We visited Rothenburg ob der Tauber as part of our road trip along Germany’s Romantic Road. There’s so much to love about this cute town. Half-timbered houses that line the cobbled stone streets. Preserved city walls you can climb for a bird’s eye view of the town. Christmas shops that will give you the festive feels at any time of the year. Spending one day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber will ensure you experience these highlights and much more.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is considered to be one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany. So aside from its cuteness, it has a long and fascinating history.
Dating back to the Middle Ages, there has been a town of some form in this location for over 1,000 years. Rothenburg ob der Tauber (I’ll refer to it as Rothenburg from here on!) means “Red fortress above the Tauber”. A strategic location, it has been a haven for pilgrims, royals and enemies. I strongly recommend taking a walking tour of the city to hear all about the history from a local guide (I’ve recommended a great one below too).
To make the most of this one day itinerary, aim to arrive mid-morning and stay overnight in town. If you can only do this as a day trip, plan to leave in the late evening (about 9:30pm) so you can enjoy the Night Watchman’s tour (more on this below!).
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Best things to do in one day
Check out the postcard view
If you’re interested in visiting Rothenburg, you’ve no doubt seen the picture perfect postcard view of the town. It’s like something out of a fairytale. A vibrant yellow half timbered home with a medieval fountain sits on an intersection. One path leads to the city gate, the other an old watch tower. It’s a stunning corner of town and a great place to start your day.
On your map, look for the place called “Plönlein”. If you’re arriving mid-morning, you’ll likely share this spot with a lot of other tourists. If photography is your jam, you may need to wait patiently for crowds to disperse, or return later in the day when most day-trippers have left.
Walk the city walls
If we visit a medieval town and it has some city walls, you can bet walking along them will be one of the first things we do. We love the perspective of the towns they provide, and it’s hard not to get swept up in all the history of the place.
The city wall in Rothenburg is one of our absolute favourites. It circles almost the entirety of the town and passes by 42 old towers and city gates. With a view above all the tiled red roofs, you’ll understand how the town got its name!
There are a number of spots in town to ascend & descend the walls. From Plönlein you can walk towards the large tower (Sieber’s Tower) and take the stairs up to the wall there.
The great news is, walking the wall is completely free and takes about an hour in total.
Like quaint, small European towns? If you like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, check out our one day in Hallstatt itinerary.
Lunch
Once you’ve worked up an appetite walking around the city walls, take a break for lunch. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a great array of restaurants in town.
If you’re looking for some traditional Bavarian fare, try out Reichskuchenmeister. A short walk from the main square of the city, we enjoyed a meal of Bavarian sausages and sauerkraut here. If the weather is nice, you can sit out in the beer garden. If not, the interior has an old-world cosy charm.
Enjoy a local sweet treat
Try not to fill up too much at lunch, because you can’t leave Rothenburg without trying a schneeballen. A specialty pastry in Rothenburg, you’ll be tempted to try one as you pass by all the bakeries in town. Most of the stores have a large variety of flavours, it will feel like you’re in a gelato shop trying to make the right choice (if there’s such a thing as a bad choice!). Some of the options we found included the original schneeballen, lemon filling, Nutella, and even a Bailey’s and Cointreau one.
Most of the bakeries sell schneeballen, so take your pick when you have a moment for afternoon tea. But you won’t find these outside of Rothenburg!
Get into the Christmas spirit
Rothenburg is famous for their Christmas markets which take over the town during December. I can only imagine how magical it must feel to visit this charming place during the season, with the Christmas lights hanging through the streets.
If, like us, you’re not visiting during December, don’t despair. Rothenburg has the most amazing Christmas shop I have ever seen. It’s called Kathe Wohlfahrt and was literally the Christmas shop of my dreams. There are Christmas trees everywhere adorned with the most stunning ornaments. Tinsel and fairy lights add to the charm.
In addition to the store there is a museum on site which you can visit for a small entry fee. But a stroll around the shop is super enjoyable and takes you to Christmas any time of the year. The only downside is they don’t allow photographs except at the entrance, so we can’t share the charm with you. You’ll just have to take my word for it!
Go for a stroll around the old town
With the rest of your afternoon free, take the time to explore more of the old town. If you’re at the Town Hall on the hour, take a look up at the old clock for the hourly performance. There’s also a viewing platform at the top of the tower which will give you a panoramic view high above the red roofs. Be aware though, there are a lot of stairs up the 200 ft tower and you may need to wait in line a while! A small fee applies.
Rothenburg is home to some magnificent churches. Don’t miss St James’ Church, near the Town Hall. This church dates back to the 1300s and is home to an impressive wooden altar and stained glass windows.
If you’re a history buff, the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum may be appealing to you. Here you can learn all about crime from the Middle Ages onwards, and check out the methods of torture they used back in the day!
Finally, don’t miss walking out the Castle Gate to the Castle Gardens. Whilst you’ll come back this way on the night walking tour, it’s a beautiful spot to see in the daylight. This spot offers one of the best views of the Tauber Valley back towards the end of the old town.
Enjoy an early dinner
Once you’re done exploring the old town, take a break and have an early dinner. You’ll need to be finished up in time to meet the walking tour at 8pm, so now is not the time for a 5 course dinner.
If you’re looking for an alternative to German food, I’d recommend Eis Café Pizzeria Roma. Serving up a great variety of pizza and pasta, it’s a short walk from the market square. We ate dinner here one night before we went on the walking tour, and the service was fast and efficient.
Join the Night Watchman’s Tour
Head to the market square just before 8pm, ready to start the Night Watchman’s Tour. Your one day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is not complete without this tour.
This tour was an absolute highlight of our trip, and a must do on your one day in Rothenburg. Your tour guide for the evening will be a charismatic man dressed up as a Night Watchman from medieval times, complete with a black cape and lantern. You’ll go on a short walk through the town and learn what it must have been like for the people who lived in these streets so many years ago.
Whilst it’s entertaining for the kids (and big kids!), it’s also extremely informative. I mentioned that Rothenburg has a fasctinating history, and you’ll learn all about it on this tour. If you’re also wondering what happened to Rothenburg during WW2, an interesting story will be relayed (I don’t want to spoil the storytelling for you!).
When we visited, the tour was €8 and it was paid in cash.
How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The first thing you need to be aware of, is that there is more than one Rothenburg in Germany. Make sure you’re heading to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which is on the Romantic Road, south of Wurzburg. No responsibility taken for incorrect GPS coordinates!
We drove to Rothenburg during a road trip through Germany. There were a number of paid parking stations on the edge of the old town that we utilised. We visited during April and found parking availability was a non-issue. However, during peak summer periods it’s always best to arrive early to secure a park (or organise directly via your accommodation).
Driving is a great way to explore this region of Germany. You can stop in at so many other beautiful small towns, including Augsburg, Dinkelsbühl and Nordlingen. We found these towns to have a lot less tourists than Rothenburg too.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber does have a train station, served by more regional trains. Changes will be required from cities such as Frankfurt. We use Omio for booking our trains in Germany.
Where to stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
We spent a few nights in Rothenburg and stayed at the Hotel Reichskuchenmeister (the same place we recommended for lunch).
Even if you only have one day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, we’d recommend a stay here. The benefit of this hotel is that it’s located right in the heart of the old town, a short walk to all the points of interest. If you’ve driven, you can reserve parking in their garage too. The rooms were cosy (you might have to duck your heads in parts!) and clean.
Book Now: Hotel Reichskuckenmeister || From €120
I hope you have an amazing visit to this beautiful town and our one day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber guide has been useful. We’d love to hear about your stay in our comments below.
We spent 3 nights in Rothenburg and loved it. The hotel was a bit quirky as all ‘old town’ hotels seem to be but the town itself is wonderful to wander around and just get lost in.
It’s a beautiful spot. I’m intrigued – which hotel did you stay in?