It is actually a very old route.... It was a trade route during the Middle Ages... and before that it was a Roman highway. The towns strung along this road still retain much of their medieval character... towns with walls and gateways and towers. The Romantischastresse, as a tourist route, was organized in the 1950s by the mayors of the towns to inspire more tourism.... and boy were they successful! The quaint towns could call you all by themselves, but the beauty of this road is that it passes thorugh some of Germany's prettiest countryside... all the way into the Alps. The first time we visited some of the towns on this route, we took a bus from Munich. We had stops in Dinkelsbuhl and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.... It was a day trip. At the end of a long day, we caught a train back to Munich. That was all the time and money we had on that first trip, but it just whetted our appetite to see more of the towns preserved along this road. And if that's all the time you have, it works. There are buses that run daily both north and south along the Romatischestrasse between April and October. Much of the time it is actually a guided bus tour with commentary. You could break your trip and spend more than the couple of hours they give you to explore Dinkelsbuhl and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Both towns deserve more time. You can reach most of the main destinations by train. There are plenty of tours that will take you along this route as part of a tour of Germany too. If you like active travel and have the time and energy, you can tour by bike. Tourist Offices can provide maps and information for cyclists. Bikes can be rented at train stations. If you're really adventurous, there are campgrounds all along the way. There are plenty of hotels and Bed-and-Breakfasts (zimmers in German.... look for the zimmer-frei signs). These run the gamut from reasonable to expensive. We think the best way to enjoy the Romantic Road is to rent a car and drive along spending as much time as you want in each of the little towns along the way. The Romatischestrasse is one of the most popular tourist routes in all of Germany. All the towns tend to be crowded during the day in the summer.... especially Dinkelsbuhl and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. All the more reason to get there on your own and spend the night in one of them when the day trippers will be gone, and you can explore the streets in peace. Because the whole region is so well organized for tourists, you can get lots of information at Tourist Offices at all of the towns. There are plenty of places to eat and drink. However you plan to see this scenic and historic route, plan to spend a few days... Allow enough time so you don't have to fight the crowds. Try to go in off peak seasons. But if all you can manage is a day or two during the summer.... go for it. The Romantic Road is worth it, and just like it did for us on our first trip there, it will whet your appetite to explore more of it. Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark Hotel and B&B Tips l Packing Lists Go from Germany's Romantic Road to MouseToursTravels Home Page Privacy and Legal Policy
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