Rothenburg ob der Tauber: The Cutest Town in All of Europe?

It’s not often that you stumble upon a destination like Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

These kinds of places — where you constantly have to pinch yourself, to make sure you’re not in some kind of magical, fairy-tale dreamland — seem to exist less and less these days.

Visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber feels like time-traveling back 500 years. As you roam the quaint cobblestone streets of the perfectly preserved town, climb inside the surrounding fortress, take in the bright colors of each old building, and drink fresh-pressed apple juice in the town square, you’ll swear you’ve never seen a place so adorable or enchanting.

Tourists walking along the cobblestone streets in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

During our Grand European Tour through Hungary, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands with Viking River Cruises, we were lucky enough to spend one day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, experiencing everything this tiny town has to offer.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which occupies Germany’s Franconia region, might be the cutest medieval town in Germany — and all of Europe, for that matter!

After reading this post, just try to tell us you disagree!

Here’s our proof that Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the cutest town in Europe!

Outdoor cafés and crowds of people roaming around

What to Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Even though Rothenburg is a tiny town of only 11,000 people, there’s a lot to do.

First and foremost, you should spend time simply soaking up the enchanting atmosphere and the incredible architecture, and taking lots of photos! Everywhere you look, you will find colorful, striped buildings adorned with flower boxes and shuttered windows, cobblestone streets, ornate signs, and cute outdoor cafés.

You should make sure to climb up into the fortress walls which surround the city, and walk through the tunnels, for bird’s-eye views of the town.

Another must-see is the German Christmas Museum, which is really more of a giant Christmas shop. There, you will find all kinds of Christmas artifacts and hand-made, hand-painted ornaments, decorations, and trinkets. Nowhere does Christmas like Germany, and as you’ll notice in Rothenburg, Christmas is a year-round event!

Locals and tourists roaming around surrounded by beautiful architecture of buildings. During your vacation in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, make sure to take lots of pictures of every beautiful corner of this city.

Holding up two mugs of drinks with the city's medieval buildings as the background

People walking along the cobblestone streets. These beautiful streets surrounded by medieval buildings are considered to be the main sights and attractions in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Beautiful buildings in the old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Beautiful medieval building by a tall monument

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Cobblestone street surrounded by beautiful medieval buidings in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Sausages, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes served on a plate

Where to Eat in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

During your stay in Rothenburg, there are a couple places you should eat and drink.

For local food — like sausage and sauerkraut — and a charming atmosphere, head to Zur Höll! No doubt, you will love this place. The awesome food, the happy mix of tourists and locals, and cold, frothy beers are a few reasons why!

In the Market Square, you will also find lots of different stands offering all kinds of snacks and drinks.

Of them, we can’t recommend the freshly squeezed apple juice stand enough!

Trust us, you’ve never had apple juice this delicious in your whole life. It’s a must!

Mauricio, blogger, sitting on a stone fence surrounded by the old buildings of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Cars parked by a street as people walk on the other side of the road

Germany's charming Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Where to Stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

If you plan to spend the night in Rothenburg (this is highly recommended — unless you’re on a Viking River Cruise like we were, of course!), then you’re in luck, because there’s no shortage of super cute places to stay in this fairy-tale town!

For your trip to Rothenburg, make sure to book a room at the Burghotel. The cute cottage-style décor will have you swooning before you even walk through the door! The sweet guest rooms, views of rolling green hills, and lovely outdoor terraces are also major pluses.

Click here to find other great deals on hotels in Rothenburg ob der Tauber!

Narrow walkway in one of the old buildings in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Beautiful flower details on the corner of an old house in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Old houses with high stone fences and worn-out roof tiles

Tourists walking along the cobblestone streets during their visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Is Rothenburg ob der Tauber the Cutest Town in Europe?

Even now, I can’t believe that Rothenburg ob der Tauber actually exists.

When it was time to return to our Viking River Cruises ship, we almost didn’t want to leave! But the prospect of visiting more German fairy tale towns, as well as other the fantastic destinations on our cruise itinerary, were enough to coax us back on board.

If we ever have the opportunity to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber again, you can bet we will! Especially if it’s during Christmastime!

What to Pack for Germany

Remember that the season of your visit to Germany will help determine what you need to pack!

Of course, summer is warmer, and you can dress as you would in this part of Europe. But as expected the winter is very cold. Always bring a beautiful coat in winter!

Here are a few top tips of what to wear in Germany:

Wool coat: During the colder months a beautiful wool coat is essential for style and practicality. You will fit in with the locals with this one.
Comfortable boots: As expected, you’ll walk a lot, so opt for a comfortable but stylish boot that you’ve worn in. You can’t go wrong with a smart Chelsea boot, like these.
Floaty dress: In the summer opt for a long floaty dress so you stay cool, and bring a light scarf so you are always prepared to enter religious sites and cover your shoulders.
Sunscreen: Nothing spoils your trip (and your photos!) more than sunburn. Remember to prepare with a good, natural sunscreen and stay protected.
Reusable water bottle: Remember to keep hydrated during your adventures; it can’t all be wine and coffee all the time! Bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep topped up.
Umbrella: There is always a risk of rain! Pack a travel sized umbrella so you don’t get caught short
Travel insurance: As with any trip, you should ALWAYS purchase travel insurance in case anything goes wrong. I’ve had my fair share of travel mishaps!

Quick Germany Tips

HOTEL: I use this website for scoring amazing deals on accommodation worldwide. Find great hotels in Germany here.
HOSTELWORLD: If you’re traveling on a budget, this is the best website to score cheap hostel deals.
VACATION RENTAL: I use this site for finding the perfect vacation rental for an unforgettable getaway.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Never go on a trip without travel insurance! If you are a remote worker and/or traveling regularly, SafetyWing has an awesome monthly subscription for digital nomad insurance (I currently use SafetyWing).
GUIDED TOURS & EXCURSIONS: Many of the tours I recommend are hosted with Viator, which also works with local tour operators. Search them all here.
CHEAP FLIGHTS: Get great deals on flights using my favorite flight fare aggregator.
TRAVEL GEAR: A collection of all of my must-have travel gear are all listed here. Most important to remember is comfortable shoes and a scarf to use when visiting religious sites.
CAR RENTAL: If you need to rent a car book car rental in advance here for the best deals.