Frankfurt Multi-Day Trip: Heidelberg to Rothenburg

Goethe was born here, the Romantics wrote here, and a rail line links the cities where both left their mark. This route starts in Frankfurt and travels south and east through Heidelberg and Würzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with Deutsche Bahn doing the driving.

Frankfurt, two nights

Frankfurt takes two nights to do well. Open with the Goethe-Haus and the Deutsches Romantik-Museum at Großer Hirschgraben 21. They share one ticket, and both open from 10:00 to 18:00, with Thursday until 21:00. Prices are on frankfurter-goethe-haus.de . The Städel Museum on Schaumainkai is open Tuesday to Sunday, with late opening on Thursday, and about €17 to €19 buys an adult ticket. On the second evening, cross the Eiserner Steg for Apfelwein. Keep bags close around the Hauptbahnhof, where pickpockets work the concourse.

Heidelberg, one night

ICE trains cover Frankfurt to Heidelberg in about 50 minutes. In the romantic Altstadt, cross the Alte Brücke, take the Bergbahn funicular to the castle ruins, and see the 219,000-litre Great Barrel. The German Pharmacy Museum is also worth a stop. The Philosophenweg across the Neckar is the walk for the view. Fares are on bahn.de . A room in the old town keeps the evening free, and you can compare Heidelberg hotels on Booking.com .

Würzburg, one night

Würzburg’s Residenz is a UNESCO-listed Baroque palace, and it is the reason to stop. Plan a morning at the palace and keep the afternoon for the old town.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The last stop is a medieval walled town on the Romantic Road. Its preserved ramparts can be walked, and the town works as a half-day finish before a long ride back. The connection from Würzburg uses regional trains, so look up the exact changes on bahn.de before booking a hotel.

Arriving by air

Frankfurt Airport has two rail stations. The S8 and S9 leave from the Regionalbahnhof beneath Terminal 1 and reach the Hauptbahnhof in 11 to 13 minutes. ICE trains use the separate Fernbahnhof and run on to Heidelberg and other cities without calling at the Hauptbahnhof. An airport single costs €6.90, and a €3.80 city ticket is not valid on that route. A €60 fine applies to anyone without a valid ticket. Fares are on rmv.de .

Planning notes

The Deutschlandticket does not cover ICE or IC trains, so price a point-to-point ticket for the Heidelberg and Würzburg legs. The day trips page shows Heidelberg as a single day if four nights is too long.

Tip: spend your last Frankfurt evening at the Städel, which stays open to 21:00 on Thursdays, and take the ICE to Heidelberg the next morning.

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