Where to stay
Stay in Weikersheim for calm and the palace on your doorstep, in Bad Mergentheim for spa hotels and the most choice, inside Rothenburg’s walls for a fairy-tale night, or in Würzburg for city life and fast trains.
The areas
Quiet basePalace on the doorstep
Small hotels, guesthouses and holiday flats around the market square and in the old town, a few minutes’ walk from the palace and garden, with wine taverns for dinner. Calm in the evening and good value.
Best for: Couples, cyclists and slow travel
Most choiceSpa hotels and parks
The biggest choice of hotels in the valley, from spa hotels with pools and wellness to simple guesthouses, 15 minutes from Weikersheim and on the same railway line.
Best for: Families, spa breaks and train travellers
Postcard townInside the medieval walls
Hotels and inns in half-timbered houses inside the town walls, magical in the evening when the day visitors leave. Pricier, and busy in summer and at Christmas, about 35 minutes from Weikersheim.
Best for: First-timers and romantic stays
City baseWine taverns and fast trains
A wide choice of city hotels near the Residence, the old town and the main station, with fast trains across Germany. About 50 minutes from Weikersheim.
Best for: Train travellers and city lovers
Weikersheim and the smaller towns of the valley have family-run hotels and guesthouses (Gasthof or Pension), often with a restaurant serving regional food and local wine.
Holiday flats (Ferienwohnung) are popular in Germany and good value for families and longer stays. Many require a minimum stay of a few nights.
Some wine growers have guest rooms, and Bad Mergentheim has spa hotels with pools, saunas and treatments.
Prices in Weikersheim and the valley are moderate for most of the year. They are highest in Rothenburg in summer and during the Christmas market, and in Würzburg during big events.
Good to know
Stay in Weikersheim for calm, good value and the palace on your doorstep, and drive to Rothenburg early or late in the day. Stay in Rothenburg if you want to wake up inside the medieval walls and do not mind higher prices.
Not for Weikersheim, Bad Mergentheim and Würzburg, which are on the railway. A car makes it much easier to reach Rothenburg, Creglingen, Röttingen and the villages.
A few weeks ahead for most of the year. Book early for Rothenburg in summer and during the Christmas market, and for Würzburg during big events and trade fairs.
Some towns charge a small tax per person per night, such as the spa tax (Kurtaxe) in Bad Mergentheim, which is usually paid at the hotel.
Plan your Tauber valley trip
Once you have a base, compare tours of Rothenburg, Würzburg and Nuremberg.