Looking for a whimsical European road trip through medieval towns, ancient castles, and impressive alpine scenery? Look no further than the Romantic Road in Germany. The route is easy to navigate, and it can be done in as little as three days. Read on for our guide on where to stop, as well as what to see and do along the way!
Best Time to Visit the Romantic Road, Germany
Our trip landed between Christmas and New Years. It ended up being great timing because many of the Christmas decorations were still up, but the massive crowds had subsided, giving us all the holiday magic without the hassle. Bonus: we were even lucky enough to get snow fall during the trip!
The Romantic Road would also be gorgeous in fall or spring as the foliage changes with the seasons and temperatures are mild. The only time of year we would avoid is summer since it would be way too hot.
Getting Around
Do yourselves a favor and rent something fast! Never driven on the Autobahn? Neither had we, but you’ll want a car with a little ‘oomph’. There are no tolls on the route, making it easy to breeze right through.
We were able to rent a car using a valid American driver’s license, and this seemed like the standard for foreign drivers. Still, we would suggest double checking the requirements, depending what country your driver’s license is from.
Romantic Road in Germany Driving Route
The classic route begins in Würzburg and ends in Füssen. After much research, we decided to start in Nuremberg instead of Würzburg, mainly because flights from London were cheaper. We also wanted to check out the famous Nuremberg Christmas decorations!
We then picked a few towns as “must sees”, and added random stops along the way. One of the many beauties of the Romantic Road is that you can customize your trip. How you do so would mostly depend on how much time you have, and the main sights you want to see. I would suggest setting aside at least four days for the trip if you can.
Check out www.romanticroadgermany.com for the classic route, as well as a little history on each town. Read on for our itinerary and suggestions of what to see and do in each place along the way.
Trust Me Travel Romantic Road Itinerary
Day 1 – Nuremberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The trip started with a dose of disaster. London airports were rammed with holiday travelers, so it took over 2.5 hours to check our bags, get through security, and sprint to our gate.
When we finally landed in Nuremberg, we watched the baggage carousel go round until it was evident that our bags didn’t make the same journey that we did. Needless to say, we left the airport in need of a large stein of beer (or seven)!
Nuremberg
From the airport, we headed straight to Bratwursthäusle, a cozy lunch spot serving up traditional sausages and German beer. The restaurant is positioned right next to St. Sebald church, within easy walking distance to the main city sights. We parked nearby at Parking Garage Hauptmarkt, and wandered the city for a few hours.
By the time we arrived (27th of December), the famous Nuremberg Christkindelsmarkt had just closed for the season. Nevertheless, the Christmas decorations were still up, so we could feel the holiday spirit.
When planning the trip, we almost skipped out on Nuremberg. I’m so glad we didn’t, because the city is truly beautiful! Check out our post here for more on what to see and do with 24 Hours in Nuremberg.
Next stop: Rothenburg ob der Tauber — 1.5 hours
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber overlooks the Tauber river, and it literally means “Red fortress above the Tauber” in German. Crossing through the stone walls surrounding the town, we felt transported to medieval times. The cobblestoned streets are lined with pastel, half-timber houses and illuminated by twinkling lights. The place is as close as it gets to a real-life fairytale and is a can’t miss when on the Romantic Road.
We checked into the Burg Hotel, and immediately set out to wander the city while working up an appetite. Luckily, the zur Höll was able to squeeze us in. The place is uber cozy, offers incredible service, and serves up the tastiest German comfort food. If you do go, try to make dinner reservations ahead of time! In fact, most restaurants in Rothenburg are super small and therefore have limited walk-in availability.
Read our post here for all of our suggestions when Discovering Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Day 2: Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Dinkelsbühl & Pflach
The early bird gets the worm! And also the best photos of Plönlein…
Plönlein (or “little square”) is the most photographed square in Rothenburg, so we decided to get there right at sunrise. We were able to get a few unobstructed shots, and then other travelers started arriving more frequently. If you walk through the square, you will see an entryway for the city ramparts. The ramparts fully line the town of Rothenburg, serving as fortification for many, many years. Now they serve as an amazing vantage point out over the town.
Before hitting the road, we stopped at Cafe Uhl for a coffee and some schneeballen. In addition to being a hilarious name for a pastry, schneeballen are crispy balls of pastry dough covered in an assortment of toppings (most traditionally, powdered sugar). They are absolutely delicious and can be found all over Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Next Stop: Dinkelsbühl — 35 mins
Dinkelsbühl
Looking back, we have mixed feelings on whether Dinkelsbühl was worth visiting. The town boasts a quaint high street with the traditional half-timbered houses, cafes, and boutique shops. By no means do we regret stopping in Dinkelsbühl, but it wasn’t a MUST see since sights were similar to Rothenburg. If time is of the essence, we suggest carrying on your journey.
Next Stop: Pflach, Austria — 2.5 hours
Pflach, Austria
This was the longest part of our drive, so we hopped off the romantic road and onto the autobahn (A7). If you have the time, I would recommend staying on the Romantic Road. It’s much more scenic and enjoyable, but we had the need for speed…
Originally, we planned for Füssen to be our next stop, but we found accommodation hard to come by and/or overly expensive. We had to get creative, and we ended up opting for Pflach, just across the Germany-Austria border. We’re so glad we did.
Pflach is a small town nestled in the Austrian Alps. It was wonderfully isolated and serene, the perfect place to disconnect. The best part? Our stay in Heidi’s Airbnb listing, which was one of the most memorable homes we have ever stayed in. Nestled on a lake, surrounded by towering mountains, we loved sitting by the fire with a bottle of wine, watching the sky fill up with stars.
Next Stop: Neuschwanstein Castle — 15 mins
Day 3: Neuschwanstein Castle
We were slow getting started the next morning, admiring the view featured in the photo above from our beds. That said, I would suggest getting to Neuschwanstein Castle as early as reasonably possible. The place is a mad house when it comes to over-tourism…
A Disney castle floating on a mountain side, surrounded by evergreen forest and flowing waterfalls. Yes, Neuschwanstein is just as magical as it sounds, which is exactly why people flock from all over the world to visit it. Check out our post here for our Guide to Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.
We spent the entire day wandering around Neuschwanstein and the surrounding area. We suggest you do the same.
Next Stop: Zugspitze — 45 min
Day 4: Zugspitze to Munich
After exploring the castle, we spent the night again in Pflach. The following morning we embarked for Zugspitze, home to the tallest mountain in Germany. At the base of Zugspitze is Lake Eibsee, which is absolutely breathtaking. We parked at the Zugspitze cable car, and walked for 2 hours around the entire lake.
After the loop, we hopped on a cable car to the Zugspitze summit. It was a cloudy, snowy day, which meant zero visibility from the top of the mountain. We made the most of it though, cozying up in the Glaciergarden to enjoy a beer and a goulash.
It was 46.50 euros for a return ticket to the summit, and you can decide on either a cogwheel train or the Gletscherbahn cable car. Tickets can be purchased here, but if it’s not a clear day I wouldn’t waste the time and money.
Just as the sun was setting, we hit the road again for our last stop: Munich. We checked into the 25hours Hotel and nestled in for the evening.
Next Stop: Munich, 2 hrs
Day 5: Munich
Allowing ourselves to sleep in a bit, we headed for breakfast at Cafe Stockholm. The owners, Julissa & Niklas are just wonderful. They indulged us in conversation about their record collection, about Stockholm, and about how we should spend our time in Munich. Good coffee, great music, and lovely company.
With a 5 day itinerary in Germany, we were bound for some bad weather. Facing 3 degrees celcius and pouring rain all day, we dragged ourselves to the English Gardens, determined to see the city surfers ride the Eisbachwelle. It really is as bizarre as it is mesmerizing. I could have watched them for hours.
We were in need of a good spot to warm up. Our friends from Cafe Stockholm suggested Augustiner Landsberger Strasse. There are Augustiner beer halls across the city, but this the original. It is built in the former stables for the horses who delivered beer into the city. The wood panelling gives it a charming, original vibe. And the beers and fresh pretzels surely don’t disappoint.
No trip to Munich would be complete without a visit to the famed Hofbräuhaus! This place is always a good time. They don’t accept reservations, so it’s every man for themselves in finding a table. No mercy, snag the first one you see and try to situate yourself with a fun-loving crowd. It shouldn’t be hard! Order a stein and a whole chicken, settle in for the night and do your best to learn as many drinking songs as possible.
Day 6: New Years Eve in Munich
We started the day off with a wander through Marienplatz, which is the central square in Munich. The square is home to the Marientplatz Glockenspiel, a massive clock tower overlooking a grand square with tons of great cafes, restaurants and shops. Suggest grabbing a coffee and a pastry to people watch from the center of the square and take in all of the sights.
Standby to watch the clock putting on a dancing show everyday at 11am, noon and 5pm. You can also head to the Glockenspiel Cafe where a seat on the balcony will afford you the best view of the clock in town.
For aerial views out over the city, next stop should be St Peter’s Church. Positioned right across the square from Marienplatz, it’s a 306 step climb to the top of the viewing platform. We promise, it is well worth the workout. Unbelievable views out over Munich and on a clear day you can see out as far as the Alps.
After a full day exploring the city, we headed back to the hotel to pretty up for New Years Eve celebrations! Once everyone was showered and ready to go, we headed downstairs to the Boilerman Bar. Whether you’re staying at the 25hours hotel or not, this is a great spot for a cocktail.
And then the real celebrations began! We met my long-time friend from university, Lizzie, who’s been living in Munich for a couple years at her for a little house party before hitting the streets. Yes, the streets. Just ahead of the strike of midnight everyone heads out to the nearest square to shoot off fireworks. These are not little handheld sparklers mind you. Full on fireworks. It is the most absurd, fun, mildly dangerous thing you have ever seen and you must experience it!
Conclusion
Driving the Romantic Road was a great way to check off a number of German cities that had been on our bucket list for some time! As always, let us know if you make the trip!!
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