Under $100: Mainz, Germany

Schedule a day or two in Mainz and you will get to know a charming ancient city.

The best place for breakfast is Wilma Wunder, which serves honest food at affordable prices ($10). Suitably fortified, it’s time to wander the old town. Make sure you visit Schillerplatz, Kirschgarten and Stephanskirche for good photos, and swing by the cathedral, one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in Germany.

For lunch, go to the traditional restaurant called Weinstube Hottum. It’s a family-run place and you may well be served by the owners themselves, which adds a lovely personal touch ($15).

In the afternoon, visit the botanical garden if the weather is good, or head for the Gutenberg Museum if it’s too cold or wet. The museum walks visitors through the story of Johann Gutenberg, the inventor of the type printing press that revolutionized publishing.

For dinner, Gastätte Holztor is the place to be for classic dishes such as schnitzel. It’s also got a great selection of wines, one of Mainz’s most famous products ($30). Carry on your evening at Weingut Michel, a wine bar that serves wines exclusively from the Michel winery ($20 a bottle).