europe · 4 days · 10 stops

Germany's Romantic Road

Würzburg to Füssen through walled medieval towns, half-timbered villages and the Alps — 220 miles of the oldest signposted touring route in Europe.

Days
4
Stops
10
Driving
160 km
Behind the wheel
2h 21m

Driving figures are measured road distances between the stops listed for each day, not straight lines. The transfer from wherever you sleep to the first stop of the day is not included.

Daylight on this route, by season

The single number that decides whether a self-drive day works. Almost every guide tells you to "check the daylight hours"; here they are for this route, on the solstices and equinoxes.

Day Driving 21 Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar
Würzburg & the Vineyards 0h 11m 16h 20m 12h 17m 8h 6m 12h 13m
Rothenburg ob der Tauber 0h 37m 16h 16m 12h 17m 8h 10m 12h 12m
Nördlingen & Augsburg 0h 49m 16h 6m 12h 16m 8h 19m 12h 12m
Füssen & Neuschwanstein 0h 44m 15h 59m 12h 16m 8h 26m 12h 12m

Measured at the midpoint of each day's stops. "Midnight sun" means the sun does not set; "polar night" means it does not rise.

Day by day

Day 1: Würzburg & the Vineyards

2 stops · 5 km · 0h 11m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 0h 11m of driving inside 8h 6m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Würzburg Residenz

    Baroque palace and Tiepolo's ceiling; the UNESCO listing is deserved.

    Allow about 2h

  2. 2

    Marienberg Fortress

    Across the river for the postcard view over the vineyards.

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Würzburg Residenz → Marienberg Fortress: 5 km, 0h 11m

Day 2: Rothenburg ob der Tauber

3 stops · 47 km · 0h 37m driving · 5h 20m at stops

In winter: About 0h 37m of driving inside 8h 10m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Rothenburg Old Town

    Complete medieval walls; walk them and then the Night Watchman tour.

    Allow about 3h

  2. 2

    Plönlein

    The fork in the road everyone photographs.

    Allow about 0h 20m

  3. 3

    Dinkelsbühl

    Smaller, quieter and — many would say — prettier than Rothenburg.

    Allow about 2h

Legs and times
  • Rothenburg Old Town → Plönlein: 0 km, 0h 3m
  • Plönlein → Dinkelsbühl: 46 km, 0h 34m

Day 3: Nördlingen & Augsburg

2 stops · 75 km · 0h 49m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 0h 49m of driving inside 8h 19m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Nördlingen

    A town built inside a meteorite crater, with a fully walkable wall.

    Allow about 2h

  2. 2

    Augsburg

    Fuggerei social housing from 1521, still charging a token rent.

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Nördlingen → Augsburg: 75 km, 0h 49m

Day 4: Füssen & Neuschwanstein

3 stops · 33 km · 0h 44m driving · 5h 15m at stops

In winter: About 0h 44m of driving inside 8h 26m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Wieskirche

    UNESCO pilgrimage church in a meadow — Rococo overkill in the best way.

    Allow about 0h 45m

  2. 2

    Neuschwanstein Castle

    Book a timed ticket online; Marienbrücke is the view, not the castle itself.

    Allow about 3h

  3. 3

    Füssen Old Town

    End of the route, high on the Lech and under the Alps.

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Wieskirche → Neuschwanstein Castle: 27 km, 0h 31m
  • Neuschwanstein Castle → Füssen Old Town: 6 km, 0h 13m

When to drive it

21 Jun

16h 10m

of daylight

21 Sep

12h 16m

of daylight

21 Dec

8h 16m

of daylight

21 Mar

12h 12m

of daylight

Longest days are around 21 June, shortest around 21 December. On this route the swing is large enough that the same day's driving can be comfortable in June and entirely after dark in December — which is why the table above is per day.

Plan this route with the daylight in view

Tseril builds the multi-day route on a map, warns you about the legs you would drive at night, and shows the snow and weather at every stop. Free to use.

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