Mainz: The Most Underrated German City You Must Visit! 🇩🇪✨

After living near Frankfurt for so long, I finally made it to Mainz's Saturday market—and oh my, why did I wait this long? This charming Rhine town stole my heart with its vibrant energy and unbelievable prices that felt like stepping into Southern Europe! 🛒 Saturday Market Magic The Marktplatz was bursting with life: Federweisser (young wine): €6/bottle (and yes, you can drink it right there!) 🍷 Fresh flowers: Gorgeous bouquets for just €3.5 💐 Farm eggs: €0.35 each—with the actual chicken hanging out nearby! �🥚 Organic veggies: Heirloom tomatoes, wild mushrooms, and pretzels bigger than my face! 🥨 Pro tip: Come hungry—the bratwurst stall with homemade mustard is a must. ☕ That "Haven’t I Been Here Before?" Café I stumbled into Café Extrablatt (or was it Kaffeehaus Schreiner?) with its mismatched vintage chairs and the smell of cinnamon rolls. That déjà vu moment when a place feels oddly familiar... Turns out it’s a local chain, but the apfelstrudel mit sahne (€4.5) tasted like grandma’s recipe. ⛪ Quick Cultural Pit Stops Between bites, I squeezed in: Mainz Cathedral: Free entry, 1,000 years of history in red sandstone. Gutenberg Museum: €5 to see the world’s first printed Bible (closed Mondays!). Rhine Promenade: 10-min walk from the market—perfect for wine-sipping with river views. 🚢 💰 Why Mainz Feels Like a Time Warp Compared to Frankfurt: Coffee: €2.5 vs. €4+ Parking: €1.50/hr vs. €4+ Vibes: Laid-back vs. big-city rush 🚆 Getting There from Frankfurt Train: S8 (30 mins, €5.20 each way) Car: A66 highway (25 mins, free parking near Altstadt on weekends!) Final Verdict: Mainz is that rare German gem where history, affordability, and Gemütlichkeit (coziness) collide. Next time, I’m bringing an empty suitcase for market loot! #HiddenGermany #MainzMarket #BudgetTravel #RhineValley