ROTHENBURG OB TER TAUBER FAQ`S
The closest airport to Rothenburg is Stuttgart Airport (STR), about 1.5 hours by car from Rothenburg. Stuttgart is a major hub for Germanwings and TUIfly. Two larger airports are Frankfurt Airport (108 miles) and Müchen Airport (149 miles).
How do I get to Rothenburg by train?If you are taking a train in, make sure you are buying a ticket to Rothenburg ob der Tauber; there are several other Rothenburg`s in Germany. Travel to Würzburg or Ansbach and change there to a regional train via Steinach to Rothenburg. The historical old town can be reached on foot from the railway station in just a few minutes.
How do I get from the train station to my hotel?The train station is east of the town wall, about a 10-15 min walk or a 2-minute taxi ride to the center Market Square (Marktplatz) of the historic center.
How do I get to Rothenburg by bus?For bus service along the Romantic Road, see `Bus Tours of the Romantic Road`. Regular long-distance buses service Rothenburg from Frankfurt, Würzburg, Augsburg, and Munich, as well as Füssen. For information and reservations, call the Frankfurt terminal number (tel. 069 79 03 261 in Frankfurt). Regional bus service is provided by OVF Omnibusverkehr Franken GmbH, Nelson-Mandela-Platz 18, D-90159 Nürnberg (tel. 0911 430570; www.ovf.de).
How do I get to Rothenburg by car?If you are going by car and want to reach Rothenburg quickly, take autobahn A 7 and exit 108. From there on Rothenburg is well marked via Ansbacher Straße.
I will have a car in Rothenburg ob de Tauber, where can I park?Driving is unnecessary and at times impossible; it is best to park the car outside the old city walls and walk, which there are five parking areas outside the Rothenburg walls. It`s best not to take your car inside unless your hotel offers parking.
Is Rothenburg a walking city?
Walking will get you from one end of town to
the other in about 15 minutes. One of the best things to do in Rothenburg is to
simply take a walk and admire the views. The town is small and easy to stroll
on your own.
You can take a self-guided walk with a good
guidebook, take a group or private walk led by a guide from the Tourist
Information office (Markplatz 2), and/or go on the almost daily Night
Watchman`s Tour. Early mornings and
evenings are the best time to take a walk and avoid other tourists, but note
the hours of any sights you want to visit along your stroll.
Bicycling is a great way to see the area due to its central location in the heart of Germany and its charming landscape. Over recent years Rothenburg has developed into the popular departure point (or finish point) of numerous cycling trails. The town`s network of cycle paths in the Tauber Valley grows every year and offers a great way to explore the countryside.
Is Rothenburg a dangerous city?Rothenburg is a safe place to visit with little crime. Having said this, there are certain precautions that should be taken in order to ensure a smooth trip. Common sense is the most important tool to be used in staying safe. Beware of pickpockets, mostly in crowded buses and in the pedestrian streets. Do not leave any luggage out of view as it might disappear. If you`re taking the bus with a backpack, it`s better putting it between your feet than keeping it on your back.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The currency used in Rothenburg
ob de Tauber and all of Germany is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. ATMs and banks
can be located all throughout town.
We
recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough
for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your
bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your
cards will work while in Germany. We recommend you record all your credit card
numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or
stolen.
Under the euro system, there are
seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all
countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50
cents.
In Germany, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and
Visa are commonly accepted, with the latter two cards predominating. Note that
many banks now assess a 1% to 3% `transaction fee` on all charges you incur
abroad (whether you`re using the local currency or your native currency).
Average temperatures in Rothenburg ob der Tauber vary
greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the
year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the
year. The area is somewhat temperate compared to tourist destinations
worldwide. If you`re looking for the very warmest time to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
the hottest months are July (temperatures typically in the mid 70`s to low
80`s), August, and then June. If you want the best weather, these are the
months to go, but they are also the busiest times for tourists so expect crowds
and higher rates for hotels. If you want the most festive time, come during the
month of December for the Christmas market when everything in Rothenburg is
at its busiest.
If you go off-season/shoulder seasons (January - March and
September - November) it will be significantly less crowded. The flip side
however is that there is reduced opening hours for the museums and less
organized tours for visitors.
German is the official language spoken in Rothenburg. Hotel and restaurant staff in Rothenburg likely speak enough that you can communicate your order or check into your hotel, but it`s always polite to at least try the local language. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the food/drink like?
Rothenburg is in the Mittelfranken (Middle
Franconia) area of Bavaria. You can find these
must-try Bavarian dishes, or more regional
specialties like Nürnberger
Bratwürste or Fänkische
Sauerbraten (prepared without raisins and thickened with
ginger bread, unlike the dish in other areas of Germany).
The town is quite small but offers many great choices for some
excellent Bavarian or Franconian specialties. If you are looking for German
food and a historical ambiance, there are several places to choose from. And
remember that taverns are family-friendly.
If
you plan to stay in Rothenburg for a few days, keep in mind that the
restaurants cater to the daily bus tours. This means that you should try to get
in to eat dinner by 8:00 pm - especially in the low season, because few places
are open much later than 10:00 pm.
suggestion.... While you can buy all the normal German (type) souvenirs her from cuckoo clocks to beer steins, there are also unique gifts from the area. Unique items to Rothenburg include,
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a shopping mecca for many visitors to
Germany. While you can buy all the normal German type souvenirs here, from cuckoo
clocks to beer steins, there are also some unique gifts from the area. Unique items to Rothenburg ob der Tauber include lovely prints, carvings,
wine glasses, Christmas-tree ornaments, and ornaments.
Some of these unique Bavarian and
local items that can be found around town are the wide selection of beautiful
prints and original etchings, many featuring scenes of Rothenburg and other
German cities. The flagship Christmas Village offers every type of Christmas
ornament and tree decoration imaginable throughout the year, some other
Christmas related decorations can be found at both the giant Christmas Village
(Herrngasse 1) and the smaller Kathe Wohlfahrt across the street. Franconian
Wines are famous for their unusual bottle shape, known as a `Bockesbeutel`. You
can buy and ship the bottles back home. You will also notice several shops in
Rothenburg selling German games, puzzles, dolls and teddy bears, there are a
lot of options to choose from for these fun children`s toys and games.
As with the case in most Bavarian
towns, Sunday is a day of rest in Rothenburg. This means if you are looking to
shop, the majority of stores will be closed on Sunday. Many cafes, restaurants,
museums and souvenir shops however will still be open.
Tax Information: VAT is currently at 19%.
Travelers who live outside the European Union can obtain a tax refund
(www.globalblue.com) on goods bought in Germany by submitting the
purchased goods and the
original receipt to the customs office at the airport. The export
certificate
should then be taken to any of the five counters after the security
check,
where a cash refund is obtained. Note that a small fee will be charged
on all
refunds.
Important
phone numbers incase emergency (dial without any local prefix all over
Germany/always free of charge):
Medical
emergency and fire department, dial 112
Police,
dial 110
German medical facilities are
among the best in the world. If a medical emergency arises, your hotel staff
can usually put you in touch with a reliable doctor. If not, contact the
American embassy or a consulate; each one maintains a list of English-speaking
doctors. Medical and hospital services aren’t free, so be sure that you have
appropriate insurance coverage before you travel.
Hospital:
ANregiomed clinic
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Ansbacher Str. 131, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
Germany