In a nutshell
- Weimar is one of Germany’s most important cultural destinations. Great artists like Goethe, Schiller, and Bach lived here — which is why Weimar is known as the City of Classics.
- The Old Town is the absolute highlight of any Weimar visit. Don’t miss the former homes of Schiller and Goethe and the iconic Goethe-Schiller Monument.
- The Park an der Ilm with Goethe’s Garden House and the Duchess Anna Amalia Library are seriously worth your time — book the Rococo Hall in advance, as only 50 visitors per day are allowed in.
- Combine your trip with a visit to Erfurt — just 12 minutes by train and every bit as impressive as Weimar.
The Most Beautiful Attractions in Weimar
Listing every single attraction in Weimar would go way beyond the scope of this article — so we’ll focus on the most important ones.
In theory, one full day is enough to hit all the places featured here. But if you want to take your time exploring the museums, plan for a little more.
Heads up: Most museums and attractions are closed on Mondays. Keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Attractions in Weimar's Old Town
The almost completely preserved and restored old town is one highlight after another. Nearly every building here has a special story to tell.
Goethe's and Schiller's Residences
The big draws are Goethe’s residence on Frauenplan and Schiller’s residence on Schillerstraße. Both houses are now museums dedicated to the lives and work of these two exceptional German poets.
Goethe-Schiller Monument
No walking tour of Weimar is complete without the Goethe-Schiller Monument in front of the German National Theater. The famous bronze statue is probably the most photographed sight in the city.
Market Square
The Market Square with its Town Hall and the colorful Cranach House is absolutely worth a visit. And while you’re there, grab a Thuringian bratwurst — they’re seriously good.
Weimar City Palace
On the western edge of the old town, the Weimar City Palace is well worth your time. Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of paintings from the 16th to the 19th century.
These are just a few of the must-sees in the old town. Wander through the narrow alleyways at your own pace and you’ll keep discovering fascinating places and buildings around every corner.
Duchess Anna Amalia Library
One of the absolute standouts in Weimar is the Duchess Anna Amalia Library, located east of the old town near Ilmpark. The library holds more than one million works spanning from the 9th century to the present day.
A fire in 2004 severely damaged or destroyed numerous historic works. The building has since been fully restored and is open to visitors again.
The real showstopper is the Rococo Hall — and only 50 visitors per day are allowed inside.
If you want to see it, arrive at the ticket office right when it opens at 9 AM, or buy your tickets in advance. You’ll find all the details on the library’s website.
Park an der Ilm and Goethe's Garden House
The Park an der Ilm (Ilmpark) is a lovely green space east of the old town, stretching 1.6 kilometers long and 300 meters wide. Goethe himself was personally involved in planning and designing the park — and being the clever man he was, he had a charming little cottage built for himself right inside it.
Today, Goethe’s Garden House is one of the most important things to see in Weimar and is open for visits.
But even without the garden house, the Ilmpark is really worth a stroll. The Roman House in the southern part of the park is also not to be missed — Goethe brought back the design inspiration from a trip to Italy.
Historic Cemetery and Russian Orthodox Church
Here’s a local favorite that most day-trippers never make it to: Weimar’s historic cemetery, located south of the old town. When we visited, we had the whole place to ourselves.
The ducal vault holds the coffins of Goethe and Schiller, among many other nobles.
Right next to the vault is a Russian Orthodox chapel — something you really wouldn’t expect to find in Weimar. It was built at the request of Grand Duchess Maria of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, who was a daughter of Russian Tsar Paul.
Bauhaus in Weimar
In 1919, Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus in Weimar, launching one of the most influential architectural movements of the 20th century. The Bauhaus legacy is still very much alive throughout the city today.
Around 4,000 students are currently enrolled at the Bauhaus University. The main building, designed by Henry van de Velde, is a real point of interest for architecture lovers — especially the staircase inside.
For the Bauhaus centenary in 2019, the new Bauhaus Museum opened in the Weimarhallenpark, northwest of the historic center.
For true Bauhaus fans, the Haus am Horn is also worth a detour. Located on the eastern edge of Ilmpark, it’s a model house built in 1923 according to Bauhaus principles. From the outside it looks like a fairly plain bungalow, but inside the ideas of the Bauhaus come through really effectively.
Schloss Belvedere
Schloss Belvedere sits a little outside the city center — about 15 minutes by bus on line 1 from the old town.
Especially on weekdays, it’s wonderfully quiet here. You can take in the magnificent estate, its orangery, and beautiful gardens without any crowds.
Note: Not every bus on line 1 goes all the way to Schloss Belvedere. Check the timetable carefully to find the buses that go directly to the palace.
Buchenwald Memorial
Weimar’s remarkable history unfortunately also includes the dark years of National Socialism. The Buchenwald concentration camp was located on the Ettersberg hill just outside the city.
Buchenwald was one of the largest concentration camps on German soil. More than 250,000 people were imprisoned there, and 56,000 lost their lives.
Bus line 6 connects Buchenwald with the main train station and the old town in 20 minutes.
Day Trip to Erfurt
Many visitors to Thuringia only see Weimar and perhaps the Wartburg, completely skipping the beautiful city of Erfurt. That’s a real mistake.
You should absolutely combine a trip to Weimar with a visit to Erfurt — the two cities are only 12 minutes apart by train.
Erfurt may not quite match Weimar in terms of cultural offerings, but its historic center is at least as impressive — if not more so.
And even if the people of Weimar probably don’t want to hear it: Erfurt has a much younger energy. Weimar has a reputation as a retirees’ paradise, and honestly, it’s not entirely undeserved. On a warm summer evening in Erfurt, young people fill the sidewalk cafés and bars; in Weimar, it tends to be a more mature crowd.
Hotel Tips for Weimar
Weimar has a great selection of hotels. Most are located in or right on the edge of the old town, so nearly all the attractions are within easy walking distance.
Hotel Elephant: Weimar's Most Famous Hotel
The most famous and luxurious place to stay in Weimar is the Hotel Elephant, home to the Michelin-starred restaurant Anna Amalia. The hotel has been in operation since 1696 and sits right in the heart of the old town. Goethe and Schiller were regulars here, as were Leo Tolstoy and Thomas Mann in later years.
These days it attracts actors and dignitaries — but the rooms are absolutely bookable for regular guests too.
More Recommended Hotels in Weimar
Art Hotel Weimar: Just a few minutes’ walk from the old town in a quiet residential neighborhood, the Art Hotel impresses with spacious, individually decorated rooms.
Grand Hotel Russischer Hof: One of Weimar’s most storied hotels — Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, and Richard Wagner have all stayed here.
Grande Albergo Giancarlo: A small but charming hotel in the old town with an attached Italian restaurant. Each room is individually and lovingly designed and named after a different Italian city.
Dorint Am Goethepark: Excellently located in a historic building between the old town and Ilmpark — a really solid choice.
There are also plenty of smaller guesthouses around the old town. You can find a full overview here: Hotels in Weimar.
Good and affordable
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Practical Tips for Your City Trip to Weimar
Here are a few practical things to know before you visit Weimar.
#1 Events in Weimar
The Weimarer Zwiebelmarkt (Onion Market) is a big old-town festival that takes place every year on the second weekend of October. Stages and vendor stalls fill the city center, and it gets seriously lively.
Weimar is also lovely during the Christmas season, when the Christmas Market sets up on the Market Square. A visit to Erfurt during the Christmas market season is equally recommended.
Another great event is the Genius Loci Festival, held on the second weekend of August. For an entire weekend, building facades across Weimar are illuminated and audiovisual stories are told through light.
#2 Public Transportation in Weimar
Almost all of Weimar’s highlights are within walking distance of the old town. That said, the city’s bus network is handy for destinations a little further out — like Schloss Belvedere (line 1) or the Buchenwald Memorial (line 6).
Weimar’s train station is about 1.5 kilometers north of the historic center. Bus lines 1 and 6 run directly from the station into the city.
A single ticket costs **2 euros** and can be bought directly from the driver.
#3 Getting There by Train
Since the new high-speed line between Erfurt and Berlin opened, Weimar is no longer on the ICE network. But the city has excellent rail connections to Erfurt’s main station.
Trains run roughly every 15 minutes, reaching Erfurt in just 12 minutes. The fare is **5.60 euros** — and the ticket is valid for 120 minutes, covering bus travel in Weimar and tram travel in Erfurt too.
If you only need the train, you can buy the Hopperticket Thüringen for just **4.50 euros** — though this doesn’t include buses and trams.
Our tip: For small groups, the Thüringen Ticket is a fantastic deal — unlimited access to all local public transportation in Thuringia for one day, including buses and trams in both Erfurt and Weimar. You can book it online before your trip: Thüringen Ticket.
