1 week family holiday at Christmas time in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, info and advice request please?

I'm not aware of any grocery stores inside the old town, but there is a large one (Kaufland) across the street from the Bahnhof.

There is a doll and toy museum about a block south of the Marktplatz in Rothenburg.

In terms of grocery shopping be aware that even large stores like Kaufland will close on 24.12. at around noon or 2 pm and not reopen till the morning of 27.12. Make sure you'll get all your grocery shopping done in time - and be prepared for the crowds that are doing exactly the same thing plus buying their supplies for the holiday feasts!

Some bakeries might be open some hours during those holidays, you'd need to check that in town or ask your landlord.

We've spent a fair bit of time in this area over several trips with our now almost 5-year-old and 2.5-year-old. I wouldn't say I have any special things to recommend for children this young. We have found how much our children enjoy our trips has more to do with how we pace our days and how often we fit in little breaks for them to just be kids and play.

For example, when we explored Rothenburg, we wandered the streets doing more 'adult' things a bit and then spent some time in the Castle Garden, where the kids could run and play for half an hour before we went back to exploring more of the town. We then took a break and got them a little treat from a bakery, which they ate on the steps in the main square while my husband and I people watched. Some of the highlights for our kids have been splashing in fountains, chasing pigeons, ice cream breaks and local playgrounds. With the Christmas Markets, you'll find little ways to entertain and fascinate the kids.

Snacks are also important ... I ALWAYS have a bag of ready-to-eat treats in my bag and they have saved us more than once when we wanted a few extra minutes at a 'boring' sight. There is a pretty good playground just outside Rothenburg's Town Walls on the east side. You will probably find more if you ask the place where you are staying.

I recommend a day trip to Schwabisch Hall. We (the parents) enjoyed exploring the old town and the kids enjoyed a great playground in a beautiful setting beside the river. We particularly liked Dinkelsbuhl and felt comfortable letting the kids wander freely on some of the side streets. A lot of people speak very highly of Nordlingen, but aside from the wonderfully intact wall (which we walked for a short way before the kids got bored with it) we didn't find it especially charming when compared to the previous two I have mentioned. There is an open air museum (Frankisches Freilandmuseum) in Bad Windsheim, which we didn't have time to visit when we were there but we've always had success taking our kids to open air museums.

My biggest piece of advice is not to cram too much into your day. Slow down and let your daughter play and lead the pace of the holiday sometimes. Don't feel cheated if you miss an art museum. The magic of seeing the place through her eyes will more than make up for it. Travelling with a young child is quite different than travelling without one but it has its own special charms (you will meet more locals, guaranteed).

If you have any specific questions about travelling with a child this young or traveling to this area, I'd be happy to help.

Just as an FYI, the 27th is a Sunday this year, so stores will still be closed. They will be a mad house on the 23rd and the morning of the 24th before they close at noon or 14:00.

Wurzburg is an easy day trip drive from R'burg even though it is usually done the other way around. Very colorful around the holidays.

I have to add that Nürnberg Christmas markets have an entire section devoted to the children. My kids had a wonderful time making their own candles, having a photo with Santa and the Christkind and riding the carousel.
In Rothenburg o.d.t there is a wonderful city museum that is in an old abbey. It just has "stuff" my kids liked the armour and the ginger bread moulds for some reason! There's also a church on the wall St Wolfgang's that has its own cannon placements (no cannons though) and a little display of dough dolls (literally made from flour and water) that dance when you press the button. It was just different for the kids to walk behind the main altar and find passages and stairs.
Würzburg is also excellent and I found the stall keepers at the Christmas markets very happy to play with kids in the early afternoon when things were a little quieter.

I have to add that Nürnberg Christmas markets have an entire section devoted to the children. My kids had a wonderful time making their own candles, having a photo with Santa and the Christkind and riding the carousel.
In Rothenburg o.d.t there is a wonderful city museum that is in an old abbey. It just has "stuff" my kids liked the armour and the ginger bread moulds for some reason! There's also a church on the wall St Wolfgang's that has its own cannon placements (no cannons though) and a little display of dough dolls (literally made from flour and water) that dance when you press the button. It was just different for the kids to walk behind the main altar and find passages and stairs.
Würzburg is also excellent and I found the stall keepers at the Christmas markets very happy to play with kids in the early afternoon when things were a little quieter.

Thank you all so much for your information and advice. We are spending Christmas as usual in London with all the family we're in RodT the week prior to Christmas Day. Our other children are all grown up and will be working when we visit so I don't want my daughter to be bored with the adult bits without her usual partners in crime to play with.

We like the look of the open air museum (Frankisches Freilandmuseum) in Bad Windsheim, Schwabisch Hall and with riding carousels, candle making and exploring passages and staircases, now that's the way forward ha ha!

We have already googled the playgrounds and she very much likes the sound of a room full of dolls!

The bridge that they hid Chitty Chitty Bang Bang under is there somewhere and she loves the film so that's an adventure to be had on a rainy day! We have lots to choose from and although most of it will be spent running around and picnicing in parks and on steps down a maize of alley ways as usual, it's nice to have the extra insight from people who have been there and done that. I always get snacks whilst out but as we are not in a hotel this time, I will take with thanks that nugget of advice and prepare some snack bags, it will save lots of time and having to leave places prematurely!

Dough dolls that dance, now I'd love to see that. Was this to be done before or after the Glühwein consumption ha ha!

A big local supermarket that's good to know, I did try to find out and all searches pointed to Nuremberg so thank you for that.

Thanks again everyone.