So you’re looking for all the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber? You’ve come to the right place, lemme tell ya.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany isn’t just one of my favorite cities in Germany; it’s one of my favorite places on earth. As a tour guide in Germany, I visit Rothenburg every single year. And every year I make it my goal to find new, awesome things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber that I didn’t get to the year before. So far, I’m on one helluva roll.
So many things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is world famous but most visitors just come for the day and leave before the sun goes down. This definitely makes it sound like there isn’t much to do here… but that’s so totally wrong.
Yes, this is a small, quiet town. But there are so many cool things to do here that I highly recommend at least two full days here to really absorb all the fairytale magic this town has to offer to mere muggles like us.
Take my expert word for it – check out all the most amazing things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber here:
1. Check out the Plönlein
I’m just going to go ahead and get this one out of the way. Rothenburg’s Plönlein is, without a doubt, the thing this town is world famous for. (Don’t get me wrong, the Plönlein is very cool, but Rothenburg is so much more than this! Please! Just give it a chance!)
Though you maybe didn’t know what it was called, I guarantee you’ve seen Rothenburg’s Plönlein before. It’s basically just a super picturesque intersection in the town’s center. It’s got real Disney, Pinocchio, fairy tale vibes and I am here for it. Actually, everyone is here for it.
This singular view has essentially become the poster child for Germany’s Romantic Road – the lovely little road trip defined by adorable half-timbered villages. The word Plönlein translates to “small square with a fountain” which is exactly what it is.
There’s a crooked yellow house with teal shutters, medieval towers on either side, and about 1,000 tourists all trying to take pictures of it at the same time. It’s a real Instagram vs Reality situation. Regardless, you can’t come to Rothenburg and not check out the Plönlein. So go ahead, get your pictures, but know that there are so many more things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber!
Plönlein pro tip
The vast majority of Rothenburg’s visitors drop in for the day to see the Plönlein and then leave. This means everyone is taking the exact same pictures that are all completely full of other tourists. BORING.
Instead, be different and stay in Rothenburg overnight. Visit the Plönlein after dinner when all the day-trippers have left town and the moon and stars have come out. You’ll get tourist-free photos that look straight out of a story book.
But if you only have one day to spend here, check out my one-day Rothenburg itinerary to make the most of your trip.
2. Take the Night Watchman Tour
One of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber that totally lives up to the hype is the Night Watchman tour.
Rothenburg’s Night Watchman tour is another famous activity that thankfully takes place every night of the week and in English. (There is a German version too though if you need it.) This 1-hour tour is led by Hans Georg Baumgartner, the famous Night Watchman who walks you around medieval Rothenburg after dark to tell you about the town’s history.
You’ll learn about the origins of the town and how it fared during the Plague (ahem, the first one) and its many wars. He’ll teach you about the role of the Night Watchman and other fun medieval tidbits addressing crime and punishment. You’ll learn fun facts about some of Rothenburg’s buildings and structures.
He answers your questions and will happily take photos with you. But the best part? This tour is hysterical. I know it sounds super educational (i.e., boring) but that’s not the case at all. It’s educational, sure, but it’s also hilarious. 10/10 highly recommend.
The English version of the Rothenburg Night Watchman tour takes place every night of the week between April 1st and December 30th (except Dec. 24) at 8:00pm and costs just 9€.
To join the tour, meet in the Market Square and look for the crowd of people surrounding a tall medieval guy. You’ll know it when you see it. The tour is super casual – no reservations required – join or leave as you please. Pay the Night Watchman directly, in cash, at the end of the tour.
Night Watchman tour need to know
Hans Georg Baumgartner is the famous Night Watchman, but he takes the night off on Thursdays and Sundays. So, if that’s when you’ll be around, you’ll have a substitute Night Watchman.
The German tour is also available every night, same days, same meeting place, but starts at 9:30pm.
Night Watchman pro tip
If you’ll be visiting Rothenburg with your family or a bigger group, you can book a private Night Watchman tour just for your group!
This would be such a fun personalized activity for your group and will even save you some money depending on how big your group is. Check out how to book your private Night Watchman tour here.
Also check out: The 12 Best Day Trips from Munich
3. Go to Hell (Have dinner at Zur Höll)
Zur Höll is arguably the best restaurant in Rothenburg and having dinner here is a must on the list of things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Zur Höll literally means “to Hell” but the experience is absolutely heavenly.
This small tavern opened over 1,000 years ago and serves traditional hearty Bavarian meals and Franconian wine inside a very cool space. The main restaurant has just a handful of tables, but you can also dine in their candlelit cave. For real.
I eat here every year and I’m always impressed. This is the coziest, most delicious eatery in town. It’s also highly sought after so reservations are recommended. (Seriously, you probably won’t get in otherwise.)
Zur Hoell need to know
- Zur Höll is open Monday-Saturday from 5pm-10pm
- Reservations are necessary – you can make reservations by emailing them here
- Zur Höll is cash only
- Make sure to ask for the specials
- If you’re there late enough you’ll probably see the Night Watchman stop in for a beer, the way medieval night watchman do
Also check out: 3 Days in Munich: 38+ Awesome Things to Do
4. Walk the fortified city walls
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of only three cities in Germany with intact medieval walls surrounding the town. But the coolest part is that they are completely walkable, by anyone, for free! For these reasons, exploring the town via its medieval wall is definitely one of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Rothenburg’s defensive wall circles the town and is dotted by 42 towers and six awesome city gates. Walk this “Tower Trail” and see this beautiful city from up above. There are numerous places where you can get on/off the wall and you can even go inside some of the towers.
Rothenburg Tower Trail need to know
- The Tower Trail is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- This is a totally free activity.
- Pay attention, tall people! You’ll need to watch your head a lot here as there are many low-hanging stones and zero warnings.
- The plaques you see along the wall contain the names and/or organizations of those who have donated money for the preservation of the wall.
- The wall path is largely uneven and the stairs on and off are steep. Pay attention at all times, be careful, use the handrails.
5. Go inside the Spital Bastion
Of all the towers and hidden spots inside the city’s medieval wall you can explore, one of the coolest things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is to go inside the Spital Bastion.
The Spital Bastion is (a weird word, yes, but also) one of medieval Rothenburg’s most important defensive fortifications along the wall. It was constructed in the 1580s and is considerably well-preserved and open to the public.
The Spital Bastion surrounds a beautiful courtyard and features a number of windows for cool wall views. You can explore the dimly-lit, multi-leveled structure where you’ll even find some old cannons. There is no hint of modern life in here and you’ll feel like you’ve got back in time.
Spital Bastion need to know
To get to the Spital Bastion, veer left at the Plönlein and walk straight until you dead-end at a medieval tower. There’s a staircase there that leads into the structure. Now, just follow all the random paths and get lost. (If you want to use GPS, head towards “Spitaltor.”)
6. Get to know the legend of Rothenburg’s mayor
One of the most interesting tidbits about Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the folklore surrounding its one-time mayor and the “Legend of the Master Draught.” Allow me to rewind a bit…
Back in 1631, Rothenburg was seized by a man named Count Tilly and his army during the Thirty Years’ War. Count Tilly was going to claim ownership of the town (and execute most of its residents, damn) until, as legend has it, Rothenburg’s mayor challenged him to a drink-off. I kid you not. Germany is the best.
Tilly agreed, declaring that Mayor Georg Nusch could keep his town if he could chug a 3.5-liter tankard of wine in ONE GULP. (That’s almost a gallon, FYI.) And, allegedly, he did! He saved his town from destruction, the people rejoiced, and they all lived happily ever after and absolutely schmammered, I assume.
This legend is a big part of local lore so there are many things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber that surround this tale. For starters, you can view (a replica of) the 3.5-liter wine tankard inside the Rothenburg Museum. Now, imagine chugging that much wine in one gulp. Kthanksbye.
This legend is also preserved in Rothenburg’s town center clock. At the top of every hour when the clock chimes on the Ratstrinkstube, the windows on either side of it open to tell the tale. (All sources say this happens only between 10am – 10pm, but last time I was there this also happened at 11pm, so methinks there’s actually no rhyme or reason here.)
On the left, a medieval-looking dude comes out to provide some fanfare. On the right, you can see the mayor lift his mug and chug chug chug until the bells cease. An hourly tribute to the brave act that saved Rothenburg, huzzah!
7. Attend the Master Draught Festival
There’s also an entire festival dedicated to this legend known locally as Der Meistertrunk. Every year on Pentecost weekend, the Master Draught Festival takes place in what must be one of the most hilarious things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
This festival consists of multiple theater performances of the legendary act, and probably a lot of unsanctioned amateur renditions as well, just for sh*ts and giggles. There are medieval outfits (and facial hair), history nerds chugging wine, and probably a lot of ye oldes and huzzahs too. Count. Me. In.
8. Chill out in the Marktplatz (town center)
If you want to see the hilarious clock mayor, be sure to spend some time hanging out in Rothenburg’s Marktplatz. Acting as Rothenburg’s town center, the Market Square is a large open plaza surrounded by shops and restaurants.
This is a great place to just sit and chill with a delicious Bavarian beer and people-watch the day away. Most of the eateries have outdoor seating and even though it’s the town center, because this is such a small village, it’s not annoyingly “touristy.”
You can see the mayor’s clock without having to leave your seat and you may even be able to see the Plönlein if you’re sitting at the right table. If you’re looking to just relax for an hour or so, hang out in the Marktplatz (part of the inspiration for Epcot’s Germany pavilion, btw).
9. Climb the Town Hall tower for amazing views
While you’re in the Marktplatz, head across to the town hall and climb to the top of the tower for the best views in Rothenburg.
As with all super old towers in Europe, you’ll have to climb 220+ steps up a tight corkscrew staircase not suitable for the claustrophobic. At the top, you ascend a short ladder then have to pull yourself up through a small opening to exit onto the little platform that circles the top of the tower.
Up here, you are rewarded with the best views in town making this one of my favorite things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I love the red rooftops of Europe’s medieval towns and Rothenburg gets an A+ here.
Town hall tower need to know
Climbing the tower here costs 2.5€ and you pay at the top. I actually love this because I’ve met a lot of visitors who aren’t convinced they’ll make it to the top either out of anxiety or literally because they might not be agile enough to squeeze through the ridiculously small opening. This way, you don’t have to pay unless you make it to the top and can commit to finishing.
The tower is open:
- January, February, March, and November: Saturday and Sunday from noon – 3pm
- April to October: Every day from 9:30am – 12:30pm and 1pm – 5pm. Quasimodo needs his lunch break, you know.
- During the Christmas market: Every day from 11am – 6pm (and until 7pm on Fri, Sat, and Sun)
Pro tip: To enter, go through the grand arches in the main market square (the brown part of the building on the right), not through the white part of the building (on the left) under the tower where it would make the most sense.
10. Take a hike through the Enchanted Forest
If wide open spaces are more your thing, you’ll love to know that light hiking is one of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. In fact, you’ll straight up think you’ve warped to the Enchanted Forest.
Rothenburg’s main Old Town is up on a hill, but you can actually leave the city walls and head down into the valley on a few different easy hikes around the area. But these are no ordinary hikes. Oh, no no no. You’ll meet strange creatures, pass castles and cottages, stroll over covered bridges, and much more.
You’ll pass through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, through the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops, and then… OK, I kid.
Really though. Pass through the Burggarten on the right, follow the trail through the trees, past the wild hops because this Germany, over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house… a quiet, misty valley along the river Tauber with a covered bridge that’s surrounded by adorable gingerbread houses.
Or you can leave the Burggarten on the left, follow the seashells and wind your way down through the vineyard, past the mermaids and mysterious woodland church, to the troll bridge. I know this sounds like a joke but I am absolutely serious here.
Basically, take any path out of Rothenburg’s medieval wall and just follow it where it goes. You will not lose your way as hilltop Rothenburg will be visible just about anywhere you end up. The trails are paved and signposted and your GPS will work the whole time. It’s a great way to experience some alone time in Rothenburg and my absolute favorite of all the Rothenburg things to do.
11. Check out the Double Bridge
The troll bridge of which I speak is actually Rothenburg’s Dopplebrücke (double bridge). I found this landmark completely by accident the first time while out on a random walk through the woods. When I came upon it, it had started raining so I hid under the bridge for cover like your run-of-the-mill troll.
Related: 10 Crucial Tips to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle Skillfully and Worry-Free
This bridge dates back to the 14th century but actually resembles a Roman aqueduct. Next to it you’ll find a picturesque little cottage along the Tauber River that I plan on one day living in. (Mostly so I can tell people, “Get out of my swamp!”)
You can walk across the bridge at the top, but it’s really not that exciting. It’s just a road. The path at the bottom is where you get the good views. There isn’t anything to “do” here; it’s just a cool thing to see and the walk to get there is absolutely dreamy.
12. Visit Toppler Castle
Another of my favorite Rothenburg walks takes you to Toppler Castle, a truly weird structure straight out of a fairy tale. But that’s just the start of it.
Toppler Castle became my new favorite Rothenburg spot on my visit in October 2022. It’s easy to get to and gets you some seriously cool photos.
Toppler Castle was built in 1388 and is even open for tours. Walk through the gate, ring the bell, and for 5€/person the owner (who lives in the house next door) and her cat will take you on a private tour of this historical little building. I told you this town was straight outta Hans Christian Andersen.
Toppler Castle need to know
Unfortunately, it’s pretty impossible to know when this place is open. For my latest visit, I was only able to find operating hours on one random site that listed them as Fri-Sun from 1-4pm. However, when I showed up at 6:30pm on a Monday, it was open.
I’m not sure there’s any kind of organized operating schedule here as it’s really just run by the woman who lives next door. She offers tours when she’s home and, I guess, not taking care of her own business as she’s perfectly entitled to.
My advice? Hope for the best but don’t plan your day around it. Head on down there and see if it’s open when you’re there. If not, try again the next day. There will be a sign on the gate that says either “heute geöffnet” (open today) or “heute geschlossen” (closed today).
(She does list a phone number on the closed sign though – so maybe you can call and ask when she will be available, if you speak German. If not, ask someone at your hotel if they would be willing to call for you.)
13. Shop for a cuckoo clock
I’ve been obsessed with cuckoo clocks since I was a wee child who loved the movie Pinocchio (the setting of which was inspired by Rothenburg ob der Tauber). All my years visiting this town, visiting the cuckoo clock shop has always been one of my favorite things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
My first few visits it was all just wishing upon a star that I had a house full of them. But on my latest visit I finally decided to splurge and get one. Now, it’s installed in my house and brings me endless joy every half hour. All I need now is a goldfish named Cleo.
Germany’s famous cuckoo clocks technically come from the Black Forest region, but the clocks you get here in Rothenburg are still official Black Forest clocks (and come with the authenticity papers to prove it). This town has such a special place in my heart, I wanted my clock to come from here.
If you want a really great souvenir from your time in fairytale Germany, head over to the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop. No, not the giant Christmas shop and museum of the same name. I’m talking about Der Kleine Weihnachtsladen which, okay, does mean “The Little Christmas Shop.”
This shop is quite small and contains a plethora of ornate handcrafted Christmas ornaments and decorations of all types. (The shop is tiny and the merchandise is pricey so watch your arms/purses/coats/ponytails or risk knocking over something expensive.)
Up the stairs to the back you’ll find the shop’s collection of hand carved cuckoo clocks. They have everything here: big ones, small ones, simple ones, way-too-complicated ones that would drive you nuts, and everything up to like 3,000€.
Cuckoo clocks need to know
The best part: they ship directly to your house alllll the way over in the United States for just 10€. I’m so happy with my purchase and the whole process – highly recommend.
Fun fact: You can even get a cuckoo clock here of the yellow house from the Plönlein that even has the Night Watchman on it! It’s just too perfect.
14. Visit the Christmas museum and shop
Yes, the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum and shop actually is one of the most popular things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. If you’re a Christmas geek, that is.
Rub elbows with all the traveling grandmas at Rothenburg’s Christmas Museum that features unique and historical Christmas ornaments and decorations from Germany’s Christmas culture. The accompanying shop is the perfect place to pick up some traditional German Christmas ornaments and decorations of your own.
However, if it’s gifts you’re looking for, maybe check out my guide to 35+ perfect gift ideas for Oktoberfest lovers instead. Just saying.
It’s open year-round (Code of the Elves #1: Treat every day like Christmas!) and even offers guided tours. Might as well get your holly jolly’s in the town that literally looks like the miniature Christmas village from your aunt’s foyer come to life.
15. Eat some Schneeballen
Schneeballen (German for “snowballs”) are the delicious treats that call Rothenburg home. These sugar-covered balls are simple: rolled up strips of pastry crust covered in a variety of toppings like powdered sugar, Nutella, cinnamon sugar, chocolate with nuts, raspberry glaze, and beyond.
Personally, I love schneeballen, but they can be quite polarizing. Some people just plain don’t like them. Those same people probably don’t like puppies or fuzzy blankets either, but to each his own.
You can find schneeballen all over Rothenburg but my favorite places to get them are:
- Bäckerei-Café Friedrich Schöbel
- Bäckerei Striffler
- and the Zuckerbäckerei
16. Enjoy federweisser and zwiebelkuchen in the fall
I feel absolutely blessed that my annual visits to Rothenburg happen in the fall. This is the time of the year when both federweisser and zwiebelkuchen are in season. Indulging in this regional combo is among the tastiest things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Federweisser (German for “feather white”) is a sweet, young wine. It’s only available for a couple of weeks in the fall and hails from the Rothenburg region. Zweibelkuchen (German for “onion cake”) is a quiche-like “cake” made from cream, onions, bacon, and some other stuff, but mostly cream, onions, and bacon. Federweisser and Zweibelkuchen are meant to be consumed together.
I’ve had this combo at a few places around Rothenburg (they taste different everywhere you go) but my absolute favorite is at Zur Höll.
17. Have lunch in a dreamy little beer garden
Another of my favorite places to dine (and, yeah, drink beer) is the beer garden at the Reichskuchenmeister hotel. They make the best flammkuchen (something like a flatbread) and the setting is just so lovely.
If you’re blessed with nice weather during your visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, definitely grab some lunch here.
18. Toss back some beers in a cozy tavern
Because this is a cozy fairy tale village, after all, your visit wouldn’t be complete without a late night in a dark tavern. And Rothenburg has plenty of those.
Besides Zur Höll, a few of my favorites include:
- Weinstube zum Pulverer – best service in Rothenburg, hands down
- Weinstube Löchle – which is also attached to the Reichskuchenmeister hotel
- Landwehr-Bräu am Turm – the brewery that makes all the beer you drink in Rothenburg and located in a stunning building (also with a great beer garden)
19. Learn a few things at the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum
When searching for what to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum always ranks at the top. While “medieval torture museums” throughout Europe are mostly lame tourist traps, Rothenburg’s is not.
This museum focuses more on the crimes committed and justice served in medieval Europe (and less on gratuitous violence and torture tools. But it does have its fair share of those too.) You can see interrogation logs from witch trials and learn all about baker-dunking. It’s as hilarious as it sounds, yes.
20. Explore the Rothenburg Museum
If you want to visit just one museum while in Rothenburg, I recommend this one. Housed in a monastery from the 1200s, the Rothenburg Museum covers literally millions of years of Rothenburg’s history (but mostly stuff from the past thousand years or so).
The museum itself is cool and you’ll likely get super lost. But you can learn all about the area’s Jewish history, see the famed Master Draught wine tankard plus a room full of fancy steins of yore, and a huge room of awesome medieval weapons and suits of armor. (To name a few.)
21. Stop by the Pope’s house
From August to October in 1986, a priest from Argentina named Jorge Mario Bergoglio studied German here in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Twenty-seven years later he became Pope.
Today, you can check out the house at Judengasse 27 that Pope Francis once lived in. Informational placards outside the house describe his time there.
22. Walk through St. James’s Church
St. James’s Church is Rothenburg’s largest building with a name that reflects its position along the Way of Saint James (more commonly known as the Camino de Santiago). It was built between 1311 and 1484 and is a world famous pilgrimage site.
A few of the reasons a stop in here is one of the neatest things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber include:
- The Holy Blood Altar – an impressive 16th-century wooden altarpiece designed to contain the relic of the blood of Christ
- Its organ is one of the largest organs in Bavaria and they even hold free organ concerts year-round.
- One of the stained glass windows depicts the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt while pretzels fall from the heavens to help them survive the journey. That’s pretty interesting.
23. Follow Rothenburg’s Jewish trail
The story of Jewish life in Rothenburg has been nothing less than a roller coaster from the beginning of time. You can learn all about it on a free walking tour of the city that follows the city’s Jewish history (one of the lesser-known but still interesting things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber).
All around Rothenburg at notable sites you can find informational plaques describing the site’s importance to Jewish history. Scan the QR code to follow the trail with your phone (or start here with the official website).
A few of the featured sites include:
- the town’s historic synagogues and Jewish cemeteries
- the homes on Judengasse – the only surviving medieval Jewish residential street in Europe
- a pogrom stone from 1298 commemorating the lost lives of 400 Rothenburg Jews
- gravestones from the 13th and 14th century inside the Rothenburg Museum’s Judaica collection
24. Search for Rothenburg’s Stumbling Stones
However, not featured on the town’s Jewish trail are the numerous stumbling stones around town (known in German as Stolperstein). These small and easy-to-miss Holocaust memorials are found all around Rothenburg. Each of these tiny memorials are the work of German artist Gunter Demnig to commemorate a Jewish Holocaust victim.
They contain such information as the person’s name, birthday, their fate (which concentration camp they were sent to, for instance), and the date on which they died. These bronze tiles are inlaid in the ground outside of that person’s home at the time.
As a World War II historian, I am always on the lookout for these around Europe, but they are very easy to miss. In Rothenburg, you can find some at:
- Herrngasse 21
- Judengasse 22
- Kirchgasse 1
25. Take a photographic stroll through the town
Not even joking, one of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is to not really do anything at all. Just walk.
I have to admit, most of my time in Rothenburg each year is just spent walking around town. I’m not exaggerating when I say every single street, corner, and alleyway is the most photo-worthy spot you’ll ever see. And then you turn the corner and its gets even cuter! How is this possible!
Grab your camera (or phone, let’s be real here) and just walk without any particular destination at all. It’s not easy to get lost here so just wander and see what interesting surprises you can find. This year I came upon a hedgehog just prancing around town.
26. Get jolly at Rothenburg’s Christmas market
As the adorable and Christmas-obsessed town that Rothenburg is, of course there’s an equally adorable Christmas market here! Known as the Reiterlesmarkt, it’s open from just after Thanksgiving to right before Christmas.
Sip on some glühwein and snack on some schneeballen while shopping for traditional ornaments, gifts, and other tasty goods.
And if you can’t make it to Rothenburg for Christmas market season, check out my guide on how to recreate a German Christmas market at home and this list of German Christmas market foods you can enjoy at home (with recipes).
Where to stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
I am not kidding when I say there is so much to do in Rothenburg. If you have the ability to do so, please consider a couple of days here instead of just a few hours. And if you do, check out these great hotels:
- Akzent Hotel Schranne – Charming hotel in a perfect location that’s next to one of the only parking lots that exists within the city walls. This is fantastic if you’ve driven to Rothenburg. Also, the restaurant here is DELISH!
- Burghotel – This place is ADORABLE and has almost a 10/10 rating. Also in a perfect location with fantastic views.
- Hotel BurgGartenPalais – So cozy, so rustic-chic. Breakfast is included!
- Hotel Reichskuchenmeister – I mean, I already love this place’s restaurant, beer garden, and wine bar, so… why not stay here too?
More info for your Rothenburg ob der Tauber trip
- Heading to Rothenburg? Find great places to stay here.
- Need a car? Check out the best rental car deals in Germany here.
- Don’t forget to pick up a guidebook for all your Germany sightseeing.
- This Germany customs and culture guide is a must!
Which of these things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber are on your to-do list?
Let me know below!
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Connie
I love reading all of your recommendations! We are planning a trip for September of 2024. Is a rental car the only option to get from Munich to Rothenburg?
Thanks for your help! Connie
Ashley Smith
Thank you Connie! You can take the train from Munich to Rothenburg as well, it’s just not a direct journey. Put in “Rothenburg ob der Tauber” as your destination at bahn.com and it will show you all the possible routes. (Most of them combine train + bus.)
Heather Tuvell
Wonderful article! My husband and I are staying for 2 nights in mid-Sep, and we will be doing several things from this list.
Ashley Smith
Thank you, Heather! I’m so happy to hear that! I hope you have a great time in this beautiful city. 🙂
Rebecca Bounds
Thank you for the amazing list and thorough descriptions of things to do in Rothenberg ob der Tauber. It was so helpful in planning my visit this August. I threw this stop in last minute, but now it’s the one I’m looking forward to the most!
Ashley Smith
Awesome! I’m so happy to hear that, Rebecca!
Jim Smith
Ashley, very informative, and you have a great last name!! Heading to München for Oktoberfest on Sept 18 and 19, then down to Neuschwanstein, then up Romantische Strasse for two nights in Rothenburg. Your articles have been great to read for all we plan to do. Thanks so much!
Ashley Smith
Thank you, Jim! I’m so happy I can help. That’s going to be an awesome trip. Prost!
Jason Minks
! Wow! Great article! Well put together and very practically informative! I really like that town and you are informing folks of some things I didn’t know that I now want to see. TY!
Ashley Smith
Thanks Jason! I find new things to do there every year too!