Romantic Road
Half-timbered villages, walled medieval towns, and Bavarian beer all the way to Neuschwanstein
- Distance
- 207 mi
- 333 km
- Driving
- 4 hr 36 min
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 5 days
- balanced split
- Stops
- 6
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 6 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
Before you go
Best time to drive it
April to June, or September to October
Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
Indicative costs
- Fuel (40 mpg petrol)€42
- TollsFree
Tolls assume ~65% of the distance on tolled road. Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Driving in GermanyEvery stop on the Romantic Road
- 1Würzburg
- 2Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- 3Dinkelsbühl
- 4Augsburg
- 5Wieskirche
- 6Neuschwanstein
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Oberammergau
landmarkA picturesque Bavarian village famous for its Passion Play performed every ten years and its traditional Lüftlmalerei painted houses.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
landmarkOne of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns, with half-timbered houses, intact city walls, and a famous Christmas market.
Eibsee
natural wonderA crystal-clear emerald lake at the foot of the Zugspitze, often called Germany's most beautiful lake with its tiny forested islands.
Linderhof Palace
castleThe smallest of Ludwig II's three palaces, set in ornate gardens inspired by Versailles in the Graswang Valley.
Würzburg Residence
castleA UNESCO Baroque palace with the world's largest ceiling fresco by Tiepolo, marking the start of the Romantic Road.
Marienbrucke Viewpoint (Neuschwanstein)
scenic viewpointA bridge spanning a gorge with the classic fairy-tale view of Neuschwanstein Castle perched on its crag above the Bavarian forests.
Romantic Road (Romantische Straße)
historic highwayA 460-kilometer route through Bavaria from Würzburg to Füssen passing medieval towns, castles, and Neuschwanstein.
Neuschwanstein Castle
landmarkFairy-tale 19th-century Romanesque Revival castle built for King Ludwig II in the Bavarian Alps.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
scenic viewpointA renowned winter sports and mountaineering hub at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak.
Zugspitze
scenic viewpointAt 2,962 metres, the highest peak in Germany offers panoramic views across four countries from its summit platform.
Hohenschwangau Castle
castleThe yellow neo-Gothic castle where Ludwig II grew up, facing Neuschwanstein across the Alpine lakes of the Allgäu.
Andechs Monastery
landmarkA hilltop Benedictine monastery above the Ammersee famous for its potent monk-brewed beer and pilgrimage church.
Common questions about the Romantic Road
How long does the Romantic Road take?
The driving itself is about 4 hr 36 min across 207 miles (333 km). Most people spread it over 5 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the Romantic Road?
207 miles, or 333 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the Romantic Road?
April to June, or September to October. Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
What does the Romantic Road cost in fuel?
Roughly €42 in fuel for a petrol car averaging 40 mpg. Motorways on this route are toll-free. Indicative only: fuel prices move.
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