We will be in Nuremberg for a few days in the fall. We want to do a day trip to Stuttgart to go to the car museums- our plan is to rent a car for the day. Can anyone recommend a route that also includes a medieval town or two? It seems that some people recommend Rothenburg or Dinkelsbuhl or Wurzburg. Thinking a stop on the way there (walk around, get a coffee and pastry) and a stop on the way home (walk around, get another snack....). Not really looking for large museums or castles, just towns with a nice vibe.

Also if all of this is possible via train, we are game for that as well.

Appreciate your help.

I don't recommend Rothenburg by train, it's a long trip - sort of in a rail cul-de-sac, although the town is a very worthy destination in its own right, so car is a yes from me. I also recommend Dinkelsbühl on the same route, which is much less touristed, and Schwäbisch Gmünd, which is a historic town, the oldest town belonging to the Staufer Emperors. If you were not going to Stuttgart for the cars I would recommend them more than Stuttgart, as it's not a particularly beautiful city. Würzburg is a good stop, but too far away from your route (although perhaps another time, the Residenz is great). Obviously your focus is the car museums, but if you really wanted to fit them all in (and three towns will really be a stretch), I would say start early and try to fit in Dinkelsbühl and Schwäbisch Gmünd in the morning, and Rothenburg on the way home. Rothenburg will be emptying of tourists by the late afternoon (all but the ones staying for the night watchman's tour). The time you might have spent investigating Stuttgart proper can be redirected to the three smaller towns.

Lavandula