Rothenburg ob der Tauber

In the Middle Ages, when Berlin and Munich were just wide spots on the road, Rothenburg ob der Tauber was one of Germany's largest towns, thanks to its strategic position on the trade routes between northern and southern Europe. Today, it's the country's best-preserved medieval walled town, enjoying tremendous tourist popularity without losing its charm. While roughly 2 million people visit each year, most come only on day trips. Rothenburg is yours after dark, when the groups vacate and the town's floodlit cobbles wring some romance out of any travel partner.