Transportation

You can use bahn.de to search for train routes and fares from most European countries into Germany.

A night train could be a convenient way for you to make the Italy-Germany journey. City Night Line operates an overnight from Venice to Munich from 43EUR/person (if you buy in advance), for example. Once you get to Munich, you could take a train to one of your RR destinations.

Another option may be a budget airline such as easyJet, RyanAir, or AirBerlin. Look at their websites for routes/fares.

The most direct way to get rail connections from German Rail is to use the query page. Going through www.Bahn.de will get you to this webpage eventually; why not go directly here?

BTW, that €43 fare on the night train from Venice is for a seat. Sleeping accommodations are extra.

There are four day trains to Munich from Verona. Using the one leaving Verona at 9:05, you can get to Rothenburg at 17:48 (5:48 PM). You can ticket that part of the trip (Verona to Rothenburg), including trains from Munich to Rothenburg, for as low as €39 pP online with a Europa-Spezial fare from the Bahn webpage. This ticket cannot include the Italian Rail connections to Verona, except that the first train (EC 88) originates in Milan and you can ticket the trip for the same price from anywhere that train stops between Milan and Verona. (The Europa-Spezial fare does not include any trains connections that begin and end entirely in Italy.) There is also a train connection starting with EC 84, leaving Bologna at 11:33, going through Verona at 13:05, getting you to Rothenburg at 22:46, for the same fare.

Thank you Anna and Steve for your input. I found the German website daunting, but will try the link Lee gave. Our plans seem to be shifting as far as where we'll stay. A train from Italy to Munich looks doable--then to Bavaria and/or romantic road from there. Thanks for the help!