The Munich coach: 2,440 reviews, and it never comes to Würzburg
What 2,440 people are actually rating
A coach, a guide, a castle and, by its reviewers’ account, about three hours in Rothenburg. Twenty-seven of them wrote something, and the written record runs to eight languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek and Japanese. Guides are named constantly — Anna, Hayley, Patricia, Monika, Dimitri, Jacqueline, Melanie — and so are the drivers, which is unusual and generally a good sign.
“Our guide, Patricia, and driver, Smiley, were excellent. Very highly recommend this trip to anyone - have done so many GYG trips all over the world and this is in the Top five! Harburg castle is absolutely exquisite and Rothenburg on der Tauber is just beautiful. Easy to navigate and a real treat. The transport was faultless and very comfortable, with our driver doing a fantastic job. Patricia was fun and super-engaged the whole day and very knowledgeable. Couldn’t ask for more. Thank you!”
“Great day out! Enjoyable stop at Harburg medieval castle. Rothenburg was just gorgeous... I highly recommend climbing Rödeturm tower for magnificent views over the old town.”
“Lo que más me gustó fue la visita a rothenburg, la cual extenderia al menos una hora más o también prescindiria de la visita al castillo de harburg para dedicar todo el tiempo a la ciudad de rothenburg y poder visitarla sin prisa y con más tiempo.”
“Münihten günü birlik olarak yapılabilecek en iyi turlardan biri olduğunu düşünüyorum. Ama kale gezisi tamamen gereksiz ve yol üzerinde mola olsun diye konuşmuş gibi, guided tur 12 euro bence o içerik için pahalı, ayrıca oraya gidince gördük ki kişi başı giriş sadece 3.5 euro. Yani turu alın ve direk rogenburga girin, kale gezisini pas geçebilirsiniz.”
“Nice. I would not mind if there was one more hour in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Return would still be only 8 pm to Munich”
“Nous avons adoré notre excursion. Notre guide Anna était super informée, passionnée et gentille. C’était une journée parfaite !”
The two complaints that recur
Not enough time in Rothenburg. Four of the twenty-seven say it, in Spanish, English and Turkish: an extra hour, an extra half hour, three hours is not long enough for a town like that. One of them works out that a later departure would still have the coach back in Munich by eight in the evening.
Harburg Castle divides people. Some call it exquisite and the highlight of the morning. One reviewer, writing in Turkish, went, compared the guided castle tour with the plain entry ticket, decided the guided version was not worth what it cost and advises skipping the castle for more time in Rothenburg. That is worth knowing, because castle entry is not included in this listing. It is money you decide about on the day, and that reviewer is the only person on this site who tells you so from experience.
What it means for a Würzburg trip: nothing
Not one of the 2,440 has seen the Residence on this tour, because the tour does not go past it. The route is Munich, Harburg, Rothenburg, Munich. If you are in Würzburg and want Rothenburg, the coach from Würzburg main station is three hours shorter and starts a short walk from your train. It has eighteen ratings against this one’s 2,440, and that is the honest trade, laid out on its own page.
If you are in Munich and want the Residenz, this is not the booking either. Würzburg has its own station, the palace is about a twenty-minute walk from it, and the ticket at the door is inexpensive and includes a guided tour. Getting here is on how to get there.
What works
- 2,440 ratings, by far the largest sample on this site
- Twenty-seven written reviews in eight languages, most of them naming a guide
- Drivers named as well as guides, repeatedly
- Harburg Castle and three hours in Rothenburg in one day out of Munich
Worth knowing
- It never stops in Würzburg and nothing in it concerns the Residence
- Harburg Castle entry is not included and is paid on the day
- Four reviewers want more time in Rothenburg; one would skip the castle
- Ten and a half hours, most of it on the road
The Romantic Road days that do involve Würzburg
Leaves from hereRomantic Road & Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tour from Würzburg
Photo stop at the palaceFrankfurt: Romantic Road & Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tour
Private, per groupRothenburg: Private Night Watchman Tour
One leaves from here. One stops at the Residence for fifteen minutes on its way back to Frankfurt. The fourth listing is an hour after dark in Rothenburg itself, for people staying the night. All four are compared on Romantic Road day trips.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Munich Romantic Road day trip stop in Würzburg?
No. It runs Munich, Harburg Castle, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and back to Munich. Würzburg is not on the itinerary, so none of its 2,440 reviews describes this city or the Residence.
Is Harburg Castle entry included?
No. The listing excludes it, and one reviewer describes paying on the spot, comparing the guided castle tour with the plain entry ticket and concluding that the guided version was not worth it. Budget for it, or plan to skip it as that reviewer suggests.
Is three hours enough in Rothenburg?
One reviewer puts the stop at three hours and says it is not long enough; four of the twenty-seven make the same complaint, and one points out that an extra hour would still have the coach back in Munich by eight in the evening. If Rothenburg is the point of your day, the shorter coach from Würzburg is reviewed here.
Which Würzburg tour should I book instead?
It depends what you want the day for, and the honest answer is that the palace itself needs no tour booking at all: the state ticket is cheap and already entitles you to join a guided tour. What is worth booking is the rest of the day, and all twelve listings are set out on every tour we list.