In mid May we will be traveling via train from Prague to catch our flight home from Munich. We are planning to stay the night before our flight in the area of Munich airport but that leaves three days and nights. I first looked at getting to Rothenberg ob der Tauber but was discouraged by the number of transfers. We would probably want to stop someplace for the three nights and check out the area. Our trip starts in Munich, at which time we plan to check out southern Bavaria, so any advice on a place to stop on the way back to Munich would be greatly appreciated.
German Railways operates Inter-City buses between Prague and Munich but you may want to try the Prague-Nuremberg bus instead. Nuremberg is an ideal place for a 3-night stay. It's an interesting place in itself. But within 30-60 minutes or so you can day trip to other great destinations by local train:
Bamberg
Iphofen (scroll down)
Bad Windsheim
Würzburg
Take the train from Nuremberg to Munich on a Bavaria Ticket after that.
Complete the circle by returning to Munich by way of Dresden, Leipzig, Erfurt, Bamberg or Nürnberg. Bamberg might appeal most, and is a good base for some day trips: Nürnberg, Würzburg and Bayreuth are all within easy reach. Erfurt is more provincial, with nearby Naumburg, Weimar and Gotha. Leipzig is not on everybody's list, but it's an amazingly attractive city and more famous Dresden is only one hour away.
I'd catch a shuttle bus or scheduled bus down to Cesky Krumlov. And a shuttle can take you on down to Linz or even over to Salzburg. You could catch a train at either straight into Munich.
I have to recommend Marianske Lazne. It's a spa town in the mountains between PRG and Nurnberg.
I first looked at getting to Rothenberg ob der Tauber but was
discouraged by the number of transfers.
You can go from Prague to Nürnberg using the direct (no transfers) IC bus or to Schwandorf on the direct ALX train that goes to Munich with one easy 12 minute transfer at Schwandort to an RE to Nürnberg. The RE from Schwandorf to Nürnberg is there primarily to pick up passengers from Prague, so it would wait for the ALX train.
Between Nürnberg and Rothenburg there are only two transfers, one cross platform in Ansbach and one fast transfer in Steinach to the shuttle that runs to Rothenburg. Steinach is a very small station and the shuttle has no other purpose than to take passengers to Rothenburg, so it will likely wait.
So, if you pick your connections, there are only 3 or 4 easy transfers.
Culturally, I agree with the suggestions made by tomfromleiden to visit the Erfurt, Naumburg an der Saale, Weimar, Leipzig, different atmosphere and and feel to these towns/cities.
You drop down to Salzburg and then back over to Munich.
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the great suggestions. I finally had a chance to research some and have become interested in the Franken wine area. So, I was wondering if anyone had any winery or wine town recommendations. Iphofen looks interesting but would we do better to stay in Nuremberg or Wurzburg and day trip there? Any ideas about visiting wineries without having to drive. Greatly appreciated