Train?

darlene, The "best" way to travel on that route is via train (IMO). Travel time will be about 5.5H, with at least three changes (usually in Fulda, Würzburg and Steinach - the change in Steinach is unavoidable, as Rothenburg is on a "spur line"). A departure from Berlin Hbf at 09:35 will get you to Rothenburg ODT at 14:49. You can research other times using the bahn.de website. Using a Railpass may or may not be the most cost effective solution. You'll need to do some number crunching to compare the cost of P-P fares vs. using a Railpass. Note that Railpasses DO NOT include the cost of reservations which are compulsory on some trains. That's not a big problem in Germany, but if you'll be using a Pass in Italy there are some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of. It may also be problematic in France, as Passholder reservations are limited. If they're sold out, you'll have to buy P-P tickets at full price and won't be able to use your Railpass. YES, you must buy your Railpass on this side of the pond, as they're more difficult (and expensive) to buy in Europe. If you decide to use a Railpass, you can buy from this website. Click the "Railpasses" tab at the top of the page. If you have any questions, make a call to Rick's Rail department staff, and they'll be able to answer them. You may find it helpful to download the PDF Railpass Guide. Look in the lower right corner of the Railpasses page for the download link. Happy travels!

very helpful, thank you and much appreciated.