We are trying to tweak our trip schedule and find we have to give up either Rothenburg or Lauterbrunnen. We are driving and Lauterbrunnen is more out of our way. We had planned to go there mainly to hike, but we will be doing plenty of hiking, I think, when we are in Bavaria. Does anyone have advice? If you would like to see our whole trip plan, let me know.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
In a heart beat I'd eliminate Rothenburg instead of Lauterbrunnen! Only eliminate Lauterbrunnen if you have no interest in hiking and seeing the best Alpine mountain scenery in the world in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, which has been called Yosemite on steroids. The two places are so totally different: Rothenburg is cutesy, has stores, and I've enjoyed it when I was on the Romantic Road anyway, but it's not worth giving up Lauterbrunnen.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I agree totally!
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
I agree too!! Lauterbrunnen and the towns higher up in the Alps are 100 times better imho.
Posted by
Charlestown, PA, USA
193 posts
Ditto!
Whatever you do don't skip the Alps! It's my favorite place in Europe.
Posted by
burlington
427 posts
lauterbrunnen
Posted by
salem, oregon, usa
2 posts
ATTENTION!! Do not pass up Rothenburg.
Yes the Alps are beautiful but Rothenburg (the lone mid-evil walled city remaining in the area) is an unbelievable place. You will get the feeling of Bavaria in the 13th century. Take the night watchman's tour (a can't miss), dine and have drinks in the market square and finish off the night in hell (tavern built in 900) We spent two nights there on our honeymoon and are headed back in 09'. You owe yourself to visit Rothenburg!
Posted by
longview, tx, usa
17 posts
if you're doing plenty of hiking anyway, Rothenburg is actually BETTER than rick describes it. and the night watchman tour is superb. really neat place.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
the first clue is when you say that Lauterbrunnen is more out of your way. Hopefully this isn't your only Europe trip ever; pencil it in for another time. And given that you're going to be doing plenty of hiking anyway, Rothenburg is a unique trip into the distant past that you won't get in the Alps.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Rothenburg is a Tourist Mecca with plenty of souvenir/trinket shops to please even the most discriminating tourist ;-)
Walking through the town can be pleasant but I sure wouldn't put it on my destination as a must-see!
Lauterbrunnen sits in one of the most beautiful areas of Europe with eye-popping scenery that's unparalleled. It's also only a 20 minute train ride to Interlaken...another shopping town...and to the town of Thun with it's fairy tale castle perched high on the hill overlooking the town. The lakes of Thun and Brienz are absolutely stunning and the boats that ferry you around the lakes will take you also to Brienz to see the master wood carvers and their works. Don't forget to see Geisbach falls as you boat around. All of these things are just outside of Lauterbrunnen.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley will also allow you easy access to Trummelbach Falls, the Jungfrau (Top of Europe) and the Schilthorn (007 revolving restaurant). So many things to do...
Posted by
Durham, NC, USA
14 posts
I would definitely choose Lauterbrunnen (but I am a 26 year old with a short attention span). :) Rothenburg is nice, but I felt like I got to see all of it in a short amount of time. I enjoy a nice, leisurely stroll every now and then...but it gets monotonous when all the stores sell the same exact thing - Christmas souvenirs and Schneeballs. I didn't buy either. :-D The Crime and Punishment Museum was pretty interesting, but short.