Rothenburg is not on a main railway line or motorway junction, which is part of why it survived so unchanged. Getting there takes a little planning, but it is easy: by train you change at Steinach (bei Rothenburg) for a short branch-line shuttle, by car it is just off the A7, and from Munich and Frankfurt there are excellent guided day trips.
The options, compared
| From | By train | By car | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munich | about 3–3.5 h, 2–3 changes | about 2.5 h (≈230 km) | Coach day trip or an overnight stay |
| Frankfurt | about 3 h via Würzburg and Steinach | about 2 h (≈190 km) | Day tour or train + overnight |
| Nuremberg | about 1.25–1.5 h via Ansbach and Steinach | about 1 h (≈85 km) | Easy independent day trip |
| Würzburg | about 1–1.5 h via Steinach | about 1 h (≈70 km) | Romantic Road start, day tour |
| Frankfurt Airport | about 3 h | about 2 h | Arriving from overseas |
By train
Rothenburg’s small station sits at the end of a short branch line from Steinach, on the Würzburg–Ansbach line. Shuttle trains run roughly every hour and take about 15 minutes. So every journey is: main-line train to Steinach (or to Ansbach, then on to Steinach), change, then the branch line to Rothenburg.
- From Nuremberg: regional train to Ansbach, change to Steinach, then Rothenburg. About 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30.
- From Munich: usually via Nuremberg or Treuchtlingen and Ansbach, then Steinach. Around 3 to 3.5 hours with two or three changes.
- From Frankfurt: ICE to Würzburg (about 1 hour 10), regional train to Steinach, then the branch line. Around 3 hours.
- From Würzburg: regional train to Steinach, then the branch line. Around 1 to 1.5 hours.
The station is about 5–10 minutes’ walk from the Röder Gate and 10–15 minutes from the Market Square. Taxis wait outside when trains arrive, and some hotels will collect you on request.
By car
Rothenburg is just off the A7 motorway (exit Rothenburg ob der Tauber), which connects it quickly with Würzburg, Ulm and the A6 towards Nuremberg. The old town is restricted to residents and hotel guests, so park in one of the signposted car parks P1–P5 just outside the walls and walk in; they are a few minutes from the gates. If your hotel is inside the walls, ask about access and parking when you book.
By guided day trip
If you do not have a car and only have one day, a guided tour is the easiest option by far. From Munich, a Romantic Road coach trip adds Harburg Castle and Dinkelsbühl; from Frankfurt you can combine Rothenburg with Heidelberg. See our ranked comparison.
On the Romantic Road
Rothenburg lies on the northern half of the Romantic Road, between Würzburg and Dinkelsbühl. If you are driving the route, plan to arrive in the late afternoon and stay the night. A seasonal Romantic Road coach has traditionally linked the towns in summer; check the current timetable if you rely on it.
Nearest airports
- Nuremberg (NUE): about 1 hour by car; trains via Nuremberg main station.
- Frankfurt (FRA): about 2 hours by car; the biggest choice of international flights.
- Munich (MUC): about 2.5–3 hours by car.
- Stuttgart (STR): about 1 hour 45 by car.
