{"id":15988,"date":"2018-12-25T16:17:41","date_gmt":"2018-12-25T15:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sommertage.com\/?p=15988"},"modified":"2026-03-29T11:43:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T09:43:34","slug":"rothenburg-ob-der-tauber-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sommertage.com\/en\/rothenburg-ob-der-tauber-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of Rothenburg (Germany): The Ultimate Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cOh you will love Rothenburg!”<\/strong> No matter who we talked to about our trip through the 15 Franconian cities, one things was for sure: if there was to be one town they had visited, then let it be Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We were never aware of the prominence of this quaint little town, but all the better, because we were able to discover the city with absolutely no expectations – which is always a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back on our time in Rothenburg we can confirm that the hype is real and one hundred percent rightly so. The charming charismatic flair<\/strong> of Rothenburg can hardly be described in words. We still can\u2019t quite decide what impressed us the most: the pretty lanes, the beautiful half-timbered houses or the location of the city. Rothenburg happens to be perched on a hill, surrounded by a well-preserved city wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this travel guide <\/strong>we reveal the most important sights and our favorite places in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany. We will also share our very personal tips for Rothenburg ob der Tauber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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1. Rothenburg ob der Tauber: First Tips at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rothenburg: What to expect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get the bad news out of the way first. Rothenburg is no secret, so you will have to learn to share this beautiful quaint little town with many other tourists who also flock to admire this medieval German town. Just be warned, the main sights and alleyways can be very crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the bright side, the hustling bustling crowds of Asian tour groups end as soon as you leave the main tourist path. The best time to wander this pretty town is in the evening, when most of the day trip tourists have moved on and the town becomes more tranquil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned in the intro, the location of Rothenburg is something very special<\/strong>, as it\u2019s essentially a small town perched on a hill above the Tauber river. From the Burggarten, you can get a glimpse of the town and it\u2019s beautiful view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much time should I plan for Rothenburg?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The historic old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is relatively small and most of the sights are only a short walk away from each other. You can easily explore the town in one day. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We ourselves spent two nights<\/strong> in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Our schedule was quite tight, but we even had time for a short bike ride into the Taubertal. If you want to take it easy, it’s best to stay three nights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rothenburg Bucket List: The TOP sights & activities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before we introduce Rothenburg\u2019s main sights later in this travel guide, we would like to give you a short overview of what awaits you in Rothenburg. Here is our small but mighty bucket list for your trip:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Take a picture of the Pl\u00f6nlein, <\/strong>Rothenburg’s postcard motif.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Enjoy the view of Rothenburg from the town hall tower.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Walk on the old city wall.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Have a picnic in the Burggarten.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Try snowballs, <\/strong>Rothenburg’s sweet specialty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Enjoy the Christmas spirit at K\u00e4the Wohlfahrt.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    \"old<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Rothenburg<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    2. Rothenburg Travel Guide: Top Sights and Activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The main sights in Rothenburg<\/strong> are mostly only a few minutes away from each other. Most of the tourists tend to congregate along Schmied- and Herrngasse as well as at the marketplace. One of our personal highlights was walking along the old city wall in the calm evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ascension of the town hall tower<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    220 steps and 52 meters later, you find yourself at quite an impressive height with an even more impressive 360-degree panoramic view<\/strong> over the old town. Towards the end the stairs do start to get a but strenuous but\u2026 no pain, no gain! The view from atop the town hall tower is so worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The higher up the tower, the narrower it gets, so only a limited number of people<\/strong> are allowed on the tower at any one time. You\u2019ll probably end up having to wait a little while, but we promise you\u2026 there will be no regrets once you\u2019re at the top!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For those sunset chasers: Unfortunately the tower closes rather early in the summer, usually 5pm, which is such a pity as we imagine the sunset from up here to be absolutely breathtaking. If the access was postponed till past sunset, then we would have most likely watched the sun go down here every day! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Information about visiting the Town Hall Tower<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Entrance via the market square in Rothenburg
    Admission:<\/em> 4 euros
    Opening hours and more information:<\/em>     Town Hall Tower<\/a> (Website of the tourism board of Rothenburg)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Rothenburg<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"town<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    Walk on the old city wall: The Turmweg<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Something we found really cool was how the old town is surrounded by a city wall<\/strong>, which is still very well preserved, and <\/i>that a large section of the city wall can be walked! You can find stairs along the entire city wall leading to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our tip:<\/strong> You can explore the city wall as part of the so-called Turmweg. This walk takes you to the most important towers of Rothenburg in 22 stations and over 4km. Get the brochure at the tourist information!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Rothenburg<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Rothenburg<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Burggarten<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The name itself, which literally translates to \u201cCastle Garden\u201d, is a bit of a hoax as you won\u2019t actually find any castles here in Burggarten. A few centuries ago maybe, but not today. Nevertheless, this garden is one of the most romantic places in the entire town and from here you have a fantastic view of Rothenburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At sunset<\/strong>, the Burggarten becomes a rather popular meeting point. Despite the fact it is very quickly over shadowed, the way the golden sun bathes the building ensemble of Rothenburg is simply mesmerising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Something we did and would also highly recommend to you, is to do a nice little picnic<\/strong> here in the garden! These well maintained meadows are just perfect for the occasion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Rothenburg<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Rothenburg<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    St. Jacob’s Church<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From a distance, you can already see the two towers dominating the town<\/strong> of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. These two towers, which are actually of different heights, belong to the parish church of St. Jakob. When, at last, you stand before the most famous church in town, you realise how massive it really is and it might also be well worth a look inside, <\/strong>if you want to admire the interior design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Pl\u00f6nlein<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The Pl\u00f6nlein is the most famous photo opportunity<\/strong> in Rothenburg. The street fork in Unteres Schmiedgasse is rarely deserted, however, we really don\u2019t get what all the hype is about because you will find so many pretty places and alleyways in Rothenburg. Of course, this particular corner is, without a doubt, very eye catching to look at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Discover Rothenburg at night<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Many centuries ago, the Night Watcher<\/strong> in Rothenburg had the task of keeping watch and protecting the city from fire and other dangers. These days, he gets to roam the beautiful town whilst giving fellow travelling enthusiasts a little evening tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Being part of such a night watch tour was a little bizarre and surreal, but highly intriguing and very worthwhile. Within minutes we felt like we\u2019d time travelled back into the past. If you are not too tired in the evening, we would highly recommend you join the guided tour. You can accompany the Night Watcher in Rothenburg every evening during the high season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Information about the Night Watcher Tour in Rothenburg<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Meeting point:<\/em> Market Square
    Price:<\/em> 8 Euro (no registration required)
    Dates\/Time<\/em> in high season: daily at 21:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    3. Excursion: Bike Tour through the Tauber Valley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you have enough time, then we would definitely suggest a cycle tour along the Tauber. We only decided to do a short stretch, but even that alone was worth it! We started at the Spitaltor, just behind the Pl\u00f6nlein and after just a few minutes downhill we reached the Tauber Stone Bridge<\/strong>, also known as the Double Bridge. From there you have a great view of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    After that we continued upstream along some paved roads, which didn\u2019t seem very frequently used. Only a few minutes after the Tauber Bridge you reach the late medieval Toppler Castle, which could easily be missed hiding behind those trees. This particular inhabitance was actually built in the 14th century. Its substructure is composed of stone and the actual building above it is half-timbered. You can actually visit upon request and see the interior of the Toppler Castle<\/strong>, including furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries. Unfortunately, we didn\u2019t have enough time for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    One stop you must absolutely make, is at the restaurant “Unter den Linden<\/strong>“. In lower Rothenburg, the restaurants on the banks of the Tauber river are some of the best kept secrets. The Tauber Valley Cycle Path continues further on to Steinbach<\/strong>. There you can swap sides and cycle on the opposite side of the river back towards Rothenburg. It took us roughly two to three hours in total, including breaks and photo stops. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can also easily walk<\/strong> a shortened round. Behind the Inn “Unter den Linden” leads a relatively steep path back to the old town. It takes a little over an hour to complete this trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    4. Culinary Travel Guide: Food & Drink in Rothenburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Snowballs at the Striffler Bakery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the shop window of every bakery, you\u2019ll notice that the specialty of Rothenburg <\/strong>are the delicately rolled snowballs. It\u2019s almost impossible to walk through Rothenburg without encountering these snowball delights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A snowball is essentially made from shortcrust pastry,<\/strong> traditionally dusted with powdered sugar. As you pass by the Striffler Bakery, you can look through a glass window and watch the pastry chefs at work. We managed to tie this treat in with our breakfast, which was perfect!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Untere Schmiedgasse 1, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Striffler<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Schneeballen<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Caf\u00e9 Einzigartig<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    We had the pleasure of enjoying a very delicious breakfast<\/strong> with a unique and special atmosphere. The interior of this “Shabby chic” caf\u00e9 come from all over the world and can be purchased. Not only was the breakfast made with love, but absolutely scrumptious. (We still rave about their homemade Mediterranean spread.) So if you are looking for a caf\u00e9 with a cozy home like atmosphere, <\/strong>you will feel very comfortable here at this Caf\u00e9 – we promise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Galgengasse 33, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Breakfast<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Restaurant Eisenhut<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    On the beautiful terrace of Restaurant Eisenhut, we enjoyed a superb lunch<\/strong> with a very special view out into the distance, surrounded by lots of greenery. The restaurant serves fine-dining style cuisine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ambiance is classy<\/strong> but still retains a slight down-to-earth vibe. We felt very comfortable – which is also partly due to the incredibly friendly staff. Huge thumbs up from us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Herrngasse 3-5 \/ 7, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Restaurant<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Eisenhut<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Reichsk\u00fcchenmeister<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The restaurant of this Hotel, which both share the same name, serves traditional cuisine from this region. <\/strong>What was so special about our visit was that we got to dine in the hotel\u2019s cellar vaults, more specifically St. Michaels-Keller. There is room for up to six people here and the ambience is really unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you want to treat yourself to something special <\/strong>or have a special occasion to celebrate, then this really is the perfect place for it. Our tip: definitely book in advance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Kirchplatz 8, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    5. Shopping Travel Guide: Regional Shopping in Rothenburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Allegra chocolate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    We have now become huge chocolate fans, not a big surprise really. The pastry chef Alexander Hildebrand was very accommodating and told us about how he was able to turn his passion and knowledge into opening his own shop here a few years ago. We were very impressed by his handmade chocolates, <\/strong>they were so delicious that we took a small supply with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Georgengasse 9, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Allegra<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Allegra<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    K\u00e4the Wohlfahrt Christmas village<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    We are not typical Christmas fans, but we could not miss a visit to K\u00e4the Wohlfahrt. This very special Christmas village <\/strong>is hard to put into words. At more than 1,000 square meters, it sparkles at every corner. Somewhere between Christmas baubles, nutcracker and Christmas trees, we found ourselves sliding into the Christmas spirit – in May!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:<\/em> Herrngasse 1, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    6. Our accommodation in Rothenburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We can highly recommend <\/strong>our beautiful accommodation in Rothenburg. We stayed for two nights in the guesthouse on Pl\u00f6nlein<\/a>, which – as the name already reveals – is right around the corner of the picturesque fork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The guest house is very central, but very quiet. <\/strong>The historic building was completely renovated in 2017 and has three guest rooms. We were on the first floor in the apartment “Marlies”. A special highlight of our room was a balcony with a view of the Tauber Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The bed was also really comfortable. Breakfast is not served at the G\u00e4stehaus am Pl\u00f6nlein, but that didn\u2019t really bother us as there are lots of great breakfast places just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Also, the host family<\/strong> don\u2019t live in the house, but they are super accommodating. Clear recommendation from us! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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    You can book the guest house here:<\/strong> G\u00e4stehaus am Pl\u00f6nlein<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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