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The Ultimate Travel Guide To Rothenburg, Germany

The Ultimate Travel Guide To Rothenburg, Germany

Have you ever been to Rothenburg, Germany? If not, we highly recommend it. It’s a beautiful medieval city with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. The town is so small that you can walk from one end to the other in about 20 minutes!

In Rothenburg, you’ll find all sorts of interesting things to do and see. There are plenty of great restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy some traditional German food and drink while taking in the sights. You also don’t want to forget to check out their annual Christmas market! 

We’re excited to go into detail about visiting Rothenburg, Germany in this post, let’s dive in!

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About Rothenburg, Germany

Rothenburg, Germany is one of the best-preserved medieval walled towns that offers plenty of activities for visitors. Rothenburg’s popularity has grown over the years, with around 2 million people visiting each year but it still remains charming without losing its authenticity.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber itself is a popular tourist destination and is only a short train ride away from Frankfurt, making it an easy day trip destination.

You’ll love visiting this destination because of Rothenburg’s charming medieval architecture and its amazing Rotwein (wine).

How To Get There

Rothenburg is located just under 2 hours from Frankfurt. You can easily take the train from Frankfurt airport or if you get a rental car, you can drive there too.

The Rothenburg airport is very small with no regular flights or destinations. So you’ll most likely end up arriving at Frankfurt Airport, which is still not too far from Rothenburg and is an easy town to get to.

Top Things To Do in Rothenburg

Explore

Take a stroll through Rothenburg’s medieval streets and see the beautiful half-timbered houses with brightly colored paintings, sculptures, and elaborate woodcarvings.

Rothenburg also has a walkable fortification wall that you can easily walk through with plenty of medieval buildings, half-timbered houses, and outdoor cafes lining the streets.

Rothenburg has a number of unique local shops that are fun to browse through while you’re out and about exploring the city.

Try Local Wine

Enjoy Rothenburg wine in one of Rothenburg’s many local wineries or taverns that specialize in Rotwein. You can also go to Rotterdam to enjoy wineries that are located just outside of Rothenburg.

Visit Rothenburg’s Castle Garden

In the spot that the Stauferburg castle once stood is a beautiful lush area that is a great place to visit while you’re in town. It’s a great spot to see beautiful scenic views and on the former castle grounds you’ll see a beautiful park and a garden with a collection of trees and large lush lawns for visitors to relax on.

Visit the Christmas Market

Of course, if you’re in Germany around Christmas time, you should be sure to check out Rothenburg’s Christmas Market from late November to late December every year!

It’s been called “one of the nicest Christmas markets in Germany,” so you’ll definitely want to check it out. Rothenburg’s market is located near the town hall square and will include Rothenburg’s famous Rotwein, German beer, live music, holiday treats, and more!

Go to Hell (a.k.a. Zur Höll Tavern)

Located near the town hall in the heart of Rothenburg is the highly recommended restaurant Zur Höll which translates to “to hell”. The tavern is very popular in town and you will want to book a reservation before going to ensure you are able to grab a bite to eat here. Along with a delicious menu, you can also have a wine tasting or grab a drink in the beer garden.

Best time of year to visit Rothenburg, Germany

The best time of year to visit Rothenburg is when the temperature is cool and calm (aka not summer) during the months of September, October, and November. Rothenburg is cold in the winter but is still beautiful with snow on the ground, a Christmas market in full swing, and some cozy Rotwein to enjoy!

Where to stay in Rothenburg, Germany

Hotel BurgGartenpalais

Hotel BurgGartenpalais is a smoke-free hotel that is about a 10 minute walk from some popular sightseeing in Rotheburg, such as the Little Square and Rotheburg Town Walls. The hotel has a resteraunt, free wifi, air conditioning, and is pet friendly.


Villa Mittermeier Hotellerie & Restaurant

The Villa Mittermeier Hotellerie & Restaurant is located about a 2 and 10 minute walk from a variety of attractions. Such as being a 2 minute walk from the Rotheburg Town Walls, 6 minutes from Garlachscmiede, a 7 minute walk from the Rotheburg ob der Tauber Station, just to name a few. The hotel is smoke-free and includes, free wifi, free bottled water, it has a restaurant and is pet friendly

Hotel Eisenhut – Ratskeller

The Hotel Eisenhut – Ratskeller has a variety of amenities, such as being pet friendly, having free wifi, and breakfast available. This hotel is about a 1 minute walk from the German Christmas Museum, 1 minute away from the Rotheburg Town Hall, a 2 minute walk from the market square and from the resteraunt Zur Höll.

Wrapping Up

Rothenburg is a beautiful town to visit and has a variety of activities that are perfect for sightseers. Whether you want to take in the medieval architecture, enjoy some tasty German beer and food at one of the many restaurants or explore all it’s rich history then Rothenburg is a place worth visiting. If you’re looking for an authentic but still modern city with plenty to do then you should visit Rothenburg, Germany. We hope you enjoyed our travel guide, happy travels!