Romantic Road Trip Map

Most Romantic Road in Germany for a Driving Holiday

This summer get ready for a magical romantic road trip along the lush-green countryside and picturesque villages of Germany.

The Romantic Road or “Romantische Straße” is a popular tourist route that stretches along 220 miles between Wurzburg and Fussen.

Built after World War II this road will take you back to the time with its old cathedrals, mountains, and fairytale castles.

If you are adventurous, drive through the village towns and explore the Bavarian culture or you can rent a car and the drivers are extremely courteous.

The road trip generally takes about 4 to 5 days. If you want to explore more and get a feel about the culture and livelihood of the old towns of Germany, you can easily extend your trip to a week or so.

There are plenty of stay-inns and hotels. You can opt for the castle hotels and enjoy the royalty and extravaganza or you can stay and enjoy the hospitality of traditional German homes. Either way, it would be a pleasant experience.

Romantic Road Trip Map
Romantic Road Trip Map

Romantic Road Best Stops

Würzburg

Your Romantic Road Trip should start with Würzburg, a town famous for magnificent fortresses, frescos, and museums. The town is also the capital of Franconian wine and headquarters for some major wineries.

Start with the Würzburg Residence. Built in the 1700s, the palace has been declared the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The staircases are painted with gigantic frescos by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and are one of the largest in the world.

Your next stop should be the Marienburg Fortress. Built during the 12th century, the fortress walls defended the Baroque palace and was resided by the Prince-Bishops.

The place is visited by numerous tourists and locals during the day who enjoy the beautiful grapevines overlooking the bridge over a glass of old German wine.

Wurzburg Residence
Würzburg Residence

Rothenburg

Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber is about 45 minutes’ drive from Würzburg. Picture-perfect and irresistibly beautiful the entire town is painted with bright pastel colors of blue, yellow, and red.

Walk through the cobbled roads and visit the local markets and stalls of handcrafted souvenirs.

Right at the heart of the city is the Rothenberg Town Hall. Its history dates back to the early 1200s and is a true example of Gothic architecture.

About 52 meters high, the Town Hall has exactly 220 stairs that will lead you to the top of the building. Enjoy the spectacular rooftop view of the town which looks just like a Christmas card.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Dinkelsbühl

Get up early in the morning and head out for Dinkelsbühl, small-town south of Rothenburg.

Charming and quintessential, the timbered town is surrounded by city walls and huge gates.

Dinkelsbühl looks very similar to Rothenburg with brightly colored houses that will take you right back to the middle ages.

Visit the old Romanesque St.-Georgs-Kirche Church built during the 15th century or the Deutsches Haus the ancestral home of Counts of Drechsel-Deufstetten built during the 1400s.

Deutsches Haus is a remarkable example of timber framing with beautiful images of Mary with Child and Roman Gods.

Dinkelsbühl Timber House
Dinkelsbühl Timber House

Nördlingen

Nördlingen, a 30-minute drive from Dinkelsbühl is a fascinating place to visit.

The town sits right at the center of a meteor crater and the crater ring can be seen right from the top of “Daniel” the Church spire of Nördlingen.

The spire itself is built from a suevite stone that was created during the huge impact. The crater is part of the National Geopark Ries which conducts group tours in the area.

If you are at Nördlingen, you must definitely visit the Ries Crater Museum. The geological museum stores extensive evidence and research work of the crater formation and are visited by hundreds of visitors every year.

Ries Crater Museum-Suevite
Evidence of Suevite in Ries Crater Museum

Augsburg

Brimming with Renaissance art and culture, Augsburg has a great historical significance.

Presumably, one of the wealthiest cities in the 15th century, Jacob Fugger and Welser families played an important role in shaping the financial position of the city. They brought in great wealth and Augsburg emerged as a prominent trade center.

Fuggerie, named after Jakob Fugger is a housing complex and residents here still abide by the age-old rules set out Fugger himself.

The City Hall built in 1610, is another example of the wealth and grandeur of the Renaissance period. Right at the entrance of the building lies an image of “Reichsadler”, the Imperial Eagle which looks truly majestic.

The Augsburg Cathedral is also a beautiful and quiet place. Crafted in old Gothic style and stained glasses, the Cathedral dates back to the early 11th century and is a must visit.

Beautiful Town of Augsburg
Beautiful Town of Augsburg

Munich

All good things come to an end and what’s a better way to end the trip than to visit Munich.

The city is full of life with beer gardens, palaces, and museums to visit.

Relax and unwind in Munich’s English Garden and watch the surfers beat the waves in the middle of Eisbach River.

You can also visit the Pinakothek Museum which is the largest museum in the world. Built in the 18th century by King Ludwig I, this museum has huge galleries with collections of paintings and modern art from the early 19th century and is a popular tourist attraction.

English Garden, Munich
Munich’s English Garden