We're in the process of finalizing our trip to Germany next June. This is our itinerary thus far:

** 6/8 Arrive Frankfurt, pick up rental car and drive to the Mosel Valley for 3 nights
** 6/11 To Baden Baden for 1 night.
** 6/12 Drive to Rothenburg late afternoon for 2 nights
** 6/14 To Pinswang (Fussen area)for 2 nights
** 6/16 To Salzburg for 2 nights
** 6/18 To Munich (and Dachau),drop car off and stay for 3 nights
** 6/21 Fly home from Munich Airport

We were going to eliminate Rothenburg, thinking that it would be too much driving, but from looking at maps and checking out the distances on the Michelin site, it seems like it's pretty doable. We would drive to Rothenburg from Baden Baden in about 2 hours (longer if we stop along the way) and then drive to Fussen from Rothenburg (3 hours, but longer, stopping along the way). Does this sound right?

We are planning on driving part of this itinerary next May. We will be going north from Fussen and plan on spending at least one night in Rothenburg. We have heard the Romantic Road is one of the most scenic in Germany. According to Rick Steves', Rothengurg is the best city along this road to spend time at. So my thought is to not eliminate Rothenburg. I'll be interested to read what others who have been there have to say.

sounds good ...don't skip Rothenburg my son loved it!! We went to Wurzburg and then to Rothenburg the first day from the airport and even visited the palace.Then we went to Fussen,on to Salzburg and then Baden Baden and finally the Rhine and Mosel but you are going back by way of Munich and that will give you extra time...If you skip anything it should be Baden Baden, unless you just have to go to the spa...I would take the extra day in the Alps and add a drive by of St Goar on the Rhine..I stayed a day there

FYI: Most of the Romantic Road is not particularly scenic. It's the towns along the RR that are the main attraction.

Hi M,

My rule is that we should get from place to place in under 4hr, so that we can stop and see things along the way.

Your plan looks good.

Hi off,

>According to Rick Steves', Rothenburg is the best city along this road to spend time at.<

Not everyone would agree. You might find this link helpful:
www.romanticroad.com/default.htm#index

Hi,
Your plan sounds good. Baden Baden could be skipped though (we don't care for 1 night stays). We are leaving in 3 weeks on a similar trip. Arrive Frankfurt, 4 nights Mosel, 2 nights Rothenberg and 4 nights Berchtesgaden area and then flying home from Munich.

Paul

Rothenburg used to be, and perhaps still is, THE Number 1 tourist attraction in Germany, and that was amongst the Germans.

It can be crowded and there have been people here who didn;t like it very much and have called it "too touristy" but with the walls, the moat, the drawbridges, etc., I think you should see it at least once.

For some it can turn out to be quite charming.

I agree that if you have to cut back any where it would be Baden Baden. Be sure to reserve a day to explore the area between Fussen and Munich by going to the Wiesekirche, Oberammergau, Linderhof, Ettal Monastary and perhaps even take the cable car up from Garmish to the top of the Zugspitze.

Hi, Maria,

My memory is that you are going to BB due to family reasons. so it's probably a must do.

as for R'burg, I went there on a school trip many many years ago. try to get to speak german to a local - they have a wonderful accent.

regards, ann

It is not a bad itinerary, but I think I'd substitute maybe Boppard or Bacharach on the Rhine for Baden Baden.

I happen to like Baden Baden where I've visited in 3 different decades getting different impressions. It has a nice relaxing and gentrified atmosphere to just stroll and sightsee/shop. You can also relax at the Caracalla bath www.carasana.de/caracalla.html. One thing about Baden Baden, there are plenty of rich retirees rather than young trekker, although another Fodorite has pointed out that it is also popular among young hikers/rock climbers.

My family is from the Rhine and always thought of Rothenburg as a "tourist" town and we never went there until just a few years ago..I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it to my surprise! The museum ,the wood carving in the church,the beergarten , the location on a bluff,the nightwatchman's tour and the ramparts....just fun ,lots to do and driving through Bavaria is not to be missed.
I would think the Mosel is good for two nights...consider 1 night in St Goar and visit the castle on the Rhine.

Dax, you are right.. we did enjoy the spa but then we had three weeks..
Yes, dont miss the Wiesekirche

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments. The reason we won't eliminate Baden Baden from our itinerary is because that's where my hubby's ancestors are from and he wants to take a look at it. We've decided to go ahead with this itinerary and keep Rothenburg.

I live just north of the the end of the Romantic Road and have traveled up and down it many times. Here are some of my suggestions. Don't skip Rothenburg, but you don't need more than a full day with a stay over. Im not the rushing type, but you can see the whole place in a good day.

The next best thing on the Romantic Road is just south of Rothenburg, its called Dinkelsbuhl. Its great. Its Rothenburg without tourists, and is really really really cool. I have stopped at almost all of the Romantic Road towns, and I really like Dinkelsbuhl the most.

The rest of the road, like stated above, isn't romantic at all. Its not named after anything romantic, its named after the Romans. This isn't to say that its not nice and fun and all, but don't get your hopes up. And don't get too lost when you cant find the RomantischStr. signs when switching between the main roads and the off roads.

If you are looking to make any major adjustments, take only a day in the Fussen area, spend another on the island in Lindau on Lake Constance.

For a real treat, head to Hallstatt in Austria. It is approximately an hour and a half east of Satzburg, which you will be going to anyway. But I won't say too much about Hallstatt, I have vowed too many times to keep it a secret (Alas, mr. Steves really likes it though).

I second the suggestion to go to Dinkelsbuehl. Also Noerdlingen is another old walled town which I loved in May of 2006. It is just a bit south of Dinkelsbuehl.

I agree with other posters - don't miss overnighting in Rothenburg. I've been there twice, the first time just passing through between Bacharach and Donauworth, and it was picturesque but overrun by tourists. The second time I overnighted there, en route between Heidelberg and Ammersee (lakes area near Munich) and it was magic. Rothenburg comes into its own around mid-afternoon when the tourist buses have gone and the locals begin to venture out.