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Munich to Rothenburg

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My wife and I have planned our entire Sept trip to Germany and Italy - flights ticketed, hotels booked, etc. The USA to Munich was done only for one day long bur trip to Rothenburg. Previously saw this on Viator, which we have used many times over the years.

So, today, in the big northeast snowstorm, I thought I'd book the various side trips, HOHO buses, vaporetto in Venice, etc, etc.

However, I was surprised to see, apparently, that only day bus trips from Munich to Rothenburg occur on either Wednesday or Sunday. I checked Viator, Grayline, tried to find something online for this trip on Friday, Sept 8.

Pretty discouraged, because I have no interest in Munich other than for Rotenburg. Certainly don't want to change flight plans and hotels.

So, any suggestions for just a normal big bus trip to Rotheburg on Friday, Sept 8, instead of the Wednesday and Sunday? And why are other days not available? Any help is appreciated.

Posted by
20977 posts

You can travel by train with a Bayern Ticket for 31 EUR if you start after 9 am. It would take about 3 hours each way. The last train back is about 10 pm and gets you back to Munich after 1 am. That ticket covers both of you coming and going.

If you have no interest in Munich, why not go straight to Rothenburg from the airport with a Bayern Ticket. Hotels there are probably less than in Munich, and you will be there after all the day-trippers are gone. Where is your next stop?

Posted by
16895 posts

Trains from Munich to Rothenburg can be done in 4 hours with one connection, departing at 6:44, 8:44 and 10:44, then similar in reverse. You might also see today's other discussion on a related topic. Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it.

The Romantic Road Bus used to be more popular but now just runs once daily (to mid-October) and does not work for a same-day roundtrip. The 10:30 departure from Munich gets to Rothenburg at 16:00.

I don't have any insight into Grayline options.

Posted by
6941 posts

"And why are other days not available?" Best guess, if Viator could fill more than 2 tours per week, it would. But there's probably a small market for a day trip that long by bus. R'burg is sort of mid-way between Frankfurt and Munich, so it's a reasonable stopover or overnight stop for multi-day bus tours. Also, staying overnight in Rothenburg is now Rick Steves mantra - the reasoning is that you don't want to be one of the 2.5 million annual tourists who fill R'burg's streets at mid-day... Rick says it's better to have the quieter, more real R'burg experience that you can get only in the evenings (preferably on a Nightwatchman walking tour,) which ends pretty late for a return bus ride to Munich. Perhaps.

MUC isn't right in Munich. If you have no interest in Munich itself, it's easy to avoid. REGENSBURG is a UNESCO World Heritage city not far from MUC. FREISING is just a few minutes MUC, a handsome old-world town that you might enjoy.

Posted by
4684 posts

Or you could go to one of the equally nice towns in the area that aren't so internationally famous, like Noerdlingen or Dinkelsbuehl.

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