This guide shares top things to do in Rothenburg, Germany, plus other helpful tips like where to stay, eat, and more.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a well-preserved medieval getaway nestled in northern Bavaria along the famous Romantic Road, one of Germany’s best road trips. This small town is famous for its idyllic cobblestone streets, timber-frame houses, and its many towers.
Historically, this town was a free imperial city, which means that it enjoyed a lot of political autonomy free from much interference from the Holy Roman Empire. Today, people from all over the world come to marvel and learn more about this German city’s unique historical past.
I had the pleasure of spending two days in Rothenburg and have gathered up all the very best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber so you can have the perfect visit.
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Is Rothenburg ob der Tauber worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely! Rothenburg is a beautiful and picturesque getaway that’s often considered one of the best places to visit in Germany. This historic destination has one of the best-preserved medieval town squares and happens to be one of three towns that still have entirely intact city walls.
If you’re debating whether or not Rothenburg is worth visiting, I’m here to tell you it certainly is!
How much time is needed to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber?
As amazing as Rothenburg ob der Tauber is, it’s a pretty small destination. You only need one or two days to see Rothenburg. However, the best way to experience the city is to spend at least one night there, so you can enjoy the crowd- free streets in the early morning.
When is the best time to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber?
This question is difficult to answer since every time of year in Rothenburg offers a very different experience.
In the summer, Rothenburg is filled with blooming flowers that contrast nicely with the cobblestone streets, and the weather is sunny and warm. While summertime will undoubtedly provide the best weather conditions, it’s also the busiest time of year to visit Rothenburg and will be crowded.
The fall in Rothenburg is an excellent alternative that sees slightly smaller crowds, cooler weather, and an increased chance of rain. But one of the draws of this picturesque town is the surrounding valley views, which turn vibrant colors as the leaves change.
Winter/Christmas time in Germany is all-around magic. It’s pretty chilly, and there’s a good chance for snow, but this adds to the charm of the landscape. Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s Christmas market is also in full swing from the end of November to the end of December.
How to Get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg is in northern Bavaria, very near the country’s center. The closest big cities to Rothenburg ob der Tauber are Nuremburg, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich.
Driving to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Driving by far is the easiest and most convenient way to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, but parking can be a pain. The easiest parking can be found on the outskirts of the old town, in parking lots like here and here.
Taking Public Transportation to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Germany is well connected by public trains and buses. You can see the best train routes for you on the Deutsche Bahn website.
Since it’s a small city, the only direct routes are from Steinach and Ansbach, which means if you’re coming from somewhere else, you’ll need to transfer. Unfortunately, there’s not an easy route from Munich.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Organized Tours
Depending on where you’re coming from, an organized tour can be the most convenient option. For example, many day tours depart from major nearby cities. On Get Your Guide, there’s a Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and a day trip from Frankfurt.
Another option is the Romantic Road Coach, which travels between Frankfurt to Munich and stops in some of the charming towns on the Romantic Road on the way.
20 Best Things to Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Now that we’ve covered the boring technical stuff, here’s the fun part: a breakdown of Rothenburg ob der Tauber things to do so you can create your own perfect Rothenburg itinerary.
1. Snap a pic at the oh so photogenic Plönlein.
Plönlein is probably the most iconic view associated with Rothenburg ob der Tauber and is credited with inspiring the setting in Pinocchio. The town’s little square features two medieval towers, a water fountain, and the most charming, yellow timber-frame house.
Try to visit early in the morning to snap a pic without the crowds.
2. Take a walk along Rothenburg’s Tower Trail that takes you through the town’s medieval walls.
Rothenburg is known for its intact ancient walls, and the best way to see them is by walking along the town’s famous Tower Trail. At some parts, the trail takes you around the wall so you can get views both of it and from it. There are 42 total towers in Rothenburg, most of which can be found along the walls.
Some of the most noteworthy towers to see include:
- Galgentor: The gallows gate
- Klingentor: A gate that you can climb up into
- Burgtor: An entrance gate with a castle-like entrance and a hole used to pour hot tar on attackers
- Spitaltor: A large gate connected to a circular bastion that’s fun to explore
3. Visit The Historical Vault, or Rothenburg Dungeon, a museum above an old jail.
Rothenburg’s Historical Vault can be found beneath the Town Hall and features 12 ancient jail cells that have been preserved. The museum also showcases ancient weapons, uniforms, and other artifacts from the 30 Years’ War.
The entrance fee for adults is €3.50, and the museum is open every day throughout the year, roughly between 10 am-4 pm (or later), except only on weekends in February. The museum has different opening times that change with the months, so it’s best to check the official website.
4. Go back in time with the Rothenburg Night Watchman Tour.
The Night Watchman Tour is one of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It’s a walking tour held in the evenings and led by a guide dressed historically like a night watchman. The guide shares a bit of the town’s history with a touch of humor.
The tour costs €9 for adults, lasts for 1 hour, and starts at the Market Square every Friday and night at 8 pm for English speakers.
5. Partake in any of Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s walking tours.
Besides the Night Watchman Tour, it’s possible to book guided tours for the daytime. The city offers tours for individual families and large groups. We didn’t get on a daytime tour, but we saw many wandering the city streets, and they seemed fun!
The guides dress in character and share unique historical facts about the city and various Rothenburg ob der Tauber landmarks. You can book a private guided tour on the city’s official website.
6. Learn about medieval “justice” (torture) at the Medieval Crime Museum.
The Medieval Crime Museum is another must-see spot. The museum has various cruel and unusual torture methods on display, along with information sharing more about how people were punished back in the day.
The Medieval Crime Museum costs €8 to enter and is open daily between 10 am-6 pm in the summer and 11 am-5 pm in the winter.
7. Climb to the top of the observation tower at the Town Hall for a great view of the city.
The city hall is a famous landmark in the Marktplatz but is made more special because visitors can climb the 220 steps to the top of the city hall tower. You can marvel at a bird’s eye view of the red rooftops and surrounding landscape from the top.
The tower costs €2.50 per person and is open seasonally – so be sure to check in advance to see if and when it’s open!
8. Visit the Flagship Käthe Wohlfahrt Store and Village and the German Christmas Museum.
Käthe Wohlfahrt is a very popular Christmas chain that oozes Christmas cheer any time of year. This festive shop was founded in Rothenburg ob der Tauber! That means stopping by one of the shops and the German Christmas Museum to learn more about Christmas’s history in Germany is a must!
Entrance to the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Museum is €5 per person. After visiting the museum, head over to the Weihnachtsdorf or Christmas Village Museum for even more Christmas cheer and shopping.
9. Visit when the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas market is in full swing.
Every year beginning at the end of November, Rothenburg ob der Tauber comes alive with twinkling Christmas lights, decorations, and vendors selling delicious Christmas treats. Christmas markets are such a great tradition in Germany, but it’s an even more memorable event within medieval city walls.
10. Venture to Toppler Castle, one of Germany’s cutest and smallest castles.
Toppler Castle is another iconic landmark in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, thanks to its unique architecture. Previously a weekend house for the town’s legendary mayor from 1388, the castle is a house perched on a medieval tower.
You’ll need to walk about 30 minutes from the Burggarten (Castle Garden) through the valley to reach the castle. The castle is closed in November but otherwise open Friday to Saturday between 1 pm-4 pm for visitors to enter. Entrance is €3.
11. Check off all of Rothenbrug ob der Tauber’s main photo spots.
Rothenburg is beyond photogenic, so it’s no surprise that one of the best things to do is snap beautiful photos! This was at least one of my favorite things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber!
Here are some of the best photo spots in Rothenburg ob der Tauber with links to their location on Google Maps!
- Plölein square
- Markusturm and Romantik Hotel
- Ob. Schmiedgasse cobblestone street
- Gerlachschmiede red timber frame house from the wall
- Hegereiterhaus yellow tower
12. Learn more about the city’s interesting history at the Rothenburg City Museum.
The Rothenburg City Museum has various exhibits that appeal to a wide range of interests. On the upper level is a big room with tons of old weapons, knight armor, and more that we found super interesting!
The museum also has an art exhibit, an old monastery kitchen kept on display, and ancient stone carvings. Entrance to the City Museum is €8.00 for adults. Opening hours are 9:30 am – 5:30 pm for most of the year and 1 pm to 4 pm November to December.
13. Walk to the Burggarten, the Castle Garden, to see a new view of the walled city.
The Castle Garden is a beautifully manicured green space outside the medieval walls. There’s a lookout point overlooking the surrounding valley and a portion of the ancient walls that encircle the city from the gardens. The gardens are free to enter.
A great time to visit the Burggarten is at sunset, so you can see the changing colors and then the city’s twinkling lights once it’s dark. Near the garden’s main gate is a cute little stand with souvenirs and beverages like Winterapfel (hot cider) you can get with rum.
14. Sip local Franconian wine either at the Rothenburg ob der Tauber wine festival or the local wine shops.
The Rothenburg Wine Festival is generally held at the end of August and celebrates the area’s historic wine culture. The festival takes place in the old city’s Grünen Markt and Kirchplatz, where local wineries, pubs, and vendors set up stalls for visitors to eat, drink and be merry.
Don’t fret if you’re visiting outside of the wine festival dates! It’s possible to visit local wineries for tastings. The Glocke Winery is one of the best places for wine tastings and hosts them in a charming cellar.
15. Wander the Spital Gate, the city’s impressive circular bastion with cannons.
The epic Rothenburg ob der Tauber bastion is on the southern end of the city. Built in the mid-1500s, this spiral fortification houses a few canons. Visitors can walk up into the citadel and around the base.
16. Go shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Rothenburg isn’t just famous for its unique history and picturesque architecture! It’s also a great place to get some shopping done. Some of the best things to buy in Rothenburg ob der Tauber are medieval-themed gifts, Christmas goodies, Franconian wine, and homemade ceramic houses.
These are some of the best places to go shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber:
- Waffenkammer: medieval gifts like clothing, knight armor, weaponry, and more. It was honestly cool just to walk through even without buying anything!
- Käthe Wohlfahrt Weihnachtsdorf: I’ve already included this on the list of things to do, but it’s also the best place to shop in the city! It’s the flagship Käthe Wolfhart Christmas shop found all over the country and shouldn’t be missed.
- Teddyland: Even if you’re not in the market for a cute and unique teddy, the store decoration is beyond whimsical and worth stopping in for.
- Ceramic shops selling little houses: There are many of these shops along the main streets. I’m not usually a souvenir gal, but they were so cute I picked up some mini ones to remember our trip.
17. Visit the St. James’s Church to see the famous altarpiece.
St. James’s Church is a Luthern church built between the early 1300s and late 1400s. It’s home to the impressive wooden “Holy Blood Altar” by Tilman Riemenschneider – one of Germany’s most prolific woodcarvers of his time.
The church is open Monday to Saturday between 10 am – 6 pm, and Sundays 11 am – 6 pm. There’s a free guided church tour each day at 2:30 pm to the first ten people that arrive.
18. Grab a beer on the Marktplatz.
The Marktplatz is the center of the town’s old life, and it’s here in the spacious square that you can witness many of Rothenburg’s ancient landmarks: the Town Hall, the square’s old fountain, the iconic Marienapotheke timber-frame house, and more.
There are two cafes/pubs on the square that offer a lovely terrace to sit out and enjoy the surroundings: Ratsstube and Konditoreri Cafe Prezel. They’re touristy but in a prime spot.
19. Eat all the Schneeballen
Schneeballen, or “Snow Balls,” are a treat native to Rothenburg ob der Tauber that you’ve gotta try during your visit. It’s essentially a ball of fried pastry dough coated in powdered sugar, chocolate, or other flavors. They’re about the size of a softball and pretty tasty!
Zuckerbäckerei and Diller Schneeballenträume are two popular cafes serving up various flavors of Schneeballen right on Ob. Shcmiedgasse, one of the city’s main streets.
20. Take a walk to see the Roman double bridge in the heart of the Tauber Valley.
The Double Bridge is a unique Rothenburg ob der Tauber landmark just outside of the old city. It’s exactly as it sounds, two stone bridges built on top of another. The bridge was first built in the 1330s, and later renovated in the 1750s.
The bridge is about a ten minute walk from Plölein and offers a lovely landscape view with the city in the backdrop. It’s not the most exciting attraction, but definitely one to consider if you enjoy walking and pretty views.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Travel Tips
Best Rothenburg ob der Tauber Restaurants
One of my favorite ways to experience a new place is through my stomach! Which means I was all about finding the best restaurants in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. These are some top spots I can recommend:
- Zur Höll: Is a highly-rated and popular place to grab traditional meat dishes in one of the oldest buildings in the city. You probably need to make reservations in advance.
- Alter Keller: Is a charming family-owned restaurant that serves German specialties and local wines – we thought it was delicious!
- Altfränkische Weinstube Hotel: This cozy wine pub was super cool and felt like relaxing in someone’s old living room. It had mood lighting, a blazing fireplace, a lot of antique decor, and vines on the outside.
- Ratsstube: Although it’s not particularly highly rated, this classic pub is right on the Marktplatz and was open for us to grab a beer and dessert after the Night Watchman’s Tour – we enjoyed it!
Where to Stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
When choosing where to stay in Rothenburg, the best place is obviously within the old city walls. The historic city center isn’t that big, so it doesn’t matter where within the walls you choose.
But be sure to book in advance as the best guesthouses are small and fill up quickly!
Here are some recommendations for the best hotels in Rothenburg ob der Tauber:
- Hotel-Gasthof Goldener Greifen: We stayed in the Goldener Greifen and enjoyed it! The building was super old and charming. Each morning, they serve a fantastic German breakfast (tons of food!) and the hotel is located feet from the Marktplatz and Plönlein. Highly recommend!
- Romantik Hotel Markusturm: This hotel is in the heart of the city and located right next to the iconic Markusturm in the old toll house. Every room has a historic charm and the hotel provides a buffet breakfast for guests.
- Burghotel: This lovely hotel is built right into the medieval walls and is beyond beautiful. It has a spa onsight, an option to book valley views, and a delish breakfast.
- Deluxe Apartment Airbnb: This beautiful Rothenburg Airbnb was on my wish list because it looks incredible! Housed in a historic timber-frame house, this apartment sleeps two and is in the medieval walls.
General Tips for Visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber is pretty straightforward, but here are some helpful travel tips pointing out things you may not know.
- There are several “Rothenburgs” in Germany, so be careful when researching your trip! It’s essential to include the full name “Rothenburg ob der Tauber” when Googling.
- Try to book a hotel with included parking if you plan to drive to the city. It’ll make your life much easier once you arrive.
- People online say if you mention Rick Steves at certain shops, you can get a 10% discount. Or show your Rick Steves Germany guidebook. I can’t verify if this is (still) true, but if anyone has success, I’d love to hear about it!
- The off-season is the cheapest and best way to see Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, in my opinion! Off-season is mostly anytime outside of summer.
- Many shops are closed on Sundays, but not all. Germany generally shuts down on Sundays, but Rothenburg surprised us with many shops opening up. It may be because Rothenburg is one of the most touristy spots in the country.
- Spend the night. You can see the city in one day, but having a night in allows for a more slow-paced visit and a leisurely early morning wake up to beat the crowds.