Well, day trip crowds descend on this tiny town at midday and are gone by evening. Rothenburg is a handy and worthwhile day trip from many of the largest cities and German towns in the area like Munich, Nuremberg, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart. So, if we were being technical about it, then I guess you only need a few hours to see Rothenburg. HOWEVER!!!!! There are a lot of great things to see and do in Rothenburg. Slow down the pace and give your Rothenburg itinerary 3 full days. It will give you time to explore before and after the crowds have descended and really soak up the wonderful atmosphere of this great place.