In a nutshell
- In this article, we’ll show you our 11 top picks for things to do in Thuringia — here are our three absolute favorites first!
- Erfurt is, for us, the most beautiful city in Thuringia, with a lovely historic center and the Krämerbrücke as its standout attraction. We recommend a guided walking tour through the old quarter.
- The Wartburg in Eisenach is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous attraction in Thuringia. Absolutely not to be missed!
- Hainich National Park is our personal favorite Thuringia destination for families. The treetop walk is equally loved by parents and kids alike.
Map of the Top 11 Attractions in Thuringia
Before we dive into the top 11 highlights in Thuringia, here’s a map to help you get your bearings.
Beautiful Cities in Thuringia
Erfurt
For us, Erfurt is by far the most beautiful city in Thuringia. And not just because it’s Basti’s hometown.
Erfurt’s historic center, with its medieval houses and alleyways, is simply charming.
But the city isn’t only about history: Erfurt also has a very young, hip, and laid-back side with cool cafés and shops.
The top attraction in Erfurt is the Krämerbrücke. As a bridge that is completely built up and inhabited, it’s nearly one of a kind in Europe. Strolling across the Krämerbrücke is an absolute must on any trip to Erfurt.
What you shouldn’t miss in Erfurt:
- Krämerbrücke
- Erfurt Cathedral
- Fischmarkt
Our hotel pick: Das Kehrs — a charming boutique hotel on the Petersberg.
Guided walking tour through Erfurt’s old quarter
Check out our tips for Erfurt:
Weimar
When we think of Weimar, we immediately picture our overly ambitious German teacher who took us on a class trip to the Goethe House and Schiller Museum. Weimar is where you learn a lot about the poets and thinkers of bygone eras. Naturally, we were absolutely riveted at the time!
A few years later, Weimar won us over beyond Goethe and Schiller.
In addition to stopping by the most famous sights of this city of classics — such as the City Palace, Goethe House, or Belvedere Palace — it’s really worth strolling through the beautiful old town and taking a break at the historic market square.
Our hotel pick: Hotel Elephant — a luxurious hotel on the market square where Goethe and Schiller themselves once stayed.
Guided walking tour through Weimar’s historic center
Check out our tips for Weimar:
Jena
Jena is a bit of an underdog among the best places to visit in Thuringia. Compared to Erfurt and Weimar, it’s more of an under-the-radar pick for tourists.
But completely undeservedly so — Jena is genuinely great! There’s even a neighborhood in Jena called Paradies (Paradise) for good reason. No joke!
As a university city, Jena has plenty to offer beyond the classic sights like the Zeiss Planetarium or the JenTower.
If you have a soft spot for Goethe and Schiller, Jena won’t disappoint either. You can visit Schiller’s Garden House or one of Germany’s most beautiful universities, the Friedrich Schiller University.
On top of that, Jena is a particularly green city with lots of parks — a perfect place to unwind and recharge.
Our hotel pick: Scala Turm Hotel — a 4-star hotel with a seriously impressive panoramic view over Jena.
Top Attractions in Thuringia
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach is by far one of the most popular things to do in Thuringia.
According to legend, the Wartburg is nearly 1,000 years old. It’s a remarkable feat that the castle still stands and can be visited today. A visit is absolutely worth it!
The most famous resident of the Wartburg was Martin Luther. In the 16th century, he hid at the Wartburg under the alias Junker Jörg and during that time translated the New Testament into German.
The castle’s standout feature is the Luther Room, where Martin Luther lived for several months.
Admission to the Wartburg costs €12, and you can also buy tickets online.
Our hotel pick: Vienna House by Wyndham — a beautiful, modern hotel with excellent value for money.
Puzzle hike through the Drachenschlucht gorge and Wartburg
Check out our detailed report on Wartburg Castle:
Kyffhäuser Monument
The imposing structure you can spot from the nearby A38 highway goes by the rather unwieldy name Kaiser-Wilhelm-Nationaldenkmal auf dem Kyffhäuser. Since no one can remember that, it’s simply called the Kyffhäuser Monument. And that’s the theory.
Even if you’re not particularly interested in the history surrounding Kaiser Wilhelm and the legend of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, a visit is worth your time. The view from the base of the monument is breathtaking, and the structure itself is truly impressive.
The Kyffhäuser Monument also makes a great day trip for families. Kids love clambering around the ancient walls. There’s also a fun knight’s castle playground for the little ones.
Admission costs €9.50.
Barbarossa Cave
Just a few minutes’ drive from the Kyffhäuser Monument lies the next Thuringia highlight: the Barbarossa Cave.
Here too, the legend of Barbarossa plays an important role, but we find the cave itself absolutely fascinating on its own merits.
You descend up to 70 meters underground, passing through narrow tunnels, vast grottos, and crystal-clear lakes.
A special highlight for families is the Geo Adventure Land, featuring a huge playground and lots of hands-on elements themed around mining. Kids of all ages will have a blast.
The cave can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Tours typically depart on the hour and last about one hour. Admission costs €9.50.
Buchenwald Memorial near Weimar
Calling the Buchenwald Memorial an “attraction” doesn’t sit right with us. Yet the site is absolutely worth seeing in every sense of the word and cannot be left out here.
On the Ettersberg hill near Weimar stood one of the largest concentration camps on German soil — the Buchenwald concentration camp. Up to 250,000 people were interned there for forced labor between 1937 and 1945.
Today, the Buchenwald Memorial commemorates the horrific crimes of the Nazi regime and carries out vital educational work.
You can explore the entire memorial independently. There are also public guided tours you can join.
Admission is free to the memorial and its exhibitions.
Important note: A visit to the memorial is not recommended for children under 12 years old. Of course, it depends on the individual child’s development, but children should be able to process and put into context what they see there.
Nature Highlights in Thuringia
Thuringian Slate Mountains
The Thuringian Slate Mountains stretch from the Thuringian Forest to the Franconian Forest and offer an abundance of unspoiled nature. A true paradise for hikers and nature lovers.
Standout spots in the Thuringian Slate Mountains include two reservoirs along the Saale River: Hohenwarte and Bleiloch.
Another must-see is the so-called Teufelskanzel (Devil’s Pulpit), a popular photo spot and vantage point overlooking the Saale River bend.
Rennsteig in the Thuringian Forest
The Rennsteig is one of Germany’s most popular long-distance hiking trails. It runs for 170 kilometers straight through the Thuringian Forest — and it’s pure nature!
If you really want to disconnect, the Rennsteig is the trail for you. Apart from endless forest, the occasional inn, and plenty of wildlife, there’s not much else to see — and that’s exactly the point. You can hike different stages and difficulty levels depending on your fitness level.
In winter, you can glide through snowy landscapes on cross-country skis — at least as long as the snow holds up.
Hainich National Park
The Hainich is a vast national park north of Eisenach and one of the best places to visit in Thuringia for a day out. A full 16,000 hectares of forest await you here. The beech forest in the Hainich is even a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
Our family favorite is the Treetop Walk in Hainich National Park, where you stroll above the tree canopy and get a real sense of just how enormous the park is. You’ll have a hard time dragging the kids away from the huge adventure playground.
Admission to the Treetop Walk costs €12 for adults, and children aged 6–12 pay €4.
Puzzle hike through the beech forest in Hainich National Park
Drachenschlucht Gorge
If you don’t want to hike for hours but still want to get out into nature, the Drachenschlucht Gorge near Eisenach is the perfect choice.
On paved paths, you walk through a narrow gorge with a small stream running beneath your feet. At the narrowest point, the gorge is just 70 centimeters wide.
The easy hike through the Drachenschlucht Gorge is about 2.5 kilometers long and takes roughly one and a half hours. The return route is slightly downhill and takes about an hour. There’s also an 11-kilometer loop trail, but that takes longer and is more demanding.
Make sure to pack sturdy footwear and a light jacket, even in summer. Temperatures inside the gorge can be surprisingly cool — you might get cold quickly.
If hiking through the Drachenschlucht feels too low-key, you can spice things up with an analog puzzle hike — escape-game vibes right in the middle of nature.
