Although I (Bolle) spent a lot of time in Thuringia as a child, I only have very vague memories of it. So it’s all the cooler that we were part of the “Summer in the City” campaign this year and got to explore the cities of Erfurt, Weimar, and Nordhausen. In summer, most people probably head to the seaside or abroad, but a city trip in your own country is also worthwhile in the summer months.
In the following post, we would like to take you virtually on our little Thuringia trip again and introduce you to our most beautiful Thuringia highlights. Thuringia has so much more to offer, and we are already looking forward to our next adventure in this federal state. If you have any recommendations for us, please let us know in the comments.
- Our Thuringia Highlights
- Day 1 & 2: We explore Erfurt
- 1. Exploring Erfurt’s old town
- 2. Walk over the Krämerbrücke
- 3. View from the Ägidienturm
- 4. Domplatz, Cathedral & Severi Church
- 5. View from the Petersberg
- 6. Discover Kika figures
- 7. Around the fish market
- 8. Cooling off in Alperstedter Lake
- 9. Visit to Nikolai & Sohn Distillery
- 10. Sundowner at StattStrand Beer Garden
- Conclusion about Erfurt
- Day 3: Off to Nordhausen
- 1. The beautiful Hotel Fürstenhof
- 2. Walk through the old town
- 3. Lunch at Pizzeria Rustica
- 4. Traditional Nordhausen Distillery
- Conclusion about Nordhausen
- Day 4 & 5: Strolling through Weimar
- 1. Exploring the historic old town
- 2. Duchess Anna Amalia Library
- 3. Historic Theaterplatz
- 4. Weimar Market Square
- 5. City Park on the Ilm River & Goethe’s Garden House
- 6. Live music in the Artists’ Garden
- 7. Trip to Belvedere Palace
- 8. Tips for eating & drinking
- 9. Hotel Schillerhof in Weimar
- Conclusion on Weimar
- Summer in the City – Our Video
Our Thuringia Highlights
We can absolutely recommend a trip through Thuringia in the summer, because this federal state has so much to offer. Our trip took us through the beautiful cities of Erfurt, Weimar, and Nordhausen. Here we were able to explore the city’s highlights while strolling through the city, get to know the locals and their shops, cool off with SUP and kayaking, and enjoy balmy summer evenings with live music and cool drinks.
Day 1 & 2: We explore Erfurt
We spent the first two days in the state capital of Thuringia – Erfurt. This is where our “Summer in the City” tour started, with perfect weather and plenty of sunshine. Erfurt has numerous sights and highlights; we could definitely have spent a whole week in this cool city. But even for a short visit, Erfurt is worth it because you can see and experience so much in a very short time. By the way: We stayed at the central and cool prizeotel in Erfurt*.
1. Exploring Erfurt’s Old Town
We strolled through the many medieval alleys of Erfurt’s beautiful old town and received a wealth of interesting information from our tour guide. We couldn’t get enough of the many patrician and half-timbered houses lined up in the old town. Did you know that Erfurt’s old town is one of the largest old town centers in Germany? Today, around 25,000 of the total 213,000 inhabitants live here in the city center.
Erfurt’s old town is considerably larger than we’ve previously encountered in old towns, yet it’s still wonderfully easy to explore on foot. And if your feet get tired, you can also take the tram or bus. E-scooters are also available throughout the city, and you can easily rent them. Just let yourself go and admire the many beautiful house facades, the inviting shops, cool cafés, and restaurants.
2. Walk across the Krämerbrücke
We walked across the 120-meter-long Krämerbrücke, which crosses the Gera River and is lined with 32 houses. This makes it one of the longest fully built and inhabited bridges in Europe. Cool, right? Fortunately, you won’t find McDonald’s, H&M, Vero Moda, or Starbucks here, but rather incredibly charming house facades with small local shops.
Whether it’s a doll maker, ceramics, stationery, chocolate factory, antiques, or ice cream shop – your heart is sure to beat a little faster here. As soon as you enter these shops, you can sense the love for craftsmanship and attention to detail. It’s so nice to see that the Krämerbrücke isn’t home to big brands, but rather to small, regional retailers.
Shops we visited there:
- Theatrum Mundi (puppet maker & theater)
- Stilleben home accessories
- Cardamom spices from around the world
- Qnik Papeterie (pretty little paper items)
- Goldhelm Chocolate Manufactory
- Goldhelm – Eiskrämer (super delicious ice cream)
3. View from the Ägidienturm
We reached the end of the Krämerbrücke and, of course, couldn’t miss the view from the 33-meter-high Ägidienturm. For a small fee of €2.50, we were able to climb the 128 steps and enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Erfurt. The church and tower are open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Cathedral Square, Cathedral & St. Severus Church
An absolute eye-catcher in Erfurt is the imposing ensemble of the cathedral and St. Severus Church, which can be found on the huge Cathedral Square in the city center. A flight of 70 steps leads to these masterpieces of German Gothic architecture.
The approximately 14,000 m² Cathedral Square regularly hosts events, such as the Erfurt Christmas Market, the St. Martin’s Day Festival, and the famous Cathedral Steps Festival. The weekly market, with predominantly regional products, is open Monday to Saturday and invites you to stroll and shop.
5. View from the Petersberg
Directly behind the Cathedral Square, the 231-meter-high Petersberg rises and offers a magnificent view over the rooftops of Erfurt. The grounds include the imposing citadel, St. Peter’s Church, and the visitor center. An elevator takes you up to Petersberg and you can enjoy sweeping views over Erfurt directly from the observation deck.
6. Discover Kika characters
Did you know that the TV channel Kika is based in Erfurt? It’s no surprise, then, that you can discover 13 well-known Kika characters throughout the city. We were able to spot several of them during our tour of the city, such as Bernd the Bread, the Sandman, Pittiplatsch, Moppi and Schnatterinchen, the mouse and the blue elephant, the green dragon Tabaluga, and the blue Kika rabbit. You can find all the characters and their locations here: Kika characters in Erfurt.
7. Around the Fish Market
Between Domplatz and Anger is the Fish Market, which serves as a central square and is home to, among other things, the neo-Gothic Erfurt Town Hall. The Renaissance patrician houses, such as the Haus zum Roten Ochsen (Red Ox) or the Haus zum Breiten Herd (number 13), are particularly beautiful. The square also features a statue of a Roman warrior (called “Roland”), holding Erfurt’s city flag in his right hand. Directly behind it is the Kunsthalle (Art Gallery) with changing exhibitions.
The other imposing town houses with their striking facades are also worth seeing. Around the fish market, you’ll also find many small shops, cafés, and restaurants. Watch the hustle and bustle on the street with a cup of coffee and a delicious piece of cake, for example, from Café Epitome Coffee. To the left of the town hall, you’ll find the Kika character “Bernd, the Bread.”
8. Cooling off in Lake Alperstedt
“Summer in the city” without cooling off? Not in Erfurt! Just 14 km north of the city is Lake Alperstedt. At 65.5 hectares, it’s the largest of Erfurt’s lakes. It’s also often called “Lago di Alpi.” We rented a SUP and a kayak from the aqua-FUN® water sports center. You can also book a SUP beginner’s course (€35), take part in a SUP yoga class (€15), or try wingsurfing and windsurfing.
Marco and I paddled out onto the lake and enjoyed the turquoise water and the lush greenery all around. In summer temperatures, you can find the perfect way to cool off here at Lake Alperstedt. Afterwards, you can relax on the water sports center’s paddleboard and end the day. You can find more information about rentals here: aqua-FUN® Water Sports Center.
9. Visit to Nikolai & Son Distillery
At the whiskey distillery in Zughafen, we met father Nikolai and son Leopold. They proudly showed us their distillery, and we immediately sensed the passion they put into painstakingly handcrafting gin and whiskey, among other things. Here in Erfurt’s Zughafen, the two also offer events, such as gin tastings with a short cocktail tutorial. If you’re interested in gin and whiskey, you should visit them and see for yourself what their spirits can offer. More information here: Gin & Whiskey from Erfurt.
10. Sundowner at the StattStrand Beer Garden
For a casual sundowner, we headed to the StattStrand Beer Garden at the Zughafen in Erfurt in the early evening. Today, the Zughafen is a creative and event center, a cultural mile, and a venue for performances. From the main train station, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the Zughafen. Incidentally, several albums by the well-known singer Clueso were recorded here. On the Zughafen website, you can find out when and which events are taking place at the StattStrand beer garden.
Summary on Erfurt
We really like this city because there’s so much to discover. The beautiful old town is perfect for strolling and browsing; there are many cool cafés, restaurants, and shops, as well as some truly amazing highlights. The mix of colorful half-timbered houses, narrow alleys, and fantastic excursion destinations makes Erfurt a truly livable and extremely worth-seeing city. We would definitely come back again!
Day 3: Off to Nordhausen
From Erfurt, we took the train in just under 80 minutes to the small town of Nordhausen, Thuringia’s gateway to the Harz Mountains. The city is also the economic and cultural center of northern Thuringia. Here, we were able to stay in a truly beautiful hotel, enjoy delicious food, and take an interesting tour of the traditional Nordhausen distillery.
1. The Beautiful Hotel Fürstenhof
We stayed at the beautiful Hotel Nordhäuser Fürstenhof*, which is just a few meters from the main train station. The entire hotel was designed in the style of the 1920s and awaited us with many wonderful details. Each room is dedicated to a famous figure from film, music, and cabaret, such as Charlie Chaplin or Marlene Dietrich.
Our modern and stylish double room with bath and shower left nothing to be desired. The “Echte Nordhäuser Fürstenhof Lounge” on the 4th floor with a view over Nordhausen and the Restaurant Charlie’s with its many great details from the 1920s were also beautifully designed. All in all, we can definitely recommend this hotel! You can book your room here*.
2. Walk through the Old Town
Nordhausen has just under 41,000 inhabitants, making it a fairly manageable town. On a walk through the old town, you’ll discover the city’s most important sights, such as the Town Hall with the Roland statue, the Holy Cross Cathedral, St. Blaise Church, St. Peter’s Tower, the bathhouse, and the city library.
Keep an eye out for the so-called stair beetles, which you can only find in Nordhausen. These bronze figures, approximately 10 to 40 cm tall and in various shapes, are primarily found on Nordhausen’s numerous staircases. The goal was probably to draw attention to the many stairs (260 in total) in the city. This could certainly be a fun “scavenger hunt” for children, searching for these little beetles.
3. Lunch at Pizzeria Rustica
For lunch, we went to Pizzeria Rustica, located right in the old town. This restaurant, with Mediterranean cuisine and its own beer garden in the old town, offers truly delicious dishes. The portions are truly enormous, and the staff is extremely friendly and accommodating.
4. Nordhausen Traditional Distillery
Nordhausen is known for its spirits production, especially Nordhausen Doppelkorn. Korn has been distilled in this town since the Middle Ages, and we were told that at one time there were over 100 distilleries. Crazy, right? We visited the “Echter Nordhäuser Traditional Distillery” and took an interesting tour. We learned all about the more than 500-year history of Nordhausen Korn.
By the way, only the following grains are permitted for production: rye, wheat, barley, oats, and buckwheat. Furthermore, a Korn must have an alcohol content of at least 32 percent by volume, as stipulated in the German Purity Law. After the tour, we were able to sample a few glasses together with some other guests. Click here to go to the distillery’s website.
Conclusion on Nordhausen
We’ll be honest with you – we didn’t really like Nordhausen. Perhaps it was simply because there was absolutely nothing going on during our visit (Friday and Saturday). The city seemed deserted, even though we were there in the middle of summer. In our opinion, this city doesn’t offer much for a younger audience, so we got bored pretty quickly.
The hotel is highly recommended, and a tour of the distillery is also recommended if you’re interested in whiskey and gin. We don’t think we’d travel to Nordhausen again, though. Perhaps we’re mistaken and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Who knows…
Days 4 & 5: Strolling through Weimar
From Erfurt, we took the train (25 minutes) to the beautiful city of Weimar, which, with around 65,000 inhabitants, is the smallest cultural city in Europe. The “City of Poets and Thinkers” is centrally located in the state of Thuringia and is best known for the Weimar Classicism era. Even the first steps through the beautiful, neoclassical old town with its countless alleys, streets, and squares made us want more!
There’s something to discover around every corner in Weimar, such as the homes of Goethe and Schiller, the impressive Duchess Anna Amalia Library, or the historic Theaterplatz. Schiller and Goethe spent a large part of their lives in Weimar. Johann Sebastian Bach also lived there, as did Johann Gottfried Herder, Franz Liszt, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, and Wilhelm Richard Wagner.
1. Exploring the historic old town
We really liked the historic old town of Weimar right from the start. We explored the various alleys, squares, and streets on foot and quickly fell under the spell of the “city of poets and thinkers.” Popular sights in Weimar include the Goethe and Schiller residences, the Bauhaus Museum, Weimar City Palace, the Schiller Museum, the Liszt House, the Wittumspalais, and St. Peter’s Church. The best thing to do is simply go with the flow and explore the old town on your own. ☞ City map of Weimar for download.
2. Duchess Anna Amalia Library
A special highlight was the visit to the Duchess Anna Amalia Library, located between Goethe’s residence and the park on the Ilm River. This library was founded in 1691 by Duke Wilhelm Ernst as the “Ducal Library” and is today an archive and research library for European literary and cultural history, with a collection of around 1 million books, volumes, and documents.
Also worth mentioning is the impressive and historic Rococo Hall, which you can admire live on site. You should definitely secure a ticket in advance for your visit, as the number of visitors is limited for conservation reasons. Only around 70 tickets are available per day, which can be reserved online in advance (fixed time slot) or purchased at the box office (€8 standard). However, due to high demand, tickets sell out quickly.
3. Historic Theaterplatz
We would like to highlight the central Theaterplatz in the historic old town, which has a very special significance. Here you will find, among other things, the Goethe-Schiller Monument, the present-day National Theater, and the House of the Weimar Republic. And that brings us to the key point: One of the most significant events in German history took place on Theaterplatz. In 1919, the German National Assembly met there and proclaimed Germany’s first democratic constitution. It’s amazing to be standing in this exact spot!
4. Weimar Market Square
In the middle of the historic old town is the central market square, which, with its impressive Renaissance buildings, is one of the city’s most important squares. The town hall and the tourist information office are also located here, where you can pick up further tips, brochures, and even bicycles (€10 for half a day). The weekly market takes place daily from Monday to Saturday on the market square in front of the town hall.
Also interesting is the historic luxury hotel Elephant, which opened in 1696 as the “Elephant Inn.” Numerous poets, thinkers, and musicians, such as Friedrich Schiller, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, and Richard Wagner, stayed here in the years that followed. Hitler also liked Weimar and visited the city over 40 times. One reason for this was that Weimar was later chosen by Hitler as a stronghold of the National Socialists.
5. Stadtpark an der Ilm & Goethe’s Garden House
One of our Thuringia highlights is the Stadtpark an der Ilm in Weimar. Here, you can enjoy the peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the old town, and relax in the 48-hectare park. This park was established in the 18th century and is one of the best-preserved parks of the Classical and Romantic periods. We cycled across the park and repeatedly discovered idyllic oases.
A special highlight is Goethe’s garden house, which was his first residence in Weimar from 1776 onwards. Here he wrote, among other things, the ballad “Erlkönig” and the poem “To the Moon.” Over the years, the garden house became an important retreat for Goethe and was opened to visitors after his death. Take a look inside the garden house and discover, among other things, the poet’s original furniture.
6. Live Music in the Artists’ Garden
We had a lovely evening in the Artists’ Garden in Weimar, right next to the House of the Weimar Republic. When the weather is good, events with live music, readings, and film evenings are regularly held there. In a cozy atmosphere of handmade wooden sofas, lounge chairs, and a rustic wooden bar, we rounded off the balmy summer day with delicious cocktails and great live music. During the day, you can also sip a coffee and relax in the lounge chairs. Click here for the events.
7. Trip to Belvedere Palace
We took a bike trip to the beautiful Belvedere Palace, which is only about 20 minutes south of the Old Town. This baroque summer residence of the Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach family is located amidst a spacious park and awaited us with an orangery, a pleasure garden, and a maze. The entire complex is beautifully landscaped and features many remarkable details, such as statues, monuments, fountains, and pretty flowers.
The elegant palace itself now houses an interesting museum with furniture, jewelry, paintings, and porcelain from the 18th century (admission €7). The palace is open during the summer months (from the last day of March to November) every Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The palace gardens, however, are open year-round and freely accessible.
8. Tips for Eating & Drinking
In Weimar, there are really nice cafés, hip restaurants, and cool food eateries. We can recommend the shop “FritzMitte,” where you can order the craziest Pomeranian creations. A mix of German, American, Middle Eastern, and Italian cuisine awaits you. Also really nice is the somewhat hidden, but super idyllic garden café Café du Jardin (Google Maps La Tarte), which offers delicious coffee and homemade cakes.
If you’re looking for a delicious Thuringian bratwurst, you should stop by the market square. There, you can get the Thuringian original straight to your hand at two food stands. Delicious coffee is available atAlso at the FAMA Café, the Café Spunk, or the Brotklappe Café (where you can also have a very good breakfast).
9. Hotel Schillerhof in Weimar
A highlight in Thuringia was definitely the beautiful Hotel Schillerhof*, located right in the center of the old town. Our base for exploring the city couldn’t have been better. The hotel, which opened in 2025, awaited us with a state-of-the-art room with a bathroom, balcony, and TV, a stylish bar and lobby, and a terrace with a view over the city’s rooftops. The mix of urban modernity and Weimar classicism is particularly beautiful. Book a room here*.
Conclusion Weimar
Oh Weimar, what a beautiful city you are! We fell in love from the very beginning and couldn’t get enough of all the beautiful houses, streets, and squares. In Weimar, you can feel that very special flair from the times of poets and thinkers. There was something new to discover around every corner, whether it was a museum, church, square, monument, café, or green oasis. It was incredibly enjoyable to wander around here and simply take in the city’s magic. We would DEFINITELY visit Weimar again!
Summer in the City – Our Video
