We're will be spending a week this December in Bavaria and we're trying to figure out where to base ourselves. The focus will be on the northern part of the Romantic Road, plus day trips to Wurzburg, Nürnburg and Regensburg. I spent a summer day in Rothenburg about 20 years ago and found it insanely touristy, but I've heard that it is nice at night. I've also been (very briefly) in Dinkelsbühl but can recollect nothing about it. Rothenburg seems a little more central to where we're planning on heading, but i'd love to get your thoughts on each in terms of a home base. We'll have a car and I speak German if that makes any difference.
Posted by
Atlanta
5204 posts
Personally, for just a week I would not bother with a car. All of the places you mentioned are well served by trains. But using a car and speaking German will give you more flexibility. The whole area is relatively small so just about anywhere will be okay to use as a base city, but Dinkelsbuhl would be my first choice.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3282 posts
I agree with TC. I'd base out of Dinkelsbühl as well. Rothenburg is "tourist central" for the Romantic Road. You'll get a much better feeling for the authentic Bavaria in Dinkelsbühl. It's centrally located, less crowded and, most likely, less expensive.
Posted by
Bavaria
2480 posts
All of the places you mentioned are well served by trains.
Dinkelsbühl is not served by train. If you depend on public transport, it's simply out of the way. Rothenburg is at the end of a trunk line (branching off the main Würzburg - Ansbach - Munich line at Steinach) which is served every hour. Agree that Dinkelsbühl is much more quiet.
You'll get a much better feeling for the authentic Bavaria in Dinkelsbühl.
Dinkelsbühl is in Western Franconia, a region historically and culturally quite different from (southern) Bavaria. The first (almost) true Bavarian town on the Romantic road is Donauwörth.
Posted by
Atlanta
5204 posts
OOPS! Pardon the error Marcus. Just plain forgot Dinkelsbuhl is not on a train line. Need to have more coffee than I did.
Posted by
NYC area
2981 posts
Hi Marcus,
We've been to both and I'd base in Rothenburg or just outside of it with a car. We've been to the Bavarian and Austrian Alps in early December in 2010 and 2013. You shouldn't have a problem driving, we didn't. We stayed at and can recommend the zum Rappen, about 10 minutes from Rothenburg.
http://www.gasthof-rappen.de/zum-rappen-en.html
Paul
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
I'd use Nördlingen (as seen in Willy Wonka) as a base, at least for the Romantic Road part of the trip. It's less than an hour's drive from Dinkelsbühl and a more interesting town, in my opinion (it's almost intact wall has an actual Wehrgang you can walk on). I spent about 20 hours (overnight stay) in Nördlingen some years ago, then went by bus to Dinkelsbühl, where I was going to stay for four hours. I loved Nördlingen and hated to leave it. Dinkelsbühl paled in comparison, and I left an hour early.
About 20 minutes south of Nördlingen is Harburg, with an authentic castle.
I'd agree with TC about not needing a car. In 2007, I traveled the entire RR with public transportation. Nördlingen has rail service. Nördlingen to Rothenburg is a little roundabout via Donauwörth and Treuchtlingen and takes 2½ hours; you can go by bus via Dinkelsbühl and Dombühl in under 3 hours.