Things to do in  Romantic Road

With its snow-white limestone facade and fanciful turrets peeking out from the forested mountain tops of the Hohenschwangau valley, Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein) could easily have been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. In a way, it has—the German castle famously inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The royal interiors are as enchanting as the views over the surrounding wooded peaks and emerald plains below.

Spanning the northern part of Bavaria, the Franconia region of Germany is best known for its picturesque medieval towns and large number of breweries. Locals refer to themselves as Franconians rather than Bavarian and the region has maintained its own culture, cuisine, and dialect. With vineyard dotted countryside, idyllic riverside towns, and plenty of hilltop castles, the region is undeniably scenic.

If there’s one thing that the town of Harburg is known for, it's the magnificent 11th-century Harburg Castle—one of southern Germany’s oldest, biggest, and best-preserved fortifications. This sleepy Romantic Road town is loved for its fairy tale location in the Bavarian countryside, surrounded by forests and next to the River Wornitz.

Located on a hilltop over the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes, the Hohenschwangau Castle (Schloss Hohenschwangau) is a dramatic 19th-century fortress built by the king of Bavaria. Often overshadowed by its neighbor, the Neuschwanstein Castle, the Hohenschwangau is worth a visit for its dazzling interior decor and striking views of the Alpsee and surrounding mountains.

Located in a former prison and courthouse, the fascinating Medieval Crime Museum reveals the history of law in Germany and Europe. The exhibits showcase 50,000 objects—including torture devices, executioner tools, and shame masks—and offer insight into witch trials and notorious criminals from the Middle Ages.

Marienberg Fortress is a castle on a hilltop overlooking the Bavarian city of Wurzburg. Dating back to the 12th century, the castle is a symbol of the city’s resilience as it has been damaged and painstakingly rebuilt over the years. The vast fortress includes a museum, formal gardens, a baroque armory, and magnificent viewpoints, too.

St. Jacob’s Church (St. Jakobskirche) is a Lutheran place of worship in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Built between the 14th and 15th centuries, it’s been a pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages. Pilgrims come to see the Altar of the Holy Blood by Tilman Riemenschneider—a wood carving with a glass vial that’s believed to hold Christ’s blood.

Located at the confluence of the Danube and Wornitz rivers, the Bavarian beauty of Donauworth is famous for its colorful townhouses, which were carefully restored after World War II. It’s also home to the quirky Käthe-Kruse-Puppen-Museum, dedicated to the life and creations of dollmaker Käthe Kruse.

A popular stop on Bavaria’s stretch of Romantic Road, Dinkelsbühl is one of Germany’s few remaining medieval walled towns. A foray into its Old Town (Altstadt) reveals an open-air museum of cobbled market squares, colorful timbered houses, and fortified walls, which haven’t changed much in centuries.

An idyllic town along Bavaria's Romantic Road, Nordlingen is known for its medieval center, beautiful buildings, and well-preserved city walls. It’s also notable for its distinctive terrain—the town was built inside an ancient impact crater formed when a meteorite struck the earth 15 million years ago.