Weimar
Save26 hand-picked places in 8 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓11 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Goethe's home for 50 years, preserved with his study, library and art collections.
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Combine with the Goethe-Nationalmuseum exhibition
- Allow at least 90 minutes
📷 Photos
- 2
UNESCO-listed library with the stunning Rococo Hall of books.
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Bags must go in lockers
- Visits are timed to about 30 minutes
📷 Photos
- 3
The house where Friedrich Schiller lived and wrote his final works.
- Must know: Closed Mondays
2 tips
- Audio guide is included
- Smaller than Goethe's house, about 45 minutes
📷 Photos
- 4
Iconic monument of Goethe and Schiller before the German National Theatre.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: At night
2 tips
- Check the theatre programme for evening shows
- The Bauhaus Museum is a short walk north
📷 Photos
- 5
Main square with the neo-Gothic town hall and Cranach's Renaissance house.
3 tips
- Weekly market stalls sell Thuringian sausages
- Town hall bells play a carillon
- Cafés line the square for people-watching
📷 Photos
- 6
Romantic landscape park along the Ilm river, shaped by Goethe himself.
3 tips
- Free to enter all year
- Find the Roman House and artificial ruin
- Lovely in autumn colour
📷 Photos
- 7
Town church with a famous Lucas Cranach altarpiece; Herder preached here.
3 tips
- Entry is usually free, donations welcome
- See the Cranach altar in the choir
- Herder's statue stands outside
📷 Photos
- 8
The ducal city palace on the Ilm, a centrepiece of Classical Weimar.
3 tips
- Parts are under long-term restoration
- Check opening status before visiting
- Admire the tower and courtyard from outside
📷 Photos
- 9
Goethe's simple cottage and garden on the eastern slope of the Ilm park.
3 tips
- Small house, visits are quick
- Seasonal opening hours
- Great photo from the meadow below
📷 Photos
- 10
Modern museum on the birthplace of the Bauhaus with original design works.
- Must know: Closed Tuesdays
2 tips
- Combine with the Neues Museum next door
- Shop has great design souvenirs
📷 Photos
- 11
Moving memorial at the former Buchenwald concentration camp.
- Tip: Allow a few hours
2 tips
- Free entry; bus 6 from the centre
- Not recommended for children under 14
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Weimar tips
Transportation
- Arrive by train: Weimar station is on the line between Erfurt and Leipzig, with regular regional and long-distance trains.
- Walk the old town: Goethe's house, the Bauhaus Museum, Herderplatz and the Park an der Ilm are all within walking distance.
- Take the bus to Buchenwald: city buses run from the centre to the Buchenwald Memorial, making it an easy half-day trip.
Security
- Watch for cyclists: many paths are shared with cyclists; stay out of marked bike lanes when walking.
- Carry some cash: smaller cafés and market stalls may not accept cards, so keep some euros on you.
- Be respectful at Buchenwald: this is a memorial site; dress modestly, keep voices low and follow photography rules.
Saving
- Buy the Weimar Card: it bundles entry to many museums and local transport, saving money if you plan several visits.
- Eat a Thuringian bratwurst: grab a Thuringian Rostbratwurst from a market stand for a cheap and authentic lunch.
- Visit free parks: the Park an der Ilm and Goethe's Garden House surroundings are free to stroll and perfect for picnics.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for cold winters: winters are cold with frost and occasional snow; bring a warm coat, hat and gloves.
- Enjoy mild summers: summers are warm and pleasant, but showers are common, so carry a light rain jacket.
- Wear comfortable shoes: cobbled streets in the old town are best tackled with sturdy walking shoes.
Cultural
- Learn about Goethe and Schiller: visit their homes and the statue at the German National Theatre to understand Weimar's literary legacy.
- Respect Sunday closures: most shops are closed on Sundays, so plan shopping for other days.
- Discover the Bauhaus: Weimar was the birthplace of the Bauhaus; visit the Bauhaus Museum and Haus am Horn.
Local Hacks
- Book Anna Amalia Library early: entry to the historic Rococo Hall is limited, so book tickets in advance.
- Visit the Zwiebelmarkt: in October the onion market fills the old town with onion braids, food stalls and festivities.
- Cycle the Ilm Valley: the Ilmtal cycle path runs past Weimar and offers scenic rides through Thuringian countryside.
1-day itineraries in Weimar
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Theaterplatz & Goethe-Schiller-Denkmal and around
🕘 9:30–16:30📍 5 stops
- 1Theaterplatz & Goethe-Schiller-Denkmal
- 2Schillers Wohnhaus
- 3Marktplatz
- 4Herderkirche
- 5Stadtschloss Weimar
Day 2 of 2
Goethe-Wohnhaus and around
🕘 9:30–17:15📍 5 stops
- 1Historischer Friedhof & Fürstengruft
- 2Goethe-Wohnhaus
- 3Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek
- 4Park an der Ilm
- 5Goethes Gartenhaus