Thuringia

Goethe's Weimar, the Wartburg and the Rennsteig

Thuringia is a state in the middle of Germany where medieval towns, castles and forested hills are within short distances of each other. It has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Wartburg Castle where Martin Luther translated the New Testament. Weimar was home to Goethe and Schiller and is where the Bauhaus school was founded. Visitors can hike the Rennsteig ridge trail through the Thuringian Forest, eat a bratwurst grilled over charcoal on an old town square or cross-country ski in winter. The main towns share one rail line, so Erfurt works as a base for most sights. A car helps for the forest and the villages.

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Region in Germany

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

English proficiency varies across Thuringia. In tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants in major cities, English is widely spoken. In rural areas and among older residents, communication may be limited to basic phrases, so a few German words are helpful.

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Last update: Oct 21, 2026

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Thuringia Summary

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"Best for" scores:
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Excellent for forests and historic towns. Hike wooded trails, explore castles and medieval villages and discover cultural heritage linked to famous composers and writers.

Place score

7.6

Best at:

Cozy towns

Historic sites

Music

Castles

Forests

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🐕 9

With dogs

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Germany – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) $1 ≈ €0.90
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cards are widely accepted, especially in urban areas, but small establishments may prefer cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in restaurants, typically 5-10%. For taxis, it is customary to round up to the nearest euro. Tipping in cash is more common than adding it to card payments.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in most parts of Germany, especially in beer gardens and public events, but some local regulations may restrict it in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places such as restaurants, trains, and buses. Designated smoking areas are available outside many buildings.

Oktoberfest (September)	Huge crowds in Munich. Expect high hotel rates and crowded transportation.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets are popular, expect crowded cities and higher prices.
Labour Day (May)	Many shops are closed, and there are celebrations throughout the country.

Emergency contact:	Police: 110, Emergency Number: 112 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, myTaxi
Other:	Germany is well-equipped for tourists, with good public transport and high-quality facilities. However, be prepared for language barriers in some rural areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Thuringia, Germany

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	May - Sep., Dec.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - Feb., April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Climate and season vary by area: cities like Erfurt, Weimar and Eisenach best May to September and in December for Christmas markets, Thuringian Forest for hiking June to October and winter sports January to February

Christmas markets late November to December 23, with the Erfurt market the largest

Wartburg and many castles have shorter hours or closures November to March

Don't miss

🏰 Visit Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
📜 Walk through Weimar’s historic old town and Goethe’s residence
🥾 Hike the Rennsteig trail across Thuringia’s forests and hills
🧱 Explore Erfurt’s medieval Krämerbrücke and its artisan shops
🌭 Taste original Thuringian bratwurst at a local market

You've been here?

Why travel to Thuringia?

Thuringia fits a lot of German cultural history into a small area. Erfurt has a medieval old town with the Krämerbrücke, a bridge lined with houses. Its Old Synagogue, mikveh and Stone House are on the UNESCO list as Jewish medieval heritage. Weimar has the homes of Goethe and Schiller, the Bauhaus Museum and, just outside town, the Buchenwald memorial at a former concentration camp. Eisenach has Wartburg Castle and the Bach House museum. The other reason to come is the outdoors. The Thuringian Forest is a wooded mountain range in the south-west and the Rennsteig goes along its ridge for about 105 mi. It's Germany's oldest long-distance hiking trail and hikers usually split it into six to eight stages, but shorter sections also work as day walks. In winter the Rennsteig doubles as a cross-country ski trail. Oberhof is the main winter sports town with biathlon and luge. Hainich National Park, near Bad Langensalza and Eisenach, protects a UNESCO-listed beech forest and has a treetop walkway. A trip of four to seven days suits the state well. A city-focused route around Erfurt, Weimar and Eisenach works by train, while the forest and the Hainich are easier with a car. Erfurt's Christmas market on the cathedral square is held through most of Advent, so December is busy there. The state also combines well with Leipzig, about 45 minutes from Erfurt by ICE.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Bauhaus-Museum Weimar
2 Kyffhäuser
3 Wartburg

🎡Places for activities

1 Feengrotten

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Nationalpark Hainich
2 Thuringian Forest

🎈Events

Bach Festival in Eisenach
Weimar Summer
Thuringian Castle Festival
Onion Market in Weimar

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Knowledge before you go

Regional trains in Thuringia carry bikes free of charge.
The ThüringenCard, sold for one, three or six days, gives free entry to many sights across the state.
Small stalls, mountain huts and rural guesthouses often take cash only, so carry some euros.
Hikers on the Rennsteig greet each other with Gut Runst and follow a white R on the waymarks.

How to travel to Thuringia

Trains are the easiest way to reach Thuringia, thanks to the ICE hub in Erfurt on the Berlin to Munich and Frankfurt to Dresden lines. By ICE it takes around 2 hours from Berlin or Frankfurt, about 2.5 hours from Munich and about 45 minutes from Leipzig. Eisenach and Weimar also have long-distance services. Erfurt-Weimar Airport (ERF) is about 4 mi west of Erfurt and roughly 15 minutes from the main station by tram. The airport has limited service, mostly to Mediterranean holiday destinations. Most visitors from abroad use Frankfurt (FRA), which is 2.5 to 3 hours away by train. Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) is just over an hour away by train. By car, the A4 goes across the state from Frankfurt toward Dresden and the A71 comes up from Bavaria. Frankfurt is about 3 hours from Erfurt by road, Berlin around 3.5 hours and Leipzig or Nuremberg roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Long-distance buses also serve Erfurt.

Access summary

From Frankfurt Airport (FRA): Direct ICE/IC trains to Erfurt, about 2–2.5 hours.
From Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ): Regional trains to Erfurt or Weimar, roughly 1–1.5 hours.
From Berlin: High-speed ICE trains to Erfurt/Jena, usually around 2.5–3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Thuringia

Most visitors stay in Erfurt, which has the widest choice of hotels, apartments and guesthouses and is within about an hour by train of Weimar, Eisenach and Jena. Prices are moderate by German standards. The old town and the station area suit people without a car. Weimar is a quieter base with smaller hotels in historic buildings. It fills up in summer and during the onion market in October. Eisenach is the practical choice for Wartburg Castle and the western end of the Rennsteig. For hiking and winter sports, stay in the Thuringian Forest, where Oberhof and the smaller resorts around it have wellness hotels, holiday apartments and guesthouses. Hikers on the Rennsteig can also use inns, huts and campsites along the trail. Book ahead for Christmas market weekends in Erfurt, summer weekends in the forest and the winter sports season.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Felix Suiten im Lebendigen Haus am Augustusplatz

8.9

Sunday Hotel Leipzig

9.2

Seminaris Hotel Leipzig

8.4

Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Handelshof

9.4

Leonardo Hotel Weimar

8.3

DORMERO Hotel Plauen

8.9

Five Elements Hostel Leipzig

8.9

DORMERO Hotel Halle

8.3

Hotel Markgraf Leipzig

8.6

InterCityHotel Leipzig

8.9

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Thuringia

Thuringia is mostly rural, with its larger towns Eisenach, Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar and Jena along one rail and motorway corridor from west to east. Trains are enough for the towns, while the forest and most small castles are easier with a car.

Trains:
ICE trains stop in Erfurt and a few other towns while regional trains serve the rest. Weimar is about 15 minutes from Erfurt. The Deutschland-Ticket covers regional trains, trams and buses. The Thüringen-Ticket is a day ticket for up to five people that also works in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

Trams and buses:
Erfurt, Jena and Gotha have tram networks. Buses cover smaller towns and the countryside but can be sparse in the evening and on Sundays, so check the last one before a hike.

Car:
The A4 goes through Eisenach, Erfurt, Weimar and Jena. The A71 goes through the Thuringian Forest toward Bavaria. Parking in old towns is paid and limited. Forest roads can be snowy in winter and winter tires are required when roads are icy.

Scenic railways:
Two rail rides are trips in themselves, the Thuringian Forest Railway from Gotha into the forest and the Mountain Railway in the Schwarza valley.

Food in Thuringia

Food in Thuringia is hearty and based on pork, potatoes and cabbage, with mustard as the standard condiment. Bakeries and supermarkets are in every town, though shops are closed on Sundays except at stations. Vegetarian dishes are easy to find in the cities and more limited in village inns.

Rostbratwurst:
The Thüringer Rostbratwurst is a long, thin pork sausage grilled over charcoal and protected by the EU as a Thuringian product. It's eaten in a bread roll with mustard at stands on market squares and festivals.

Klöße:
Thuringian dumplings are made from raw and cooked potato and are often served with roast meat, red cabbage and gravy.

Rostbrätel:
Rostbrätel is marinated pork neck grilled and served with onions, either in a roll or on a plate with fried potatoes.

Beer and spirits:
Köstritzer is a dark beer from Bad Köstritz and the best-known local brew. Nordhäuser Doppelkorn is a strong grain spirit distilled in Nordhausen since the 16th century.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

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-6 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 6% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+1 %

Your exchange rate (USD to EUR) is 1% worse than in recent years. That means traveling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	$84	$189	$523
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	$35	$90	$220
🍝 Food per day	$35	$82	$236
🚕 Transportation per day	$13	$17	$67

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	$36
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	$15
🍟 Fast food combo	$10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	$12.50
☕ Cappuccino	$3.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz	$4.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	$3.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	$40
⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal	$1.90

Other

🎞️ Movie ticket	$14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	$55
🤧 Cold medication	$8
💇 Basic haircut	$13

Safety information overview

General safety

Thuringia is safe for travelers, with low violent crime and the usual petty theft in busy places. Watch for pickpockets at stations and crowded events like Christmas markets. In the forest, changing weather and icy trails in winter are the main hazards.

Health & Medical

Medical care is at German standard, with large hospitals in Erfurt and Jena and pharmacies in every town. EU visitors can use the European Health Insurance Card. Ticks are active in forests from spring to autumn and parts of Thuringia are tick-borne encephalitis risk areas.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies by area. Trams in the larger cities are mostly low-floor, but old towns like Erfurt and Weimar have cobblestones and the Thuringian Forest has steep trails. Wartburg Castle is on a hill, with a shuttle from the parking lot.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink all over Thuringia and is tested under German drinking water rules. Bottled water is sold in every supermarket. On long hikes such as the Rennsteig, fill a bottle before setting out as some stretches have no shop or inn.