While there are many ways to experience the Romantic Road in Germany, the best option is definitely by car! By driving the Romantic Road you can stop in amazing towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, see the Nordlingen crater, and end in the Bavarian Alps in Fussen. Follow our Germany Romantic Road itinerary for our highlights and some helpful tips along the way!
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Driving the Romantic Road in Germany
Starting Point: Wurzburg Germany
Ending Point: Fussen Germany
Length: 324 km
Time Needed: 1-3 Days
After visiting northern Germany we rented a car and headed south. We had a little over a week to make it to Munich where we were catching a bus to Slovenia. Having traveled to Germany many times (but it being Jake’s first visit) I wanted to explore Bavaria.
This would be something that was new for both of us! We thought the perfect way to get there would be to cut straight down the Romantic Road in Germany and check out some of the country’s most beautiful towns.
We highly recommend starting in the north and driving the route south. The easiest way to do this would be to fly into Munich, rent a car, and head towards Wurzburg to start the trip. The whole drive is beautiful, but there’s something surreal about ending your drive down Germany’s Romantic Road and entering the German Alps.
Germany Romantic Road Itinerary
Obviously, there are an endless number of towns that make up the Romantic Road in Germany. Just know that this trip isn’t about the end destination, but instead about the whole day of driving through the different towns and villages.
We wouldn’t plan to stop at every place because it would extend your trip by a week or two. However, it all depends on how much time you have! We did this Germany Romantic Road itinerary in two days and easily could have spent an extra day in any of the towns below.
- Wurzburg
- Holzkirchen
- Urphar
- Wertheir
- Tauberbischofsheim
- Lauda-Konigshofen
- Bad Mergentheim
- Weikersheim
- Rottingen
- Creglingen
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- Schillingsfürst
- Feuchtwangen
- Dinkelsbuhl
- Wallerstein
- Nordlingen
- Harburg
- Donauworth
- Augsbur
- Friedber
- Kaufering
- Landsberg am Lech
- Hohenfurch
- Schongau
- Peiting
- Rottenbuch
- Wildsteig
- Steingaden & Wieskirche
- Halblech
- Schwangau, Neuschwanstein, & Hohenschwangau
- Fussen
How to Stay on the Romantic Road in Germany
Unfortunately, you can’t just put the starting town of Wurzburg and ending town of Fussen Germany into your GPS. This is because it will automatically reroute you to the Autobahn and risk you missing Germany’s Romantic Road altogether!
Do your best to follow the signs for the Romantic Road in Germany, but understand it’s tougher than you can imagine. At some points, they were very clearly marked, while at others they seemed to completely disappear.
In all honesty, it would be difficult to do this trip without a GPS. When we couldn’t find the signs we would just put in the town we knew was next, and it would bring us back to the Romantic Road. If you really want to stay on the right track, try not to skip any towns on the Romantic Road itinerary. Even jumping one place on your GPS can take you off the beautiful backroads and onto the highway!
5 Highlights From the Romantic Road in Germany
1. Romantic Road Germany Scenery
Okay, I’m sure this goes without saying, but the drive is really beautiful! We will definitely admit that we took more than one wrong turn on our way to places like Fussen and Nordlingen. This led to quite a bit of time trying to find our way back to the actual Romantic Road in Germany… But isn’t that part of the fun?
Nevertheless, each village and farm we passed confirmed that we had made the right choice of renting a car for our Romantic Road itinerary. Some of our favorite parts of the drive weren’t the villages, but being on these crazy small roads that should have been a one-way street. What a great way to see the nature of this beautiful country!
2. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
One of the most famous towns along the Romantic Road in Germany is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Each building is painted a different warm color, and the small winding streets make it truly special.
Set in a stone-walled fortress, the extremely walkable town walls wrap around and protect Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This is a MUST SEE along Germany’s Romantic Road. and we highly recommend staying the night.
→ 8 Best Tips For Your First Visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber Germany
3. The Nordlingen Crater
More than just another beautiful town along the Romantic Road, Nordlingen Germany has a fascinating history. The whole town is actually built in an impact crater from a space meteor that struck Germany a long long time ago.
Now with over 1,110 years of history, Nordlingen is the perfect place for a day or overnight stop on your trek!
4. Epic View of the Neuschwanstein Castle
Did you even drive the Romantic Road in Germany if you don’t visit the single most gorgeous spot on the trip? No! Since we ended in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle was a major highlight of our whole drive and time in Southern Germany.
We decided to do the hike to Queen Mary’s Bridge, and it was an amazing way to see the famous castle. So whether you’re visiting the castle or viewing it from above, Neuschwanstein will surely be a highlight on your Germany Romantic Road itinerary.
→ Queen Mary’s Bridge: How to Get the Best View of Neuschwanstein Castle
5. Ending the Romantic Road in Germany in Fussen
We knew that the town of Fussen was the end of the Romantic Road in Germany, but we didn’t realize how stunning and magical it would be. At the base of the Bavarian Alps, Fussen has a small-town feel in a very developed and well traveled area.
We spent one night in Fussen Germany, and it was not enough at all! Be sure to roam the streets, sip a beer at a local bar, and eat at one of the many traditional restaurants while in town.
Have any questions on our Romantic Road itinerary or want to share your own experience on this magical route? Comment below and let us know!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Germany Travel Planning
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Germany road trip!
Flights: We always find the best flights using Skyscanner. Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly between cities in Germany than driving or taking the train!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for hundreds of activities around the country. You can find everything from a Hamburg harbor cruise, to a Berlin walking tour, and day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein castle.
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered! We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
Question. Is the road from Munich to Rothenburg very winding? Thanks.
Hi Ted! The road goes through many small villages so there will be some twists and turns. However, Brigitte often feels car sick and didn’t on this route. You can also go the highway which is faster and not as windy, but it obviously won’t be as beautiful. Hope that helps!
Hello, I loved reading your article. It really helped with planning. We are going to drive the Romantic Road in April. We have 4 women traveling together and I’m a bit concerned about the luggage. Our travel agent got us a small minivan but I’m wondering if we should perhaps get a bigger SUV? Are the roads too narrow to have a bigger car? Thank you 🙂
Hi Kim! I will be honest that some of the roads are very tight. Having a smaller car will be easier if you aren’t used to driving in Germany. However, having enough space for your luggage is just as important. Are you able to ask the agent about the car they booked and how much baggage it fits? Have a wonderful trip and let us know if we can help with any other questions!
We have driver the road a couple times and I agree with you , it’s magical. We ended at stayed in Reuter.