Dinkelsbühl

Dinkelsbühl is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Germany, a postcard-perfect stop on Bavaria's Romantic Road between Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Nördlingen. Behind an almost complete ring of walls and four gate towers, you'll find streets lined with colorful gabled houses, half-timbered mansions and a soaring late Gothic church. Less crowded than Rothenburg but just as charming, this former Free Imperial City on the Wörnitz River is ideal for a relaxed half day or an overnight stay.

A short history

Dinkelsbühl came under royal protection in 1274 and grew wealthy as a Free Imperial City, answerable directly to the emperor. Construction of the town wall began in 1372; at its peak the fortifications had up to 27 towers.

During the Thirty Years' War, Swedish and imperial troops took turns occupying the town. Dinkelsbühl avoided major destruction, though it paid heavily in war levies. According to legend, in 1632 the town's children begged a Swedish colonel to spare the city, and the story is still celebrated every July in the Kinderzeche festival. Because later wars also largely passed it by, the old town survived remarkably intact. About 12,400 people live here today.

Things to do in Dinkelsbühl

• St. George's Minster: Completed in 1499, it is one of the most important late Gothic hall churches in southern Germany. On selected days you can climb the tower for rooftop views.
• Weinmarkt: The main street, lined with grand burgher houses, is the town's signature view. Look for the richly carved half-timbered Deutsches Haus.
• Town walls and gates: Four gate towers survive: the Wörnitz, Nördlingen, Segringen and Rothenburg gates. The fortified town mill by the Nördlingen Gate is especially photogenic.
• House of History: Housed in the Old Town Hall, this museum covers more than 800 years of local history, including a section on the witch trials. It is open every day of the year.
• Night watchman tour: Join the free evening walk with the town's night watchman for stories and atmosphere.

Tours and visitor information

As of October 2026, according to the Dinkelsbühl tourist office:

• Guided town walk: April to January 6, daily at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; January 7 to March, daily at 11 a.m. It lasts 60 minutes and costs €8; children under 10 are free. Tours start at the tourist office, Altrathausplatz 14. Alternatively, you can rent an audio guide for €8.
• Night watchman tour: April to January 6, daily at 9 p.m. (January to March on Fridays and Saturdays), starting at St. George's Minster. It is free and needs no booking.
• Tourist office hours: May to October, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How to get to Dinkelsbühl

Dinkelsbühl is in western Middle Franconia, close to the Baden-Württemberg border, about 1 hour 45 minutes by car from Munich and around 1.5 hours from Nuremberg. It sits just off the A7 autobahn (exit Dinkelsbühl/Fichtenau). Park outside the gates and walk in.

The town has no regular passenger train service. The nearest stations are Crailsheim (14 miles), Dombühl and Ansbach, with regional buses into town. From April to October, the Romantic Road Coach connects Dinkelsbühl with Frankfurt and Munich, which makes it easy to visit several Romantic Road towns without a car.

Is Dinkelsbühl worth visiting?

Yes. It offers the medieval atmosphere many travelers seek in Rothenburg, with fewer tour groups. Two to three hours are enough for the highlights, but staying overnight lets you enjoy the night watchman tour and the quiet streets after the day-trippers leave. Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons.

Nearby

• Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Germany's most famous medieval town, about an hour north by car.
• Nördlingen: A circular walled town inside the Ries meteorite crater, about 17 miles south.
• Feuchtwangen: A small town known for its Romanesque cloister, just 7 miles away.