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Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is part of Germany’s so-called “romantic road”; a promotional title for a road trip route through the country.
Although not necessarily a destination specific to couples, Rothenburg is a pretty and well-preserved medieval town known for it’s completely intact city wall- one of only four towns in Germany that can boast the same.
Warfare in WWII resulted in about 30% of Rothenburg being destroyed, but a deal was eventually struck between Allied and Axis powers to spare the town from further bombing if Germany agreed not to defend the town. This allowed the town to keep much of its classic German aesthetic, with the destroyed buildings being faithfully rebuilt in a similar style.
Rothenburg is particularly popular due to its proximity to Munich, which makes it easy to reach during a day trip from the city.
I recommend this tour, which not only provides transportation to Rothenburg, but also a brief stop in Harburg with an optional visit to Harburg Castle- an extensive medieval complex from the 11th century.
Since I was visiting as part of an extended road trip through Germany, I skipped the tour and drove over from Munich myself. Parking was easy, with a series of parking lots located just outside of the city walls. It is paid parking, so make sure to stop by a ticket machine before exploring the city.
Rothenberg itself is extremely walkable, with pretty buildings and cute shops in every direction.
The main attraction of the city is the Plönlein, a postcard-pretty intersection with a cute yellow building and a clock tower. It’s likely to be the busiest spot in town, so try to time your visit accordingly.
Between the Plönlein and Marktplatz, the city center of Rothenburg, there are a plethora of shops of all kinds to pop into for some serious souvenir shopping.
For a town of this size, there are a surprising amount of Christmas-themed shops: at least two Käthe Wohlfahrt, and an associated Christmas Museum!
The Medieval Crime and Justice Museum is also a popular attraction in the city, although decidedly less cheerful than the colorful Christmas shops.
Since Rothenburg is one of only four German towns with intact city walls, make sure to take advantage of the opportunity and walk along the walls. The pathway may seem a little rudimentary at times, but it has such a great view of the town, it’s worth the walk. Plus, it’s free!
The Town Hall tower also has some pretty incredible views, and costs €4 in cash- payable at the top. The stairs can be quite steep and narrow, so make sure you’re feeling up the challenge before starting the 200+ stair climb!
Another view I really enjoyed was the Aussichtspunkt viewpoint, just outside of the Burgtor Castle Gate. It was really lush with an overlooking view of the town and the surrounding forest- a perfect sight with the autumn leaves.
Just outside of the city walls, Toppler Castle resembles a home perched on top of a medieval tower. It’s quite a view if you’ve got the time to make the 20 minute hike down to see it!
Make sure to grab a schneeball; or snowball pastry! While these fried shortbread pastries are a popular snack throughout Germany- and especially in the Christmas Markets– they are considered the signature dish of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
The classic pastry is typically a deep fried shortbread pastry, dusted in sugar, and served in a ball-like shape, there are more modern versions that involve chocolate glazes, chopped nuts, marzipan, and more!
I stopped in Rothenburg for about three hours- enough time to grab lunch and explore most of the town.
Although the majority of Rothenburg can be seen in a short visit, it ended up being one of my favorite stops on my road trip!
I would happily return to this town and ideally even stay overnight. Most tourists are visiting on a day trip, so the town is much quieter in the early mornings and the evenings.
Even with the tour groups, its such a relaxed town and there are so many cafes with outdoor seating where one can enjoy views of the pretty architecture.
While I wouldn’t say that visitors need more than a few hours in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, its one of those town where I’d love to grab a cup of coffee and a good book and really take the time to slow down for a while.
You can check out Rothenburg ob der Tauber for yourself on this tour from Munich!
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