The Rothenburg Christmas markets are a must if you’re dreaming of small-town fairytale Christmas!!

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2024 update: Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas markets will be open November 29 – December 23!

Rothenberg ob der Tauber is a cute, day trip-friendly city all year long! It’s said to be the inspiration for both the village in the Pinocchio movie, and the German pavilion at Epcot. So you know it’s going to be darling at every turn.

During Christmas, Rothenburg turns it up a notch and becomes a magical festive town! So if you’re headed near here during the holidays it’s a must-see.

Logistics

Most visitors come for a day trip, usually from Nuremberg, Frankfurt, or even Munich. This is really common and not too complicated. However, there are no direct train options here! 

You can either take a series of regional trains, drive yourself, or do an organized day trip, like with GetYourGuide.

The advantage of an organized trip is ease in getting directly to and from Rothenburg, and you have a pro to run your questions by about the history of the city. The con, of course, is that it’s more expensive than taking the bus. 

If you’re considering the train or driving, I highly recommend you spend a night! For one thing, the crowds go way down in the late afternoon. And the whole town is just magical at night. Imagine walking in a festive village with all the lights but none of the people! 

Speaking of driving, there are plenty of parking lots outside the city walls to leave your car, so even if your hotel doesn’t include parking there are places only a few blocks away.

There are also some great restaurants here, which I’ll share in a separate guide soon. But reach out to me if you’re headed there soon and want more specifics now! 

Hotels

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small town, but there are still plenty of small cute hotels in town. Here are a few of my favorites:

Romantik Hotel – great choice only a block from the center of town! Even if you don’t stay here, grab a meal at their restaurant.

Hotel Spitzweg – a bit more budget friendly, a still in a gorgeous building. We stayed here and it was perfectly cozy.

Hotel Goldener Hirsch – another great option on the nicer end! And dog-friendly if you’re traveling with your pup.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Specialties

The biggest thing worth knowing about the Rothenburg Christmas markets isn’t actually a booth or a meal! It’s a Christmas shop, THE Christmas shop in Germany really.

Käthe Wohlfahrt is a Christmas icon. You’ll find these stores throughout Germany (and into surrounding countries). They sell beautifully made Christmas ornaments and decor, both traditional and modern styles. Their flagship store here in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the biggest, and visiting is an experience! Google maps marks it as a Christmas museum; that’s how iconic it is.

If you can, go earlier in the day. It gets crowded! It’s open all year long, but during the holidays it feels like an extension of the Rothenburg Christmas markets. The decor and displays are fantastic even if you don’t plan to buy anything. They also sell beautifully made cuckoo clocks if you’re looking for a unique but non-holiday-themed souvenir!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market Foods

All of these foods are local specialties year-round! But at the Rothenburg Christmas markets, its especially fun to get them at the market stalls and enjoy them as you wander.

Franconian sausages are iconic to this region, so you’ll see plenty of them at the markets! They’re a regional style (you’ll find similar ones in Nuremberg) and they’re so tasty.

Winning the funniest food to eat at the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas markets: the half-meter sausages. Yes, that’s the name. It’s a long skinny sausage, served in a round bun. So the ratio is all wrong, and it just feels silly as you’re eating this super long sausage! Humor aside, it’s delicious and my number-one market food here.

Schneeballen are good dessert or breakfast! A schneeball is a deep-fried pastry ball made out of strips that are crumpled and wrapped together. Traditionally it’s coated in powdered sugar, but you’ll see tons of topping options! While you’ll see this throughout the region, it’s considered Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s signature dish.

Spatzle is eaten all over Germany and Christmas markets everywhere, but it’s worth mentioning because from this area generally! (Although people argue about its origins. I’m not a German food scholar, but me and google put our heads together and we’re going with it, yes?) Spatzle is a thicker egg noodle dish, typically served with cheese. It’s delicious, warm and cozy and perfect on a cold day. I especially love when they top it with crispy onions.

Rothenburg Christmas Markets

Because it’s so small – a village, really – you can find everything easily. 

Start with the main square, Marktplatz. This sits below city hall (Rathaus) and has their massive Christmas tree! There’s some great gluhwein here, including quince gluhwein, which I hadn’t tried before and loved! For those who aren’t up on their old-school fruits, a quince is a bit like a cross between an apple and a pear. It was really common in the Middle Ages, and while it still exists today, you’re not going to find it at your average supermarket. 

From here, wander towards St. Jacob’s Church where the market winds around. On your way is my favorite stall for food! It’s one of the bigger food stalls, you can’t miss it. They have multiple kinds of sausages, but you know I had to try the 1/2 meter one! 

The 1/2 meter sausage is a long skinny one that lives up to its name. Eating it feels a bit silly, my mind going between all the NSFW jokes to be made and that it felt like a food from Whoville alongside the roast beast. It was delicious! A lot like the best grilled hot dog you’ve ever tasted in fresh bread. 

Other corners to check out are the passageway under the back of the Rathaus, which focused on unique artisan booths. That’s saying something, because none of the booths were generic junk – everything at the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas markets was well-made, high-quality crafts! But this passage had some bigger booths selling woodwork, leather goods, and other larger creations. 

I loved the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas markets! Highly recommend if you’re heading to the area and want a magical, small town Christmas market experience.

Looking for more Christmas markets? Try Ribeauville, Heidelberg, or check my full list of European Christmas market guides!