You're in the right place! Whether in nature, in the middle of the city, for families, in the countryside, historic or traditional: among Thuringia's TOP hosts, everyone will find exactly the right address.
Erfurt
Experience the 1,270-year history of Erfurt through its sights: The ensemble of the cathedral and Severi Church, the Krämerbrücke bridge and the Augustinian monastery are just a few examples. Restaurants and a variety of events round off a visit to the state capital. Erfurt is also an ideal starting point for exploring the region.
Art and culture
From Erfurt, you can reach Mühlhausen in under an hour on the RE 1 or RE 2. Once you arrive in the medieval imperial city, it's straight off to the museum! The Museum of Cultural History awaits you with three exhibition focuses on archaeology, cultural history and art. The St. Marien & Müntzer Memorial Museum and the Peasants' War Museum in the Kornmarktkirche are also worth a visit.
If you want to spend the day centred around Johann Sebastian Bach, then Arnstadt is the place for you. From Erfurt, the RE 50 train will take you to what is probably the most important Bach location in Thuringia in around 15 minutes. Original locations such as the Bach Church and the Bach House or places steeped in history such as the Neideck ruins honour the great composer and his family.
Or you can visit the cultural city of Weimar with its 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, extensive parks, museums, galleries and palaces. Even today, the great names of the past still resonate through the diverse programme: Goethe, Schiller, Bach, Liszt and Gropius. A well-developed local transport network with 9 bus routes, all of which run via the central bus hub at Goetheplatz, enables short journeys within the city.
Ettersburg Castle is located not far from Weimar. Bus route 4 takes you from Weimar railway station to this centre of classical music in 20 minutes. Personalities such as Goethe, Liszt and Herder once stayed there; today it is a special ‘cultural hideaway’ with a hotel and restaurant. The landscaped park with its gardens and the ‘Pückler-Schlag’ is a jewel of garden art. An extensive cultural programme rounds off the visit to the castle.
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Family and leisure
The RE 7 train takes around 40 minutes from Erfurt to Zella-Mehlis. In addition to its museums, monuments and outdoor pool, the small town with a population of around 12,000 is an ideal excursion destination for families with its marine aquarium adventure park and the explorata hands-on world. In the aquarium, you can discover a colourful underwater world as well as bizarre beauties such as corals, sea anemones and unique fish species.
Back in Erfurt, you can visit the egapark. The egapark Erfurt, which can be reached by EVAG tram line 2, combines different themes and worlds. The gardens, the Danakil desert and jungle house, playgrounds, the German Horticultural Museum and the Knowledge Forest make a visit a special experience.
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Nature and activity
The Hohenfelden reservoir adventure region is located in the immediate vicinity of Erfurt. With a journey time of around 30 minutes, you can be in the countryside quickly with bus routes 155 and 113. The Avenida thermal baths are located directly on the Hohenfelden reservoir. It is a leisure and family pool with adventure slides, sauna world and outdoor area. At the reservoir itself, sports enthusiasts' hearts beat faster: swimming, sailing, jumping, mountain biking, climbing, horse riding, hiking and much more is possible here! The Hohenfelden campsite is located directly on the water and invites you to stay overnight. Whether in a tent, in one of the holiday homes or with your own motorhome/caravan - it's a great place to relax.
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Our Tip
Ilmtal Cycle path
The Ilmtal cycle path follows the blue ribbon of the Ilm. It is suitable for anyone who wants to cycle at a relaxed pace. Along the way, you will come across charming landscapes, small villages, orchards, castles and palaces. There are numerous rest stops along the way for enjoyable breaks. The Ilm Valley cycle path can be used for shorter day trips or as a 3-day tour with connections to long-distance cycle paths. The railway line runs parallel to the route, so you can hop on or off at any time. From Weimar main station, you can join stage 4, Weimar - Eberstedt.
Header picture: View of Erfurt's old town through the cathedral spires, ©Florian Trykowski, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH
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Tips for trips at a glance
Sustainable Thuringia
Sustainability is on everyone's lips, and it is important. It's about us and our future, about a healthy environment, healthy people, a fair and just world for everyone. Come along and discover good examples in Thuringia – certified spots, sustainabel offers, national natural landscapes and more!
