A Romantic Road Trip Through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Alsace

Our journey began with a single anchor point: Coldplay live in Frankfurt on July 2nd, 2022. Once the concert tickets and hotel were booked, we built an unforgettable couple’s road trip around it. Over ten incredible days, we crossed Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France’s Alsace region, combining dramatic alpine nature, medieval towns, ice caves, waterfalls, wine villages, and vibrant cities.

We started and ended in Frankfurt, driving a circular route that balanced adventure, romance, and spontaneity.

Day 1 – Arrival in Frankfurt

We landed in Frankfurt in the evening, picked up our rental car from Europcar, and checked into Holiday Inn Express Offenbach, a comfortable and convenient choice for the first night.

Day 2 – The Romantic Road: Würzburg & Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Würzburg

After a quick stop at Louis Frankfurt to buy motorcycle gear (a massive store for riding apparel and accessories), we drove about 90 minutes to Würzburg.

We parked near the pedestrian zone and wandered through the old town, the farmers’ market, and across the beautiful Alte Mainbrücke. The bridge is lined with statues of saints and princes, and locals gather there with glasses of wine, enjoying the view of Marienberg Fortress.

We skipped the museums and fortress visit and instead strolled through the gardens of the Würzburg Residence, then continued along the Romantic Road.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg is pure Bavarian magic. Surrounded by intact medieval walls, the town looks like a living postcard. Colorful houses, flower boxes, traditional costumes, and perfectly preserved streets made us want to photograph every corner.

Highlights:

• Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village – a gigantic Christmas museum-store (no photography allowed).

• Market Square shops selling cuckoo clocks, candles, and teddy bears.

• Waffenkammer medieval weapons shop – do not miss the basement.

• The famous Schneeball pastry (we skipped it… it looked heavier than tempting).

Important tip: most shops close around 18:00, so arrive earlier.

We checked into Akzent Hotel Schranne (excellent parking bonus), had dinner at Hotel Reichsküchenmeister, and ended the evening with the unforgettable Night Watchman Tour – entertaining, informative, and absolutely worth it.

Day 3 – Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen & Füssen

We started with the Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum – fascinating and brutal history.

Dinkelsbühl

A small, charming town with 16 fortified towers. We walked along the river paths and old streets before continuing.

Nördlingen

A perfectly circular walled town. We climbed Daniel Tower (365 steps) for stunning views of the entire city and enjoyed lunch at Eiscafé Pizzeria Firenze.

Füssen

Unfortunately, we failed to book tickets in advance for Neuschwanstein Castle, and Marienbrücke was closed. Lesson learned: book early.

We stayed at Hotel Füssen, right on the pedestrian street. Great location, fair parking fee, no air conditioning – but a fan saved the night.

Dinner at Il Pescatore was excellent.

Day 4 – Highline 179, Linderhof, Mittenwald & Garmisch

We crossed into Austria to walk the spectacular Highline 179, a 406-meter suspension bridge suspended 114 meters above the valley. Exhilarating and unforgettable.

Next stop was Linderhof Palace. We skipped the German-only guided tour but spent time wandering the magnificent gardens – free entry and absolutely beautiful.

Leutasch Gorge (near Mittenwald)

A shaded, family-friendly gorge walk over bridges and forest paths. Despite some logistical hiccups, it turned out to be a pleasant hike.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Due to the G7 Summit, the town felt deserted. Police, journalists, and closures everywhere. Hiking trails and attractions were shut, and prices had skyrocketed. We stayed at Biohotel Garmischer Hof – excellent hotel, no AC, but again a fan saved us.

Day 5 – Höllentalklamm & Zugspitze

Höllentalklamm Gorge

One of the most dramatic gorges we’ve ever walked. After a steep climb, we entered a wild world of tunnels, bridges, roaring water, and sheer rock walls. Absolutely breathtaking.

Zugspitze – Germany’s Highest Peak

We took the cable car from Eibsee to nearly 3,000 meters. Sadly, thick clouds erased the view, but walking a short via ferrata path to the summit statue, surrounded by fog, felt surreal.

Dinner at Hofbräustüberl wrapped up another intense day.

Day 6 – Hintertux Glacier & Ice Cave (Austria)

We crossed into Austria early and headed to Hintertux Glacier, riding multiple cable cars up to 3,250 meters.

Snow in June. Skiers everywhere. A white dreamscape.

Nature’s Ice Palace

A guided tour inside a natural ice cave beneath the glacier. Walking through frozen chambers, climbing ladders, and standing beside an underground glacial lake was one of the most unique experiences of the trip.

Total time: about 4.5 hours including ascent and descent.

We stayed at Haus Markus, a warm, family-run guesthouse with a sauna and welcoming atmosphere.

Day 7 – Spannagel Cave, Thermal Spa & Stuibenfall

Spannagel Cave

A 2.5-hour guided cave trekking tour with helmets, lamps, ladders, and a short via ferrata section. Educational, adventurous, and incredibly well guided.

Erlebnistherme Zillertal

A large thermal pool complex with indoor and outdoor pools, slides, and relaxation areas. Perfect after a demanding cave day.

Stuibenfall Waterfalls

An evening hike up Austria’s tallest waterfall. Wet, steep, dramatic, and absolutely worth it. We ranked it alongside Yosemite’s Mist Trail – that good.

Day 8 – Rhine Falls, Eguisheim & Colmar

Rhine Falls (Switzerland)

Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Standing less than a meter from the raging water was thrilling.

Eguisheim (Alsace, France)

One of the most beautiful villages in France. Colorful medieval streets, stork nests on rooftops, wine shops, and a relaxed atmosphere. We enjoyed an Alsace Spritz in the main square before moving on.

Colmar

We stayed at the fantastic James Boutique Hotel and explored Little Venice, with its canals and flower-filled houses. Pure charm.

Day 9 – Colmar, Riquewihr & Strasbourg

Riquewihr

A small wine village surrounded by vineyards. We visited local wineries and bakeries selling Alsatian coconut cookies in various flavors.

Strasbourg

We stayed at the outstanding LÉONOR Hôtel, the best hotel of the trip. Stylish, spacious, excellent food, and perfect location.

We joined a Segway tour in English that covered both the old and new city, including:

• Petite France

• Strasbourg Cathedral

• European institutions

• Parc de l’Orangerie, full of storks nesting above our heads

Dinner was a highlight: wine and cheese tasting at Un Cantalou à Strasbourg. Six wines, six cheeses, and pure joy.

Day 10 – Strasbourg, Shopping & Coldplay

After a relaxed morning in Strasbourg, we stopped at Roppenheim The Style Outlets for serious shopping deals, then returned to Frankfurt.

That night: Coldplay at Deutsche Bank Park. Emotional, powerful, joyful. The perfect climax to an extraordinary journey.

Final Tips

• VAT refunds: Always ask for tax-free forms. Submit all at the departure airport.

• Vignettes: Buy highway stickers for Austria and Switzerland in advance.

• Navigation: Use Google Maps alongside car GPS.

• Packing: Bring toiletries, sunscreen, towels for spas, and good hiking shoes.

• Hotels: Booking directly via hotel websites can be cheaper than Booking.com.

This trip was everything we hoped for and more: romantic, intense, adventurous, and deeply memorable. A journey through Europe that blended music, nature, history, and love – one we’ll never forget.