Very rarely do we fall in love with a town that attracts thousands of visitors a day. Yet taking all the warnings about overcrowding to heart, we knew we wanted to stop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Driving through the stone walls of the outlining fortress, we quickly realized the reason behind all the Rothenburg ob der Tauber tourism. From the moment you begin to explore the rough and narrow street, the colorful buildings will transport you back in time. The many local restaurants and hotels in Rothenburg ob der Tauber will draw you in, all carrying their own authentic flair. Honestly, until you witness the beauty for yourself it’s hard to truly understand it! Let us share our Rothenburg ob der Tauber tips for beating the crowds, and other fun facts about this fairy tale town in Germany.

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3 Tips For How to Beat The Crowds

1. Visit in the Off-Season

First off, traveling in off-season (late September) was a good start. Now this is pretty much a running “how to beat the crowds” tip, but also a great way to save money. In the shoulder season prices for Rothenburg ob der Tauber hotels, tours, and even food can drastically decrease.

With that being said, the German town has two high seasons to be aware of. This stretch is typically during summer months, but also around Christmas time. During the holiday season the town transforms into a winter wonderland as a large Christmas market and decorations help ring in the New Year.

2. Stay Overnight

If you truly want a great experience in this amazing place you have to stay overnight! That’s because out of the thousands of daily tourists the large majority only come for a few hours. That means in the late morning and afternoon is peak time for Rothenburg ob der Tauber tourism.

Once they have left for the day the city relaxes, and that’s when you can truly take in and enjoy the spirit of this magical town. We didn’t arrive until the early evening ourselves. However, that meant we had the whole night to explore and enjoy the city after the massive tour buses left.

3. Timing is Everything

Following up on the staying overnight tip, we can’t stress enough how timing can make or break your experience in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Once the buses and tourists move on the whole feel of the city changes.

The streets clear and everything at once feels quieter and how it should be. That is why after 5pm (and before 10 am) is the perfect time to be soaking in this gorgeous mountain town and all the best Rothenburg ob der Tauber restaurants.

5 Things That Made Us Love Rothenburg ob der Tauber

1. Walking Around The City Walls

This is by far one of the best things we did in Rothenburg ob der Tauber Germany. The city wall surrounds the entire town in a large circle. Take any of the stairs up 200 feet above the town, and make your way around the area for unparalleled views.

In total the wall stretches almost 1.5 miles, and takes about an hour to complete including photo stops. We loved it so much we did it at night when we arrived, and again in the morning!

Beat The Crowds: Here’s where will try to give you some Rothenburg ob der Tauber tips! Nothing sounds worse than being packed atop the city wall with thousands of other tourists squeezing past. Head up late in the afternoon once many have left for the day, or even first thing in the morning! While everyone is waking up and having coffee you can be taking in the sites and sounds of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

2. Visiting The Castle Gardens

This little bubble of green oasis is not to be missed. Stroll along the plateaued garden paths that jet out from the town, and overlook the German countryside. The best view that we had was on the west side of the garden. There is a small wall that you can sit on and overlook the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber from an outside perspective.

Beat The Crowds: We visited the castle gardens at sunset in October, and it honestly felt as if we had them all to ourselves. There were still people in town and the restaurants were packed. Yet for some reason there really wasn’t many others in the gardens. It was the perfect place take in the views and admire the city without the usual Rothenburg ob der Tauber tourism.

3. Eating Traditional at Rothenburg ob der Tauber Restaurants

You can’t visit Germany without taking in some of the hearty delicious meals they have to offer. Now I have to say that I was worried about eating out in Rothenburg ob der Tauber restaurants.

With it being such a touristic town, that can often mean overinflated prices and unauthentic food. However, we ended up having one of the best meals out of our whole trip in Germany here!

Beat The Crowds: Stay away from the main square and hit the back roads. You can still find a great local meal as long as you’re willing to look. Right off the main street we found a hole in the wall called Gasthaus Zum Ochsen that served traditional German food. We had a delicious meal, great beers, and honestly felt like the only non-locals in the whole place.

4. Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Who’s ready for Christmas? In Rothenburg ob der Tauber it really doesn’t matter what time of year it is, as it almost always feels as if the whole town is preparing for Christmas. When we visited in October you could feel the excitement in the stores, and even at the Christmas museum. We can’t even imagine what Rothenburg ob der Tauber is like when it’s actually the holiday season… But I hope we one day find out!

Beat The Crowds: While it is sometimes hard to beat the crowds at the Christmas museum, hit the shops on the back roads. Here you’ll find other entire stores dedicated to Christmas ornaments and gifts year round. So no matter what time of year it is, you might want to consider doing some early holiday shopping!

5. Taking Epic Photos

In a place so beautiful, it’s almost impossible to take a bad photo or even put your camera down for that matter! Take tons of photos, but also remember sometimes IT IS OK to put the camera down (I know it’s funny I’m saying that) and take in the beauty of one Germany’s prettiest towns.

Beat The Crowds: Now if you’re anything like me you want the best photos possible. Waking up early in the morning is the best for this! At night there will still be some of the same stragglers from the day with so many tourists around. However, in the morning before the stores even open is the perfect time to take all your amazing photos of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Have any of your own Rothenburg ob der Tauber tips for how to beat the crowds? Comment below and let us know!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where To Stay In Rothenburg ob der Tauber Germany

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Hotel Herrnschloesschen – This luxury hotel situated in the center of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the perfect place to take in all the charm of the town. Set in a traditional German building with updated modern class.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Historik Hotel Goldener Hirsch Rothenburg – As far as Rothenburg ob der Tauber hotels go, it doesn’t get more traditional than Historik Hotel Goldener Hirsch Rothenburg. Set overlooking the beautiful German countryside but still in the walls of the city, this is an amazing place to stay while on a fun German vacation!

Hostel Life (Budget) – Hostel Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Since this is the only hostel in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, make sure to plan head! Located a quick walk to all the main attractions this is a sweet hostel choice for anyone visiting the town.

For more places to stay and experience Rothenburg ob der Tauber tourism you can explore the latest prices here!

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