Rothenburg ob der Tauber Transportation

Traffic-reducing measures are in place in a significant portion of Rothenburg.
Individual tourists are allowed to enter the historic district by car only if they possess a confirmed hotel reservation.

Buses are allowed to enter the historic district solely for the purpose of unloading the luggage for overnight guests.

The city of Rothenburg offers numerous parking lots along the town walls. The walking distance from the parking lots to the market square is about 5-10 minutes.

Visitors will find signs directing them to the public parking lots as they enter Rothenburg:
P1 - Am Friedrich-Hörner-Weg (buses and cars)
P2 - Nördlinger Straße (buses and cars)
P3 - Schweinsdorfer Straße (buses and cars)
P4 - Am Hornburgweg (cars only)
P5 - Bezoldweg (cars only)

There is a fee on all parking lots (except P5 and the southern part of P4):
Cars: 1 hour = 1,00 Euro; Every further hour : 1,00 Euro; Daycard (valid 24 hours) = 5,00 Euro
Busses: 1 hour = 2,00 Euro; Every further hour: 2,00 Euro; Daycard (valid 24 hours) = 20,00 Euro

If you are driving and want to reach Rothenburg ob Tauber quickly, take the Autobahn A7 and exit 108 west. It is well marked via Ansbacher Strasse.
Driving is unnecessary and at times impossible; it is best to park the car and walk.

You can watch my 1 min 48 sec HD Video Bavaria autobahn at Rothenburg ob der Tauber out of my Youtube channel.

If you come by train there are two taxi services; Taxi Kersten Tel: 09861/ 95100 and Taxi Ebert Tel. 09861/ 7227. Also there are hotels within 100 meters of the train station. One can use www.bahn.de and check out out and the distance the hotels are are from the station. bahn.de service also has good hotel prices. Also, www.hrs.com is very good too.

Yes, if you arrive by train (or by bus, because the bus station is next door to the railway station).

There are lockers on the platform (July 2009). See photo for an idea of sizes.

It's worth using these. Rothenburg is not really backpack or luggage-friendly. Its cobbled streets and pavements are narrow, and often very busy with visitors.

Better to use the lockers and enjoy unemcumbered explorations!

As a 5 star tourist attraction, Rothenburg is accessible by bus or car on the Germany's famed Romantic Road or more directly by an adjacent expressway, the A7. Coming from Nuremberg, we elected the train and it seems a wise choice.
Rothenburg is reached on a one-track spur from Steinach, a minor junction with a real train station but only machines and no attendants. A modern 2 car line runs back and forth between the two towns, with departures and arrivals timed to trains on the main line thru Steinach. To get to the Rothenburg train, one must descend and then climb a flight of stairs - I did not see any provisions for the challenged. Storage facilities are available at the Rotherburg station. The run to Rothenburg is through particularly attractive scenery with rolling hills and occasional small streams. Two tiny stations along the way are little more than an asphalt slab and a sign.
Tour books state that the train station is but a 10 minute walk from the old town, which is true. What they do not state is that once inside the walls it is at least another 10 minutes or more to the Town Hall and Main Square. Taxis are waiting at the train station and are not expensive for a trip right to the center.
From Nuremberg to Steinach, there are occasional through trains, but most trips require a simple across the platform ( no stairs )transfer in Ansbach. A seamless connection, waits for the next train are less than 5 minutes. The whole trip from Nuremberg to Rothenburg is 70 minutes including both transfers. Surprisingly easy.

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If you're on a tight schedule like us, rent a car from Munich and drive to Rothenburg. Although Rothenburg is served by the train, it can definitely save some time if you drive there instead.

We got a wonderful deal from Thrifty at Munich Airport. We booked the 2nd-cheapest car on the website but it turned out that all the 'budget' models had been hired out when we arrived. Thrifty gave us a wonderful huge Mercedes Benz at no additional charge. It's definitely more spacious and comfy!!!!!

One well-know way tor reach Rothenburg, aside from driving, is via the Romatic Road Bus, operated by the railroad between Munich, Wurzburg, andFrankfurt. Railpass holders get a large discount on the fare. To use the bus you should first check the schedule and then make reservation by contacting Deutsche Touring, Am Romerhof 17, Frankfurt(see Tel below). Theere are drawback, however. Unless you are staying overnighbt, it wil not alloow enough time to see Rothenburg properly. Contrary to poupular belief, it is actually possible toget there by train fro either Munich or Frankfurt, or more easily from Wuzbur.

TRAIN FROM MUNIC require a very early start and chages at Steinach. Be sure to check the schedules boht ways carefully. The ride takes ovr 3 hurs each way.

TRAINS FROM FRANKFURT also calls for an eary start. Chages must be made at both Wuzburg and Steinach. With good connections, the total trip should take about 2 21/2 hours.

By CAR FROM MUNIC take the A-8 Autobahn to the Augsburg-West exit; then the B-2 to Donauworth, and finally theh "Romantic Road" via Nordlingen and Dinkelsbuhl into Rothernburg, whic is 130 miles northwest of Munich. Try to park outside the wall.

BY CAR FROM FRANKFURT take the A-3 Autobahn to Wurzburg, then head south on the A-7 to the Rothenburg exit, which is about 115 miles southeast of Frankfurt.

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A popular way to see the whole town is to take one of the many horse carriages. I chose to explore the town on foot but I saw a lot of people on horse carriages. One thing I noticed and something you have to consider before hopping on the horse carriage, horses poop a lot when they walk. There will be frequent stops as the driver scoops up the poop. It resembles a bus ride with frequent stops.