'''Weimar''' is the town of Goethe and Schiller and is found in Thuringia (''Thuringen'') state, Germany.

Get in

Weimar is a small town with lots of tourists, most of whom come in on coaches for day-visits. Roads can be congested in the mornings and evenings. noframe|250px|right|Railway station

By train

The best and most convienent way is by train. Deutsche Bahn offers direct connections from Berlin, Leipzig and Erfurt. Weimar Hauptbahnhof is about a kilometre from Goetheplatz, in the city's center: you can

  • '''walk''': A pleasant ten-minute stroll downhill is a good way to stretch your legs after the train-ride. Cross the square in front of the station and walk down Carl-August-Allee. Go around the right of the building at the end of this road (the Neues Museum), and continue walking in the same direction, now on Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse, continue across the crossing and you soon find yourself in the city centre.
  • '''take a bus''': lines 2, 3, 3A, 3B, and 6 will bring you to Goetheplatz within a few minutes. One-way tickets cost EUR 1.60.
  • By car

    Weimar is connected to the Autobahn A4.

    By plane

    The nearest airport is in Erfurt [http://www.airport-erfurt.de ] but few connections and high fares make it only feasible for business travellers.

    The Leipzig Halle Airport (Flughafen) is the closest airport for all intents and purposes. It is an international airport, with most major cities one stop away.

    Get around

    Weimar is small and the best way is by foot or bike. Weimar has a public transport system but as a tourist you won't need it. Taxis are at night the best way when you feel lost and they are used to cater tourists.

    See

    Weimar is one of the most historic sites in Germany. It was home of Goethe and Schiller, the two most famous German poets and writers.
  • Bauhaus-Universiy Weimar and the Haus am Horn, part of the Bauhaus Sites protected by UNESCO [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/729].
  • Stadtschloss (city castle) - Home of the biggest sponsor of Goethe and Schiller. Art gallery.
  • Anna Amalia Bibliothek - Unique library and art selection, famous for it's rococo style. A fire in 2004 did great damage but the lobrary reopened in 2007.
  • Nationaltheater - Foundation place of the first German democracy in 1918 and successor of the Weimar Hof theatre where Goethe's premieres took place. Wellknown theatre today.
  • Park an der Ilm - Picturesque garden with Goethes summer house. Lie down on the lawn and enjoy the scenery
  • Belvedere - charming park with summer castle a short distance to the south of the city
  • Do

    The best thing is to take a guided tour through the town because mosts buildings have a story. Either you have time or plan a tour through all buildings of interest.

    The nation of thinkers and poets ''(Land der Dichter und Denker)'' became a country of judges and hangmen''(Richter und Henker)'' in the period from 1933-45. To complement the experience of Weimar, the cultural capital, make the short trip to the Buchenwald Memorial [http://www.buchenwald.de/index_en.html] just 10 kilometers outside town. This is a good experience to see how close genius and nightmare of German history can come.

    An excellent introduction to Weimar is ''Weimar Haus: Das Geschichtserlebnis'' (in English, "The History Experience"). This is an interactive multimedia tour (choice of languages) through Weimar's history from prehistoric times to the present. It features audio, video, wax figures and detailed sets you move through guided by famous historical figures. ''Schillerstr. 16.''

    [http://www.kunstfest-weimar.de/ pelerinages Kunstfest Weimar] - annual event during late summer, four weeks full of cultural events and ectivities.

    [http://www.weimar.de/de/tourismus/startseite/kultur-freizeit/maerkte-und-feste/details/zwiebelmarkt-2009/ Zwiebelmarkt] - traditionally a harvest market this is today Weimar's biggest fair, one weekend every year in mid October.

    Buy

    Eat

    The market square is the home of the centuries-old and extremely tasty Thueringer Bratwurst, which can be bought at one of the many sausage stands during the day. It is widely considered a delicacy. The area is also famous for its cakes, such as the Zupfkuchen, all widely available generally costing around one euro.

    There are many good restaurants in the city catering to the tourist market selling all manner of cuisine, and with the compact nature of the city you can never be far away from the food you are wanting.

    Drink

    Sleep

  • Grand Hotel Russischer Hof. oetheplatz 2 . 99423 Weimar. 35 ? (s) / 155 ? (d). 5-star place
  • [http://www.weimar-hostel.com/ '''Labyrinth Hostel Weimar'''] Goetheplatz 6, Tel.: 0178-7487579, [mailto:info@weimar-hostel.com E-Mail] - Right in the center of town, a new youth hostel and Weimars first private hostel. Prices from 10 ?, a bed in a double costs from 20 ?
  • Das Hababusch Hostel. eleitstr. 4. 3643 850737. ost@hababusch.de. 3643 402615. am. 0am-noon. 12.50 (dm) / ?17.50 (d) / ?22.50 (s). ttp://www.hababusch.de. Very central, affordable but a little grungy. It is altogether quite small, so it's a good idea to book ahead of time if possible.
  • DJH Jugendherberge Am Poseckschen Garten. umboldtstr. 17. 3643 850792. h-posgarten@djh-thueringen.de. 3643 850793. ?20. ttp://www.jugendherberge.de/de/jugendherbergen/visitenkarte/jh.jsp?IDJH=151. Near the historical graveyard, this hostel is a bit out of the way. A ten minute walk will bring you downtown, though, and bus-line #6 stops nearby too (Cranachstrasse).

    Cope

  • '''Tourist-Information Weimar''', Markt 10 (close of the city hall), Tel.: +''49 3643'' 745-0, Fax: +''49 3643'' 745420, E-Mail: tourist-info@weimar.de.
  • Get out

    Jena is just a quarter of an hour away. As is Erfurt. The ride to Leipzig takes less than an hour. With a direct connection (no change of trains), Gottingen can be reached in under two hours.

  • Halle (Saale) about 45 minutes away. Has some great things to see. Largest city in Saxony-Anhalt, birthplace of Handel and has a few castles.