VGN ticket confusion

Nuremberg to Bamberg to Rothenburg and back is too much and long of a day trip.
You can look up the time it takes and the schedule
https://www.vgn.de/en/

But then again maybe not you would need to search the DBahn site also

https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml

We can do nuremberg to bamberg to Rothenburg then back to nurenberg.

The VGN ticket is not valid on the route from Bamberg via Würzburg to Rothenburg, because Bamberg is the border of the VGN. So you would have to go back to Nuremberg and then on to Rothenburg (which doesn't take longer than the connection via Würzburg anyway). But it's not advisable to visit both cities in one day, because you would have to spend about five hours on the train.

Does anyone know what travel time is for these trips on the regional trains compared to faster trains.

Nuremberg - Rothenburg: there are only a few IC connections (and only on the short Nuremberg - Ansbach leg). The fastest connections with local trains takes only four minutes longer (1:10 vs. 1:14). So, the best and cheapest connection is with a VGN ticket via Ansbach and Steinach.

Nürnberg - Bamberg: Don't take the S-Bahn but one of the hourly RE's, which cover the distance in 42 or 44 min (only 7 - 10 minutes longer than the ICE). Since there are at least two local trains (RE or S-Bahn) per hour that gives you more flexiblity than the long distance train.

Finally compare prices: a flexible ICE ticket just for the Nürnberg to Bamberg leg is €21.60 pp. while the VGN Tagestickes+, which covers all your trips in the entire VGN area is €20.30 for two adults plus children.

The next day on Sunday we will be going from nuremberg to stay in Augsburg. Will that same pass cover the trip to Augsburg too since its on the weekend?

No - Augsburg is way outside the VGN area.

Please note: The Nürnberg to Augsburg line will be closed between Donauwörth and Augsburg on weekends till Jun, 16 for construction work. You could go either via Munich by ICE or (my preference) take the direct *) RE as far as Ingolstadt Hbf and then the local train from Ingolstadt to Augsburg. You will find the latter connection on www.bahn.com only if you deselect the "show fastest connections" box. Travel time is about the same as via Munich and you could use a Bayern ticket (€32/2). Best connections are at 9:09, 11:08, 13:08 and 15:09.

*) there are other ones via Treuchtlingen, which are much slower.
All details at www.bahn.com.

A Nuremberg - Rothenburg - Bamberg - Nuremberg routing is permissible (though perhaps not a good idea) with a Bayern Ticket - which is valid at any hour on Saturdays. I see a 6:36 - 7:50 option in the event you are early risers.

Okay I like all the advice! What about this what if we stay an extra night in Nuremberg for a total of three nights. We could get there the first day and just get settled in and enjoy the afternoon that Friday. On Sat I will buy a VGN pass and we will plan to spend most of day in Rothenberg. Anyone know when last train leaves Rothenberg to come back to nuremberg? I would like to do night watchman tour. On Sunday We can use same pass to travel to bombers or anywhere else someone suggest we should. Then on Monday we plan to train ride to Munich store luggage for day and then train or bus to airport for our evening flight. I would buy a Bayern pass for this day to cover train to Munich then train to airport. How does this sound?

There are typically trains at 22:00 and 23:00 out of Rothenburg - with 2 changes back to Nuremberg. It will take around 1.5 hours minimum to return.

"On Sunday We can use same pass to travel to bombers or anywhere else someone suggest we should."

I guess you mean Bamberg. Well, look into it. And look into these places too:

Iphofen is only about 45 minutes away by direct train. And Bad Windsheim's Open Air museum is terrific. Both are VGN destinations. Of course, Nuremberg itself is delightful and multifaceted and you will not have had much time there for sightseeing.

You don't have to decide now.

VGN travel zone map: https://www.vgn.de/media/schienennetz-gesamtraum-vgn.pdf

Yes - the Bayern Ticket day pass will cover Nuremberg - Munich - around Munich - MUC airport on one day. Don't board the high-speed trains to Munich - only the regional trains (Regional Express or RE are fastest.)

Anyone know when last train leaves Rothenberg to come back to nuremberg?

It leaves 22:06, cf. www.bahn.com. You could download the DB app to your smartphone, then you are always and everywhere informed.

Thanks @Russ so one thought was staying 3 nights in Nuremberg to consolidate our stay. So this would be about 1hr 15 min each way to Rothenberg and then about the same to get us to Munich. So about 3.5 total. Or I could stay two nights in Nuremberg and then train to Rothenberg stay night there and move luggage and then train 2.5 hours to Munich. So seems about same train distance but didn't know if it be worth it to change hotels just for one night.

I would probably use the Nuremberg base for 3 nights. I'd prefer to stay near the station if you'll be making two separate day trips out of town. The B&B Hotel there is cheap and utilitarian and within a few blocks of the station (worked for us; not sure about the a/c situation.) If you don't mind a bus ride or the U-bahn ride to the station before your train outing, remember that the VGN Tagesticket Plus covers both U-bahn and bus as well as the trains, and staying a little further from the station will work, even with multiple outings. We've also stayed at the Burghotel in the old town (loved it but no a/c.) If you need a/c your choices will be somewhat limited but with some sleuthing you can probably find something that suits you near the station - or in the old town.

It might be 1:15 from N'burg to Munich, but that's on the SUPER FAST trains. The regional trains you use with the Bayern Ticket are pretty fast but not that fast. I see a travel time of 1:45 at 9:08 am on the two-train RE equipment (one change of train in Ingolstadt.) You have to click on "only local transport" to pull up the regional train connections for this route! Otherwise, only the high-speed train journeys are shown.

Thanks for all the information -- we will be basing in Nürnberg a few days for Christmas markets and probably doing day trips to some of these other towns.

If you need a/c your choices will be somewhat limited but with some sleuthing you can probably find something that suits you near the station

E.g., Motel One and Holiday Inn Express east of the Station, only a bit pricier than the - rather basic - B&B but way more comfortable. A bit more upscale is the NH opposite the Holiday express, but it may have good rates on weekends. Shortly west of the station there is the IC-Hotel. Hotels inside the walls that offer AC tend to be pricy.

I now will be staying only in nuremberg. I will daytrip to rothenberg ob tauber on saturday and bamberg on sunday. I am getting the VGN plus ticket for my husband and I. For transport back and forth to these places each day from nuremberg is that jsut up to 4 zones where it will be 12.90 euros or is it more? Thanks

You need a ticket of price level 10. The most economical (provided you travel together) is the TagesticketPlus for €20.30. It's good for both trips (saturday and sunday only). For details look up the VGN Journey Planner.