One Day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: The Best Itinerary

In the heart of Franconia lies a picture perfect medieval German town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Straight out of the 12th century, it’s an enchanting, storybook town come to life. It inspired the setting for the village in Walt Disney’s Pinocchio and the Germany Pavilion in Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park.

Although Rothenburg ob der Tauber may be a tad touristy, it’s like stepping into a fairy tale. I fell in love with Rothenburg at first sight.

I can’t get enough of its fortification walls and gates (it’s Germany’s most preserved walled town) and the colorful half-timbered houses that line its cobblestone streets. It’s not all just for show; Rothenburg has an intriguing history that you can discover through its museums and one walking tour in particular that is an absolute must.

With one day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it’s possible to experience quite a bit of its magic and charm. Of course, I’d love to stay for longer. With a limited amount of time in Germany, I suggest squeezing in a night in Rothenburg if you’re travelling to Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Stuttgart or Munich (or anywhere in between).

And yes, please stay the night. Tourists will come and go from late morning through to the early evening, but most won’t stay overnight. In the early morning and night, it will feel like you have the place all to yourself.

Getting There

The best way to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber is by car. Visit Rothenburg on its own or take a road trip of the entire Romantic Road for numerous picturesque, historic, pretty German towns.

We always use Discover Cars when securing our car rental because they allow you to search multiple rental car agencies to find the best rates. Pick up your rental car in Frankfurt or find a rental car in Munich, depending on where you’re based.

As for parking, there isn’t much parking within the town center itself. However, there are quite a few parking lots just on the outskirts of the city center. Parkplatz P4 is right outside one of the main gates and the daily maximums are not very expensive. Since Justin and I spent the night in Rothenburg, we found parking at a private garage owned by our hotel.

It is possible to take the train. However, I found that you will need to make connections from the major cities, and it can turn into quite the trek if you’re only visiting for the day. If you are interested in taking the train, browse the routes on Deutsche Bahn. It is also possible to reach Rothenburg by bus using Flixbus.

One Day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: The Plönlein

The Plönlein is the most photographed landmark in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Once we were settled into our hotel and set out on foot, this was the first place we visited in town. I had viewed so many photographs of this picturesque scene over the years, so it was time to see it with my own eyes.

Plönlein means “small place by the fountain” and it really refers to this entire little square in town. The most famous building in Plonlein is the crooked little half-timbered house in the middle of it all. This is the home that inspired the architecture in the 1940s Disney film, Pinocchio.

Some other sights in Plonlein include the two towers of the old city wall to the left and right of the yellow timbered house (Siebers Tower and Kobolzell Gate Tower), as well as the other surrounding medieval homes. Now, from the small square, we’re off to visit the larger, main square in town, Marktplatz.

One Day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Marktplatz

Marktplatz, or the Market Square, is the main hub of activity in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Surrounded by narrow cobblestone streets, it’s almost surprising how much the scenery opens up to this spacious and roomy town square.

The Rothenburg Town Hall is at the center of it all with its romantic, Renaissance facade. A section of it was rebuilt after a fire in the 16th century and looks more like a castle than a city hall building. A portion of the city hall building was preserved and remains original to this day.

The Tourist Information Office sits at one end of Marktplatz if you have any questions regarding your visit. There are also quite a few lively cafes and restaurants with seasonal outdoor patios. People gather on the steps of the town hall to people watch and be part of this engaging atmosphere.

One of the many fountains of the town sits within Marktplatz. Depending on the season and the upcoming holiday, the fountains might be decorated. We visited shortly after Easter and the fountains in town were adorned with Easter eggs. Rothenburg’s fountains are decorated for the Christmas holiday season, too.

Climb to the Top of the Town Hall Tower (Rathausturm)

It is possible to climb to top of the Rathausturm, the town hall clock tower, to see Rothenburg ob der Tauber from above. There are 220 steps in total to reach the viewing platform. There is a specific schedule with opening times that vary depending on the time of year.

Please take a look at the schedule online here. We had this on our list of things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, but sadly the tower was closed when we visited. We’ll have to return to do this!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a Christmas Town

If there’s something you must know about Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it’s that they love Christmas there. This is a Christmassy town all year long. Although we didn’t visit during the holiday season, the town is even more magical during Christmas. There’s an impressive Christmas market and the whole town is decorated with twinkling lights and bright decorations.

Christmas-Themed Shops

There are quite a few shops in Rothenburg ob der Tauber selling Christmas-inspired gifts and wares. Käthe Wohlfahrt is a shop that’s connected to the Christmas Museum. There are Christmas ornaments, nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, and all kinds of holiday decorations (over 12,000 items in total!).

There are quite a few Christmas stores in Rothenburg lining the streets. You’ll see their festive display windows. Be sure to wander around these shops to find the best souvenirs. Although it’s not totally Christmas-themed (though you could create a Christmas village with them), my favourite souvenirs in Rothenburg ob der Tauber are the small ceramic houses.

These tiny homes are modeled after the ones that exist in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. There’s even a little ceramic house of the Hotel Eisenhut where we spent the night. I brought a couple of the little houses home for my collection (yes, I collect little houses on my travels!), though I had to show some restraint and not buy all of them.

The Christmas Museum (Deutches Weihnachtsmuseum)

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is considered to be the Christmas capital of Germany. Of course, the German Christmas Museum is located here. They display rare and unusual Christmas decorations and ornaments from the 19th and 20th centuries.

There are also nativity scenes, Christmas trees, postcards, lights, wreaths and calendars. There are typical German handicrafts, like the pyramid, the smoking man, and of course, nutcrackers. After your trip to the Christmas Museum, wander into the largest Christmas store in town, Käthe Wohlfahrt.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market

The Reiterlesmarkt in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the best Christmas markets in Germany. Named after a figure from German folklore, “Reiterle”, this holiday celebration takes place in the old town square, Marktplatz. And of course, the entire town is decorated with lights and traditional ornaments everywhere you look.

It’s one of the oldest and most traditional Christmas markets, dating back to the 15th century. There are wooden stalls, ample supplies of gluhwein, and an endless amount of holiday cheer.

Burggarten, the Castle Garden

One of the best places to go for a walk in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is Burggarten, also known as the Castle Garden. Although there isn’t much left of the old castle itself, the gardens and epic viewpoints remain. There are beautiful gardens and flowers, sculptures and panoramic views of the stunning scenery all around.

This peaceful spot is one of my favourite places in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. There are scenic walking trails around the park and fantastic lookout points to see the medieval architecture.

Night Watchman Tour

If there’s one tour you need to take when you’re in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it’s the Night Watchman Tour. Led by Hans Georg Baumgartner, the Night Watchman Tour happens nightly from April 1st to December 30th at 8:00pm for the English tour (not available on December 24th).

On Thursdays and Sundays, there is now a second Night Watchman conducting the tour. I’m sure he is excellent as well, but we loved our guided tour by Hans Georg Baumgartner. He guides tours on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday. There are no advance reservations. Simply show up a little bit before 8:00pm in the Market Square.

This Night Watchman Tour is a mix of entertainment and history. The Night Watchman goes into detail about the importance of this job, as protector of the citizens in this walled city. Make the rounds with the Night Watchman and learn about the history of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, its buildings and its citizens.

It’s one of the most entertaining walking tours that I’ve ever taken that has a unique twist. We were truly transported back in time. The Night Watchman was a bit funny, the stories could be a little bit morbid, and it was really so much fun all around. The tour is one hour long and will take you through the city streets and down by the Castle Garden.

Wake up Early and Go for a Walk

There’s nothing better than waking up early and having a touristy place all to yourself. Yes, it can be painful to sacrifice your sleep and get up so early. But, I’ve never once regretted it.

Justin decided to keep sleeping that morning and I ventured out with my camera. Aside from crossing paths with one other traveler with a camera in tow (must have had the same idea as I did!), I had Rothenburg ob der Tauber all to myself.

It’s always so interesting to watch a place and its residents waking up each day. I watched delivery vans drive into town, unloading food and other goods into restaurants and cafes for its patrons. As the sun came up, the colourful houses and cobblestone streets became bathed in light.

I suggest walking all over town first thing in the morning. There are many winding, narrow alleyways and a collection of main streets with little cafes where you can stop for a coffee or baked good. Admire every building and storefront before they open for the day. Take plenty of photos!

Plönlein Without the Crowds

My first stop was Plönlein. Yes, I had visited it the day prior, but I needed to see this bustling, busy square without anyone else. It’s nearly impossible to take a picture without anyone else in it later in the day. But, first thing in the morning, this is not an issue.

Walk the Tower Trail (The City Walls)

The Tower Trail, aka the city walls, are open 24/7 and they are free to visit. Walking on the top of the city’s fortifications is a great activity to do first thing in the morning because you’re certain to have it all to yourself. The walkways on top of the fortified walls are quite narrow, so this wouldn’t be that fun to navigate if there were a ton of other people experiencing it at the same time.

There are 46 towers and numerous entry points, so it’s likely that you won’t walk the entirety of the towers (unless you’re feeling energetic). It’s about 4km in total to walk the whole thing. Rothenburg is known as “Franconian Jerusalem” as it reminds many of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem when you gaze north at the northern old town.

Here are the main gates in Rothenburg’s city fortifications: Rödertor, Galgentor (Gallows Gate), Klingentor (Blade Gate), Burgtor (Castle Gate), Kobolzeller Tor and Spitaltor (Hospital Gate).

Make sure you see the Gerlachschmiede (Blacksmith’s Shop) from up above on the Tower Trail. This is one of the most unique half-timbered houses in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Built on a triangle-shaped lot, it was originally built in 1469. It was damaged quite badly in World War II and was rebuilt, remaining as a blacksmith’s shop until 1967 when it became a residence.

Restaurants and Cafes in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

As we arrived late in the afternoon (just in time to check into our hotel) and stayed through the following morning, Justin and I dined at a couple of restaurants and cafes in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Cafe EinzigARTig

Cafe EinzigARTig is my favourite cafe in Rothenburg. We had breakfast on their lovely little patio out front with views of the charming buildings that lined the street. This is a cafe that embraces art and antiques that also serves up delicious food and drink. Their decor and furniture is always changing because it’s possible to buy many of the furnishings!

The menu is very vegan-friendly. I ordered the “Vegan Breakfast” which came with three homemade spreads, vegan butter, soy yogurt with fresh fruits, antipasti and two buns. The homemade spreads are seasonal and always changing. They were delightful! Of course, I also ordered a cappuccino with plant-based milk.

After we finished eating, it was time to browse the shop. There’s a great mix of art, antiques and collectibles. Intriguing finds cover the walls and fill the shelves of the cafe. Maybe you’ll come away with a unique souvenir!

VITO Restaurant Cafe

VITO Restaurant Cafe is an Italian restaurant in Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s town centre. This establishment serves pizza, pasta, soup, salad, and other Italian and Mediterranean favourites. It’s a cozy spot with great service. We dined here for dinner before our Night’s Watchman Tour.

I ordered bruschetta bread to start and a pasta with homemade tomato sauce as my main course. I chose this restaurant because there aren’t a ton of vegan options in Rothenburg ob der Tauber (or at least not when we visited), so this was definitely a safe bet for plant-based menu options.

Brot & Zeit

I popped into Brot & Zeit (Brothaus) first thing in the morning on my early morning walk. They open bright and early at 7am. Brothaus has baked bread for over 400 years and they even have their own “bread sommelier” – you know a place has excellent bread and baked goods when…!

They have a vegan breakfast here and many of the breads and baked goods are clearly marked as vegan. As it was early in the morning and I wanted to go out for a proper breakfast later with Justin, I ordered a coffee and a pretzel to tide me over. The pretzel was freshly baked and really yummy.