# Rothenburg at Advent from Frankfurt by train: the Reiterlesmarkt, the Crime Museum, the Tauber valley and dinner at Zur Höll Train from Frankfurt, the Town Hall tower above the market, the Crime Museum, lunch at the Reiterlesmarkt stalls, the Tauber valley, Schneeballen and dinner with Franconian wine at Zur Höll. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/germany/bavaria/rothenburg-ob-der-tauber/itineraries/rothenburg-advent-day-from-frankfurt · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 07:30 · Salida: 2 h 30 by train (train to Würzburg, regional train to Steinach and a short train to Rothenburg; check the connection on bahn.de) - 10:30 · Town Hall Tower, 220 Steps above the Marktplatz (during the market it opens daily from 10:30 · €4 cash) - 3 min on foot - 11:15 · Medieval Crime and Justice Museum (€10.50 per adult) - 4 min on foot - 12:45 · Reiterlesmarkt, Rothenburg's Christmas Market (lunch at the stalls on the Marktplatz; opens at 11:00) - 14 min on foot - 13:45 · Down into the Tauber Valley and the Double Bridge (W3 loop of 4.1 km; get back before dark, around 16:30) - 13 min on foot - 16:00 · Diller Schneeballenträume (Original Schneeball, €2.50) · Diller Schneeballenträume, € - 3 min on foot - 17:30 · Zur Höll (opens at 17:00; book, and if it is for the same day, by phone) · Zur Höll, €€ - 19:45 · Vuelta: 2 h 30 by train (in Frankfurt around 22:30; check the last train on bahn.de) At Advent Rothenburg sets up the Reiterlesmarkt, its Christmas market, on the Marktplatz and the surrounding streets, among half-timbered houses. This Saturday you do it all by train and on foot from Frankfurt: you climb the Town Hall tower to see the market from above, call in at the Crime Museum, eat at the market stalls, go down to the Tauber valley in the last light and have dinner with Franconian wine at Zur Höll, said to be the oldest house in the town. ## How to get there from Spain Frankfurt has direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, and a long-distance railway station at the airport. From Frankfurt to Rothenburg you go by train to Würzburg, a regional train to Steinach and a short train to Rothenburg: about two and a half hours. Rothenburg station is about ten minutes' walk from the wall. If you prefer the car, it is about two hours on the A3 and the A7, and the plan by car works at any time of year. ## The day, hour by hour 7:30 · Train to Rothenburg. Two changes, at Würzburg and at Steinach. Check the day's connection; on Advent weekends the trains are full. 10:30 · Town Hall tower. During the market it is open every day from 10:30. It is 220 steps; at the top you see the stalls being set up in the square. €4, in cash. 11:15 · Crime Museum. On Burggasse: the history of justice, from laws to masks of shame. Allow an hour and a quarter. €10.50 for adults. 12:45 · Reiterlesmarkt. Return to the Marktplatz and eat something at the stalls. On Saturday it is open from 11:00 to 20:00 and entry is free. 13:45 · The Tauber valley. Leave by the Kobolzeller Tor and follow the waymarked W3 loop, 4.1 km: the double bridge, the mills, the Topplerschlösschen and the climb to the Burggarten. In December it gets dark early: be back before 16:30. 16:00 · A Schneeball. At Diller's café, on Obere Schmiedgasse, as the market lights come on. 17:30 · Dinner at Zur Höll. The wine tavern on Burggasse opens at 17:00. Order Franconian wine by the quarter-litre and the Fränkische Brotzeit or a dish of the day. 19:45 · Train back. In Frankfurt around 22:30. ## Is it for me? If you want the Christmas market and the town without driving, yes. With children it works until dinner: the valley, the tower and the Schneeballen suit them; the museum has harsh exhibits for little ones. If you can, sleep in Rothenburg and stay to see the market at night without watching the train clock. ## Cómo llegar ### Without a car Train, on foot and train. It is the natural way to do this day. ### By car About two hours on the A3 and the A7. At Advent the car parks fill up at weekends: arrive early. ## Consejos ### Book Zur Höll If it is for the same day, by phone only, on +49 9861 4229. ### Bring cash The tower does not accept cards and at the stalls it is the most convenient. ### Wrap up for the valley It is a country path and in December it is cold and gets dark early. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### When is the Reiterlesmarkt? In 2026, from 20 November to 23 December; on Sunday 22 November it is closed. In 2027, from 19 November to 23 December. ### Why a Saturday? Because Zur Höll is closed on Sundays and on Saturday the market is open until 20:00. ### How long does it take by train from Frankfurt? About two and a half hours, with changes at Würzburg and Steinach. ### Can it be done by car? Yes, about two hours by motorway; park outside the wall.