Rothenburg ob der Tauber Travel Guide 2024 – how to get there, where to stay, what to see

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Table of Contents:

When to travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Munich

Where to stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

What to see & do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Where to go from Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a day trip

I have travelled around Southern Germany a lot and I was absolutely charmed with this combination of natural and historical attractions. The local towns such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber kept their authenticity and can boast great architectural and historical sites. Being charmed with towns of Southern Germany, I have decided to put together information I have previously researched and to create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Rothenburg. Based on my research, I found out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip.

When to travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is considered to be a picturesque historic town located in the northeastern part of Bavaria. Rothenburg is situated close to other Franconian cities such as Nuremberg and Wurzburg that is why tourists often combine their trip to visit all three towns at once. The towns are famous for the numerous architectural attractions and historical monuments preserved here and is perfect for sightseeing holidays in Germany.

You can travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber all year round as the main attractions of the town is architectural and look magnificent no matter what weather conditions are. The local climate is rather mild, though. Temperature rarely drops below zero. If it is snowy here in winter, it is usually a quite short period of time. On the other hand, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is so lovely during the winter time because of festive illumination and Christmas markets, where you can warm up with traditional mulled wine and taste local cuisine.

Springs are also pleasant here as countryside starts blossoming. Springs and summers in Rothenburg ob der Tauber are warm, but not hot. that is why it is a good time for long distance walking around the town. Autumns are usually colorful and sometimes a bit rainy so it is advisable to take an umbrella or rain coat with you.

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Munich

I examined a map and found out that the distance from Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is 255 km; the cities are connected by highways No. A6 and A9.

By train: You can get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber by regular bus (the journey time is about 3 hours 45 minutes) or by train. True, there are no direct railway routes between the cities; you have to make several changes; the travel time is approximately 2,5 to 3,5 hours. But visiting of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is worth of long journey. You can check the train schedule for the Munich-Rothenburg route and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I often use Raileurope to look for available options, then sort and compare them to choose the most suitable for me, so I can definitely recommend this online service.

By renting a car: You can also get there by rented car. You can find rental offices both in Munich and at the airport. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. To rent, you need to have a passport, a driver’s license and a bank card.

◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. The distance from Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is 255 km, the cities are connected with highways No. A6 and A9 (see on the map).

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Stuttgart

The distance from Stuttgart to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is only 70 km, despite the fact that Stuttgart is territorially located in another administrative region – Baden-Wurttemberg one. The cities are connected with highways No. A7 and A6.

By public transport: It is impossible to get from Stuttgart to Rothenburg ob der Tauber directly by public transport, you need to make a change during your trip. So, moving on regular buses, you have to make a change in Ulm. Traveling by train, you need to make a change in Ansbach. You can check the train schedule for the Stuttgart-Rothenburg route and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. Travel time in both cases is from 2 hours 40 minutes to 3,5 hours.

By renting a car: you also can use a car to travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Stuttgart. Car rentals can be found either at Stuttgart City Centre or at the airport. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I did some thorough research and both services have a great number of positive reviews and are wide-known among travellers so I can recommend them to plan & book your car trips.

◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. The distance from Stuttgart to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is only 70 km. The cities are connected with highways No. A7 and A6. The travel time is about 1 hour 45 minutes (see on the map). I have travelled along the autobahns numerous times and I can confirm they are pretty much convenient and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination.

Where to stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

I examined some information and found out that the main places for accommodation in Rothenburg are hotels of various categories and guest houses; you can also find a hostel and B&B hotels. The pricing policy of local hotels is considered to be slightly above the average; this is due to the limited number of accommodation places in comparison with larger cities.

Hotel BurgGartenpalais 4* – The hotel is located in a historic building in the heart of the town, close to all major attractions. Also, less than a kilometer from the hotel you can find the Rothenburg Train Station. The hotel has its own small garden and a local restaurant with tables on the outdoor terrace. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. Paid public parking is available nearby. The hotel has classic rooms, deluxe rooms, family rooms. All of them are equipped with a safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, TV, telephone, mini-bar. Buffet breakfasts are included in the price. I read the reviews and I can conclude that the hotel gets the best ratings for its location, cleanliness of the rooms and professionalism of the staff. The hotel provides luggage storage, laundry and dry-cleaning services. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.

TOP Hotel Goldenes Fass 3* – This is a family run B&B hotel. The historic center and railway station are within the walking distance. Free Wi-Fi and free parking are provided. The hotel has standard and superior rooms of various sizes. In the rooms you can find a safe, hairdryer, telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar. Breakfast is included in some types of rooms (check when booking). The hotel gets the best reviews for the cleanliness of the rooms, professionalism of the staff and the quality of the Wi-Fi provided. The hotel has luggage storage. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.

Hotel Merian Rothenburg 3* – The hotel is located in a quiet area of the town, a 10-minute walk from the city center and from the railway station. The hotel has a winter garden, a terrace and a bar. There are many restaurants and cafes nearby. Wi-Fi is free of charge. Parking is also possible for free. The hotel has single, double, triple and quadruple rooms. The rooms are equipped with hairdryer, telephone, TV, wireless internet. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel gets the highest ratings for professionalism of the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms and the quality of the breakfasts provided. The hotel also has luggage storage and currency exchange box. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.

Altfraenkische Weinstube – The hotel is located in a historic building close to the main sights of Rothenburg. The hotel has a restaurant serving Franconian dishes and local wines. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. Paid public parking is available nearby. The hotel offers rooms of various categories. The rooms are equipped with everything you need; buffet breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the best reviews for its location and cleanliness of the rooms. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00.

What to see & do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The main attractions of Rothenburg ob der Tauber are medieval monuments. Arriving at the town, you can feel like in Medieval Europe with its authentic houses, cobbled streets and old squares, where churches and towers are located. The historical part of the town is surrounded with fortified walls and has an entrance gate. The best day in Rothenburg is a leisurely strolling around the streets and looking for magnificent architectural sights.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a relatively small town, and you can get around its historical part on foot. Moreover, walking is recommended for exploring the town, since the streets of Rothenburg are narrow and winding; the most convenient way to travel here on foot or by bicycle (many local hotels offer rental services). You can start your tour from Markplatz Square, where the huge Town Hall is located. It is made in the Renaissance style. By the way, the original construction of the Town Hall dates back to the 13th century, so in some parts of it you can find Gothic elements that have been preserved.

If Markplatz is the largest square in the town, then Plonlein square is the smallest one. But size doesn’t matter in this case. Plonlein is considered to be the symbol of the town. There are narrow medieval buildings with half-timbered elements, as well as a small fountain. An additional effect is added to the square by the Kobolzeller and Ziebers towers visible behind. Other historic buildings in the town include Baumeisthauses, Feuerleinserker, Fleisch und Tanzhaus, Gerlachschmiede, Hegereiter House, and the miniature Toppler Castle.

In addition, its fortress walls, gates and towers give even more medieval vibes to the town. A considerable number of them have been preserved in Rothenburg. There are 6 gates (Castle Gate, Gallows, Klingen, Roder, Spital and Kobolzell), 2 towers (Marcus and Town Hall) and the town walls. The medieval churches, which are quite ascetic on the outside, but have magnificent interiors, give a special charm to the town. These include, in particular, the Church of St. James, the Franciscan Church, the Cathedrals of St. John and Wolfgang, the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Church of St. Paul and Peter.

In Rothenburg you can find several interesting museums, the most popular of which is the Christmas Museum. Despite its “winter” orientation, the museum is open to visitors all year round. Here you can experience the festive vibes regardless of the season. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:

• The Christmas Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm
• The entrance fee is 5 euros

During the summertime you can also experience walking at the local park areas. There are three of them – a Palace Park, Convent gardens and an oriental-style Water Park located on the outskirts of Rothenburg. All three parks deserve the attention of tourists and are a great place to relax.

Where to go from Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a day trip

Since Rothenburg is a relatively small town, a visit to it can be combined with a visit to one of the Franconian towns located nearby as I have mentioned above.

So, it is a baroque town of Wurzburg, located 60 km from Rothenburg. Despite its small size, a large number of architectural attractions are concentrated in Wurzburg, including a palace, a fortress, a Cathedral, a chapel of the Virgin Mary and some other objects. Also, you can travel to Nuremberg, a city that needs no introduction. The distance is only 80 km from Rothenburg. A huge number of historical monuments have been preserved in Nuremberg Old Town. The canals of Nuremberg give the city a special charm.

Also, for example, you can go to Bad Kissingen. This option is good if you are tired of walking and just want to relax in the local thermal complexes, which the resort is famous for. And, of course, Bamberg is definitely worth it, which is the “pearl” of the historical region of Franconia. Colorful houses, museums, cathedrals and temples – all the attractions are one more picturesque than the other.

If after that the curiosity to explore Bavaria does not dry up, then you can go to the town of Kelheim. Its name says little to tourists, but there is the famous Danube Gorge – the only inland fjord in Europe. You can see the Gorge in detail on a boat trip. As I see it, any of the listed destinations deserves tourist attention as the towns are full of attractions and can offer a lot of things to do.

Photo above the article: Skaja Lee