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Get ready to feel like you have entered your favorite fairytale, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is truly a magical village nestled in the middle of Germany.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of those cities you see pop up on social media, and almost can’t believe is real. In every video, it looks absolutely magical, as if it was taken on the set of a Disney movie. Luckily, this town is very much a real one and makes for an incredible day trip.
The easiest way to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber is from Nuremberg, located in the southeast part of Germany. I recommend taking a day trip here because the town isn’t actually that big. You can actually see everything in around 4 hours. Although this, if you visit during the spring or summer, you might want to consider staying here overnight. This is so that you can explore the surrounding nature.
The best time to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber really depends on the experience you are looking for. If you want a picturesque visit, with flowers blooming and nice weather, make sure to visit around May. This is the ideal time both in terms of weather and popularity as it is just before high season. On the other hand, if you want to experience a magical winterland as we did, make sure to visit during the winter, and hope for some snow just before your arrival. At the end of the day, this town is so special that you will enjoy it no matter the weather conditions.
This guide will be focused on how to make the most of a day trip here, including how to arrive, and the best things to do!
This post is all about Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
How To Get To Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The easiest way to get here is from Nuremberg. It will take around an hour each way, however, the route is not a direct one. When planning my trip here, this is the shortest and best route that I could find. Although it looks quite complicated, it is actually very efficient and easy.
The route starts at Nuremberg Central Station, where you hop on a train to Ansbach. Once there you typically only have 5 minutes until the next train leaves. There are not many platforms here so it should only take about 1 minute to reach your needed platform. From Ansbach, you will take a train towards Steinach bei Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Once again, you will typically have around 4 minutes until the next (and final) train leaves. From Steinach bei Rothenburg ob der Tauber the train will take you to your final destination of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Getting a Ticket
While this journey sounds complicated at first (trust me I thought the same), it goes by quickly and is actually very efficient. Don’t be alarmed by the short transfer times, the trains here are catered towards the route to Rothenburg ob der Tauber as it is the most popular destination in the region. Due to this, the trains will only leave once the previous train has arrived. From my knowledge, you can either buy your ticket in Nuremberg or online. If you choose to do it in Nuremberg make sure to get the round trip, as the train station at Rothenburg ob der Tauber is very small, and may not have a place to purchase tickets.
If you would like to get your tickets in advance then I recommend using RailEurope. I personally bought all of our train tickets that weren’t included in our Interrail pass from here, and it always ran smoothly. The code can be scanned straight from the app and often includes the option to reserve seats, which is a nice option to have.
Once you get into town, simply set your navigation app towards the old town or follow the signs throughout the city! Make sure to arrive early as it can get crowded during the high season. In addition, when planning how much time to spend here, four hours should be plenty to see the city and even have time to sit somewhere for lunch. However, if you enjoy taking things slow, and want to have the option to explore the surrounding nature, plan for longer. Otherwise, you can also get return tickets on the RailEurope app while exploring, when you know when exactly you will want to return. Just make sure not to miss the last train!
7 Things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
1. Plönlein
This is the most iconic spot in the whole town, so if you want to enjoy it for yourselves, make it your first stop. Plönlein refers to the V intersection point on the u.Schmiedgasse street, where you get a very beautiful view. If you have ever seen Rothenburg ob der Tauber on your feed somewhere, this is the spot you will most likely have seen. Take a stroll down here to witness firsthand one of the most fairytale-like scenes you can find in real life. There are also some cafes in front of this beautiful intersection, so grab a coffee with a view and enjoy people-watching.
2. Walk Along the Old City Wall
The old town is still surrounded by medieval city walls and today you can actually walk along them. The length of the route is 4 km and it surrounds the entire old town. Some parts will be exposed while others protected, and there will be windows giving you spectacular views of the city skyline as well as the surrounding nature. Whether you want to walk it all or just a part, it is a must-do here. I recommend walking the whole route as the best views are spread out, and it is a fun activity to do here. Simply find one of the many gates and climb up the stairs.
3. Marktplatz
The Market Square can be found in the center of the old town. It is similar to the main city centers, with lots of cafes and places to sit all around. In addition, during the winter, this is where you can find the magical Christmas market of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
4. St. Jacobs Church
The St. Jacobs Church built between 1311 to 1484 is a sight you shouldn’t miss during your visit. This is an incredibly beautiful and large church that is well worth a stop. They do charge a fee to enter (around 2.5€) but it goes towards their restoration and upkeep, which is well worth it. If you don’t feel like it’s necessary to have a look inside, walk past here to at least see the impressive exterior.
5. City Hall Tower
If you love a beautiful view, make sure to climb the city hall tower for a view of the town and surrounding nature. The climb includes 220 steps, so don’t come here right after lunch.😉 It costs around 2.5€ and is well worth it. I think it is mostly worth it during the spring and summer when you can enjoy a view of the luscious forests around. During the winter, you can get a great view of the town from the city wall or the castle gardens, so it is up to you whether you want the extra height. The opening hours change seasonally so click here for more information.
6. Check out the Burgtor
The Burgtor is the castle gate you pass through to get to the castle garden. It is an impressive gate that has a unique shape compared to the other gates, which makes it a fun building to see. It is anyways on the way to the castle garden which means that you get two great sights on the same path!
7. Castle Garden
Just beyond the Burgtor lies a large castle garden. During the spring lots of flowers are blooming making it a wonderful place for a stroll and perhaps even a picnic! Even during late summer, when the flowers disappear, it is still a beautiful garden to walk around and relax in. If you happen to visit after a snowstorm, as we did, then you can enjoy the kids playing in the snow. In fact, you could even join them and build a snowman! The castle garden offers a wonderful view over the old town which makes it an ideal lookout spot. We even found a little snowman enjoying the view while we visited.😉
Bonus Tip
While this is not a specific thing to do when you visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber, make sure to walk around all the small streets. It is such a picturesque town, and some of the most beautiful places you will see will not necessarily be on the ‘things to do list’. Stop at a local bakery to try a dessert or sit on the terrace of a restaurant for a drink. Make sure to soak in the views around you, because they are very unique. Also, if the weather is nice, consider going on a walk in the nature surrounding the city.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town unlike any I have ever seen. It is so uniquely beautiful and is a must-visit for anyone in the area. Even if you haven’t planned on stopping here, it is not too far from Munich and can be combined in one way or another. However, when you do decide to visit, make sure to arrive early so you can enjoy the charm here without it being overcrowded.
