I will be in Germany in early June and plan to take a day trip by car from Rothenburg to one of the above places. Which one do you recommend? Is it hard to drive and park in Wurzburg? We typically prefer smaller towns, but have heard the Palace in Wurzburg is good to see. Thanks

Wurzburg is the place to go.I took the rte 8 exit off of the A7 and it skirts the north side of the city; there will be signs to the center zentrum) & also to the Residenz palace. Lots of parking right in front of the palace for 2DM per hr.I've been to Bamburg, & even though it's smaller, the traffic was very congested & there was too much evidence of the us military still in the area.

Since you will have already seen Rothenburg, I would vote for Wurzburg over Bamberg. (Bamberg is more architecturally similar to Rothenburg.)<BR>And, as the previous poster wrote, Wurzburg is actually easier to get in and out of by car than Bamberg.(Bamberg's road-signing left much to be desired when it was time to get back to the Autoroute.<BR><BR>In addition to the Residenz, be sure to see the Cathedral next door and the fortress (if you have time.)

Hmm, tough choice; they're both on the UNESCO World Heritage list. But the other posters are right, Wurzburg is more different to Rothenburg than Bamberg.<BR>

You should got to Würzburg. From the A 7 there are signs, which will you lead to the City ("Zentrum" or "Stadtmitte"). <BR>Parking at the "Residenz". You should have a guided visit to the rooms of the "Residenz" (they are great, especially the mirror-room and the ceiling of the staircase),then have a look inside the "Hofkirche" (Chapel right in the Residenz) and a short break in the "Hofgarten" behind the Residenz. <BR>After that you can walk straight ahead to the town (direction opposite to the Residenz-entrance) to the old town and the "Marienplatz" (market-place) and so on to the "Main"-river. On the other side ther are the "Marienfeste" and the "Käppele" worth to visit. After all you will go back very very tired and enjoy a glas of wine, perhaps in the "Stachel" or the "Bürgerspital" or some of the other "Weinstuben". They have almost typical food of the region. <BR>