Getting Around, Rothenburg ob der Tauber Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany)

The nearest airport to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is at Nurnberg, (Nuremberg), some 69 km / 43 miles and one hour's drive away. Although there is train transport available between Nurnberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it takes two hours, making personal transportation, such as car hire, a far better bet. Of note, trains frequently travel here from Frankfurt and other major cities.

Once in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, getting around is easy, as the pedestrianised Old Town can be covered on foot end-to-end in 15 minutes. Car parks are provided outside its walls, filled with huge tour and travel buses in the summer season. For transport around the Bavaria region, car rental is generally the preferred option.

Nuremberg Airport (NUE) / Arriving by Air

Address: Flughafen Nürnberg GmbH, Flughafenstrasse 100, Nuremberg, D-90411, Germany, DE
Tel: +49 0911 937 00
Nuremberg Airport is Bavaria's second busiest and is the hub for Air Berlin, the country's second-largest carrier. Located just 7 km / 5 miles from the centre of Nuremberg, the airport lies some 125 km / 79 miles to the east of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with a travel time of approximately one and a half hours. Carriers serving Nuremberg Airport include Lufthansa and Air France, and popular routes include Amsterdam, Paris and many southern European holiday destinations. Access to onward transportation options is by bus or taxi.

Car Rental

Car rental is easily arranged at Nurnberg Airport, and hiring a car on arrival gives the option of travel via the slow route (the Romantic Road) to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. In town, several car hire firms provide the service, or you can book online in advance with one of the larger international companies. The freedom provided by having your own set of wheels means that you can travel around Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg with ease, exploring neighbouring German towns, such as Ansbach, Bad Mergentheim, Furth, Niederstetten, Satteldorf and Wurzburg. Further afield, both Munich (three hours) and Stuttgart (two hours) are within driving distance. Close to the town is the busy A7 autobahn.

In Rothenburg ob der Tauber are five large car parks, sited outside of the town walls and well signposted - two of which are free for cars. However, it is worth noting that the centre of town is closed to vehicles between 11:00 and 16:00, and 19:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday, and throughout weekends. This does not apply to residents or hotel guests.

Book your Nuremberg Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Long-distance buses travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Augsburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Fussen and Wurzburg, and there is also a regional bus service from Nurnberg. Journey times vary considerably. Local buses travel to the surrounding areas and provide a very affordable means of getting around the region, with Europabus stops being located at the Hauptbahnhof (railway station).

Trains

Trains run from Nurnberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which sits on a one-track rail spur beginning at Steinach. Travel from Nurnberg to Steinach requires a change of trains at Ansbach. Services also run from Munich and Frankfurt, but encounter similar train changes before hitting the single line section at Steinach. Regular direct trains to Wurzburg are available, with an expected journey time of one and a half hours.

Taxis

A taxi service is available from the train station, located outside the town walls - a 20-minute drive from the centre. Taxis are also available for transportation around the town, but do not run inside the walls.