Good evening,

We are trying to decide between these two towns for a nights stay on our upcoming trip to Germany. Most of what I read seems to recommend Rothenburg, but the city seems like it is geared towards tourist shopping, and happens to be a picturesque walled city. I'm leaning towards Dinkelsbuhl as it doesn't sound as commerical, but just as charming. We can walk the walls and still do the nightwatchman's walk. Any insights would be appreciated! Thanks!

We stayed in both and what you say is true - Rothenburg, while charming, is littered with tourists. It is probably one of the most touristed towns I have seen. It is still worth a stop in my opinion but if I were to do it again I would just stay in Dinkelsbuhl. You are right - D is indeed charming. Have fun!

I agree with above poster. WE thoroughly enjpoyed it at the height of the tourist season - It is worth seeing - there is an unmistakeable charm and mystery to it.
Be careful of the hotels - many dumps!! WE checked into one and had to leave right away, the next one was not much better,.. given the fact that every German hotle we ever stayed in was clean, and well run. Have fun!! See the Tortue museum!! It is horrible but fascinating at the same time!!

That would be "torture" museum - the medieval masks are something else!

Despite the fact that Rothenburg is overrun with tourists to a distressing degree during the daytime, I liked it very much after 5:00 p.m. and before 9:00 when the tour busses aren't there. I especially enjoyed the night watchman's tour.

We did a day trip to Rothenberg and stopped for an hour or so in Dinklesbuhl.

Rothenberg was a lot of fun, definitely filled with tourists, but it was amazingly easy to wander away from most of the crowds. We had lunch at this little place that was sort of hidden away and there were only a few other people there.

Dinklesbuhl was very uncrowded and charming. I wished we had more time to spend there. We were on our way through though and we were also pretty tired of walking around by that point - we had been several days in Munich where we walked a lot, then a few days in Nuremberg with day trips to Rothenberg and Ansbach where we walked a lot too. By the time we got our car and headed down the Romantic Road, all we wanted to do was drive with the wind in our hair and our butts in the seats - LOL.

We stayed two nights in Rothenburg at the Burg Hotel and fell in love with both Rothenburg and the Burg Hotel. I do agree with the posters above in that Rothernburg is very touristy during the day, but with that said, it's a very charming, majestic town and the shopping, etc. add to that... especially if it's your first visit to Rothenburg.

A few of the places we ate at, even though in the heart of town, made it seem like we were the only ones in there. Also, in places such as the Toy Museum, Criminal Museum and Kathe Wolhart (sp?) Christmas shop, if you got there when they opened, you had no problem getting through feeling as if you were 1 of 5 in the whole place.

The Burg Hotel for us was the icing on the cake. We had a room that looked right over the Tauber Valley (The Bavarian suite).

We did stop in Dinkelsbuhl on our way to Munich ... but the weather was chilly and rainy so we walked through town rather fast ... and as a result we didn't get a good feel for it.

I've been to both and liked them both,but Dinkelsbuhl is definitely charming and less crowded and not touristy. It would be my first choice.

oh, one more thing .. I do remember feeling as though Dinkelsbuhl was a truly lived in place (if that makes any sense). Rothenburg has the feel of a 'vacation, disney-like in a German way type feel.' I just butchered what I was trying to convey ... but I just remember walking through Dinkelsbuhl and feeling as though the town were real with real working people ... more like you would envision a typical town in Germany as opposed to a more fantasy type place.

katzen - I know exactly what you are trying to say. I had the same feeling about both towns.

Claro, the Hot Burg and Nightwatchman tour are special.
M

I think it is a little biased to say that Dinkelsbuehl is more of an authentic, lived in, town than Rothenburg. It's on all of the Romantic Road itineraries so the buses are stopping there, too.

Rothenburg is bigger, more spectacular, and, as a result, it attracts more tourists.

Why some travelers think that they should have the right to experience the world's most enchanting sights to themselves never ceases to amaze me -"the world would be a lovely place to visit if it weren't for all these other tourists" approach.

Certainly, Rothenburg is busy during the day, but so is Dinkelsbuehl, on a relative scale.

If you just hang around the Rathaus and walk Schillerstrasse hunting for Schneeballen you will find it crowded. If you head to the Tauber Valley side of town, visit the garden outside the BurgTor (tied with Peterfriedhof in Salzburg as my all time favourite spots), walk the outside of the walls, or head down into the valley a little you will get a completely different sens of the town during the day. And I think that those experiences are better than what Dinkelsbuehl can offer when empty of tourists.

After 5 p.m. and before 9:00 a.m. this should be a no-brainer - Rothenburg is outstanding. A sunset walk along the valley side or an early morning walk through the deserted town is magical.

Even considering the views of those who find Rothenburg somehow tainted by it's popularity, it is a better choice to overnight in because you can get the "post tour bus" experiences and can spend the day visiting the less crowded Dinkelsbuehl, Nordlingen, etc..

Think of it this way - if you overnight in Dinkelsbuehl at what time of day will you be in Rothenburg?

You may consider staying in Feuchtwangen, which is right in the middle between Rothenburg and Dinkelsbühl. Feuchtwangen is also a charming historical town, but not as touristy as the other towns. And there is a beautiful hotel named Greifen-Post, IMO the best hotel on the Romantic Road with a very good restaurant. See http://www.hotel-greifen.de/Home.71.0.html

Thank you all so much for your responses. We are leaning towards most of the day in Dinkelsbuhl and the evening in Rothensburg. Your feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated!