Rothenburg ob der Tauber

By plane

• Frankfurt Airport - the closest intercontinental airport with good road and train connections to Rothenburg. ICE's run via Würzburg, where you will probably have to change to regional transport.
• Nürnberg - for domestic European flights. Nuremberg is part of the VGN tariff union for local trains and buses, making travel from there to Rothenburg quite cheap, though there are a number of changes involved in the journey.
• Stuttgart - for domestic European flights.

By car

• Rothenburg is located close to autobahn A 7, which runs from Hamburg, via Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Ulm to the Austrian border at Füssen. The most convenient exit is 108 Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
• If you prefer scenery over velocity, you should take the Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) into town.

By train

• The town isn't too well served by trains. There is an hourly connection from Würzburg and Ansbach, but in both cases you have to change trains at Steinbach (b. Rothenburg). Rothenburg furthermore is part of the Nuremberg's regional train network, with services twice an hour, but you have to change trains at least once to do the trip. (VGN-rates apply making a one day round-trip considerably cheaper than regular train-fares) Make sure you are buying a ticket to Rothenburg ob der Tauber - there are several towns with the name "Rothenburg" in Germany. The train station is east of the town wall, about a 15 min walk to the historic center at Marktplatz.

By tour

• Rothenburg ob der Tauber is very popular with bus tour operators, especially during summertime. Therefore, it is advised that you see the town in the morning or the evening when the bus crowds aren't there.

On foot

By car

Bran

By bike

• 1st day's stage - Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Weikersheim (or Bad Mergentheim)
• 2nd day's stage - (Weikersheim via) Bad Mergentheim to Tauberbischofsheim
• 3rd day's stage - Tauberbischofsheim to Wertheim

• 1st day's stage - Wertheim to Freudenberg
• 2nd day's stage - Freudenberg to Külsheim
• 3rd day's stage - Külsheim to Boxberg
• 4th day's stage - Boxberg to Niederstetten
• 5th day's stage - Niederstetten to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

(WT-shared) Ypsilonatshared at wts wikivoyage

(WT-shared) Ypsilonatshared at wts wikivoyage

• The (Marktplatz) is the center of urban life in Rothenburg o.d.T. The Square is framed on the west by the Town Hall (Rathaus), on the north by the City Councillors' Tavern (Ratstrinkstube) with its Tourist Information center, on the east by shops and cafes, and on the south by St. George's Fountain.
• The 165 ft. 13th century (Rathausturm) at the center of the Altstadt offers the best view of the area; cost €1 and 241 steps up. The Tower does not have a foundation of its own; it rests on top of the gable of the Gothic building. The front part of the Town Hall, a Renaissance building, was built in the 16th century. The Town Hall (Rathaus) is free.
• The (Kriminalmuseum), just south of Market Square, is full of examples of torture equipment and is not for the faint hearted.
• The (Little Square), a few blocks south of the Market Square, offers a charming medieval sight. Standing at the right point, you can see two towers: on the left, more or less straight ahead, is the Siebers Tower (Siebersturm) dating from 1385; and down on the right, from the Tauber valley, is the Kobolzell Gate (Kobolzeller Tor) dating from 1360. These two access roads form a small triangular square, which is Plonlein. The Plonlein is often referred to as one of the most photographed spots in Germany.
• The encircle the city, giving the Altstadt the shape of a head, with the nose the Castle Garden -- pointing left (west). The existing Town Wall was built in the 14th century, was partially damaged in World War II, and restored through gifts from donors throughout the world (see plaques on the wall). The Wall is about 1.5 miles long, covered, with several towers and entrances at the gates. One of the easiest access to get up to the sentry wall is just south of Siebers Tower (Siebersturm). The Wall is free and offers a good vantage point to see the town.
• (Church of St. Jacob), Klostergasse 15, north of the Market Square, contains a masterpiece by the famous Würzburg sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider (ca. 1460-1531).

• Two are offered. Both tours are in English and leave from Market Square. The tourist office tours cost 7 €, are 90 minutes and run April to October and December daily at 14:00. The 60-minute Night Watchman's tours costs 8 € runs nightly mid-March to December at 20:00.
• The Do it Yourself . The best stretch of the Wall to walk is from the massive 16th-century Spitaltor (go through the Siebersturm to the southern tip of the Spitalgasse) to the Klingentor, completed around 1400, at the northern tip of the Wall. This takes about a half-hour if you don't stop. Offers excellent views and photographic opportunities.
• Rent a bike at , Bensenstraße 17 (tel. +49 9861 87984)
• Just out of town is the annual (usually on the second weekend of august) Taubertal-Festival offering a wide variety of pop-rock music such as die ärzte, ska-p or shantel (lineup varies, check in advance tickets roughly 100€ to 150€ depending on when you buy)

Flominator

• Chronos-Nostalgiebilder

  address: Milchmarkt 4
  Funny souvenirs. You could dress up in a Medieval or Rococo costume and pick up the photo at once.

• Georg Schopf

  address: Galgengasse 1-3
  This shop sells both souvenirs from cuckoo clocks to drinking glasses and antiques such as paintings.

• Kunstgewerbe Friese

  address: Grüner Markt 7
  Cuckoo clocks, Hummel figurines, pewter beer steins, music boxes, dolls, and the usual suspects.

• Käthe Wohlfahrt

  address: Herrngasse 1
  A somewhat touristy shop in three floors underground where one can buy Christmas decorations during the whole year.

• Altfränkische Weinstube

  phone: +49 9861 6404
  address: Klosterhof 7
  On Wednesday nights at 8 pm, the English Speakers' Club meets. All are welcome.

• Baumeisterhaus

  phone: +49 9861 9470-0
  address: Obere Schmiedgasse 3
  Housed in a Renaissance styled residence built in 1596 by the town master mason (Stadtbaumeister) Leonhard Weidmann.

• Louvre

  phone: +49 9861 8755-125
  address: Klingengasse 15
  Japanese cuisine.

• Ratsstube

  phone: +49 9861 2225
  address: Marktplatz 6
  A true tavern atmosphere.

Walt Hubis

• Unter den Linden

  address: Kurze Steige 7B
  A cafe-bar on the River Tauber. It is quite the hike down and up but, the beer is nice and cold.

• Zur Höll

  address: Burggasse 8
  Inn (Gasthaus) in a 1100 year old building.

• Gasthof Goldener Greifen

  phone: +49 9861 2281
  address: Obere Schmiedgasse 5
  Former home of mayor (Bürgermeister) Toppler (~1406)

• Hotel Gotisches Haus

  phone: +49 9861 2020
  address: Herrngasse 13

• Hotel Spitzweg

  address: Paradeisgasse 2
  10 rooms in a 16th century hotel. A hearty German breakfast gets you going in the morning. Herr Hocher is a great source of sight-seeing advice and he is always looking for a worthy chess opponent.

• Pension Gundel

  phone: +49 9861 2716
  address: Bockenfelderstr. 1, 91610 Insingen-Lohr

• Along the Tauber through the Charming Tauber valley via Bad Mergentheim and Tauberbischofsheim to Wertheim
• Nuremberg - features a delightful castle, old town, and the nazi parade grounds
• Würzburg - a university town with an impressive palace
• Nördlingen - A beautiful medieval town in a meteorite crater surrounded by a 14th century wall. Along the Romantic Road.