainz on a sunday morning, obviously the deadest time of the week in Europe. Mainz was heavily bombed in WW2, and has been rebuilt. Wiesbaden was not damaged as much.

Mainz' pre-WW II old town area is small but nice enough. There are several blocks south of the Dom along the Augustinerstrasse for the kind of time killing you have in mind - cafes, wine bars, open-air markets on some days. The Dom itself is one of the finer examples of the Romanesque churches in Europe. The Augustinerkirche (church) on this street is especially stop-worthy. On the north side of the Dome is a modern shopping area - mostly pedestrians-only, and spread out over many blocks on Mainz' tangle of streets - very enjoyable. The cobblestoned walking zone immediately in front of the Dom is a nice open space where sidewalk cafes and fountains abound. Further to the south, there's a nice "Stadtpark", or city park, with a view of the Rhine, manicured gardens and a Biergarten adjacent to the Hotel Favorite, inside the park. The Chagall windows in the Stephanskirche and the Gutenberg Museum are more "official" sights within Mainz.

A day in Mainz is enough, but it will be a very nice day for most visitors.

I agree, all you need is a good day in Mainz. The Dome is great to see, and as well as sight Schiller Platz. and if you want to shop they have a strip for shopping from high end to simple stuff. and you must buy gummy bears in mainz, there right in the shopping area. can't remember were exactly but they are the best gummy bears you can get. Germans have profected the taste of them, just like chocolate.