Parking and Driving to Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria

Driving is the easiest way to travel to the wall-encircled medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria with many car parking lots available for day-trip visitors.

Driving and parking inside Rothenburg old town are not the best option for day trip visitors. Car in front of the Röderbogen an Markusturm in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Driving is the easiest way to travel to the romantic town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Franken (Franconia) in the northern parts of Bavaria in central Germany. Cheap parking is available on the outskirts of the town. This amazing medieval town is one of the top tourist sights in Germany and a popular stop when traveling along the Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) vacation route. Cars travel fast on the German autobahns, making medieval Rothenburg a popular day-trip destination even from cities as far afield as Frankfurt am Main, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, and Munich. Hotels in Rothenburg are surprisingly cheap while day-trip bus tours are often available from Munich and Frankfurt.

Driving on the Autobahn to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The easiest and fastest way to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber is by car via Germany’s fast autobahn network. Large sections of the highways near Rothenburg are without speed restrictions. Drivers unfamiliar with high-speed driving are advised to stay in the slower right lane.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is just 5 km (3 miles) from exit 108 on the Autobahn A7 to the south of Würzburg. Several other autobahns cross the A7 nearby, allowing for fast driving times to Rothenburg from many parts of Germany.

Driving distances and times to Rothenburg ob der Tauber using the fastest routes are as follows:

Frankfurt am Main – 180 km / 112 mi / 1h45
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) – 190 km / 118 mi / 1h40
Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) – 280 km / 175 mi / 2h30
Würzburg – 70 km / 44 mi / 50 min
Nuremberg (Nürnberg) – 105 km / 65 mi / 70 min
Munich (München) – 250 km / 155 mi / 2h20
Munich Airport (MUC) – 240 km / 150 mi / 2h10
Heidelberg – 165 km / 102 mi / 1h30
Stuttgart – 150 km / 93 mi / 1h30
Berlin – 500 km / 310 mi / 5h00
Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle – 250 km / 155 mi / 2h20

Romantic Road and Scenic Routes to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Travelers with more time may prefer to exit the autobahns and follow more scenic routes to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Several options are available:

Following the Romantic Road is the most obvious way to take the scenic route to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Driving from the north, the Romantic Road starts in Würzburg. Minor roads lead to Tauberbischofsheim and from there follows the lovely Tauber River Valley to Rothenburg. From the south, the Romantic Road follows back roads all the way from the Alps through Augsburg to Rothenburg.

Drivers from Frankfurt am Main and Frankfurt Airport may wish to leave the Autobahn A3 at Wertheim and follow the meandering Tauber River from here to Rothenburg. The driving time from Wertheim to Rothenburg along the valley road is around 90 minutes but allow plenty more time for sightseeing stops along the way.

From Heidelberg, follow the Castles’ Road (Burgenstraße) up the Neckar Valley. Driving time from Heidelberg to Rothenburg along minor roads can easily be double that of following the autobahns but the scenery and sights along the way are more than worth the effort.

Driving and Parking in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber was designed with medieval transportation in mind and large sections of the old town are completely off-limits to automobiles.

Car parking in Germany is always well-regulated, complicated, and expensive if against regulations. Day-trippers would do well to simply park in one of the large parking lots outside the town walls.

Parking in the old town is very limited and time-restricted. It is much easier to steer directly to the large, well-marked, and reasonably priced parking lots at the edge of the old town. Using these parking lots is hardly an inconvenience, as the old town walls, buildings, and streets can be enjoyed when strolling from here towards the medieval center of the old town.

On weekends and other busy periods, much of the wall-encircled part of the old town is closed to cars. An exception is made for hotel guests with proof of reservations who may enter the old town only via the Galgentor (Gallows’ Gate), which is next to the well-signposted parking lot P4.

Day-Trip Car Parking when Driving to Rothenburg

Map for cheapest parking when driving to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber has five large parking lots outside the old town (Großraumparkplätze) for the cheapest parking for day trippers and overnight guests. Prices are the same and all are open 24 hours per day. (Prices and access for mobile homes are different.)

Personally, I prefer parking P4, which is at the Galgentor. P5 to the north of the town wall is also very convenient and big, while P1 is the closest to the famous Plönlein. P2 and P3 are a few blocks further away and also open for mobile homes.

The prices at all these parking lots are the same: €1.30 per hour per car from 9.00 to 18:00 and free from 18:00 to 9:00. (Mobile homes pay €2.50 per hour, day and night.) A day ticket is €6.

There is no limit on the duration of parking but payment must be made in advance. The most common way is to pay at a vending machine and leave the paper ticket with date and time clearly visible on the dashboard of the car. Payment by some apps is also possible.

Parking Inside Old Town Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Parking inside the wall-enclosed Altstadt parts of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is more expensive, more complicated, and time-restricted. Few foreign visitors would regret simply parking outside the walls.

Some of the parking spaces and small parking lots inside the old town area are Kurzzeit Parkplätze. Anyone may park here but for a maximum of two hours per day between 8:00 and 20:00 (€2 per hour) and unrestricted (and free) overnight.

However, keep in mind that many parking spots inside the old town are for local residents only (Anwohner). You may only park here if you have the correct permit.

Furthermore, some parts of the old town have a Nachtfahrverbot, meaning it is not allowed to drive here between 19:00 and 6:00. (You may drive to and from your hotel if staying in this zone.)

Hotel guests may buy a 24-hour Gästevignette parking permit from the hotel at check-in. This allows for parking inside the walls for €20 per day without the two-hour restriction, or outside the walls for €6. Double-check with the hotel if the exact parking spot is correct.

Although driving is the easiest way to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and parking is cheap, public transportation options are of course also available. Trains run to Rothenburg year-round while the Romantic Road Coach (previously Europa Bus EB190) provides bus transportation from April to October. Day-trip buses are often available from Frankfurt and Munich.