3 Best Hotels in Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, The Romantic Road

At this exquisite little hotel most rooms have a stunning, wide-angle view into the romantic Tauber Valley, and they also have plush furnishings, with antiques or fine reproductions, including four-poster beds. There are three family apartments available for rent that are separate from the hotel. Breakfast is served on the terrace on top of the town wall in good weather, offering a grand view of the surroundings. The Steinway Cellar holds a grand piano, and there is a small spa area for all guests.

It's fitting that the prettiest small town in Germany should have in its center a pretty, small hotel, which has been welcoming guests for more than 600 years. Each room is different, with its own charming color scheme; many have antique furniture. Try for a room on the top floor toward the back, overlooking the Old Town and the Tauber River valley. Breakfast is in a sunny and elegant room with a lovely view of the garden. In summer you'll want to eat on the terrace, surrounded by flowers, or the sidewalk cafe, for people-watching.

The Markusturm began as a 13th-century customs house, an integral part of the city defense wall, and has been an inn for more than 500 years, operated as a luxurious small hotel for the last four generations by the Berger family. Some rooms have beams, others have historic painted bedsteads, and some have valuable antiques from the Middle Ages, such as ceramic heating units (now just decorative), four-poster beds, even one with an in-room tub. Try to get a reservation for dinner when you arrive, since the beamed, elegant restaurant does fill up. Along with well-selected wines, you can also enjoy your dinner with three kinds of house-brewed beer. In summer head for the patio.