The German romantic route or the German romantic road or even in the German language Romantische Straße is a marketing appellation created by travel agents from Germany in the 1950s that worked so well that this tour became one of the main tourist destinations in the country.
We listed the best 8 Attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany. Be sure to check it out.
What is the Romantic Road in Germany
The German Romantic Route is the name given to a road in southern Germany that crosses the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
This route runs through 460 kilometers and 29 cities from Würzburg to Füssen linking several picturesque towns and castles.
Previously, in medieval times, this was a commercial route. Today it is considered the tour that has the best landscapes and cultural points essentially German, a route rich in history and culture, medieval cities like Nördlingen, Dinkelsbühl and Rothenburg ob der Tauber and in castles like Burg Harburg and the famous Neuschwanstein.
To repeat a little, the traveler who follows this path will pass by medieval cities, half-timbered houses, palaces and castles, mountains and vineyards.
The idea was and still is to present Germany as a country with natural beauty, an important history for Europe and a friendly society, far from the crimes and barbarism of the Second World War.
In fact, the official information is that the first tourists to take this route were American soldiers who returned to Germany with their families to show where they fought.
With several possibilities for tours, whether visiting all the cities or just the most famous ones, whether by car, tour bus or even bicycle, or taking a tour of castles or forest reserves, of all German holiday itineraries, the Rota Romantic has become Germany’s most famous tourist destination.
Travel all Germany with the €49 transport pass
Be sure to read our complete guide on how to buy and use the 49 Euro transport ticket in Germany:
We answer questions like:
- Where and how to buy the €49 Ticket in Germany?
- How long is the €49 ticket valid for?
- Where can the €49 ticket be used in Germany?
- How can I see which trips I can take with my “Deutschland Ticket”?
We show you a step-by-step example on how to buy a ticket from Frankfurt to Munich.
Where is the Romantic Road in Germany
The German Romantic Road starts in Würzburg in the Bavarian State, near Frankfurt, and ends in the city of Füssen, also in the Bavarian State, but far south, on the Austrian border. In addition, its route passes through some cities in the state of Baden-Württenberg, such as Tauberbischofsheim, Lauda-Königshofen, Bad Mergentheim, Weikersheim and Creglingen.
Which cities are on Germany’s Romantic Route
As mentioned, the Romantic Route was designed by a group of travel and tourism agents, so the inclusion of cities in the itinerary takes this into account a lot. Today there are 29 cities officially listed, but it is possible to find lists with other names. The official website for tracking these changes is Romantische Straße.
The cities that are officially part of the Romantic Road in Germany are:
Click on the name of the city to open a detailed itinerary with tips for visiting, accommodation, restaurants and more.
- Würzburg
- Wertheim
- Tauberbischofsheim
- Lauda-Königshofen
- Bad Mergentheim
- Weikersheim
- Röttingen
- Creglingen
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- Schillingsfürst
- Feuchtwangen
- Dinkelsbühl
- Wallerstein
- Nördlingen
- Harburg
- Donauwörth
- Rain
- Augsburg
- Friedberg
- Landsberg am Lech
- Hohenfurch
- Schongau
- Peiting
- Rottenbuch
- Wildsteig
- Steingaden
- Halblech
- Schwangau
- Füssen
Below I make a suggestion of a tour through the main and tourist attractions of the Romantic Road.
How to know the Romantic Road in Germany
The best way to get to know the Romantic Road in Germany is by car, so you can set up your itinerary more freely and if you like more than one city, don’t worry about leaving.
Another advantage is being able to drive both on Autobahns without a speed limit and on the roads deep in the forests and between small German cities. Germany’s back roads are an attraction in themselves.
Another advantage of driving in Germany is that it has no toll on its highways.
If you ride a motorcycle, this itinerary is really cool to do, but depending on the period you are traveling, the weather may not be so favorable, so do a lot of research.
Still talking about two wheels, you can also ride the romantic route. There are several paths available to travel by bicycle.
But in case you can use a car or motorcycle, there are some alternatives by bus or train. We have a post with tips on how to use the rail network in Germany, it is worth consulting.
Or you can hire an excursion, there are several options:
When to visit Germany’s Romantic Route
The seasons in Germany are very well defined. Do you know when you see the New Year in cartoons and films? You will find these differences depending on the period you travel.
But then when to go to Germany’s Romantic Route?
In my opinion, the months of June, which ends in late spring and early summer, and September, late summer and early autumn, are the best months to travel. I say this because in this way you will enjoy milder temperatures and longer days.
In summer (July and August), the days are longer, but Germany’s heat is very hot and coincides with school holidays (higher costs and much more tourist on the roads).
In winter (November to February), the days are very short, very cold and you can get snow and rain, making the trip more dangerous.
The only advantage of traveling in December is the Christmas Markets, for us, the best tourist attractions in Germany.
Read our post about the Best Christmas Markets in Germany
Where to stay on Germany’s Romantic Route
Germany has several accommodation options, from more prepared hotels to small inns. A good alternative is to look for these small hotels that have a restaurant or Biergarten.
Use the filters on the Booking.com website and choose the best option according to the cities you are going to visit that fit in your pocket.
How many days to stay on the Romantic Road in Germany
As we said, the German Romantic Route has 350 km through 29 cities listed to be visited on your route. Of course, if you want to visit all these cities, you will need several days of travel, maybe weeks.
But it is possible to make a trip of less days and know its main attractions. Our suggestion is to make a 4 to 6 day itinerary.
Thinking about the average, it follows the suggestion of a 5-day itinerary on Germany’s Romantic Route – Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, Augsburg and Füssen (including Neuschwanstein Castle). It is only 4:30 am on 325 km of road and 1 day to visit each of the cities.
Map with suggested route to discover the Romantic Road in Germany
In the itinerary below we have included the main cities of the German Romantic Road. It’s worth checking out if you don’t have the availability to know the whole route.
Details about our itinerary to know the Romantic Route in Germany
As there are many cities and many places to visit, today I will only talk a little more about the most well-known cities, which are Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Würzburg, Füssen, Augsburg and the city of Dinkelsbühl.
Würzburg, the first city on the German Romantic Route, has two main sights, the Alte Mainbrücke bridge, the old main bridge, which has a beautiful view of the river and the Marienberg fortress; And the Residenz, an imperial palace in the Baroque style built in the 17th century, which is all decorated with frescoes by Venetian painters and a jaw-dropping staircase that is so beautiful.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is probably the most charming city on the route, one of the most preserved medieval cities in Europe, all walled and with a Christmas Market that is worth visiting. A curiosity, the name of the city refers to its medieval architecture (“rothenburg” would be something like “reddish castle”) and its main river, the Tauber, so its name in Portuguese in free translation is “reddish castle on the river Tauber” . Another is from this city one of the most shared photos in Germany, the Plönlein fork.
Dinkelsbühl is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Germany, with typical houses surrounded by a medieval wall with 20 watchtowers.
Augsburg is the oldest city in Bavaria and the second oldest in Germany, second only to the city of Trier, which is the oldest with more than 2000 years of foundation. Its main sights are the Cathedral, the Rathaus, which is the city hall building, and the Residential area of Fuggerei, the old houses of the Fugger family, built to house Catholics in the 16th century. It is the oldest housing complex in the world still in use.
Füssen is quite famous for the Neuschwanstein castle, which is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Germany for, besides being wonderful and surrounded by beautiful views, it is the castle that inspired Walt Disney in creating the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Find the the best region and the best hotel to stay in Cologne in Germany.
Tours and tourist attractions deals in Germany
Find the best guided tours, tourist attractions and tickets available for your itinerary, including the Romantic Road in Germany.
Are you traveling to Germany?
Specifically about international travel by plane to Frankfurt Airport, we have the best post:
Where to stay near Frankfurt Airport Germany – FRA, Frankfurt/Main
Search for the best place to stay near Frankfurt Airport, including hotel and hostel at different prices.
For planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can help a lot:
- Berlin, Germany – Top 20 sights and things to do and visit
- The Best Christmas Markets in Germany
- The best region and the best hotel to stay in Cologne in Germany
- Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
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