Chasing Fairytales Along Germany’s Romantic Road, Amsterdam Canals, and London’s Charm
Todd and I recently returned from one of our favorite European adventures yet—an unforgettable journey through Germany, Amsterdam, and London. From medieval villages and castles straight out of storybooks to luxury shopping and canal cruises, this trip had a little bit of everything.
Starting in Style: Lufthansa Business Class
Every great vacation deserves a great start, and Lufthansa Business Class definitely delivered. The flight attendants were incredibly friendly, the food service was top-notch, and the lay-flat seats made all the difference. Being able to get some real sleep on the flight meant arriving in Europe feeling refreshed instead of exhausted. If you’ve ever started a European vacation with a decent nap, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
We landed in Frankfurt around 1 PM, picked up our rental car, and immediately hit the road toward Germany’s famous Romantic Road.
Germany’s Romantic Road
The Romantic Road is one of Germany’s most scenic driving routes, stretching roughly 220 miles through Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The route connects charming medieval towns, castles, vineyards, and countryside landscapes that look like they belong on a postcard.
Of course, getting there meant driving on the Autobahn.
If you know Todd, you know this was basically his Disney World.
The Autobahn is Germany’s famous highway system, known for stretches that have no posted speed limits. Let’s just say Todd was very happy.
Stop One: Würzburg
Our first stop was the beautiful city of Würzburg.
Marienberg Fortress
Perched high above the city, Marienberg Fortress dates back over 1,000 years and offers incredible panoramic views of Würzburg and the Main River. The fortress served as the residence of powerful prince-bishops for centuries and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Marienkapelle
Located in Würzburg’s market square, Marienkapelle is a stunning Gothic church known for its beautiful architecture and intricate stonework. Despite its name, it is actually a church rather than a chapel.
After sightseeing, we enjoyed an early dinner at Sankt Markt. The schnitzel was absolutely incredible, and the staff couldn’t have been sweeter or more welcoming.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: A Real-Life Fairytale
From Würzburg we continued to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, often considered Germany’s best-preserved medieval city.
Walking through the city gates feels like stepping directly into a storybook. Cobblestone streets, colorful half-timbered buildings, flower boxes, towers, and ancient city walls surround you everywhere you look.
Gästehaus am Plönlein
For the night we stayed at Gästehaus am Plönlein, one of the most magical places we’ve ever stayed. Every room is unique, and we were fortunate enough to stay on the top floor where the views over the city rooftops were absolutely breathtaking.
Landwehr-Bräu am Turm
Before settling in for the evening, we stopped for some local German wine and beer at Landwehr-Bräu am Turm. It felt like the authentic neighborhood pub every traveler hopes to discover.
That evening we wandered through the city walls as the sun set. The entire town felt like something out of a fairytale.
Christmas All Year Long
The next morning we explored Rothenburg’s famous Christmas Museum.
If you love Christmas even a little bit, this place is dangerous. You could easily spend hours wandering through ornaments, decorations, and holiday displays from around the world. Unfortunately, we still had plenty of Romantic Road left to conquer.
Nördlingen: A City Inside a Crater
Our next stop was Nördlingen.
What makes this city unique is that it was built inside a giant meteor impact crater created about 15 million years ago.
St. George’s Church
The city’s most famous landmark is St. George’s Church. Todd climbed to the top of the tower for incredible views while I happily remained at ground level.
At this stage of life, heights and I aren’t exactly best friends anymore.
Ulm: Home to the World’s Tallest Church
Next came Ulm.
Ulm Minster
Ulm Minster holds the distinction of having the tallest church steeple in the world, reaching nearly 530 feet high.
The city itself was noticeably larger and busier than the smaller towns we’d been visiting, so after a quick visit we continued onward.
Landsberg am Lech
We made a brief stop in Landsberg am Lech, known in part for its connection to World War II history.
It was here that Adolf Hitler was imprisoned following the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. During his imprisonment, he dictated portions of Mein Kampf.
Wieskirche
One stop we were particularly excited about was Wieskirche, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its magnificent Rococo interior.
Unfortunately, a church service was taking place during our visit, so we had to admire it through the windows. Even from outside, it was easy to understand why it is considered one of Germany’s most beautiful churches.
Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle
Then came the highlight of the Romantic Road.
Füssen.
The mountains. The scenery. The castles.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Villa Ludwig Suite Hotel
We stayed at Villa Ludwig Suite Hotel, where Neuschwanstein Castle practically sat in our backyard. Waking up to views of one of the world’s most famous castles felt completely unreal.
Alpenstuben
Dinner was at Alpenstuben, where we enjoyed another fantastic German meal before heading to bed early.
The next morning we had a 9 AM castle tour.
The Hike
There are two ways to reach Neuschwanstein Castle.
The easy way is the main road.
The adventurous way is a steep forest trail.
Naturally, we chose the trail.
The hotel staff warned us repeatedly how difficult it would be, which definitely did not calm my nerves. They were right. It was challenging and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with mobility concerns.
The best part came on the way down.
Countless exhausted visitors kept asking, “How much farther?”
Getting to tell them, “You’ve still got twenty minutes… and you haven’t reached the stairs yet,” was oddly entertaining.
Their faces were priceless.
Neuschwanstein Castle
No photos are allowed inside the castle, which is disappointing because the interior is absolutely stunning.
The rooms are carefully preserved and protected from excess light exposure. While I couldn’t capture any photos, this is genuinely one of those places that must be experienced in person.
Pictures simply don’t do it justice.
An Unexpected Shopping Detour
On the way back toward Frankfurt, Todd made a critical mistake.
While researching, he discovered Metzingen Outlet City.
Metzingen Outlet City
Think Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Ferragamo, Balenciaga, Boss, Versace, Miu Miu, Tory Burch, and more.
Once he mentioned luxury outlet shopping, there was absolutely no chance we were driving past it.
After spending more money than originally planned, we finally made the four-hour drive back to Frankfurt.
Frankfurt
We returned our rental car and took the train into the city center, staying at Le Méridien Frankfurt on points.
The hotel was lovely and conveniently located.
Frankfurt itself wasn’t our favorite city. We were only there for about twelve hours, but it wasn’t somewhere I personally felt completely comfortable walking around alone.
Cologne: Germany’s Cathedral City
The next morning we took the train to Cologne.
The moment you step out of Cologne’s train station, you’re greeted by one of Europe’s most spectacular buildings.
Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
The Kölner Dom is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. Construction began in 1248 and wasn’t completed until 1880.
It is absolutely massive.
Photos don’t prepare you for how enormous and beautiful it truly is.
We spent the day wandering, shopping, eating, drinking, and generally enjoying everything Cologne had to offer.
And once again, every beer and wine we had was fantastic.
Premier Inn Köln City Süd
That evening we stayed at Premier Inn Köln City Süd.
If you’re looking for affordable, clean, and comfortable accommodations, Premier Inn continues to impress us, especially throughout Europe and the UK.
Amsterdam
The following morning we boarded a train to Amsterdam.
The ride took about four hours.
I slept through most of it because trains apparently function as sleeping pills for me.
Boutique Hotel Asterisk
Once we arrived, we checked into Boutique Hotel Asterisk, a charming family-run hotel.
The room was adorable, the service was wonderful, and although it was about a thirty-minute walk from the city center, there were plenty of shops, restaurants, and attractions nearby.
Heineken Experience
Located in the company’s original brewery, the Heineken Experience is an interactive museum dedicated to the history of one of the world’s most famous beers.
We skipped it because Todd isn’t a huge Heineken fan, but everyone says it’s worth visiting.
Exploring Amsterdam
Amsterdam may be one of the easiest cities in Europe to navigate.
The canals are everywhere, making orientation surprisingly simple.
Everyone spoke excellent English. In fact, I barely heard Dutch the entire time.
We spent our days exactly how we like them:
Coffee.
Bagels.
Shopping.
Drinks.
More shopping.
Stroopwafels
No trip to Amsterdam is complete without trying stroopwafels.
These famous Dutch treats consist of two thin waffle cookies filled with warm caramel syrup.
They’re every bit as delicious as you’ve heard.
The Seafood Bar
Being close to the North Sea, we decided seafood was mandatory.
The Seafood Bar absolutely delivered.
Fresh, flavorful, and one of our favorite meals of the trip.
Canal Cruise
The next day we took a two-hour canal cruise.
The tour included snacks, and drinks were available for purchase.
Seeing Amsterdam from the water gives you a completely different appreciation for the city.
The Red Light District
We also took a daytime walk through Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District.
Honestly, it wasn’t what I expected.
There were only a few women working during the day, and they were all absolutely gorgeous.
Luxury Shopping Tip: Don’t Make Our Mistake
Before leaving Amsterdam, we learned an expensive lesson.
If you plan to claim VAT refunds on purchases, you generally need to process them when departing the European Union from an airport.
Since we left Amsterdam by train, we missed out on claiming a significant refund.
For example, I purchased a Burberry bag in Europe and saved approximately $200 compared to U.S. pricing. Add the VAT refund, and total savings approached $600.
For shoppers, that’s real money.
Remember that the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union, so VAT refunds must generally be processed before entering the UK.
London: Our Favorite City
Our final stop was London.
Although I have to admit Amsterdam gave London serious competition for the title of favorite city.
The weather was perfect, so we spent much of the day walking through Hyde Park before heading to Harrods for some shopping.
Faros
We returned to one of our favorite restaurants, Faros, which never disappoints.
Stayed by our favorite area, Paddington. Why?
Whenever possible, we stay near Paddington Station.
The reason is simple:
The Heathrow Express.
The train gets you to Heathrow Airport in about twenty minutes, making departure day incredibly easy. Plus. it's walking distance to almost anywhere we want to go. Harrods, Hyde Park, Oxford, Bond, etc.
Travel Tips
Romantic Road driving: Renting a car is by far the easiest way to explore the Romantic Road. Allow extra time for scenic stops, watch for parking restrictions in historic town centers, and remember that some Autobahn sections have no speed limit while others are strictly enforced.
Train travel: Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK all have excellent rail networks. Book longer routes such as Cologne to Amsterdam or Eurostar services to London in advance for the best fares and seat availability.
VAT refunds: Keep receipts and request VAT paperwork at the time of purchase. If you’re leaving the European Union for the UK, complete any required refund procedures before crossing into the UK, as rules and refund providers can vary.
Best times to visit: Late spring (May–June) and early fall (September–October) offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and beautiful scenery across Germany, Amsterdam, and London. December is also magical if you want Christmas markets and holiday decorations.
Heading Home
The next morning we boarded American Airlines and flew home to Chicago.
This trip gave us everything we love about Europe:
History.
Castles.
Amazing food.
Great wine and beer.
Luxury shopping.
Beautiful scenery.
And just enough adventure to keep things interesting.
Germany’s Romantic Road had been on our bucket list for years, and it somehow exceeded every expectation. Add Amsterdam’s charm and London’s familiar magic, and this became one of our favorite European vacations yet.
Until next time, Europe.
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