Summer Fair @ Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg is packed with tourists anyway throughout the summer. Travel literature highlights this one town like it's the only well-preserved town in Germany, but there's hundreds of others. In it's favor, Rothenburg is a little bigger than some of the others, and maintains most of it's defensive wall. Against it, though, it's devolved almost completely into a tourist funpark. But if you just can't get enough souvenir shops, it has plenty of them.

I have no idea what effect Summer Fair would have on the number of visitors in Rothenburg, because I can't imagine another relatively small town in Germany more packed with tourists during the summer even without a fair.

For some alternatives, look into Landshut, Regensburg or Burghausen. Landshut has a very large Altstadt and an impressive castle. The Alstadt of Burhausen isn't very big, but it boasts what they claim is the longest castle in the world. Regensburg is just beautiful. Closer to Rothenburg, you could consider Nördlingen or Dinkelsbühl.

I would second Tom's recommendation for Regensburg and Landshut, which are nearer to Munich. Regensburg is one of my favorite towns in Germany.

If you hold on to the idea of Rothenburg, which I also enjoy very much, you can just visit some of the less touristy aspects. I Really like the Tauber Valley which surrounds the town. Rothenburg sits on a plateau above the valley, it situation being very attractive to my taste. A couple walks into the valley this spring:

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Germany-April-2016/Detwang-2016/

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Germany-April-2016/Walk-into-the-Tauber-Valley/

I also like the Reichsstadt Museum for the town history and some nostalgic landscape paintings of the town.

I am not sure about the Summer Fair but sales booths in the main square would be interesting for me.

Good choices all around. Gary

As Tom says, Rothenburg is always packed with tourists. A bigger question is, can you find accommodations at a reasonable price in Rothenburg at that time. If you really want to see Rothenburg and there are accommodations available, I'd say take them and go anyway.

If you can't get into Rothenburg, my suggestion would be to try Nördlingen, Rothenburg's little sister. It lacks superfluous things like a Christmas shop and a Crime & Punishment museum, but it has an almost intact wall you can walk on, lots of Fachwerk buildings, and a church tower you can climb.

we were there last year, as like you their annual festival just happened to be on ( that was in late May though- not sure about the summer fair??)
yes the place was packed with people, but its was great to see the 'local' people enjoying their festival.
we stayed just outside the main gate, and had to pay a token entree fee, but we had no problems. it was great. there were what looked like thousands of 'locals' all dressed up in period costume,displays and lots of animals. the final parade lasted for over half an hour by the time all the participants walked by us.

I find it 'off putting' when people say 'there were too many people' as we often take a walk into the back streets of towns and get away from the crowds, particularly when the day trippers leave the town for the day. and if required plan your meals at different times to avoid the rush. so just don't follow on like all the other 'sheep'
this is exactly what we did in R od T. walking some of the back streets in the town you wouldn't have known the festival was on.

so if you can get accommodation then I would say go for it. the nearby , southern, towns are also worth visiting. ( from our experience)

hope this helps.

I must be easy to please I like all the places mentioned here. We visited Nördlingen on the recommendation of several folks, including Lee. While I think the setting of Rothenburg in a commanding position over the Tauber Valley is more dramatic than Nördlingen, Nördlingen is a very a very attractive walled city. We were there in April and there was hardly a tourist in sight. Might be different in July.

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Germany-April-2016/Nördlingen/i-78zfDNB

We were there in April and there was hardly a tourist in sight. Might be different in July.

I had the same experience in July. Nary a trinket shop in sight either.

Thanks for the advice everyone! It's a long day trip from Munich so I want to make sure it's time well spent. I will talk to the family and see how they feel :)

We loved Regensburg. Spent a great evening at the Spitalgarten along the river having German food and beer with the locals. Our tour was led by a local collage student.

Rothenburg Tourism Facebook page says the Summer Fair is at the end of June. I was curious because we will be in Rothenburg at end of July.

https://www.facebook.com/Rothenburg.Tourism/photos/a.183119871824928.44701.175904902546425/728791793924397/?type=3&theater

According to the official webpage of the town, the Summer Fair (weekend nearest summer equinox) is this weekend:=

Rothenburg Summer Fair – Beer Festival 24.06-29.06.2016

not in July.

Where did you see a reference to it in July?