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.
Jena
The city of light Jena looks back on a university history rich in tradition and is considered the cradle of the optical industry in Europe. The city also combines its historic past, its young cultural scene and the beautiful landscape to offer a variety of experiences, giving it a special charm. A detour into the surrounding countryside is also worthwhile.
Leisure und family
At the imaginata in Jena, you can test your inventiveness, imagination and creativity. The Experimentarium also invites you to ponder, play, invent and, above all, marvel and discover in the fields of mathematics, physics, technology and biology. Regional train 25 and bus 430 will take you there in 30 minutes.
Climb into a space-time machine at the Zeiss Planetarium Jena. The world's longest-serving planetarium offers fascinating shows, listening evenings, children's programs and much more with state-of-the-art all-dome laser projection. Over 9,000 stars can be observed under the 25 meter high dome. From Jena-Göschwitz station, take the regional train to Jena-Paradies in just 4 minutes, then take streetcar 1 or walk the 800 meters.
The tour continues under the sign of the “white gold”. Leuchtenburg Castle near Seitenroda is easy to reach with the RB 21 train and the 419 bus (approx. 40 minutes). The castle ensemble towers 400 meters above the valley and is a highlight in itself. Behind the thick castle walls, however, there is a magical world of wishes and wonders surrounding the theme of porcelain that is well worth a visit.
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Nature and activity
The SaaleHorizontale is a certified quality hiking trail and stretches along narrow paths along the steep shell limestone slopes on both sides of the Saale between Jena and Dornburg. The trail is around 91 kilometers long and offers spectacular views and an unmistakable landscape with wide meadows, rare plants, beech forests and pine groves on its 9 stages. Around 27 hours of pure hiking pleasure awaits you around the city of lights, Jena. You can hop on at various points along the stages using local public transport.
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In August 2023, the SaaleHorizontale was named Germany's most beautiful hiking trail in the category: multi-day tours. The magazine “Wandermagazin” has been awarding this title every year since 2004. Hiking fans can vote for it from January to June. The trails are nominated by a professional jury.
For some relaxation, a trip to Bad Sulza to the Toskana Therme is worthwhile. The RB 21 and RE 17 trains will take you to Bad Sulza in just under an hour, and after another 500 meters on foot you will reach your destination. At the Tuscany thermal bath, you will be immersed in a harmonious combination of warmth, healing water and sound. A special highlight is the water-filled concert hall, known as Liquid Sound®. This is inspired by whales that migrate through the oceans with their songs. You can listen to the music underwater in a colorful light ambience.
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Header picture: Saale floodplain near Jena, ©JenaParadies André Gräf, JenaKultur
TOP hosts nearby
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!
