First time to Europe - we will have only six days in Germany, three of them will be in Munich. We fly into Frankfurt and our first thought was to spend two nights in Rothenberg. But after reading many, many travel helplines and talking to the Grandson of a friend who was stationed two years in Heidelberg, I'm rethinking our plans. First off - the train from Frankfurt to Rothenberg is much longer than if we take the train directly to Heidelberg, so I'm thinking we should spend three nights in Heidelberg, along the river, and possibly take a day trip towards the Rothenberg area. Does that make more sense? We don't want to rent a car, so we're thinking about possibly a bus to Rothenberg and surrounding area for a day. There are five of us traveling together and I have the task of putting together our itinerary. I'm sure you've all been there - first trip - change mind many times along the way. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by
Paradise
7068 posts
"...three nights in Heidelberg, along the river, and possibly take a day trip towards the Rothenberg area. Does that make more sense? We don't want to rent a car, so we're thinking about possibly a bus to Rothenberg and surrounding area for a day... There are five of us traveling together." Heidelberg is OK. But I'd MUCH rather spend 3 nights in the Rothenburg area (note spelling - and use "Rothenburg ob der Tauber" for finding train schedules since there are other Rothenburgs.) Everyone knows Rothenburg but close by are some real gems - Bamberg, a fantastic old-world town, the Residenz Palace in Würzburg (on the Main River, Nuremberg (old town and WW II Documentation Center.) I'd do it like this. Day 1: FRA to Würzburg (area train hub, closest to FRA) for 2 nights. This trip costs 190€ for 5 adults on the fastest trains (1.5 hours) but if you use regional trains you can all get there for 42€ total on Sat or Sun or 68€ total weekdays (group daypasses, buy at FRA, trip is 2.3 hours.) Settle in to hotel near station and see Residenz on Day 1. Daytrip to Bamberg on Day 2 - or to Nuremberg instead if you have an interest in WW II. (It's a shame to have to choose between Bamberg and Nuremberg. You could possibly see both in a very long day. Trains from W'burg to N'berg take 1 hr, 10 min. Trains from N'berg to Bamberg take 45 min. Trains from Bamberg back to Würzburg take 1 hr.) Day 3: Travel to Rothenburg (1 hr. 10 min.) for 1 day and night. Daytrips from W'burg, the trip to R'burg, and the following trip to Munich can be done by regional train with the BAYERN TICKET (38€ total per day for all 5.)
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9220 posts
Rather than the 3 hour trip to Rothenburg, you could take a Regional train just one hour from Frankfurt to Buedingen after you land. Experience a real, medieval, walled town that has never been bombed nor destroyed by fire, and that isn't full of tourists or souvenir stores. http://www.buedingen-touristik.de/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX0yo8dtbEI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPuQXfsb0nM
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2587 posts
Last 3 trips to Germany - 3 times to Rothenburg, one to Heidelberg. If given a choice next time - Rothenburg.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
It's not that Rothenburg odT isn't a nice place to walk around for a few hours... it's just that there are SO MANY OTHER towns in Germany that offer a similar experience, just without as many trinket shops. For many reasons, I would prefer to stay in Heidelberg. Tourism is virtually the only industry within the walls of Rothenburg. Tourism is a tiny portion of Heidelberg's economy. It's a lively city with a huge university population. And, within less than an hour's drive, you can see a visit a number of towns that more or less offer much the same sort of atmosphere of Rothenburg (minus the tour buses and souvenir stores). These include Heppenheim, Weinheim, Michelstadt, Erbach, Lorsch, Dilsberg, Bad Wimpfen, and several others. And there's also many castles in the immediate area.