The city's most active shopping area is Am Brand, a short boulevard near the cathedral that's lined with shops on either side (bus: 1 or 54). One of the town's best clothing emporiums is Peek & Cloppenburg, Am Brand 38 (tel. 06131/669200; www.peek-cloppenburg.de), which sells clothing for men, women, and children, in styles ranging from very formal to chic and casual. For German designer fashions, head to Sinn, Markt 19 (tel. 06131/971560; www.sinnleffers.de), which carries men's and women's clothing.

Whatever you can't find along the Am Brand will almost certainly be available among the vast inventories of Mainz's most visible department store, Kaufhof, Schusterstrasse 41 (tel. 06131/2540; www.galeria-kaufhof.de; bus: 54). For a treasure-trove of secondhand goods, shop the Krempelmarkt; this flea market is held along the banks of the Rhine on the first Saturday of each month, February to October (bus: 54).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.