More about hotels in Thuringia
Thuringia doesn't shout about itself, but give it five minutes and you'll get why Germans call it the green heart of the country. Half the state is forest, and the towns that pop up between the trees look like they've stepped out of a storybook, all turrets and cobbled squares, with woodsmoke and grilled bratwurst drifting through the Christmas markets come December.
You might be here to walk the Rennsteig trail through the forest, or to wander the old squares where Bach and Goethe once did. Either way, there's a stay to match. Here's where to look, what it costs, and a few tips to help you book smart.
Where to stay in Thuringia
Each Thuringian town has its own personality, so where you base yourself changes the trip.
- Erfurt - the state capital, and the easiest base if you want everything in walking distance. Its Krämerbrücke is one of the few bridges in Europe still lined with shops on both sides, and the old town around it is stitched together with cobbled lanes and half-timbered houses.
- Weimar - smaller and slower, built around the legacy of Goethe and Schiller. Expect boutique stays near the theatre district and a genuinely walkable centre.
- Jena - a university town with a different energy, glassmaking and optics rather than castles, with a skyline punctuated by the Jentower and the world's oldest working planetarium down at street level. Good value if you don't mind a livelier, younger crowd.
- Gotha - quieter again, built around Friedenstein Palace, one of the largest early Baroque palace complexes in Germany. A solid choice if you want the region's grand architecture without Erfurt's crowds.
- Oberhof - up in the forest itself, a winter sports village that turns into a hiking base come summer. Book here if the Thuringian Forest, not the towns, is the main event.
How much is Thuringia accommodation?
Expect to pay around AU$110 to AU$130 a night for a solid mid-range stay in Thuringia, though it swings a fair bit by season and town: cheaper in Jena and Gotha, pricier around Weimar's old town and during the Christmas market rush in Erfurt.
- Backpackers and hostels - From AU$35 a night. Dorm beds and basic guesthouses, mostly in Erfurt and Jena.
- Budget hotels and guesthouses - From AU$65 a night. Simple, clean rooms a short walk or tram ride from the old town.
- Mid-range hotels and apartments - From AU$100 a night. Private bathrooms and breakfast included, usually inside or right on the edge of the historic centre.
- Boutique stays - From AU$150 a night. Restored townhouses and converted historic buildings, especially around Weimar's theatre quarter.
- Luxury and resort stays - From AU$220 a night. Grand hotels with spas, or forest lodges near Oberhof set up for skiing and hiking alike.
Top-rated hotels in Thuringia
- Hotel Elephant Weimar - A grand old hotel right on Weimar's market square that's been hosting guests since the 1700s, with a rooftop terrace looking straight across the rooftops of the old town.
- Prize by Radisson Erfurt City - Modern and central, a short stroll from the Krämerbrücke, with the kind of straightforward comfort that suits a city-break base.
- Hotel Glockenhof Eisenach - Set at the edge of the Thuringian Forest, with a hilltop castle's turrets visible from the upper floors on a clear day.
- Leonardo Hotel Weimar - A reliable, well-priced option close to the theatre district, good for exploring Weimar on foot.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Thuringia
- Book Erfurt well ahead for late November and December. Its Christmas market is one of the most popular in Germany and rooms fill fast.
- If hiking the Rennsteig is the plan, base yourself in Oberhof or one of the smaller forest towns rather than commuting in from Erfurt.
- Regional trains link Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, and Gotha in well under an hour, so you can pick one base and day-trip the rest instead of hotel-hopping. Saalfeld's Feengrotten, a set of old mining tunnels turned technicolour underground grottoes, is an easy add-on if you're basing yourself in that direction.
- Winter brings ski season to Oberhof. Book a few months out if you want anything with direct slope access.
- Look for a stay near a market square rather than the highway edge of town. Thuringia's bratwurst stalls are a genuine local institution, not a tourist gimmick, and you'll want to be close enough to grab one hot off the grill.
Thuringia rewards a slower trip. Pick a base, settle in, and let the forest and the old towns do the rest.
