🏰 Germany’s Romantic Road: Castles, Vineyards & Storybook Towns

This stretch of our European journey followed the iconic Romantic Road through Bavaria, Germany – an enchanting route lined with half-timbered towns, vineyard-covered hills, medieval castles, and winding cobblestone streets. From sipping hefeweizen and eating pretzels in Heidelberg’s Altstadt, to staying in two incredible castles – Burg Hornberg, perched above a vineyard, and Burg Colmberg, a 1,000-year-old fortress – we dove headfirst into Old World charm. We explored storybook Rothenburg (so good, we visited twice!), walked the preserved medieval walls, and took the famous Night Watchman tour. We also experienced the Würzburg wine festival, zipped down the Autobahn at 185 km/h (115 mph), and wound through sleepy Bavarian villages all the way to the Bavarian Alps. The Germany leg ended on a high – literally – with a visit to the castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, followed by paragliding over them and canoeing on Lake Alpsee. Whether you’re after scenic drives, historical sites, or unforgettable food and wine, this Romantic Road adventure delivers charm at every stop.

Romantic Road Itinerary

This itinerary is based on the Germany leg of our 2018 Europe trip:

• May 24-25 Burg Hornberg: 1 night in a castle
• May 25-26 Burg Culmberg: 1 night in a castle
• May 26-27 Rothenburg: 1 night
• May 27-29 Hohenschwangau: 2 nights (drive Romantic Road)

Day 1: Paris > Heidelberg > Burg Hornberg

• 🏨 6:00 AM: Check-out of Paris hotel
• 🚇 6:12 AM: Metro from Odeon ➝ Gare de l’Est (9-min, every 7-min)
• 🚆 7:18 AM – 10:44 AM: Train to Heidelberg (🎟️ Pre-purchase recommended)
• 🚗 11:00 AM: Pick up rental car (🎟️ Reserved via Sixt, $265.60)
  🅿️ Parking in Heidelberg
• 🍽️ 11:30 AM: Lunch @ Vetter’s Alt Heidelberger Brauhaus
• 🌉 1:00 PM: Explore Carl Theodor Old Bridge (Alte Brucke)
• 🏰 2:00 PM: Funicular & Heidelberg Castle
• 🚗 4:00 PM: Drive to Burg Hornberg (73-min)
• 🏰 5:00 PM: Stop to explore Burg Guttenberg (free parking, see bird show if time permits)
• 🏨 6:00 PM: Check-in to Burg Hornberg ($182 via Booking.com)
  🚶 Explore Castle & Vineyards
• 🍽️ 8:00 PM: Dinner @ Burg Hornberg Restaurant (🎟️ Reservation recommended)

Day 2: Burg Hornberg > Rothenburg > Burg Colmberg

• 🍽️ 9:30 AM: Hotel breakfast + further explore Burg Hornberg castle
• 🚗 11:00 AM: Drive (73-min) to Weikersheim
• 🏰 12:30 PM: Schloss Weikersheim (explored Baroque gardens, tour castle if time permitting)
• 🚗 1:00 PM: Drive (30-min) to Rothenburg
• 🍽️  2:00 PM: Lunch @ Zum Schwan
• 🏛️ 3:00 PM: Medieval Crime & Punishment Museum (€7)
• 🎄 4:00 PM: Christmas Museum (free entry)
• 🚗 6:00 PM: Drive (20-min) to Burg Colmberg
• 🏨 6:30 PM: Check-in to Burg Colmberg Hotel ($146 via Booking.com)
  🚶 Explore Castle
• 🍽️  7:30 PM: Dinner @ Burg Colmberg Restaurant (🎟️ Reservation recommended)

Day 3: Burg Colmberg > Würzburg > Rothenburg

• 🍽️ 8:00 AM: Hotel breakfast
• 🚗 8:30 AM: Drive (60-min) to Schloss Veitshöchheim
• 🏰 9:30 AM: Explore gardens (audio guide available for garden, tours in German & required to go in)
• 🚗 10:00 AM: Drive (18-min) to Würzburg
  🅿️ Park @ Marktgarage, Karmelitenstraße
• 🚶Würzburg City Walk (Entire Walk Route)
• 🍷 12:00 PM:  Würzburger Weindorf (Lunch + Wine Festival)
• 🏰 2:00 PM: Explore Marienburg Festung (Fortress) + Fürstengarten (Garden)
  🎟️ Purchase combo castle ticket including Marienburg Fortress, Residenz Palace, Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee, Residenz Munich).
• 🏛️ 3:00 PM: Residenz Palace + Hofkirche church (3 PM English tour)
• 🚗 4:00 PM: Drive (46-min) to Rothenburg
• 🏨 5:00 PM: Check-in to Hotel Spitzweg ($120 via Booking.com)
• 🍽️ 6:00 PM: Dinner @ Zur Holl (🎟️ Reservation recommended)
• 🔦 8:00 PM: Night Watchman Tour (€7 cash, 1h, meet @ market square in front of the town hall; no reservations required)
• 🚶9:00 PM: Explore Rothenburg medieval Town Walls (1.5 miles, 🎧 Follow 64-min Rick Steves’ Audio Tour 📲 download App)

Day 4: Romantic Road – Rothenburg > Hohenschwangau

• 🍽️ 8:00 AM: Hotel breakfast
• 🚗 8:30 AM: Drive (38-min) to Dinkelsbühl
  🚶 Explore medieval city walls + Weinmarkt (Sat only)
• 🚗 10:15 AM: Drive (32-min) to Nördlingen
  🚶 Explore Stadtmauer (city walls around crater)
• 🍕 Snack lunch
• 🚗 12:30 PM: Drive (21-min) to Harburg
  👀 View Harburg Castle / town from Steinerne Brucke (bridge)
  (€3 limited access to castle; €6, 60-min tours in German only)
• 🚗 2:15 PM: Drive to Augsburg (via Donauwörth)
• 🍺 2:30 PM: Drinks/Lunch @ Bauerntanz
  🚶City Walk (56-min) including Fuggerei (oldest Catholic welfare settlement)
• 🚗 3:30 PM: Drive (37-min) to Landsberg am Lech + explore
• 🚗 4:30 PM: Drive (26-min) to Schongau
  🚶Walk (29-min) around Altstadt
• 🚗 5:30 PM: Drive (25-min) to Steingaden
  ⛪️ Visit Pilgrimage Church of Wies (€2 parking, free entry)
• 🚗 7:00 PM: Drive (28-min) to Hohenschwangau
• 🏨 7:30 PM: Check-in to Hotel Alpenstuben ($146/night via Booking.com)
• 🍽️ 8:00 PM: Dinner @ Madame Pluesch Dinner, Füssen

Day 5: Hohenschwangau – Castles + Paragliding

• 🍽️ 7:30 AM: Hotel breakfast
  🎟️ 7:45 AM: Pick up castle ticket at Ticket Counter by hotel. (Ensure to purchase combo castle ticket in Wurzburg. ⚠️ Don’t be late because they give away tickets)
• Optional: Horse drawn carriage to castle (30-min, time permitting and short lines)
• 🏰 9:15 AM: Neuschwanstein Castle tour (30-min)
  🚶 Visit Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrucke) for stunning views of castle
• 🍽️ 11:00 AM: Lunch @ Königlicher Imbiss (to-go, try pretzel, brat, beer, and coffee)
• 🏰 11:55 AM: Hohenschwangau Castle tour (30-min)
• 🪂 1:30 PM: Tegelberg Paragliding (🎟️ Pre-purchase recommended, €169 each, 30-min flight over castle, 100 kg weight limit; weather dependent – call +49 (0)15122361777 @ 9:15 AM to confirm)
• 🚣 4:00 PM: Row boat on Lake Alpsee (€4.50)
• 🍽️ 7:00 PM: Dinner @ Gasthof Krone, Füssen (fun, medieval decor and menu)

Day 6: German Alpine Road – Fussen > Salzburg

• 🍽️ 7:30 AM: Hotel breakfast
• 🏰 8:00 AM: Drive (53-min) to Schloss Linderhof + explore
• 🪵 10:30 AM: Drive (15-min) to Oberammergau + admire woodcarvings
• 🚗 11:00 AM: Drive (46-min) to Mittenwald via Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• 🍽️ 12:00 PM: Lunch in Mittenwald
• 🚗 1:30 PM: Drive (~3-hr) via Lake Walchensee & Bad Tölz to Salzburg

For more on Salzburg, check out our dedicated Austria blog.

Paris > Heidelberg > Burg Hornberg

Burg Hornberg > Rothenburg > Burg Culmberg

Burg Colmberg > Würzburg > Rothenburg

Rothenburg to Fussen

Hohenschwangau – Neuschwanstein Castles + Paragliding

German Alpine Road – Fussen > Salzburg

The next country on our European trip was Austria. Check out our dedicated Austria blog for a detailed itinerary and insider tips for Salzburg and Hallstatt.

Munich

We wrapped up our European adventure in vibrant Munich. Check out our dedicated Munich blog for a detailed itinerary and insider tips.