Weekend trip to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber with kids

A visit to Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is like stepping back in time. Known as Germany’s best-preserved walled town, you can’t help but fall in love with the place.

After all, it is located along the famous Romantic Road in Germany. 

On the blog I share how to spend the day in one of the most charming fairytale towns in Germany.

Our guide to our weekend trip to Rothenburg ob Der Tauber with kids shows the top things to do, and how to make the most of your visit.

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Read about our visit to the Imperial City Festival in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber here.

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Some things to know about Rothenburg ob Der Tauber

Rothenburg ob Der Tauber means “the red fortress” because of its red roofs, and it’s location along the Tauber River.

Rothenburg was also the inspiration to the movie Pinnochio, and you will definitely feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of a fairytale.

Rothenburg is also one of the most visited places in Germany, and it can get very crowded, especially during the summer months.

To avoid the crowds, I suggest visiting during the off seasons, or plan to get here early to avoid the afternoon crowds.

I also suggest staying for the night, the town gets really quiet once all the day trippers have left for the day, and you pretty much have the town to yourself.

Where is Rothenburg ob Der Tauber located?

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is located in the Franconia region of Bavaria Germany.

It’s one of many charming towns along the Romantic Route, which goes from Würzburg to Füssen Germany.

Most people visit Rothenburg on a day trip from some of the bigger cities in Germany, but I suggest staying for one night, or for a weekend to experience what this charming town has to offer.

SOME FUN DAY TRIPS FROM ROTHENBURG:

Read about our visit to Würzburg, Germany

Read about our visit to Legoland Germany

Read about our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle

How to get to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber

The best way to get to Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is on a road trip, the scenery driving here is just amazing!

If you’re coming in by car, there are a few parking lots in the area, some close to the entrance to the walled city.

You can easily get here by train as well, and walk to the medieval city from there.

When visiting Rothenburg, the best way to explore the town is on foot, it’s a compact town, and easy to explore with kids. Just make sure to bring a stroller or baby carrier for the kiddos.

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How long to stay in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber with kids

You can easily see most of the main sights in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber on a day trip.

But if you want to fully explore all there is to see here, especially with kids, I suggest staying for a night or two.

The town comes alive when all the day trippers leave for the day and your left with the town all to yourselves!

Rothenburg is magical at night, and in the morning, plus you get those crowd free photos!

Where to stay in Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber

During our visit to Rothenburg, we stayed right outside the gates at Hotel Rappen Rothenburg ob Der Tauber.

The location was perfect, and just a walk away from the medieval gates to the town.

There are so many choices on places to stay in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber, from Airbnb’s to hotels.

Just make sure to plan ahead of time to get the best choices and within the city walls!

BOOK A HOTEL IN ROTHENBURG HERE:

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Highlights of Rothenburg ob Der Tauber

One of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is to take a stroll around the town.

Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is such a picturesque town and we loved strolling through the winding cobblestone streets, and getting lost in cute little alleyways.

The highlight of Rothenburg ob Der Tauber are definitley the half timbered houses that looked like they were straight out of a fairytale. Each one was so unique and we loved perusing though the many cute shops.

Don’t forget to go in search of all the medieval city gates. There are quite a few and they’re all just so beautiful!

Top things to do in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber

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Visit the Plonlein and take the postcard shot

Take the post card shot of one of the most picturesque spots at Rothenburg ob Der Tauber.

The Plonlein refers to the ensemble at the entrance to the Spital that includes the yellow half-timbered house, the fountain and the two medieval city towers.

This is one of the most beautiful places in Rothenburg, and probably the most photographed as well.

You may recognize the yellow house, thats because it was the inspiration to the movie Pinnochio, which is so cool!

Walk the Medieval City Walls

One of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is a stroll around the medieval wall.

The first thing you notice on your visit to Rothenburg ob Der Tauber are the medieval wall and towers. They’re the first things you notice as you make your way around the town and they’re quite spectacular.

Rothenburg ob Der Tauber is surrounded by a town wall, six medieval gates and forty two towers, and the best way to explore them all is along the Tower trail.

Take a walk along the 2.4 mile Tower trail and explore one of the only preserved walls left intact in Germany.

Plus you get the most amazing city views from atop and the perfect place to photograph the gorgeous town from above.

Visit the Spital Bastion

Make sure to explore the fortifications of the Spital Bastion. This was one of the earliest structures in Rothenburg, built in the early 16th-century. 

It was an addition to Rothenburg’s extensive fortification system and it’s quite impressive. 

There are various gates and courtyards to walk through and a moat as well. There’s even a small bridge nearby that’s a perfect photo-op. 

The kids will love the cannons and the dungeon like rooms, and will make their imaginations go wild!

Visit Rothenburg’s Castle Garden

A castle once stood in Rothenburg ob der Tauber back in the early 12th century, but has since been destroyed.

Now a gardens sits in the former castles site and is a wonderful green space in Rothenburg. This is the the perfect place for relaxation, or grab a picnic lunch and enjoy the serene space.

Make your way towards the Burgtor and there is a wonderful observation platform to take in the views of the Tauber Valley and the gardens, and they’re just so stunning! 

Take a tour of Rothenburg ob Der Tauber

One of the best ways to get to know Rothenburg is on a city tour. There are so many to choose from, but one of the most popular tours in Rothenburg is the Night watchman tour.

The 45 minute tour starts at the Market square at 8pm for the English tour, and goes from the Marktplatz along Herngasse.

If you’re short on time, I suggest going on a self-guided walking tour. There are so many sites to see on your stroll and many beautiful buildings to admire.

Make sure to visit the Marktplatz which is the main town square and the meeting place in Rothenburg ob Der Tauber.

The buildings here are so eye catching, especially the Rathaus (Town Hall). One thing not to miss here is the Ratstrinkstube (or the Councilors Tavern.

There is a clock tower in building that strikes every hour with a reenactment of the “legend of the Master Draught”.

The story is of the brave Mayor who drank a gallon of wine to save his city. It was quite an interesting show that our little one loved.

Enjoy the foods at Rothenburg

Rothenburg is famous for its Schneeballen, or snowball. It is a shortcut pastry rolled into a ball and dusted in confectioners sugar and other flavors like chocolate and cinnamon sugar, which was so yummy!

There are lots of restaurants to choose from in Rothenburg, most serving some amazing German cuisine. We love the Schnitzel or the roasted Pork served with potatoes at the restaurant Ratsstube.

Go shopping in Rothenburg

When planning a visit to Rothenburg ob Der Tauber, get ready for some shopping.

There are so many cute little shops to peruse, but one of our favorites was the Kathe Wolfhart Christmas store.

A visit here is like being in the North Pole. This is the perfect place buy one of a kind ornaments, and that perfect Rothenburg souvenir.

There’s also a store called Die Waffenkammer where you can have fun with the fascinating world of the Middle Ages.

The shop sells unique items that reflect the life of the people in the Middle Ages. You can expect to find armors, swords, garments and much more.

We also love the teddy bear store located along the Marktplatz. Teddys Rothenburg store is a teddy bear lovers dream store that sells every kind of stuffed toy you can imagine. It was our little ones favorite store and didn’t want to leave!

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